Top News:
Brooks Barnes / New York Times:
Sources: Disney worried that it had a flawed case in Trump's ABC lawsuit, and fighting it could hurt the Disney brand and damage press protections for others — Talks started and finished on the same day, after Disney decided that fighting the lawsuit could potentially hurt the company and protections for the press.
RELATED:
Wall Street Journal:
Several ABC News staffers say its Trump settlement sets a concerning precedent and sends a message that Disney is giving priority to its corporate interests — Staffers question decision by Disney; company was looking to avoid protracted legal battle — Disney's decision …
Richard J. Tofel / Columbia Journalism Review:
ABC needs to answer questions about its $16M settlement with Trump in a libel case, especially whether it is changing accountability coverage of those in power
Discussion:
Tangle, The Post Millennial, The Present Age, The Boston Globe, BizPac Review, New York Post, HotAir, @davidfolkenflik, @deminlawrence.bsky.social, @michaeljstern.bsky.social, Alternet.org, @kieranbluesky.bsky.social, @therealjocelynj.bsky.social, @michaelmechanic.bsky.social, @taliajane.bsky.social, @evangreer.bsky.social, @rollingstone.com, @rollingstone.com, Rolling Stone, @BruceMirken@mas.to, Newser, Althouse, @lesleyabravanel.bsky.social, @RunRichRun@mastodon.social, @dicktofel.bsky.social, @bgrueskin.bsky.social, Financial Times, Media Nation, The Intercept, Washington Post and r/Journalism
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
Some US groups are building resources to defend against Trump lawsuits, and should gather lawyers, money, and people who know how to respond to performance art
Discussion:
Digby's Hullabaloo, @joshtpm.bsky.social, @sykescharlie, @spytalker, emptywheel, @robfardon, @brendannyhan.bsky.social, @rwarnick.bsky.social, @joshtpm.bsky.social, @joshtpm.bsky.social, @joshtpm.bsky.social, @jayrosen.bsky.social, @emptywheel.bsky.social, @emptywheel.bsky.social, @emptywheel.bsky.social and @emptywheel.bsky.social
Pamela McClintock / The Hollywood Reporter:
Disney confirms pulling a transgender storyline from animated series Win or Lose, saying “many parents would prefer to discuss certain subjects” with their kids — The original animated show about a co-ed high school team debuts on Disney+ in February.
Discussion:
Boing Boing, New York Times, The Hill, BizPac Review, Deadline, The Root, The Playlist, @miiamustang@eliitin-some.fi, Variety, @cosmic_marvel, @discussingfilm, @harelliequinn, @kaekaecurtis, @24framesofnick, @tinysquash, AV Club, @esjesjesj, @lostmediabuster, New York Post, @adequateemily, The Guardian, @Catelli@mstdn.ca, Metro.co.uk, @sturgeons_law, @lostmediabuster, @zoerosebryant, @usa_polling, @spectrathegame, @danny8bit, @zoerosebryant, PinkNews, New Jersey Online, Raw Story, CNN, @spookalucca.games, @sarahoconnellshow.com, @thegabitype.bsky.social, @matbrunetvo.com, Twitchy, ElsaMaren will be the …, Washington Examiner, Entertainment Weekly, Fox News, Breitbart, The Gateway Pundit, World of Reel, Polygon, The Wrap, Screen Rant and TVLine
Mark Kleinman / Sky News:
Letter: The Scott Trust's deal to sell the Observer to Tortoise came despite a last-minute bid from Ecotricity founder Dale Vince to thwart the deal — Ecotricity founder Dale Vince made a fresh bid on Wednesday morning to prevent the world's oldest Sunday newspaper from falling into Tortoise Media's hands, Sky News can reveal.
Discussion:
RTÉ, London Evening Standard, Associated Press and City A.M.
RELATED:
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
Tortoise formally signs the deal to buy The Observer, appoints acting editor Lucy Rock as the title's print editor, and launches a voluntary redundancy scheme — Tortoise Media has formally signed a deal to buy The Observer and appointed the newspaper's next editor.
Discussion:
@carolecadwalla, @tortoise, @arusbridger, @carolecadwalla, The Guardian, @stagewrite.bsky.social, The Independent, @tk.gg and @mediaindustry_b
Jacqui Shine / Wall Street Journal:
As demand for ghostwriters grows, high-end writers see higher salaries and more complex deals; survey: one in three reported earning more than $100,000/year — Shifts in the book industry have been a boon to writers who work quietly behind the scenes — Reality stars don't typically pride themselves on their literary prowess.
Discussion:
Dan Gerstein on LinkedIn and Gotham Ghostwriters
Bron Maher / Press Gazette:
Media Concierge agrees to take over Scotsman and Yorkshire Post parent company National World, promising no editorial job cuts and investment in local news — Marketing business and Irish local publisher Media Concierge has agreed a deal to take over Scotsman and Yorkshire Post parent company …
Discussion:
London Evening Standard, City A.M., The Independent and HoldtheFrontPage
Lucas Manfredi / The Wrap:
Roku partners with X Games to stream X Games Aspen, founded by ESPN but sold to MSP Sports in 2022, on the recently launched Roku Sports Channel in 2025 — The platform will be home to X Games Aspen and a summer X Games event next year as it continues to expand its sports portfolio
Discussion:
StreamTV Insider, The Streamable, The Desk, Variety, Radio & Television …, The Verge, Deadline, WORLD SCREEN and The Hollywood Reporter
Arthur Macmillan / Columbia Journalism Review:
An in-depth look at The Telegraph's sale and British-born publisher Dovid Efune's attempts to buy it, as the newspaper becomes a test case in media valuations — A storied London broadsheet is for sale—again. The latest bidder, right-wing media proprietor Dovid Efune, is struggling to raise the money.
Discussion:
@cjr
Aisha Counts / Bloomberg:
eMarketer expects Instagram to hit $32B in US ad revenue in 2025, or 50% of Meta's ad sales; filings: Instagram was ~30% of Meta's global business in early 2022 — - Video-sharing app estimated to reach $32 billion in ad revenue — Instagram users spend majority of their time watching videos
Dominic Ponsford / Press Gazette:
Media news outlet Press Gazette partners with Flip-Pay to roll out a registration wall to read its content, and says readers must give an email and job title — Press Gazette has launched a registration wall to read our online content. — This title is the most popular commercial online …
Discussion:
@myflippay, @bron_maher and @mediaevan
Todd Spangler / Variety:
YouTube sues Ganjingworld, which runs the Gan Jing World video-sharing website, alleging that it has been “automatically vacuuming up YouTube user channels” — YouTube filed a lawsuit against Ganjingworld, which operates the Gan Jing World video-sharing site, alleging that it has been …
Editor - The Upshot, NY — 
Asia Metals Correspondent, Singapore — 
Economic Policy Reporter, DC — 
Senior Director - Editorial, NY — 
Accountability Reporter, ME — 
Senior Editor, FL — 
Senior Sydney Correspondent — 
Investigative Reporter, OR — 
Reporter I, Remote — 
Digital Content Editor, CT — 
Sr. Political Reporter, CA — 
Local Editor, MD — 
Senior Writer - Politics, TN — 
Editor - CFO Brew, NY — 
Senior Content Strategist, CA — 
Audience Strategist, CO — 
Senior Editor, Remote US — 
Managing Editor, NY — 
IT Industry Reporter, MA — 
Multimedia Reporter, TX — 
Curation Editor, NY — 
Food Correspondent, OR — 
Deputy Editor-in-Chief, NY — 
Breaking News Editor, Toronto — 
Breaking News Reporter, Remote — 
Assitant Business Ed., TX — 
Digital Editor, OH — 
Ellsworth/Acadia Reporter, ME — 
Live Blogger, London — 
Criminal Justice Reporter, LA — 
Editorial & Opinion Page Editor, NV — 
Senior Editor, NY — 
Principal Writer - Investigative & Trust — 
Culture & Travel Reporter, NY — 
