Here are some media stories of note for Wednesday, February 5, 2014:
We may have digital abundance, but we also have big media dominance. The Los Angeles Times reports on a new study by the Sanford C. Bernstein firm indicates that a few players have immense impact and clout over the advertising and subscription revenues of the U.S. media industry. Disney's hold is about 20%, while Time Warner's is about 18%.
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What was the fuss over the phone-hacking calls? Now we know more. The trial in the U.K. over the News Corp. phone-hacking scandal has quantified the extent of intrusion. It has heard that 6,813 calls targeting 282 voicemails were placed in 2005 and 2006 by those in the employ of News of the World. More than 4,700 of the calls were made by the paper's journalists.
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We all know that Edward Snowden possesses classified information. We also know he leaked it to journalists. But, if the journalists sold their stories, is that "fencing" stolen material and a crime? The subject was floated Tuesday at a federal hearing between two critics of Snowden's (the head of the House Intelligence Committee and the director of National Intelligence) and the head of the FBI. Not so clear, the FBI chief said: the activity may be protected by press freedom rights. Other experts agree the concept is questionable. Paul Farhi of the Washington Post explores the issue.
We may have digital abundance, but we also have big media dominance. The Los Angeles Times reports on a new study by the Sanford C. Bernstein firm indicates that a few players have immense impact and clout over the advertising and subscription revenues of the U.S. media industry. Disney's hold is about 20%, while Time Warner's is about 18%.
***
What was the fuss over the phone-hacking calls? Now we know more. The trial in the U.K. over the News Corp. phone-hacking scandal has quantified the extent of intrusion. It has heard that 6,813 calls targeting 282 voicemails were placed in 2005 and 2006 by those in the employ of News of the World. More than 4,700 of the calls were made by the paper's journalists.
***
We all know that Edward Snowden possesses classified information. We also know he leaked it to journalists. But, if the journalists sold their stories, is that "fencing" stolen material and a crime? The subject was floated Tuesday at a federal hearing between two critics of Snowden's (the head of the House Intelligence Committee and the director of National Intelligence) and the head of the FBI. Not so clear, the FBI chief said: the activity may be protected by press freedom rights. Other experts agree the concept is questionable. Paul Farhi of the Washington Post explores the issue.
