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Tribune Publishing says Alden Global Capital is now the company's largest shareholder, buying 25.2% of the company from Merrick Ventures and Michael Ferro Jr. — Tribune Publishing Company (NASDAQ: TPCO), one of the nation's leading media companies, today announced that funds managed …
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Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, USA Today, @amlwhere, @eliseschmelzer, @slulay2, @mattdpearce, @brianstelter, @alissaskelton, @ronlin, @jbenton, @pwoodreporter, @saragregory, @davidfolkenflik, @laura_nelson, @jaysunsilver, @gerryfsmith, @joanniesen, @ckrewson, @davidfolkenflik and The Wrap
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This week is a major turning point for daily newspapers in the US, with bankers deciding what will be defined as news, and who will be employed to report it — New York (CNN Business)Let's take a close look at what's happening at three of the biggest newspaper owners in the United States.
Discussion:
Columbia Journalism Review, @byjonharris and @jon_allsop


Gannett and New Media Investment Group's merger became official Tuesday, with executives hoping “efficiencies” will save about $300M/year — The deal to create the largest newspaper company in the nation — which became official at 4:10 p.m. on Tuesday — came about with remarkable speed …
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USA Today, @maxwelltani, CNN, @joshsternberg, @amandahess, @jamesebriggs, @sethklamann, @joemfox, @spsullivan, @baltsunguild, @jcrutchmer, @mathewi, @dicktofel, @cooperoncourts, @caspernewsguild, @melissayeagr, @indyemapolis, @vicky_jacobsen, @reporterdavidj, @darrendcarroll, @dtohl, @courantguild, @pmalonedc, @emilyoverholt, @jbenton, @simonowens, @jbenton, @jenwsheehan, @alexkotch, @marcatracy, @rebekahlsanders, @mattdpearce, @kerrymflynn and Brookings


A deep look at McClatchy's options for a sale, restructuring or bankruptcy, and the influence of the federal pension agency and Chatham Asset Management — The nation's second-largest newspaper company had paid off most of its old debt and still generates positive cashflow.
Discussion:
@newsbyschmidt


Sources: NYT is facing a succession contest to replace Dean Baquet before September 2022, with three top candidates: Joe Kahn, James Bennet, and Cliff Levy — If you're following the news these days, you'll notice that a high percentage is about the New York Times — the headlines …
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@williams_paige, @katherinemiller, @samthielman, @jasonleopold, @jimwaterson, @bigmeaninternet, @michaelluo, @tomgara, @annehelen, @perpetua, @jeremymbarr, @nbashaw, @sulliview, @willsommer, @ckrewson, @josephfcox, @jayrosen_nyu, @bgrueskin, Fox News, @ajentleson, @govhowarddean, @dropoutnation, @derektmead, @ashtonpittman, @whstancil, @mehdirhasan and @pulitzerprizes


Torstar announces 121 layoffs, with 73 to be cut as it closes StarMetro Vancouver and four other free dailies on Dec. 20; more layoffs are in southern Ontario — Five more daily newspapers shuttered, 73 jobs lost across Canada. — Christopher Cheung is a reporter at The Tyee.
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@tarynalgrant, @thetyee, @anna_desmarais, @sdbcraig, @ayan604, @jsource, @sdbcraig, @jsource, @bychrischeung, The Conversation and Canada NewsWire Group


During Tuesday's debate, UK's Conservative party renamed its main media Twitter account as “factcheckUK” and changed its logo to push anti-Labour material — Party accused of misleading public by tweeting anti-Labour posts as ‘factcheckUK’ — The Conservatives have been accused …
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First Draft, Press Gazette, The Guardian, @alexhern, Press Gazette, Financial Times, @paulbernaluk, @firstdraftnews, @peterkgeoghegan, @joe_stone, @dsquareddigest, @midlandsound, @lisaocarroll, @davidlammy, @grodaeu, @broderick, @emilybell, @jimwaterson, @cononeilluk, @rory_palmer, @alexhern, @johnedwards33, @peterstefanovi2, @dsquareddigest, @sdp, @daveleebbc, @jimwaterson, @lisaocarroll, @alexhern, @aljwhite, @carljackmiller, @alexhern, @pickardje and Financial Times


NYT says it will no longer use tracking pixels from Facebook and Twitter, instead using TAFI, a new AI-powered tool, to target potential subscribers — The New York Times will no longer use tracking pixels from Facebook and Twitter to track its users' browser history, executives tell Axios.
Discussion:
AdExchanger and @mathewi


Verizon Media CEO Guru Gowrappan says it has no plans to divest any properties, including HuffPost, from the Yahoo-AOL group — Verizon is not selling HuffPost, according to Verizon Media CEO Guru Gowrappan — who insisted the news and opinion site is central to its content strategy.


Apple launches Apple Music for Business, to let businesses play music in retail locations with Apple providing human-curated playlists and recommendations — Apple Music is now partnering with businesses to play music at retail stores. In a partnership with PlayNetwork …
Discussion:
Fast Company, Wall Street Journal and Music Business Worldwide


Texas Tribune EIC and chief audience officer are stepping down to launch a national nonprofit news organization aimed at giving women “facts, tools, and info” — They'll exit their leadership roles at The Texas Tribune at the end of the year. We couldn't be more grateful …
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American Press Institute, Poynter, @amzam, @natalie_choate, @cshalby, @emilybell, @jwharris, @jeffjarvis, @jayrosen_nyu, @lmcgaughy, @eramshaw, @amzam, @amzam, @amzam, @eramshaw and The Wrap


Disney executive Kevin Mayer said overwhelming demand from 10M new users and a computer-coding glitch led to widespread problems last week as Disney+ launched — Walt Disney Co. executive Kevin Mayer said overwhelming demand and a computer-coding glitch led to widespread problems last week …
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Deadline, Variety, The Streamable and TVWeek.com
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Trump's antagonism toward Bezos, WaPo, and Amazon, followed by denial of a $10B cloud contract, should be a larger scandal than it has been treated so far — The saga of President Trump's reprisals against Amazon has lurked on the margin of the news, largely overshadowed by the Ukraine scandal.
Discussion:
@jonathanchait, @taralogrady, @szreports, @andreweversden1, @danrather, @adamblickstein, @washtimes and Washington Times