Top News:
Ashley Cullins / Hollywood Reporter:
SCOTUS upholds FCC's decision to scrap three media ownership restrictions, including a ban on cross-ownership of newspapers, radio stations, and TV stations — The decision is a big win for the FCC and reverses a finding from the 3rd Circuit that the agency didn't adequately consider …
Discussion:
Variety, The Wrap, Wall Street Journal, Radio & Television …, New York Times, Associated Press, @fromthebunkerjr, @rockymntnmike, Reuters and Law360
Maxwell Tani / The Daily Beast:
Staff say Patrick Soon-Shiong's daughter Nika has become a welcome liaison between LAT and the owner and active with the editorial board, though lacking a title — ‘THANK YOU’ … She may not be on the masthead, but Soon-Shiong has become a regular voice in LAT newsroom.
Discussion:
@yashar, @megjameslat, @lyzl, @thedailybeast, @maxwelltani, @jeffjarvis, @benyt, @ckrewson and @paperhaus
Eric Deggans / NPR:
Nearly 140 filmmakers sign a letter to PBS, saying it's failed to support a diversity of voices and its relationship with Ken Burns leaves less room for BIPOC — Nearly 140 documentary filmmakers have signed onto a letter given to PBS executives, suggesting the service may provide an unfair level …
Discussion:
@kat_toth, @deggans, @rtajima, @anothergracelee, @michaeldavsmith, @sleochiang, @sleochiang, The Guardian, Beyond Inclusion, The Wrap and Newser
Taylor Hatmaker / TechCrunch:
Facebook says a now-removed interview with Trump posted by daughter-in-law Lara Trump falls under its ban as it spoke “in the voice of President Trump” — Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump promoted a new interview with the former president on Facebook and Instagram Tuesday …
Discussion:
The Verge, CNBC, Storyboard Posts, MediaPost, @caseynewton, The Indian Express, @ms4cy, The Wrap, Mediaite and Gizmodo, more at Techmeme »
PEN America:
Social media companies should make changes like creating a dashboard that filters abusive content and an SOS button to help journalists facing online abuse — No Excuse for Abuse — Introduction — Online abuse—from violent threats and hateful slurs to sexual harassment, impersonation …
Discussion:
CNBC, @penamerica, @hannahhklee, @vilkviktorya, @eff, @jamesfoleyfund, @helaeve, @zidanism, @martijn_grooten, @jeanguerre, @nicdawes and @iwmf
Sportico:
John Skipper and Dan Le Batard's new media company, Meadowlark, raises $12.6M Series A from DraftKings, DAZN, and others — Meadowlark, the new media company founded by ESPN veterans John Skipper and Dan Le Batard, has raised $12.6 million from an investor group that includes DraftKings …
Discussion:
Hollywood Reporter
Paul Takahashi / Houston Chronicle:
Houston Chronicle's executive editor, Steve Riley, is retiring after taking the helm of the newspaper in May 2019; he will step down once a successor is found — Houston Chronicle Executive Editor Steve Riley said Wednesday that he will retire after a 41-year career in journalism, including more than three years at the Chronicle.
Discussion:
@emfoxhall, @kenduque, @jessicabanov, Talking Biz News, @nancycbarnes and @srileychronicle
Annie Karni / New York Times:
Biden administration announces an ad campaign encouraging vaccination, with ads in English and Spanish airing through April on network TV, cable TV, and online — The public awareness push includes 275 participating organizations that will speak to communities where skepticism of the coronavirus vaccine remains high.
Discussion:
@nythealth and The Federalist
Variety:
Netflix is paying $450M for the rights to Knives Out 2 and Knives Out 3, the follow-ups to the 2019 mystery with director Rian Johnson and star Daniel Craig — Netflix is plunking down an astounding $450 million for the rights to “Knives Out 2” and “Knives Out 3,” the next two follow-ups to the 2019 murder mystery.
Discussion:
Deadline, Observer, Vanity Fair, Cord Cutters News, @mattzollerseitz, @gracerandolph, @variety, The Wakeup, @oldfilmsflicker, Game Rant, @kylebuchanan, @ankaman616, Film Stories, @chrishewitt, @brentalang, @netw3rk, @joshuahorowitz, IGN India, The Wrap, The Playlist, UPROXX, The Comeback, io9, The A.V. Club, Forbes, ScreenRant, Collider, IndieWire, /Film, GameSpot, Insider and The Verge
Sylvia Varnham O'Regan / The Information:
Gupta Media: Facebook ad prices, measured in cost per thousand impressions, rebounded from a $1 monthly average last spring to almost $5 in November — With consumers glued to phones and laptops, the year of pandemic shut-ins ended up being great for the biggest digital advertising businesses …
Discussion:
@joshua_sisco, @theinformation, @amir, @lauramandaro and @randfish
Discourse Blog:
Management at The New Republic backs off plans to force NYC staffers to relocate to Washington, DC, after its union blasted leadership for a lack of notice — Staffers say they're still worried about the magazine's future. — Last week, staffers at The New Republic had their first meeting …
Discussion:
@tnrunion, @discourse_blog, @ishaantharoor, @jscros, @pblest, @melissagira and @heerjeet
Erik Wemple / Washington Post:
Mention of a Bloomberg writer in an insider trading indictment points to the uneasy interplay between Wall Street reporters and sources with financial motives — Media critic — As a “deals reporter” for Bloomberg, Ed Hammond works sources in the fields of energy, retail, entertainment and so on.
Discussion:
Columbia Journalism Review, @bgrueskin, Associated Press and @readdanwrite, Thanks:@erikwemple