Top News:


Russia places journalist and author Masha Gessen on a wanted list after opening a criminal case on charges of spreading “false information” about Russia's army — Russian police have put prominent Russian-American journalist and author Masha Gessen on a wanted list after opening …
Discussion:
@rferl, Meduza.io, Reuters, @penamerica, The Moscow Times, PEN America, @thehonourablesc, Radio Free Europe/Radio …, @pjotrsauer, @moscowtimes, @cultrhack, InsideHook and @sfrcdems

[Thread] Texas' and Florida's online speech rules for platforms cannot be justified, as less restrictive tools that give users control over online content exist — There was an amazing outpouring of S. Ct. amicus briefs opposing Texas's and Florida's online speech regulations yesterday. Here's what mine's about. 1/
Discussion:
@daphnehk, @daphnehk, @jess_miers, @iab, @eff, @progresschamber, @wikimedia, @netchoice, NTU, internetworks, techfreedom.org, ARTICLE 19, Public Knowledge, Knight First Amendment …, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Broadband Breakfast, Reclaim The Net, The Messenger and The Hill, more at Techmeme »


Dave Robb, a longtime investigative reporter and author on the Hollywood labor beat who most recently worked for Deadline, died on December 8 at 74 — Longtime Deadline reporter Dave Robb has passed away at age 74. Considered the dean of the Hollywood labor beat, Robb was recently diagnosed with inoperable cancer of the brain stem.


A judge certifies a class action lawsuit alleging Disney paid 9,000 women less than male staff, the largest lawsuit certified under California's Equal Pay Act — A judge on Friday certified a class action lawsuit that alleges that Disney paid 9,000 women less than their male counterparts.


A profile of former CNN boss Jeff Zucker, as his Abu Dhabi-backed investment group RedBird IMI helps The Barclay family take control of Telegraph Media Group — Veteran media executive's investment group is a top contender to buy two U.K. publications, for which he plans U.S. expansion
Discussion:
@wsjbusiness


CBS News journalist Catherine Herridge could face a contempt of court sanction and fines if she does not reveal a source for Fox News stories she wrote in 2017 — First Amendment advocates are alarmed by the case of Catherine Herridge, who is facing an imminent court deadline and steep fines
Discussion:
@fatalpolitics, @jeremymbarr, @brandonmillman and CBS News


Paramount's stock jumps ~14% over reports Skydance Media CEO David Ellison and RedBird Capital's Gerry Cardinale are “kicking the tires” on acquiring its assets — The companies are reportedly interested in parent company National Amusements' majority stake in the media conglomerate


Forty nine record labels file a lawsuit against Altice for allegedly facilitating “massive copyright infringement committed by thousands of its subscribers” — Around 50 record labels, all members of the RIAA, have filed a mass copyright infringement lawsuit against Altice, owner of U.S. ISP Optimum.
Discussion:
@reuterslegal, Reuters and TorrentFreak


An investigation of internet censorship in US schools finds broad use of filters that block health and identity information, thousands of news stories, and more — A WIRED investigation into internet censorship in US schools found widespread use of filters to censor health, identity, and other crucial information.
Discussion:
@meghann, @katiedrumm, @waterslicer, @cendemtech, @dmehro, Shea Brown on LinkedIn and Freedom of the Press …


SEC filing: Netflix details its 2024 pay packages for co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters, with $3M base salaries, $6M target cash bonuses, and $31M in stock — For Sarandos, $40 million is the same level of pay he is set to receive in 2023, while Peters is getting a 5% step …
Discussion:
US Securities …, The Wrap, Wall Street Journal and The Hollywood Reporter


Challenger, Gray & Christmas: the news sector of the media industry has seen 2,681 job cuts from January through November 2023, more than in all of 2022 or 2021 — The news sector alone has lost 2,681 jobs so far in 2023 — more than it did in all of 2022 or 2021.
Discussion:
@pranavdixit, @jaimeblack, @skyler_higley, @danackerman, Donovan Farnham on LinkedIn, Challenger …, The Daily Beast and Variety

Lee Enterprises reports Q4 operating revenue down 15.3% YoY to $164M, net loss down 80% YoY to $1.3M, and digital-only subscribers up 36% YoY to 721K — Total Digital Revenue(1) was $73M in the quarter, representing 44% of revenue — Digital-only subscribers total 721,000, exceeding guidance and up 36% YOY
Discussion:
@byjonharris and MediaPost