Mediagazer: Workers at iHeartMedia ask it to voluntarily recognize a proposed WGAE union bargaining unit representing around 125 producers, writers, and podcast hosts (Josh Eidelson/Bloomberg)

11:45 PM ET, December 9, 2021

Top News:

The Association of American Publishers sues Maryland, saying a new e-book law requiring publishers to offer reasonable terms to libraries violates copyright law — The Association of American Publishers filed suit December 9 to stop a new library e-book law in Maryland from taking effect on January 1 …

Discussion: AAP, Library Futures, @josephjesposito, @devlinhartline, @bc_butler and @noethematt

The Quad City Times:

Lee Enterprises' board of directors unanimously rejects Alden's unsolicited, nonbinding takeover offer for $24 per share as it “grossly undervalues Lee” — Lee Enterprises, the owner of The World-Herald and numerous other Nebraska newspapers, on Thursday announced that its board …

Discussion: Lee Enterprises, Inc., CNN, Axios, New York Times, @john_p_carvalho, @sarafischer, Poynter, @marydleonard, Newser, @dkiesow, @timeslandguild, @mcallguild, @brynstole, @owhguild, @lukedecock, @lincolnbizbuzz and Fingerlakes1.com

Michael Conte / CNN:

US Secretary of State Blinken announces a “liability fund” for news outlets sued over their work and financial support for independent international journalism — (CNN)The US will provide new funding to protect reporters targeted because of their work and support independent …

Discussion: The White House, @apmassaro3, @usambbelarus, @holewinskisarah, @thesentry_org, @vanguardafrica, @holewinskisarah, @digiphile, @penamerica, @usaid, @mcfaul, @nishantlalwani, @sarcasmstardust, @cjcmichel, @jamesmdeane and @holewinskisarah

Arlene Getz / Committee to Protect Journalists:

The global number of jailed journalists reached a record of 293 in 2021 so far, up from 280 in 2020; at least 24 journalists were killed over their coverage — The number of journalists jailed around the world set another record in 2021. Invoking new tech and security laws …

Ryan Faughnder / Los Angeles Times:

Universal Pictures plans to stream most of its 2022 films on Peacock 45 days after debuting in theaters; existing deals with theater chains remain unchanged — Streaming service Peacock is hoping to get a boost from movies made by its corporate sibling, movie studio Universal Pictures.

Discussion: The Wrap, Media Play News, Variety, ScreenRant and Decider

Todd Spangler / Variety:

Comcast adds YouTube TV to Xfinity Flex, the cable giant's video platform for broadband-only customers, offering 85+ channels for $65/month — It's another case of the streaming wars making strange bedfellows: Comcast announced that starting today, Google's YouTube TV is now available on Xfinity Flex …

Discussion: thestreamable.com, The Verge, The Streamable, @richlightshed, Engadget and TV Technology

Mia Galuppo / Hollywood Reporter:

Netflix announces Tudum, a website for consumer news about renewals and release dates, adding to social channels like Strong Black Lead and its magazine Queue — A new website, Tudum, will host news like renewals and consumer content about series and films, marking the latest editorial effort by the streaming giant.

Discussion: TechCrunch, @netflix, Gawker, @andrewcurryla, @mcwm, @freeblackgirl, @bradybrendan1 and @miagaluppo

Richard J. Tofel / Second Rough Draft:

BuzzFeed was still right to publish the largely discredited Steele Dossier, because it was well-circulated in Washington and central elements were accurate — Even with its inaccuracies and suspect motives, the public needed to know what the dossier said. — Welcome to Second Rough Draft …

Discussion: @ijbailey, @kevinmdraper, @johnjcook, @benyt, @erikwemple, @schwartzesque, @armandondk, @erikwemple, @erikwemple, @mathewi, @erikwemple, @benyt, @benyt, @andrew__roth, @erikwemple, @erikwemple, @benyt, @erikwemple, @heminator and @erikwemple

Mark Stenberg / Adweek:

Starting in early 2022, video clips from Vox Media's Pivot podcast will air exclusively on Salesforce+ for 72 hours; Salesforce will sponsor Pivot video in 2022 — The tech podcast Pivot will share four exclusive clips weekly on the ‘Netflix for business content’

Discussion: Salesforce News, hotpodnews.com, @bmorrissey, @karaswisher, @stevegoldbloom and @vincenzolandino

Digiday:

Study: 92.6% of websites with tier-one ad spend place at least one tracker on users' devices before gaining their consent, suggesting they may be violating GDPR — European Union law on cookie consent is clear: a person should be given a simple choice to accept or reject being tracked by advertisers on publisher sites.

Discussion: @opeyemioab, @chronotope and What's New in Publishing

Todd Spangler / Variety:

Paramount+ launches 18 themed channels streaming 24 hours per day, akin to Pluto TV, initially without ads, even for its ad-supported Essential tier — Paramount Plus is taking a page from ViacomCBS's Pluto TV streaming service with the launch of 18 linear channels that let subscribers surf through always …

Discussion: The Streamable and The FASTMaster

Bailey Lipschultz / Bloomberg:

BuzzFeed stock plunges another 24% on Thursday, its fourth consecutive day closing at a record low; it has lost about 40% in market cap since its SPAC merger — BuzzFeed Inc.'s plunge after leaping into the public market earlier this week is accelerating. — Shares of the digital media …

Discussion: The Rebooting, Simon Owens's Media Newsletter, contextisking.com, @ashkan and @btlipschultz

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More News:

Josh Eidelson / Bloomberg:
Workers at iHeartMedia ask it to voluntarily recognize a proposed WGAE union bargaining unit representing around 125 producers, writers, and podcast hosts

Discussion: @technology, Hollywood Reporter, Radio & Television …, @joellemonique and @josheidelson

Caitlin Petre / Columbia Journalism Review:
Interviews with staff at Chartbeat, NYT, and Gawker from 2011-2015 show how journalism's conflicting mandates complicate interpreting and using traffic metrics

Discussion: @shaynenuesca, @caitlinfrazier, @cengizyar, @jacobhwasserman, @cbpetre, @jnelz, @mayaaverbuch, @jamcnn, @kmariemoffitt and @spj_tweets

Isabella Simonetti / Observer:
Internal email: Dow Jones plans to launch the “WSJ Commerce Initiative” with a shopping site like Wirecutter in 2022, with a staff separate from the newsroom

Discussion: Talking Biz News

@wirecutterunion:
The Wirecutter Union files an unfair labor charge with the NLRB after learning that the NYT withheld holiday pay from striking workers

Discussion: @rweingarten, @kvanaren, @nytimesguild, @hunterboone, @samred, @samitsarkar, @thomdunn, @runasand, @galeabrewer, @poniewozik, @kimberstreams, Ed Zitron's Where's Your Ed At, @aegies, @cwaunion, @mckinneykelsey and bookforum.com

Alex Weprin / Hollywood Reporter:
Time will reveal its Person of the Year on YouTube on Monday, after unveiling it on NBC in previous years, and will add new categories like Heroes of the Year

Discussion: @keithgrossman, @1gestalt, @ashkan, @benioff and MediaPost

Jon Lafayette / nexttv.com:
OpenAP launches XPm, a framework that provides advertisers with cross-platform audience metrics and lets them pick a measurement provider

Discussion: Variety, Ad Age, Radio & Television …, PR Newswire and Beet.TV

Earlier Picks:

Sam Kille / Report for America:
Report for America adds nearly 70 new host newsroom partners, expanding into more rural communities and continuing its focus on education beats

Discussion: @dsmith_tucson, @joshbarousse, @report4america, @stevenwaldman, @haley_samsel, @sjspotlight, @alexanderrusso, @nicdawes, @kevinloker and The Rural Blog

International Press Institute:
Q&A with the CEO of Scrolla Africa on delivering news in English and isiZulu via a data-lite app due to high data rates, mobile-first journalism, and more

Discussion: @risj_oxford, @rasmus_kleis, @ifex and @globalfreemedia

Ken Meyer / Mediaite:
OANN owner and founder Robert Herring contradicts his son, OANN President Charles Herring, saying the company does not support Joe Biden's FCC nominee Gigi Sohn

Discussion: Washington Free Beacon and Ars Technica

Ashley Carman / The Verge:
A researcher who listened to 350+ hours of The Joe Rogan Experience says COVID-19 misinformation has become its central core and Spotify should moderate it

Discussion: Input, Columbia Journalism Review, @harrymccracken, @searls, @ashleyrcarman, @tnicholsmd, @jake_k, @alexpattyy, @bradesposito, @roisinwest, @b3ardedwond3r and Podcast Movement

Sara Fischer / Axios:
Roku says it has agreed to a multi-year extension with Google for distributing YouTube and YouTube TV apps on its devices; Roku's stock is up 18%+

Helen Davidson / The Guardian:
RSF report details the worsening treatment of journalists in China: “media culture worthy of the Maoist era”, Hong Kong journalism is “in freefall”, and more

Discussion: Reporters Without Borders, @rsf_inter, @badiucao, @isobelyeung, @piratkolaja, @dabeard, @kenroth, @jaketapper, Agence France-Presse, Washington Post, BBC, @amfchina, @nathanattrill and Newser

From Techmeme:

Mark Gurman / Bloomberg:
Sources: Apple is working on a smart doorbell system with advanced facial recognition that can wirelessly connect and unlock third-party smart locks

Reuters:
Albania bans TikTok for a year from January 2025, part of a broader plan to make schools safer following the killing of a 14-year-old near a school in November

Wall Street Journal:
Gina Raimondo says holding back China in the chips race is a “fool's errand”, and investment, more than export controls, will keep US ahead of Beijing

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