On February 28, all eyes will turn to Hollywood for the Academy Awards. Comedian Chris Rock is slated to host the telecast. But, pressure is mounting on him to join a boycott over the lack of diversity in this year's pool of nominees. Jada Pinkett Smith and Spike Lee are leading the charge for actors, directors and producers of color to simply stay home that night.
Stacy Lambe, ET: “Jada Pinkett Smith and Spike Lee to skip 2016 Oscars: ‘We cannot support it’”
Ethan Sacks, NY Daily News: “Spike Lee, Jada Pinkett Smith announce Oscar boycotts”
Tracy Swartz, Chicago Tribune: “’Chi-Raq director Spike Lee not attending Academy Awards”
Steven Galloway, The Hollywood Reporter: “Oscars: Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs addresses lack of diversity”
Jason Rezaian, other US detainees freed from Iranian prisons
After 545 days captive in an Iranian prison, Washignton Post reporter Jason Rezaian is free. He was one of five Americans released this weekend in a prisoner swap between the American and Iranian governments. We learned the diplomatic efforts to win Rezaian's freedom had been underway for months. The Washington Post, Huffington Post and CNN knew of the negotiations, but chose to participate in media blackout.
Andrew Roth, Carol Morello & William Branigin, Washigton Post: “Freed Americans reunited with their families”
Carol Morello, Karen DeYoung, William Branigin & Joby Warrick, Washington Post: “Plane leaves Iran with Post reporter, other Americans in swap”
Washington Post PR, Washington Post: “Washington Post executives spoke with Jason Rezaian, share update in newsroom memo”
David E. Sanger, New York Times: “Iran complies with nuclear deal; sanctions are lifted”
Jessica Schulberg, Huffington Post: “Iran releases 4 American prisoners after months of top-secret negotiations"
Ryan Grim, Huffington Post: “Here is why we held the story on the U.S.-Iranian prisoner exchange”
Sydney Ember, New York Times: “Huffington Post waited to report U.S.-Iran prisoner-swap negotiations”
Joel Simon, Columbia Journalism Review: “Why was Jason Rezaian released? The answer tells us everything”
Benjamin Mullin, POYNTER: “Media heavyweights participated in blackout to avoid endangering prisoner swap”
Kelly McBride, POYNTER: “As the ethicist: Should news organizations participate in media blackouts”
Sean Penn is 'sad about the state of journalism in this country'
Actor-turned-activist Sean Penn talked to Charlie Rose on this week's "60 Minutes."
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60 Minutes, CBS News: “Sean Penn”
Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times: “Sean Penn says he’s ‘sad about the state of journalism’”
Erik Wemple, Washington Post: “Sean Penn is ‘really sad about the state of journalism in our country’”
Journalism registry proposed in South Carolina
A South Carolina lawmaker wants to establish a list of qualifications and create a registry for journalists in that state. If approved, it would be against the law to hire a journalist not registered.
South Carolina Legislature: “House Bill 4702”
Gavin Jackson & Schuyler Kropf, The Post and Courier: “Republican lawmaker says journalists should face a registry to work in South Carolina”
Inae Oh, Mother Jones: “This South Carolina Republican wants to create a ‘registry’ for responsible journalists”
J.K. Trotter, Gawker: “South Carolina Republican who defended Confederate flag proposes mandatory background checks for journalists”
RJI, “EJN, RJI launch media codes database to promote ethical communications”
Journalists decry Indiana's police video bill
The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) and Indiana Broadcasters Association are among the latest groups to speak out against a bill in the Indiana legislature that would limit access to video captured using police cameras.
Indiana General Assembly: House Bill No. 1225
Jill Disis, Indianapolis Star: “Police could refuse to release video footage in new Indiana bill”
Tom Powell, WSJV-TV: “Indiana Broadcasters Association says police body cam bill “takes government secrecy to a new level”
RTNDA: “RTDNAopposes Indiana police video bill”
Indiana Economic Digest: “EDITORIAL: Passing Indiana body cam bill would be a mistake”
Al Jazeera America signing off
Al Jazeera America will shut down -- ceasing broadcast and online operations -- in April. It marks the end of a two-year experiment to bring the Al Jazeera brand to a U.S. audience.
Joe Pompeo, Hadas Gold & Peter Sterne, POLITICO: “Al Jazeera shutting down”
John Koblin, New York Times: “Al Jazeera America to shut down by April”
James Warren, POYNTER: “Why Al Jazeera America is dying”
Kevin McDonough, Huffington Post: “Al Jazeera America: A wrong move at precisely the wrong time”
Erik Wemple, Washington Post: “Al Jazeera unit that did doping documentary unaffected by Al Jazeera American shutdown”
Hadas Gold, POLITICO: “AJ+ emerges unscathed following Al Jazeera America’s demise”
Brian Stelter, CNN: "Al Jazeera America’s spot on the dial already eyed by potential buyers”
Cards Against Humanity in the Newsroom
Seven employees were fired from WTOL-TV following a game of Cards Against Humanity played in the newsroom on New Year's Day.
Scott Jones, FTV Live: “Ohio station fires 7 staffers for playing cards”
Blade staff, Toledo Blade: “WTOL-TV, Channel 11 fires several staffers”
David Mack, BuzzFeed: “A news team was fired for reportedly playing Cards Against Humanity at work”
Univision buys The Onion (no joke)
The nation's top Spanish-language broadcaster bought a 40 percent stake in the satirical news site, The Onion.
Brian Steinberg, Variety: “Univision buys stake in satire site The Onion”
Tim Baysinger, Adweek: “Why Univision just bought fake news website The Onion”
Emily Steel, New York Times: “Univision buying large state in The Onion”
David Folkenflik, NPR: “Area satirical publication The Onion sold to Univision (seriously)”