Top News:
Dasha Litvinova / Associated Press:
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
Daphne Keller / @daphnehk:
[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 »
Mike Fleming Jr / Deadline:
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.
Gene Maddaus / Variety:
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.
Wall Street Journal:
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
Jeremy Barr / Washington Post:
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
Lucas Manfredi / The Wrap:
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
Andy Maxwell / TorrentFreak:
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
Wired:
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 …
Todd Spangler / Variety:
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
Poynter:
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, Inc.:
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