Top News:


Vice Media agrees to acquire Refinery29 in a deal expected to close before the end of 2019; source: Vice is issuing mostly stock to Refinery29's shareholders — After months of talks, Vice Media sealed an agreement to acquire Refinery29, a bet by the two digital-centric media companies …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Wall Street Journal, CNN, MediaPost, @moorehn, Hollywood Reporter, @johnjcook, Axios, The Drum, The Cut and @andreagonram


Fox News says radio host and commentator Todd Starnes is no longer working at the network and his show on Fox Nation has also been canceled — TheWrap has learned that Todd Starnes' contract at Fox News is not being renewed. The host will no longer be working at the network, its website …
Discussion:
The Daily Beast, Right Wing Watch and Mediaite
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Poll: 12 of the 15 most polarizing US brands are national news media; the gap between how Republicans and Democrats view CNN and Fox News has grown since 2018 — News media companies make up 12 of the 15 most polarizing brands in America today, according to a new Morning Consult poll provided to Axios.
Discussion:
Morning Consult, Fast Company, @byjackkelly, @mattgrossmann, @raju, @mcrowdermeyer, The Wrap, MediaPost and New York Post


Ad tech firm MediaMath debuts Source, an initiative to clean up the digital media supply chain, with 16 ad tech firms, ad agencies, and publishers participating — A group of 16 companies — including leading ad tech firms, ad agencies and publishers — is trying to help clean up the murky world of digital advertising.
Discussion:
PR Newswire, Broadcasting & Cable, @danr917, @nytimesbusiness and Mobile Marketing Magazine


Public opinion will affect the outcome of impeachment inquiry; journalists should prepare well for interviews, stop booking liars, and avoid false equivalence — Scott Pelley of CBS pushed back hard Sunday when House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy tried to spin him on Sunday's “60 Minutes.”
Discussion:
@sulliview, @laurenduca, @ivanthek, @jayrosen_nyu, @jamesfallows, @oliverdarcy and @lawrence


Guardian Media Group CEO David Pemsel to leave the news publisher in spring 2020 to join the Premier League — Clubs say Pemsel hired because of his ‘straightforward style and personal integrity’ — The Premier League has appointed the Guardian's David Pemsel as its new chief executive.
Discussion:
Press Gazette, Daily Mail, CityAM, @jeffjarvis, Mediatel Newsline, @henrymance, @danroan and Telegraph


NewsMatch 2019 fundraising campaign: nearly 200 nonprofit newsrooms participating, 49 for the first time, donations up to $1K matched, running Nov. 1-Dec. 31 — In 2016, 54 news organizations participated in the first NewsMatch campaign, a swiftly organized matching gift campaign created …
Discussion:
NewsMatch, @ssuttell and @jcstearns


Chris Stone is stepping down as editor-in-chief of Sports Illustrated after 27 years at the publication; source says layoffs are likely in the next few weeks — Sports Illustrated is currently transitioning ownership and corporate leadership, from Meredith Corp. to Authentic Brands Group …
Discussion:
Awful Announcing and New York Post


The real-life journalists behind characters in three films at the recent Toronto International Film Festival talk about their stories being adapted into movies — Even as she was reporting it, Jessica Pressler had the sense that her story about a group of strippers-turned-criminals was the stuff movies are made of.
Discussion:
@latimesent, @sararivae, @latimes and @jpressler


Employees of the Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald announce they plan to unionize, while criticizing a decade of downsizing, layoffs, and consolidation — Months after reporters revealed that McClatchy News CEO Craig Forman had received a $1 million bonus and $35,000 per-month housing stipend …
Discussion:
@greenhousenyt and @miaminewtimes


Reuters Institute director says journalism is divided between a conservative rearguard and the vanguard, who accept uncertainty and need for change in the field — “The truth is hard” — I've come across this quote repeatedly in the past year, most frequently in the form of ads for the New York Times at various media events.
Discussion:
Nieman Lab, American Press Institute, @rasmus_kleis, @jayrosen_nyu, @emilybell, @svaradarajan, @cristianlupsa, @jburnmurdoch, @davidbauer, @nikkiusher, @kathyenglish, @emilybell, @_silversmith, @sambrook, @dabeard, @vassgatov, @vassgatov, @gteresa, @chanders, @chanders, @jayrosen_nyu, @emilybell, @meeraselva1, @brizzyc, @chanders, @rasmus_kleis, @jbenton, @rasmus_kleis, @jeffjarvis, @emilybell, @rasmus_kleis and @emilybell


Meghan Markle sues Mail on Sunday over a claim that it unlawfully published one of her private letters; Prince Harry complains about “relentless propaganda” — The Duchess of Sussex has begun legal action against the Mail on Sunday over a claim that it unlawfully published one of her private letters.
Discussion:
The Guardian, Press Gazette, sussexofficial.uk, @victorialive, Breitbart, @peterjukes, BuzzFeed News, @cccburysted, @kristenmeinzer, @adilray, @monitarajpal, @scobie, @scobie, @scobie, Deadline and Harper's BAZAAR