Top News:
New York Times:
Text messages show how former CBS CEO Les Moonves tried to bury an old sex assault claim amid a probe that could decide whether he collects a $120M exit package — A trove of text messages details a plan by Mr. Moonves and a faded Hollywood manager to bury a sexual assault allegation.
Discussion:
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Peter Kafka / Recode:
Sources: Mic.com is in talks to sell at least part of the company to Bustle, after Facebook ended a deal that could have earned Mic around $5M over 12 months — Sale talks started after Facebook ended a video deal with Mic. — Mic.com, a digital publisher with a millennial focus …
Discussion:
Adweek, @mikeisaac, @tribranchvo, @raju, @rafat, @zzzzaaaacccchhh, @kelseymsutton, @maxwellstrachan, @shaig, @jamesfdennin, @alexisohanian, @lukeoneil47, @emilybell, @saschasegan, @rafat, @ingridostby, @joshsternberg, @kifleswing and @kylepope
AllAccess.com:
Leon Neyfakh, a Slate reporter and host of the Slow Burn podcast, says he's leaving to launch a podcast on past political scandals in the first half of 2019 — SLATE reporter and “SLOW BURN” podcast host LEON NEYFAKH announced via TWITTER this morning that he is leaving SLATE and the podcast to launch a new podcast.
Discussion:
@leoncrawl, @leoncrawl, @leoncrawl, @leoncrawl, @leoncrawl, @gabrielroth and @leoncrawl
Ben Strauss / Washington Post:
ESPN's Darren Rovell moves to the Action Network, a media startup about sports gambling created last year by the Chernin Group: “They're buying me as a brand” — If sports gambling is going to sweep the country, Darren Rovell wants a piece of it.
Discussion:
@dcsportsbog, @steverubel, @jbflint, @phkeane, @benjstrauss, @nickbromberg, @markjburns88, @richarddeitsch and Awful Announcing
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange threatens The Guardian with legal action over “fabricated” story alleging he met Paul Manafort three times — Wikileaks publisher Julian Assange is threatening legal action over a Guardian story claiming he met former Donald Trump campaign chairman …
Jason Schwartz / Politico:
Fox News has not tweeted since November 8 when it began an apparent boycott of Twitter, even with Tuesday's launch of its streaming service Fox Nation — The network hasn't tweeted since Nov. 8. — Tuesday was a red-letter day for Fox News: The launch of Fox Nation …
Discussion:
@maghielse, @candicechoi, @pvolpe, Associated Press, Media Matters for America and The Wrap
Media Matters for America:
Sinclair is forcing its ~100 news stations to air a segment featuring Boris Epshteyn defending the tear-gassing of migrants at the border, including children — The Trump administration has again unleashed particular cruelty and violence on Central American immigrants …
Matthew Singer / Willamette Week:
Thrillist article on Portland restaurant Stanich's, which launched a debate about food criticism, left out important context about the owner's legal troubles — The personal life of the owner had been spiraling into chaos long before his restaurant landed on the national radar.
Discussion:
@megreenwell, @mekosoff, @jamilsmith, @kimseverson, @gitagovinda, @samthielman, @natesilver538, @richarddeitsch, @elizashapiro, @brosandprose, @badcoverversion, @_grendan, @mpsinger, @glennf, Eater, @pixelmetal, @rwhittall, @bruce_arthur, @pete_wells, @mattdpearce, @mimapamundi and Pacific Standard
Wall Street Journal:
eMarketer: Amazon's ad revenue on pace to double this year to $5.83B, and the company is expected to collect 15% of US digital ads in 2020 — Its push challenges the big ad sellers, including Facebook, Google and TV networks — Amazon.com Inc. AMZN .01% handles nearly half of all online sales …
Discussion:
@gu881n5, @ericfranchi and @wsj
Mark Sweney / The Guardian:
Mail Online ad revenue overtakes print for first time, as publisher DMGT reports ad revenue of £122M for Mail Online and £119M for Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday — Website manages to hit milestone despite 13% slump in global audience — Mail Online's ad revenues have overtaken …
Discussion:
Financial Times, Reuters, The Drum and City A.M.
Brett Samuels / The Hill:
The White House press pool was left behind without explanation after the National Christmas Tree lighting as Trump returned to the White House — President Trump on Wednesday departed the National Christmas Tree lighting event without White House staff notifying a pool of reporters assigned …
Discussion:
@w7voa, New York Times, The Gateway Pundit, @w7voa, @anitakumar01, @oknox, @anitakumar01, @justinsink, @zekejmiller, @w7voa, @justinsink, ABC News and Mediaite
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Dish's Sling TV has added nine Discovery networks, but the streaming service still lacks Univision and HBO due to contract disputes — Sling TV, Dish Network's internet TV service, has added nine Discovery networks on its national and Spanish-language services, along with several thousand VOD titles.
Discussion:
FierceVideo and Radio & Television …