Top News:
Cynthia Littleton / Variety:
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 …
Discussion:
CNBC, News Corp, Wall Street Journal, Columbia Journalism Review, CNN, New York Times, Axios, The Wrap, Associated Press, @jpbrammer, Bloomberg, Los Angeles Times, New Republic, @pkafka, @ellomelissa, @deanobeidallah, @kate_mckean, @fletcherchristy, @hunterw, @gwillowwilson, @sivavaid, @sinaqueyras, @pamelapaulnyt, @marksweney, @newrepublic, @shauniedarko, @dhh, @jaxxonhoward, @eriqgardner, @edmundlee, @lyta_gold, @pellertweeto, @kosokojackson, @bradfordpearson, @beth_phelan, @annaknicolaou, @brianstelter, @bristei, @zephyrteachout, @nataliegdiaz, @andrewlavallee, @zoewhittall, @davidmwessel, @silviakillings, Publishers Weekly, @evascalzo, @brianstelter, @gerryfsmith, @reckless, Radio & Television …, The Week, @benmullin, @davidmwessel, @sethasfishman, @sarafischer, @andrewlavallee, @steve_foxe, @cooperwilhelm, @bfishbfish, @ibjiyongi, @bourreelam, @ayeshakfaines, @scalzi, @literarypenny, @xanalter, @chuckwendig, @constancegrady, MediaPost, Bloomberg, Publishers Lunch, Daily Herald and Financial Times
Michael Isikoff / Yahoo News:
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 …
Discussion:
@cristianafarias, @janekleeb, Newser, @davidfolkenflik, @mikebutcher, @leablackmiami, @jeremymbarr, @bgrueskin, @kimmasters, @bradmossesq, @mikeisaac, @isikoff, The Week and Washington Post
RELATED:
Armin Rosen / Tablet Magazine:
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?
Elahe Izadi / Washington Post:
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 …
Discussion:
@retogregori, @medresjourno, @bylenasun, @elaheizadi, @brianstelter and @davidshepardson
David Brown / The Times:
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 …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Variety, Bustle and @mygrindelwald
Gene Maddaus / 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
Keith J. Kelly / New York Post:
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 …
Discussion:
@jeffjarvis, @batnib, @rachelsklar, @rachelsklar, @annshoket and @rachelsklar
Eriq Gardner / Hollywood Reporter:
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.
Discussion:
Variety, Los Angeles Times, @eriqgardner and @zernerlaw
Michael Kozlowski / Goodereader:
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
Amanda Meade / The Guardian:
Draft of Australia's news code now includes public broadcasters ABC and SBS, allowing them to recieve payments from Google and Facebook for using their content — Exclusive: Josh Frydenberg adds public broadcasters to code after they were initially excluded by Australia's competition regulator
Discussion:
Crikey, @fabiochiusi, @benoquist, @rasmus_kleis, @withmeaa, @osbornep and @quentindempster
Kerry Flynn / CNN:
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 …
Discussion:
@sanjanakaranth, @marinafang, @ryanjreilly, @alexanderrusso, @huffpostunion, @mcwm, @sanjanakaranth and @biettetimmons
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
UK publisher Future is acquiring GoCo Group, owner of price comparison site Go Compare, for £594M, and says it had pre-tax profit of £52M in 2020, up 309% YoY — Specialist publisher Future has revealed it tripled its pre-tax profits for the second year in a row as it announced plans …
Discussion:
Bloomberg
Accounting Specialist Editor, Remote US — 
Senior Correspondent - Wealth, NY — 
Asia Credit Reporter, Seoul — 
Senior Editor, DC — 
Sr. Social Media Specialist, NC — 
Associate Editor - Aviation, TN — 
Assistant Editor - Digital, NC — 
Video Producer - YouTube, NY — 
Senior Managing Ed. - Daily Desk — 
Content Managing Editor — 
Editor, MA — 
Team Editor - Breaking News, ON — 
Senior Reporter & Event Host, NY/CA — 
Associate Editor, Remote — 
Retail Reporter, MN — 
Senior Data Editor, DC — 
Managing Ed. - Berks County, PA — 
News Editor - UK, Remote — 
Staff Writer, TX — 
Multimedia Journalist, PA — 
Service Journalism Editor, CA — 
Content Director, Remote — 
Sports Reporter, ME — 
Los Angeles Issues Reporter, CA — 
Reporter - Middle East — 
Executive Editor, OR — 
California Playbook Writer, CA — 
Senior Media Editor — 
National Investigative Reporter, NY — 
Lexington County Reporter, SC — 
Reporter - Offshore Wind — 
General Assignment Reporter, FL — 
Staff Reporter, CA — 
Data Editor, NY — 
