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ViacomCBS to sell publisher Simon & Schuster to Bertelsmann, owner of Penguin Random House, for $2.175B in cash — Bertelsmann, owner of publishing giant Penguin Random House, was seen as a logical contender for Simon & Schuster. ViacomCBS announced its intent to sell the publishing arm …
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Profile of Jennifer Jacobs, a senior political reporter for Bloomberg News, who has come to dominate the White House COVID-19 cases beat — Jennifer Jacobs, a senior political reporter for Bloomberg News, has come to dominate this only-in-2020 beat — If you want to find …
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@retogregori, @elaheizadi, @medresjourno, @andrewfeinberg, @brianstelter, @bylenasun, @davidshepardson and @tomkeene


Sources: Fox agreed to a 7-figure payout to Seth Rich's family in a deal made in time for Fox News President Jay Wallace and Sean Hannity to avoid depositions — WASHINGTON — Just as star anchor Sean Hannity and other high-profile Fox News figures were due to be deposed about their promotion …
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NPR, MediaPost, @cristianafarias, @janekleeb, @jameskosur, Newser, @mikebutcher, @leablackmiami, @davidfolkenflik, @jeremymbarr, @bgrueskin, @kimmasters, @bradmossesq, @mikeisaac, @isikoff, @davidfolkenflik, @davidfolkenflik, CNN, The Week, @erikwemple, @erikwemple, @erikwemple, @erikwemple, Washington Post, Business Insider and Variety


An in-depth look at how The Drudge Report changed over the past few years finds it may have become a conduit for ad fraud and some think Drudge left in 2017 — The Drudge Report has become a conformist shadow of its formerly bratty, oppositional self. Why?


Actor Faizon Love is suing Universal Studios, claiming executives broke promises after Love was omitted from the international poster for 2009's Couples Retreat — Faizon Love was whitewashed from the international marketing for ‘Couples Retreat.’ More than a decade after getting an apology, the actor is suing over what he didn't get.
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Variety, The A.V. Club, Los Angeles Times, @eriqgardner and @zernerlaw


UK judge rules that Johnny Depp cannot appeal The Sun libel case and must pay £628,000 in legal costs to The Sun — Johnny Depp has been refused permission to appeal against the findings of a judge who ruled that he was a wife beater. — The actor has also been ordered to pay …
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Hollywood Reporter, Bustle, @mygrindelwald, The Wrap and Variety


Federal judge dismisses a lawsuit by a Norwegian reporter alleging antitrust violations by HFPA for denying membership to those who compete with its members — A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit that accused the Hollywood Foreign Press Association of using its clout to control the market for overseas entertainment coverage.
Discussion:
Hollywood Reporter and The Wrap


Examining the challenge of being an Indigenous journalist covering Indigenous people, through the lens of being part of a postapocalyptic community — In March 2019, HuffPost sent me to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, home of the Oglala Lakota Nation in South Dakota, to cover the work of an affordable-housing program.
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@jnoisecat, @waub, @saskiapopescu, @kapoor_ml, @annavtoriasmith, @mar1ssamart1nez, @annehelen, @erikabolstad, @silvopastured, @edyong209, @terrachained, @alexckaufman, @sarahkaplan48, @gabbystern, @jennimonet, @j_pineo, @annehelen, @revkin, @terrachained, @rebeccabengal, @jennaprice, @bethsawin and @newsbyschmidt


A day in the life of Nilay Patel, EIC of The Verge and host of The Vergecast and Decoder podcasts, as he juggles management, creative duties, and remote work — Nilay Patel and The Verge are still reviewing gadgets and covering an industry, but with cameos from a Halloween-loving 2-year-old.
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@reckless, @voxmedia and @dcseifert


TheLi.st, a 10-year-old social network for women cofounded by Rachel Sklar and Glynnis MacNicol, has been sold to New Power Media, headed by Ann Shoket — TheLi.st — an oddly named, 10-year-old social network that has been linking successful women with up and comers — has been sold to New Power Media …
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@frankgruber, @jeffjarvis, @batnib, @rachelsklar, @rachelsklar, @annshoket and @rachelsklar


Audible will pay royalties for titles returned more than 7 days from purchase starting Jan. 1; Audible currently deducts royalties for returns within 365 days — Audible has a return policy, where people can return audiobooks and get a credit refund, within 365 days.
Discussion:
@marypcbuk and Bookseller News


HuffPost staffers worry BuzzFeed may not do much to improve HuffPost's diversity problem, as some BuzzFeed staffers say Peretti is all talk, not enough action — New York (CNN Business)About an hour after the news that BuzzFeed is acquiring HuffPost first broke, BuzzFeed chief Jonah Peretti held …
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@sanjanakaranth, @marinafang, @ryanjreilly, @alexanderrusso, @huffpostunion, @mcwm, @sanjanakaranth and @biettetimmons