Top News:
Liam Scott / Voice of America:
RSF says 23 journalists were jailed in Syria and 10 others were missing as of December 9; press freedom groups call for accountability for Assad's government — When news broke about the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria this week, photojournalist Paul Conroy found himself thinking …
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Ellen Nakashima / Washington Post:
The rebel group that now runs Syria's government says the search for Austin Tice, abducted in 2012, is ongoing and offers to “cooperate directly” with the US
Discussion:
Forbes, Middle East Eye, Reporters Without Borders, New York Times, HuffPost and Los Angeles Times
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
Warner Bros. Discovery has decided not to renew its deal for new episodes of Sesame Street, though it will continue licensing library episodes through 2027 — The Warner Bros. Discovery streaming service Max will continue to license library episodes of the long-running children's show …
Discussion:
TVNewsCheck, Variety, The Wrap, The Verge, UPI, Decider, Deadline, @ojphilly.bsky.social, TVLine, @jperlow.bsky.social, Consequence, @kennysmith.bsky.social, @alexweprin, @azalben.bsky.social, @alexweprin, @aerocles, @sesamehistory, Cord Cutters News, @alexweprin, @philipcolourful, @mayascade.bsky.social, @kcoxdc.bsky.social and @merrillbarr.com
Aidan Ryan / The Boston Globe:
Boston NPR affiliate WBUR to cancel Radio Boston, its midday show that spent 15 years on air, and move its staff to a new production team focused on local news — Boston NPR news station WBUR is canceling “Radio Boston,” its midday show focused on local affairs, as part of an overhaul of its schedule and coverage.
Discussion:
WBUR, Inside Radio, Boston Herald, @jessemermell.bsky.social and RadioInsight
Katie Robertson / New York Times:
Sources: Patrick Soon-Shiong told LA Times opinion leaders not to publish an editorial critical of Trump's cabinet picks without publishing an opposing view — Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong's public comments and actions, including recently blocking an editorial weighing in on President-elect Trump's cabinet picks …
Discussion:
Daily Kos, @cmarinucci.bsky.social, Talking Points Memo, @simonowens.bsky.social, The Independent, Karin Klein on LinkedIn, The Wrap, @jeffgreco.com, @damon.kiesow.net, @justinbaragona.bsky.social, Mediaite, @cephalopod.bsky.social, @katekilla.bsky.social, @scottjohnson.wtf, @ashtonlattimore.bsky.social, The Present Age, @emilybell.bsky.social, @jamellebouie.net, @rmac.bsky.social, @noahshachtman.bsky.social, @katierobertson.bsky.social and @edmundlee.bsky.social, more at Techmeme »
MacArthur Foundation:
The MacArthur Foundation announces $20M in grants in its effort to revitalize local news, including $2.275M to Tiny News Collective and $4M to LION Publishers — The MacArthur Foundation today announced $20 million to support newsrooms and provide journalism infrastructure as part of its commitment to revitalize local news.
Discussion:
John Palfrey on LinkedIn, Amy L. Kovac-Ashley on LinkedIn, Silvia R. on LinkedIn, @macfound, @ckrewson, @julito77, @davidclinchnews, @benetwilson, @localmediaassoc, Appalachia Funders Network, @jillgeisler.bsky.social, LION Publishers, @ckrewson.bsky.social, @dicktofel.bsky.social, @damaso.bsky.social, NewsBlues.com, Tiny News Collective and TVNewsCheck
Pew Research Center:
A survey of US teens aged 13 to 17 shows 73% use YouTube daily, 57% TikTok, 50% Instagram, and 20% Facebook; 17% use X daily, down from 23% in 2022 — YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat remain widely used among U.S. teens; some say they're on these sites almost constantly
Discussion:
The Wrap, Parenting News, Music Ally, @johngramlich, @npmigreg@threads.net, Michelle Faverio on LinkedIn, Social Media Today, PCMag, @mcuban.bsky.social, Business Insider, WUSA, The Information, TechCrunch, @scriban.bsky.social, @rayminehane.bsky.social, @conradhackett.bsky.social, @faineg.bsky.social and The Verge
Shaan Merchant / Slate:
A former employee recounts his experience at Ozy Media, says Carlos Watson used diversity as a marketing tool while building a toxic work environment — He was a “con artist” running a “criminal organization,” the government says. Why didn't I see it right in front of me?
Discussion:
@singeroftales, @shaanmerchant1 and @shaanmerchant1
Ashley Carman / Bloomberg:
Sources: Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway seek up to eight figures from new partners, possibly CNN, for Pivot and other podcasts; their Vox deal ends in 2025 — The podcaster duo have worked with Vox Media since the launch of their business-focused program — Hello, hello. Welcome back to Soundbite.
Ben Mullin / @benmullin:
Memo: Chuck Lane, deputy opinion editor for The Washington Post, is leaving the newspaper after 24 years to join The Free Press — News: Chuck Lane, deputy opinion editor for The Washington Post, is leaving the newspaper. He'll be joining The Free Press, I'm told.
Katie Kilkenny / The Hollywood Reporter:
The WGA demands studios take “immediate legal action” against companies that used writers' work to train AI, in a letter to CEOs of Disney, Netflix, and others — The union is arguing that tech companies “looted the studios' intellectual property” while Hollywood's major companies stood by.
Lachlan Cartwright / @lachcartwright:
Source: Kim Masters, the long serving Editor at Large of The Hollywood Reporter, is leaving to join Puck; she was reportedly making ~$400K/year at THR — Scoop: Kim Masters, the long serving Editor at Large of The Hollywood Reporter, is leaving the magazine to join Puck, I'm told. Masters was making almost $400,000 a year at the Penske publication, according to @LAmag https://lamag.com/...
Discussion:
The Wrap, Talking Biz News, @mathewi, @mattbelloni, @dylanbyers, @semaforben and @bcamcrane
Mauro Orru / Wall Street Journal:
The UK CMA opens a formal probe into BlackRock's acquisition of UK data provider Preqin over concerns that the £2.55B deal could stifle competition in the UK — A decision is due by Feb. 12 on whether the deal warrants an in-depth investigation — British antitrust officials …
Discussion:
Reuters, more at Techmeme »
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