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A group of 13 people made up of WaPo staff and families, including Afghan journalists, has left Kabul; the status of others who work for NYT and WSJ is unclear — A group of Washington Post employees, including Afghan journalists and their families, safely departed Kabul on Tuesday …
Discussion:
The New York Times Company, New York Times, Variety, @wsjpr, Wall Street Journal, @nytimespr, @andrewrestuccia, Wall Street Journal, Vanity Fair, @rachelabramsny, @cliffordlevy, @mviser, Media Matters for America, Snopes.com, @goanand, @anniegowen, @oliverdarcy, @lara_korte, @ajvicens and @nikkiusher
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In a statement to RSF, Taliban spokesperson says “journalists working for state or privately owned media are not criminals and none of them will be prosecuted” — Clearly choosing his words carefully at a time of the utmost concern for media personnel in Afghanistan …
Discussion:
Voice of America, @w7voa, @freedomofpress and International Press Institute


Right-wing media outlets and elected US Republicans distorted phrases by CNN's Clarissa Ward in Kabul to imply that Ward and CNN were rooting for the Taliban — The political right has plenty to work with right now on Afghanistan. The withdrawal from that country has gone poorly …
Discussion:
@tedcruz, @cnnpr, @djjudd, USA Today, @clarissaward, @jackposobiec, @charlesppierce, @nickkristof, Snopes.com, @katies, @mahwashajaz_, @anusharavi10, @sduncovered, @biaggi4ny, @atrupar, @jackposobiec, @kfile, @ananavarro, @kaitlancollins, @maggienyt, @frankluntz, @phil_mattingly, @farnazfassihi, @fbhutto, @mollymckew, @jackiekcalmes, @seungminkim, @keithedwards, @paulszoldra, @chrisburynews, @repdanbishop, @peterbale, @raineytime, @emgusk, @dailycaller, @byrondonalds and Insider


More than 100 journalists employed by US government's radio stations are yet to be evacuated from Afghanistan as the Taliban take power
Discussion:
Columbia Journalism Review, Columbia Journalism Review, @yaldasarwar, MediaPost, @peterhamby, @kevinmaisto, @anujchopra, @ariannahuff, @jon_allsop, @arianapekary, @brianstelter, @oliverdarcy, Poynter, Breitbart, @mlcalderone, @smbahr14, @mlcalderone, @joshrogin, @benyt, CBS Denver, SPJ News and News Media Alliance


J2 Global, owner Mashable and IGN, is rebranding as Ziff Davis and has a $1B M&A budget, after spending $480M on deals in 2020 and earning revenue of $1.49B — Parent company J2 Global is being renamed after the century-old magazine publisher and will have $1 billion for buying up other companies
Discussion:
@davemorgannyc, @seangriffey, @wsj, @saschasegan, The Wrap and New York Times


Sources: Forbes Media is in talks to go public via a merger with the Magnum Opus Acquisition SPAC, a deal that would value the company at $650M — - Media company had been in talks with GSV-led consortium — B.C. Forbes founded namesake business magazine in 1917
Discussion:
SPAC Track, @deitaone and Talking Biz News


A look at the focus on disinformation by media, tech, and academic leaders, and how assumptions about disinfo effectiveness echo old media and advertising myths — In the beginning, there were ABC, NBC, and CBS, and they were good. Midcentury American man could come home after eight hours …
Discussion:
@benyt, @bostonjoan, @annemariebridy, @brizzyc, @etbrooking, @mathewi, @yoloethics, @noupside, @annisch, @willoremus, @willoremus, @kenvogel, @noupside, @neontaster, @tomgara, @nickconfessore, @rosiegray, @willoremus, @jemimajoanna, @chanders, @black_action, @huge_reality, @nkulw, @escarry, @daveyalba, @theophite, @geniepee, @noahbuyon, @daveyalba, @kevinwglass, @bcmerchant, @mattyglesias, @laurawags, @noupside, @johnarchibald, @noupside, @lionel_trolling, @omriceren, @arielbogle, @dangainor, @daveyalba, @nkulw, @rosiegray, @samjsutton and @willoremus


Hong Kong's public broadcaster, RTHK, partners with China Media Group to air more pro-Beijing shows, prompting worries about RTHK's editorial independence — BANGKOK - Plans by Hong Kong's public broadcaster to partner with Chinese state media have furthered fears that it is aligning closely with Beijing.
Discussion:
South China Morning Post and @jessicajerreat


Sinclair and Dish temporarily extend their contract as talks continue on their carriage deal; Sinclair regional sports networks have been a major sticking point — Dish and Sinclair have agreed to a short-term extension of their carriage agreement — HUNT VALLEY, M.D. …
Discussion:
USA Today, Cord Cutters News, Awful Announcing and Barrett Media


OANN loses an appeal of a ruling that dismissed its defamation suit against MSNBC and Rachel Maddow and will be liable for about $250,000 in Maddow's legal fees — One American News (OAN) has faced another loss in their legal battle against MSNBC's Rachel Maddow.
Discussion:
Variety, Law & Crime, The Daily Beast, The Wrap, Joe.My.God., The Hill and TVNewser


Members of The NewsGuild of New York voted 1,246-559 for a temporary dues increase for three years, the first dues increase in the guild's 88-year history — NEW YORK — In an historic referendum, an overwhelming majority of The NewsGuild of New York members voted 1246-559 in support …


How conservative publishing imprints, like Threshold Editions and Salem Books, are capitalizing on the backlash against progressive titles on race and racism — Books on race and antiracism have sold well over the past year. Now titles like “I Can't Breathe: How a Racial Hoax Is Killing America” and “Race Crazy” are coming.
Discussion:
@casmudde, @nytimesbooks, @kingsbookstore, @morganjerkins, @nytimesbooks, @jbronitsky, @blindmike_, @ebonyteach and @lesliemac


OnlyFans begins promoting OFTV, a free nudity-free app on iOS and Android with 800+ videos by creators, chefs, and others, as it prepares to raise new funding — The most common question customers ask Tim Stokely, the chief executive officer of OnlyFans, is why he doesn't have an app.
Discussion:
TechCrunch, New York Post, @ashleylatke, The Verge and Tubefilter, more at Techmeme »