Top News:
Graham Fraser / BBC:
The BBC complains to Apple after Apple Intelligence's notification summary falsely suggested the BBC had published an article saying Luigi Mangione shot himself — The BBC has complained to Apple after the tech giant's new iPhone feature generated a false headline about a high-profile murder in the United States.
Discussion:
Mediaite, The Guardian, @dysamoria.com, @daveholmes.bsky.social, @bwyble.bsky.social, @joshsternberg.com, New York Daily News, The Information, AppleInsider, @dlb.bsky.social, @eduardosuarez.bsky.social, @alexheath.bsky.social, Trusted Reviews, @fbajak.bsky.social, 9to5Mac, @nixCraft@mastodon.social, @kjhealy@mastodon.social, @thecigaverse.swifties.social, @amycastor.bsky.social, @kjhealy.co, @robertstainsby@aus.social, @gabrielmalor.bsky.social, @chrisbaraniuk.com, @willman.online, @bbcnews, @gregeganSF@mathstodon.xyz, @tomscocca.bsky.social, @mirandayaver.bsky.social, The Verge and r/apple, more at Techmeme »
Michael Wilner / Miami Herald:
McClatchy finalizes a merger with magazine publisher and distributor accelerate360, forming McClatchy Media Company; Chatham Asset Management is majority owner — McClatchy completed its merger with a major magazine publisher and distribution business on Thursday, forming a new company …
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.
Discussion:
The Wrap, @bsdtectr.bsky.social, @nug.monster, @mathewi, @bft.wtf, @sunoppositemoon.bsky.social, @edzitron.com, @smtuffy.bsky.social, @zeet.bsky.social, @mobute.bsky.social, @everybodystaycalm.bsky.social, @signaltonoise.bsky.social, @ashleyrcarman, @michaelalevin.bsky.social, @youcaughtscott.com, @charlierybak.bsky.social, @dannygroner.bsky.social and @swolecialism.bsky.social
Politico:
A judge orders depositions from Trump and George Stephanopoulos in Trump's libel suit against ABC News and its host over remarks about Trump and E. Jean Carroll — A federal judge has ordered President-elect Donald Trump and ABC News host George Stephanopoulos to sit for four-hour depositions next week …
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:
The Desk, Deadline, Variety, Twitchy, @thatnormdude.bsky.social, New York Daily News, @maraleia.bsky.social, @alexweprin, @azalben.bsky.social, @kennysmith.bsky.social, @alexweprin, @aerocles, Decider, @sesamehistory, TVNewsCheck, Entertainment Weekly, Cord Cutters News, @thee-beenasty.bsky.social, @lisatozzi.bsky.social, @alexweprin, @bpanther1.bsky.social, @philipcolourful, @tallgirl6234.bsky.social, Comic Book, @ojphilly.bsky.social, @mayascade.bsky.social, UPI, Consequence, @kcoxdc.bsky.social, @avbofficial1.bsky.social, @jperlow.bsky.social, @merrillbarr.com, The Wrap, Current, Lauri Para on LinkedIn, WUSA, The Verge, AV Club, TVLine and Muppet Facts!
Jakob Rodgers / Mercury News:
Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI researcher who accused the company of copyright violations in October, was found dead by suicide on November 26 in San Francisco — Suchir Balaji, 26, claimed the company broke copyright law — SAN FRANCISCO — A former OpenAI researcher known for whistleblowing …
Discussion:
TechCrunch, San Francisco Examiner, Decrypt, Times of India, Sun-Sentinel, Forbes, SFist, India Today, @whoreganizer.bsky.social, @moetkacik, @autismcapital, @elonmusk, @tszzl, @theserfstv.bsky.social, @lukewgoldstein, @ednewtonrex, @tszzl, San Francisco Chronicle, The San Francisco Standard, @poppyhaze.bsky.social, @cyberciti.biz, @al2.bsky.social, The Information, @scott@carfree.city, @BenRiceM@mastodon.social and @richpuchalsky@mastodon.social, more at Techmeme »
Katie Robertson / @katie_robertson:
Internal message: one of the last two members of the LAT editorial board says he's stepping down as editorial writer due to recent moves by the outlet's owner — NEW: One of the last 2 Los Angeles Times editorial board members, Tony Barboza, says in an internal Slack that he's stepping down and moving to the newsroom because of “recent decisions and statements from the owner that have damaged our credibility and our journalism” [image]
Discussion:
The Independent, The Wrap and The Present Age
Michael Nuñez / VentureBeat:
Shutterstock launches a “research license” for AI companies, starting with Lightricks, which will train its video model LTXV on Shutterstock's video library — Shutterstock is reshaping how AI companies access training data through a novel “research license” approach …
Discussion:
@baekdal.bsky.social and Shutterstock on LinkedIn, more at Techmeme »
Reshmi Basu / Bloomberg:
Sources: Sinclair is in talks with lenders to raise $1B+ in new financing to pay down debt; the broadcaster is expected to refinance a $1.2B loan due in 2026 — - Its debt stack includes three loans, earliest due in 2026 — Company has been holding private discussions with creditors
Dade Hayes / Deadline:
Vice Media launches a sports division and shifts its Vice TV cable network to a sports-first approach, with plans to air seven sports series early in 2025 — Vice Sports will look to capitalize on still-healthy viewer appetite for sports fare, but the initiative does not signal an intent as of now to go after any top-tier live rights.
Discussion:
@caitlinkelly.bsky.social, Barrett Media, Sports Video Group, @devonheinen.bsky.social, Awful Announcing and KLRT
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:
@shaanmerchant1, @singeroftales, @shaanmerchant1, Eugene Robinson on LinkedIn and @slate.bsky.social
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, @localmediaassoc, @macfound, @ckrewson, Amy L. Kovac-Ashley on LinkedIn, @julito77, @davidclinchnews, Silvia R. on LinkedIn, Appalachia Funders Network, @benetwilson, @jillgeisler.bsky.social, @ckrewson.bsky.social, @dicktofel.bsky.social, @damaso.bsky.social, LION Publishers, NewsBlues.com, Tiny News Collective and TVNewsCheck
Liam Scott / Voice of America:
RSF says 23 journalists remained jailed in Syria as of December 9, as press freedom groups call for accountability for those who had been in Assad's regime — 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
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
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Fox News, The Sun, Forbes, Reuters, Middle East Eye, Reporters Without Borders, New York Times, HuffPost, Los Angeles Times and The Mirror