Top News:
Washington Post:
Independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort have been released from custody after their arrests for coverage of a protest at a Minnesota church — The former CNN host was taken into custody in Los Angeles. — just now — Federal authorities arrested independent journalist Don Lemon …
Discussion:
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Richard Luscombe / The Guardian:
Press freedom groups denounce the arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, saying the arrests are an “unequivocal attack on the First Amendment” — Groups say arrests of ex-CNN anchor and Georgia Fort are ‘extremely alarming’ and an ‘attack on the first amendment’
Discussion:
NABJ, Status, Bossip, Canary, Le Monde, America, America, NewsMax.com, @jeffroushwriting.bsky.social, @passantino.bsky.social, Lisa Armstrong on LinkedIn, @fiona-webster22.bsky.social, @passantino.bsky.social, MS NOW, @davidfolkenflik, ACLU, @mmpadellan, @berniesanders, Jodie Ginsberg on LinkedIn, TMZ.com, @freepress.bsky.social, Advocate, Capital B News, @notaaroncraig.bsky.social, @cdarwin@c.im, Out Magazine, The Wrap, Asian American Journalists …, Freedom of the Press …, HuffPost, The Independent, TheGrio, The Bulwark, Media Nation, Mediaite and The Daily Signal
April Rubin / Axios:
Journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort were arrested by federal agents on Jan. 29 and Jan. 30, respectively, for their coverage of a Minnesota church protest — Journalist Don Lemon was arrested by federal agents on Thursday night following backlash over his coverage of an anti-ICE protest …
Discussion:
@agpambondi, @whitehouse, CNN, Committee to Protect …, @jaketapper, Fox News, The Guardian, People, The TRiiBE, Politico, Awful Announcing, NPR, BBC, Facebook, @repjeffries, Variety, CBS News, @nytimespr, TV Insider, @senatorwarnock, @anno1540.bsky.social, @lenoret.bsky.social, Mother Jones, @jaketapper, @jaketapper, @jaketapper, Breitbart, @therickwilson, @kristadb1.bsky.social, @jaketapper, Associated Press, The Intercept, @atrupar, @donlemonofficial.bsky.social, @juliannemcshane, Le Monde, @chucktodd, Forbes, MS NOW, Raw Story, Mediaite, NewsNation, @mlcalderone, The Wrap, @brianstelter, Vox, @jeremymbarr, @timodc, @jemelehill, @acnewsitics, @cartersherman.bsky.social, @timodc, Ben Iannotta on LinkedIn, Washington Examiner, @pamspaulding.bsky.social, @frankamari.bsky.social, @theintercept.com, Los Angeles Times, TheGrio, @stoneballs.bsky.social, @christianthiels.bsky.social, @monscience.bsky.social, @scanlon.house.gov, @freedom.press, @pdehello@mastodon.social, Errin Haines on LinkedIn, @freedom.press, The 19th, @socialmedialab.ca, @arachnius.bsky.social, New York Times, @laurajedeed.bsky.social, @mrsdeborahlynn.bsky.social, Baller Alert, @ajnobles.com, @amerliberal.bsky.social, The Daily Caller, @montealto.bsky.social, @nbedera.bsky.social, The Hollywood Reporter, @cwebbonline.com, @jodieginsberg.bsky.social, @rephuffman.bsky.social, @dmcharles.bsky.social, @inn.org, Jodie Ginsberg on LinkedIn, Financial Times, Advocate, @kamimagic.bsky.social, Mother Jones, Wonkette, @froomkin.bsky.social, Gay City News, American Greatness, @theletterhack.bsky.social, The Hill, HuffPost, @jamellebouie.net, @jamellebouie.net, @divscotty.bsky.social, @TomSullivan@mstdn.social, The Cut, @darnell@one.darnell.one, The Independent, Bossip, @atrupar.com, New York Magazine, The Federalist, TheGrio, USA Today, Boston.com, @jonflan.bsky.social, @crankyoldcrackpot.bsky.social, KARE-TV, @kathleenclark.bsky.social, @mcbridetd.bsky.social, @hrag.bsky.social, @jaredhardd.bsky.social, @emptywheel.bsky.social, @joshuaerlich.bsky.social, Hollywood Life, @irhottakes.bsky.social, @b9AcE@todon.eu, ZeroHedge News, URL Media, @daveweigel.bsky.social, Page Six, @rusty.todayintabs.com, New Republic, @pattymo.com, @mikehixenbaugh.com, Washington Blade, @zackwhittaker@mastodon.social, @adamserwer.bsky.social, Deadline, @emma-briant.co.uk, Bloomberg, Just Jared and Representative Crockett
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Bob Iger has told associates that he plans to step down as Disney CEO before December 31; the board plans to vote on his replacement next week — Disney's board is planning to meet next week, where it is expected to vote on a new CEO — Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Adweek, Robbie Whelan on LinkedIn, @fizzvstheworld.bsky.social, @aagave, People, CNBC, New York Post, Media Play News, Comic Book and Variety
RELATED:
Brooks Barnes / New York Times:
A profile of Josh D'Amaro, a front-runner for Disney CEO who oversees Disney parks, cruises, and video games; his unit supplied ~60% of Disney's 2025 profit — “Josh, can I get a quick one?” — It was the seventh time that Josh D'Amaro had been asked to pose for a photo as he wove his way through Disneyland.
Discussion:
Benzinga, Deadline, @mediaevan and @scottgustin
Austin Fuller / Current:
The Public Media Bridge Fund, formed due to CPB cuts, raises $66.5M of its $110M goal and launches disaster recovery and restructuring programs for stations — The Public Media Bridge Fund is rolling out two new programs to help stations facing unforeseen disruptions.
Discussion:
Inside Radio
Matthew Keys / TheDesk.net:
Former GM of Sacramento public radio service CapRadio, Jun Reina, was arrested and charged with allegedly embezzling ~$1.33M from station funds for personal use — Police in Sacramento have arrested the former general manager of two public radio stations licensed to the California State University system in that city.
Bloomberg:
Sources: BMG, a division of Bertelsmann, is weighing a bid for music rights investor Concord in a deal that could value Concord as high as $7B — German record label BMG Rights Management is weighing a bid for Concord in a deal that could value the US music company as high as $7 billion …
Discussion:
Digital Music News, Music Business Worldwide, CMU, Music Ally and Billboard
Bill Toulas / BleepingComputer:
Authorities led by Italian investigators seized three illegal IPTV services in Europe; the US DOJ also said it dismantled three pirate services in Bulgaria — The latest phase of the global law enforcement action resulted in seizing three industrial-scale illegal IPTV services.
Discussion:
TorrentFreak, CyberScoop, The Record, US Department of Justice, Broadband TV News and Advanced Television
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: OnlyFans is in talks to sell a nearly 60% stake to Architect Capital in a deal that values the company at around $5.5B, including debt — Deal with Architect Capital would value the adult social-media platform at $3.5 billion — OnlyFans, the British online platform popular …
Discussion:
Engadget, @laurenthomas, TechCrunch, Axios, crypto.news and Benzinga
Sarah Scire / Nieman Lab:
Analysis of Apple News in the UK: Apple News+ has 1.7M subscribers generating ~$136M for outlets; national papers account for 55% of time spent on Apple News — Apple News shares revenue with news publishers and — as a preinstalled app on Apple products — reaches an astounding number of users.
Discussion:
MacTech.com and Simon Owens's Media Newsletter
Robert Channick / Chicago Tribune:
A look at Chicago alt-weekly The Chicago Reader as it scales back to a monthly publication under new EIC Sarah Conway and reverts to a for-profit business model — The Chicago Reader, the groundbreaking alternative weekly which has been on the brink of dissolution for years …
Discussion:
@royalpratt.bsky.social
