Top News:
Vivian Lee / Northwest Asian Weekly:
The publisher of Seattle's Northwest Asian Weekly sells the outlet to four local partners, seven months after donating the Seattle Chinese Post to a nonprofit — After decades of nurturing one of the most influential Asian American community media publications in the Pacific Northwest …
Discussion:
Sam Cho on LinkedIn, @nwasianweekly and Northwest Asian Weekly
Jacky Wong / Wall Street Journal:
A look at Sony's entertainment unit, which accounted for ~60% of Sony revenue in FY 2023, up from 30% a decade ago, ahead of a potential Paramount deal — Company aims to make better use of intellectual property across gaming, films and more — Sony is well known for gadgets …
Discussion:
Deadline, The Streamable, Reuters and The Wrap
Chattanooga Times Free Press:
Carpenter Media acquires 10 newspapers in Alabama and Georgia and a Georgia printing facility from Community Newspaper Holdings — The Carpenter Media Group announced Thursday it has acquired the Dalton Daily Citizen in North Georgia as part of an acquisition of 10 newspapers and a Valdosta …
Discussion:
Editor and Publisher, The Tribune-Democrat and Media Nation
Washington Post:
National Geographic pulled the documentary Retrograde from all its platforms after the Taliban killed an Afghan mine-clearer the 2022 film prominently featured — National Geographic has pulled the Emmy-winning film “Retrograde” from its streaming platforms after criticism from veterans and inquiries from The Washington Post.
Discussion:
Telegraph, @ryp__, @hopeseck, @roigfranzia, @nickkristof, @sawyerdane, @honosuteyo and Michael M on LinkedIn
Janko Roettgers / Lowpass:
Comparisons between streaming bundles and the cable bundle are misplaced: the latter was much more expensive and had channels viewers didn't want and junk fees — Like comparing apples to a $125 fruit salad — In light of this week's news that Comcast is now offering a bundle of Netflix …
Discussion:
@tvgrimreaper
Doja Daoud / Committee to Protect Journalists:
Q&A with Gaza journalist Shrouq Al Aila, on the difficulty of her outlet Ain Media's work given a dearth of equipment and the cost of internet, and more — Gaza journalists Shrouq Al Aila and Roshdi Sarraj were on a work trip in Saudi Arabia last fall when their home became a war zone.
Discussion:
Doja Daoud on LinkedIn
Dominic Ponsford / Press Gazette:
UK passes the Media Bill, repealing the not-yet-enacted Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act, which required publishers to pay all court costs, win or lose — The Media Bill has been passed removing the threat of state-backed press regulation and modernising broadcasting regulations for the streaming age.
RELATED:
Wall Street Journal:
Trump says that if he's elected, Russia would release WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich; the Kremlin denies any contact between Putin and Trump on the matter — Kremlin says Russian leader isn't in contact with former U.S. president about journalist — Former President Donald Trump …
Discussion:
Washington Post, @dicktofel, The Nation, Newser, Mediaite, The Guardian, New York Times, Metro.co.uk, The Atlantic, Reuters, New Jersey Online, The Daily Beast and The Hill
Ben Cohen / Wall Street Journal:
Apple Music's “100 Best Albums” list, based on votes from about 250 employees, artists, and industry executives, is eclectic, unpredictable, and controversial — Why did a trillion-dollar company make a music list that would make people lose their minds?
Discussion:
Variety, Apple Music, DJ Mag, CBS News, The Hollywood Reporter, @obsofdeviance.bsky.social, @deadline, @carrasquillo, Barstool Backstage on YouTube, @erniesuggs, @therourke, @abcnewslive, TMZ, @zearl, Entertainment Weekly, @abbydphillip, @variety, @judgedillard, @stoolbackstage, @applemusic, @jermainedupri, Deadline, UPROXX and Music Ally, more at Techmeme »
Variety:
Sony India head NP Singh plans to step down, after a merger with Zee collapsed in January, citing age and personal reasons; Singh has been at SPNI for 25 years — NP Singh, the well-respected head of Sony's entertainment businesses in India, is to step down. — The announcement was made on Friday local time.
Discussion:
Deadline
Hanaa' Tameez / Nieman Lab:
Documented, which covers immigration in New York City, experiments with posts on Nextdoor to reach Caribbean immigrants and uses WeChat and WhatsApp for others — “We are bringing onto this platform — where people usually talk about their lost cat or that they're looking for an apartment …
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Leave the World Behind was the most-watched title on Netflix globally in H2 2023, with 121M views, while One Piece was the most-watched series, with 71.6M views — Dystopian thriller “Leave the World Behind” was the most-watched film — and title overall — on Netflix globally in the second half of 2023 …
Discussion:
About Netflix, Awful Announcing, Screen Rant, Davy Cox on LinkedIn, Marion Boeri on LinkedIn, @jake_kanter, Adam Woodgate on LinkedIn, Jerome Mazandarani on LinkedIn, Deadline, @emohorgan, @marypot, @jgolden5, @shamankingnews, @loudmouthjulia, @joshacarpenter, @podkatz, @kasey__moore, @kasey__moore, @whatonnetflix, @whatonnetflix, @zonozi, Business Insider, Polygon, Business Insider, The A.V. Club, Benzinga, Screen Rant, Deadline, The Streamable, Next TV, Digital Trends, Deadline, Media Play News, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Bollywood and The Wrap