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, New York Times, CNN, Axios, Columbia Journalism Review, The Wrap, Radio & Television …, Publishers Weekly, New Republic, @ellomelissa, @deanobeidallah, @sinaqueyras, @newrepublic, @zephyrteachout, @ayeshakfaines, @scalzi, @chuckwendig, @gwillowwilson, @nataliegdiaz, @andrewlavallee, MediaPost, @pkafka, @kate_mckean, @hunterw, @sivavaid, @pamelapaulnyt, @marksweney, @shauniedarko, @dhh, @jaxxonhoward, @eriqgardner, @edmundlee, @pellertweeto, @kosokojackson, @bradfordpearson, @annaknicolaou, @brianstelter, @bristei, @zoewhittall, @davidmwessel, @silviakillings, @evascalzo, @brianstelter, @gerryfsmith, @reckless, The Week, @benmullin, @davidmwessel, @sethasfishman, @sarafischer, @steve_foxe, @cooperwilhelm, @bfishbfish, @ibjiyongi, @bourreelam, @literarypenny, @constancegrady, Bloomberg, Daily Herald, Publishers Lunch 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, @bradmossesq, @janekleeb, @kimmasters, Newser, @jeremymbarr, @davidfolkenflik, @mikebutcher, @isikoff, @bgrueskin, @leablackmiami, @mikeisaac, The Week and Washington Post
RELATED:
Gene Maddaus / Variety:
Fox News has settled a suit by the family of DNC staff member Seth Rich, over a 2017 story that claimed Rich had leaked DNC emails to WikiLeaks before his death — Fox News has settled a lawsuit filed by the family of Seth Rich, the former Democratic National Committee staffer who was at the center …
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?
Discussion:
@benyt, @oliverdarcy, @thestalwart, @jon_christian, @notjessewalker, @byronyork, @benfrumin, @caleweissman, @jerrydunleavy, @esotericcd and @michaelsocolow
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:
Variety, The Wrap, 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:
The Wrap and Hollywood Reporter
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:
@batnib, @rachelsklar, @rachelsklar, @annshoket and @rachelsklar
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:
@fabiochiusi, @benoquist, @rasmus_kleis, @withmeaa, @osbornep and @quentindempster
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, @zernerlaw and @eriqgardner
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 …
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
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
Output Producer, CA — 
China Markets Correspondent, Shanghai — 
Senior Assignment Editor, DC — 
Breaking News Editor, Tokyo — 
Senior Correspondent - Wealth, NY — 
Reporter - Ottawa Bureau — 
Local Government Reporter, IA — 
Research Director, CA — 
Immigration Enforcement Reporter — 
Presque Island Reporter, ME — 
Contributing Parks Ed. - SW, CA — 
AI Content Editor, WA — 
Legislative Reporter, TN — 
Editorial Assistant, Remote US — 
Elon Musk Reporter, NY or CA — 
Government & Politics Editor, WA — 
Business & GA Reporter. VT — 
Sports Reporter, WA — 
Energy Reporter, TX — 
Senior Reporter, SC — 
Trade & Climate Correspondent, DC — 
Reporter, WI — 
Political Newsletter Writer, CO — 
Jackson Reporter, MS — 
Music Editor, AZ — 
Breaking News Reporter, NV — 
Fearless Reporter/Producer, IA — 
Reporter II - Technology, Remote — 
Editor, Remote US — 
City Reporter, WA — 
Executive Editor, OR — 
Education & Budget Reporter, CA — 
Senior Writer/Editor, FL — 
Media Editor, Remote — 
