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
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’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
"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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
