Top News:

Sources: CoinDesk owner Bullish removed an article on Tron founder Justin Sun after complaints from his team; editorial chair Matt Murray resigned on Dec. 16 — In late November, the leading crypto trade publication CoinDesk published a story about the latest antic by one of the industry's more outlandish figures.
Discussion:
Talking Biz News, @leomschwartz, @jeffjohnroberts, @leomschwartz, @bft.wtf and @bft.wtf

A look at GOP attacks on local news outlets across the US, including the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners' harrassment of LNP reporter Tom Lisi — Republicans claim Tom Lisi's reporting is lies to promote a liberal agenda. How should he respond? — On Feb. 1, Tom Lisi took a seat …

Bloomberg EIC John Micklethwait calls paywalls “the safest way to guarantee journalistic jobs” and predicts AI would do more to change editing than reporting — John Micklethwait also revealed how Bloomberg uses AI in the newsroom. — Bloomberg editor-in-chief John Micklethwait …

The California Production Coalition, a group of 33 businesses and organizations including the MPA, organizes to lobby for state incentives for film and TV shows — The group, comprised of 33 businesses and organizations, is looking to push the narrative that voters in the state also care …
Discussion:
Variety, Kirsty Robson on LinkedIn, Jennifer O'Brien on LinkedIn, UPI and Yahoo News

An overview of key insights from the Reuters Institute's work on how 2024 shaped journalism, from the impact of AI to a decline in trust in news organizations — 2024 has been a difficult year for the profession, with journalists facing a decline in press freedom, new rounds of lay-offs …
Discussion:
@reutersinstitute.bsky.social, Nieman Lab and International Center …

In a federal suit, two filmmakers and a photographers group challenge the constitutionality of fees and permits required for commercial work in national parks — Alexander Rienzie and Connor Burkesmith accuse the National Park Service of censoring speech by making filmmakers pay to shoot …

Q&A with IFCN Director Angie D. Holan on fact-checking in India, which has the most number of signatory fact-checking orgs at 17, Trump's second term, and more — The year comes to a close for the International Fact Checking Network (IFCN) with nearly 180 signatory organisations across …
Discussion:
@jatingandhi and @jatingandhi

Analysis of Facebook data: audience engagement for Palestinian news outlets fell 77% since October 2023; the outlets say Meta severely restricted their reach — BBC Arabic, BBC World Service & BBC Monitoring — Facebook has severely restricted the ability of Palestinian news outlets …

Marc Benioff said there is “no deal on the table” to sell Time, which he has owned since 2018; a report in November said Antenna Group was in talks to buy it — “It's extremely important that we do have fair and balanced journalism, and that's why I'm very proud to be an owner of Time …
Discussion:
MediaPost, @signalandnoise.bsky.social and Fortune

Amazon says Red One, which opened at just $32M in the US last month, had a record-breaking 50M worldwide viewers in its opening weekend on Prime Video — It's a December to remember for Prime Video. Per the streamer, the Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans Christmas flick “Red One” …
Discussion:
@sleepykittypaw.bsky.social, @ryanhiggins.bsky.social, AV Club, StreamTV Insider, Benzinga and Rolling Stone

Channing Dungey, incoming WBD CEO of US networks, names Brett Paul as COO and Howard Lee as chief creative officer; Dungey is succeeding retiring Kathleen Finch — That includes expanding duties for her top lieutenant at Warner Bros. TV Group, Brett Paul, who will now also serve as chief operating officer for U.S. networks.
Discussion:
The Wrap, TVNewsCheck, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline and The Information

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 …
Discussion:
Fox News, Daily Mail, Breitbart, Daily Kos, The Information, @jbflint, TVLine, @jbflint, Townhall, Bloomberg, Mediaite, @photoframd.bsky.social, @swin24.bsky.social, @lisafung.bsky.social, @brunojnavarro.bsky.social, @bruno_j_navarro …, @preciouslarue.bsky.social, @bartona104.bsky.social, @carlquintanilla.bsky.social, @owillis.bsky.social, American Press Institute, TVNewsCheck, New York Post, Raw Story and RedState, more at Techmeme »
RELATED:
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
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
Discussion:
Daily Mail, Townhall, New York Post, HotAir, The Wrap, Vox, Twitchy, The Atlantic, KVIA-TV, Truthout, @jeffjarvis, New Republic, @mediaevan.bsky.social, The Independent, @katiephang.bsky.social, @filipecampante.bsky.social, @justinbaragona.bsky.social, @emptywheel.bsky.social, @jeffjarvis.bsky.social, @cold-feet.bsky.social, @annmlipton.bsky.social and Politico

The NYT's Wirecutter partners with Google to add buttons with phrases like “Shop nearby with Google” to 150 curated products from December 20 to December 26 — The partnership is the biggest to date for Wirecutter, which started advertising this spring
Discussion:
Jessica Joseph on LinkedIn, Leilani Han on LinkedIn and @markstenberg3

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:
Financial Times, MediaPost, The Times, Axios, 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 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
Discussion:
@tortoise, @carolecadwalla, @arusbridger, @carolecadwalla, @mediaindustry_b, The Guardian, The Independent, @tk.gg and @stagewrite.bsky.social