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MEDIA

Chicago Public Radio Station WBEZ To Acquire Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Public Media, WBEZ's parent organization, will take on the newspaper as a new division, according to a letter of intent approved by the board of directors. The plan was initiated by Sun-Times principal investor Michael Sacks in an attempt to secure the money-losing title's future. - Robert Feder

Netflix Reveals Its Most-Watched Shows

Shonda Rhimes’ “Bridgerton” Season 1 scored as the No. 1 series based on both number of Netflix households and time spent viewing (in the initial four-week release), while “Extraction” was the most-viewed film in terms of households. - Variety

TikTok Passes One Billion Users

TikTok’s popularity soared during the pandemic, becoming the most-downloaded app in the world in the first quarter of 2020, with some 315 million downloads in that quarter alone according to app analytics company SensorTower. - The Verge

“Nothing Else Like It On TV, Before Or Since”: Soul Train, 50 Years On

"It was the iconic Black music and dance show, a party every weekend that anyone could join from their living room. (On It's Been a Minute,) we break down the lasting influence of Soul Train … with scholars, fans and even a few featured dancers." - NPR

Kenya Bans Documentary About Young Gay Man’s Struggle For Acceptance

The Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) announced a prohibition on the exhibition, distribution, possession or broadcast of I Am Samuel on Thursday, … saying it was blasphemous and an affront to the constitution." - Reuters

Inmates Who Produced A Podcast In San Quentin Now Get Paid To Do It After Release

Ear Hustle is produced by the folks at San Quentin Radio, working with San Francisco public radio station KALW. Here, co-host and co-producer Rahsaan "New York" Thomas, still "inside," writes about how colleagues now on parole have transitioned to paid work on the podcast. - Current

Some Worrying Trends In Fundraising For Public Radio

Since FY16, median new donor counts have fallen 8%. During that time, median sustaining donors have dropped nearly 18%. - Current

Even At Age 78, Mike Leigh Is As Exacting About Interviews As He Is About His Films

"You just couldn't work the way he does – his scripts are improvised, not written, resting on collaboration, trust, instinct, bravery – without weighing every word, cross-examining every sentence. Otherwise it would just be baggy. He takes this perfectionism into every interview, every conversation:" - The Guardian

What, Exactly Is “Distinctly British” TV?

Former media minister John Whittingdale had some ideas when he recently announced government plans to require UK public service broadcasters to produce “distinctly British” programmes. - The Conversation

Blockbuster Hollywood Talent Deal: CAA To Buy ICM

Creative Artists Agency is acquiring its rival ICM Partners in a blockbuster deal that will consolidate the ranks of major Hollywood agencies as the representation industry undergoes a pandemic-era business shift. - The Hollywood Reporter

Haile Gerima Rejected Racist Hollywood

But his 1993 classic Sankofa is finally coming into its own. - Los Angeles Times

Finnish Media Checks Itself On Diversity

Finnish media members say they've made progress, but not enough of it. Producers may complain they can't find actors from diverse backgrounds, and so, says one casting directory, "Where diversity among actors is concerned, 'I think a casting director is a must.'" - Variety

Is Social Media Eroding Our Appreciation Of Art?

From influencing creation, curation and perception, there’s no denying social media is changing the way we experience art. It’s an effective tool for generating excitement and keeping audiences engaged. But is it standing in the way of a genuine appreciation of art? - ArtsHub

“Where True Authority Resides” — Oprah Winfrey And The Power Of Confession

"What sets Oprah apart … is her understanding that we crave not only the thrill of seeing secrets exposed but also the pretense that therapeutic peace inevitably follows. Oprah makes money on our hunger as well as on our hunger's aspiration to be resolved." - The Yale Review

What Social Media Needs To Learn From Traditional Media

Even if there were a dozen major social networks, each one would still need to deal with the content dilemmas plaguing the existing juggernauts. There’s no road to healthier online discourse without some level of self-imposed professional guidelines. - Wired

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