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[t-storm]

Update: Disney decided to end the ban after backlash and outrage.

Amid a growing backlash, the Walt Disney Company on Tuesday reversed its decision to bar The Los Angeles Times from press screenings of its movies following an investigation by the newspaper into the media giant’s business dealings in Anaheim.

“We’ve had productive discussions with the newly installed leadership at The Los Angeles Times regarding our specific concerns, and as a result, we’ve agreed to restore access to advance screenings for their film critics,” Disney said in a statement.

Disney’s change of course came after a number of news outlets, including The New York Times and the A.V. Club, said they were boycotting advance screenings of Disney films in solidarity.

The company also faced pressure from several high-profile Hollywood figures, including Ava DuVernay, who directed “A Wrinkle in Time,” which is to be released by Disney on March 9.

“Saluting the film journalists standing up for one another,” Ms. DuVernay wrote on Twitter on Monday. “Standing with you.”

Critics’ organizations also came out against Disney.

On Tuesday, members of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the New York Film Critics Circle, the Boston Society of Film Critics and the National Society of Film Critics denounced Disney’s blackout of The Los Angeles Times. Each group voted to disqualify Disney’s movies from year-end award consideration unless the blackout was “publicly rescinded.”

The Los Angeles Times had made Disney’s blackout public in a note to readers last week that explained why no feature articles about Disney movies appeared in its 2017 holiday movie preview section. Disney also did not give The Times early access to “Thor: Ragnarok” so that it could prepare a review in time for the movie’s Friday opening.

Disney has a history of taking punitive action against news organizations and analysts when they publish articles or analysis that it deems unfair. Company representatives consistently tell journalists that the media’s access to its films and executives is “a privilege and not a right.”

In explaining this particular blackout, Disney cited a Los Angeles Times investigation that was published in September about the company’s business ties to Anaheim, Calif., where its popular Disneyland and California Adventure theme parks are.

The two-part investigative series detailed the “subsidies, incentives, rebates and protections from future taxes” that Disney had secured from the city, as well as the company’s impact on local elections.

“We regularly work with news organizations around the world that we don’t always agree with, but in this instance the L.A. Times showed a complete disregard for basic journalistic standards,” Disney said in a statement last week.

The Los Angeles Times responded at the time by saying that Disney had not asked for any corrections. Since then, it has not covered the outcry from critics and news organizations that followed the blackout.

Disney’s decision to block Los Angeles Times journalists from advance screenings inadvertently drew national attention to the articles on the company’s dealings with Anaheim. It also stirred outrage and scrutiny.

“As long as Disney is blocking the critics from the Los Angeles Times from press screenings, I can’t in good conscience attend similar showings or write reviews in advance,” Alyssa Rosenberg, who covers culture for The Washington Post, wrote on Monday.

The New York Times also joined the boycott on Tuesday, before Disney lifted the ban, saying in a statement that it would “not attend preview screenings for Disney movies until access is restored to the Los Angeles Times.”

“A powerful company punishing a news organization for a story they do not like is meant to have a chilling effect,” The Times said. “This is a dangerous precedent and not at all in the public interest.”

Not cool Disney, not cool. Check yoself before you wreck yoself.

Source

 

[Ide88]

What happened to muh freedom and muh free market?

 

[Water]

What happened to muh freedom and muh free market?

I honestly can't tell what point you're trying to make. Unless I'm missing something, this whole situation occurred and was resolved in a reasonable fashion between private actors, 100% free market, 100% freedom.

 

[Bigby_Wolf]

What happened to muh freedom and muh free market?

Controlling your messaging is key in a free market which is ironically why they were forced to switch away from this plan.

 

[aaronsan]

I honestly can't tell what point you're trying to make. Unless I'm missing something, this whole situation occurred and was resolved in a reasonable fashion between private actors, 100% free market, 100% freedom.

If I may, I believe the concern remains because it was only through action by OTHER press outlets that might harm Disney with their reporting that Disney's attempted press boycott failed. I would imagine the person you replied to is worried about the repeated attacks on the press we've seen lately. From, I think, ignorant people who have NO idea the end result if we allow the press, in general, to be pushed aside.

I'm sure it feels great when your own particular most disliked press outlet is maligned and called "Fake News", but when state-run media is all we have left, I'll direct people back to these moments.

And no, this is not a spirited defense of the mainstream media, which in general does a horrible job. But they can be counted on to be the only ones who can do the really critical job of reporting on government malfeasance in a way that will get recognized, should we truly need it. TYT or Alex Jones or whatever we may prefer will not be able to tell that story to the world.

So quash any attempts to freeze out or boycott media outlets, is what I'm saying. It will snowball if we don't.

 

[Jezan]

What would be an unfair article for Disney? Are they taking too seriously that "rottentomatoes is destroying movies"?

 

[Bigby_Wolf]

If I may, I believe the concern remains because it was only through action by OTHER press outlets that might harm Disney with their reporting that Disney's attempted press boycott failed. I would imagine the person you replied to is worried about the repeated attacks on the press we've seen lately. From, I think, ignorant people who have NO idea the end result if we allow the press, in general, to be pushed aside.

I'm sure it feels great when your own particular most disliked press outlet is maligned and called "Fake News", but when state-run media is all we have left, I'll direct people back to these moments.

And no, this is not a spirited defense of the mainstream media, which in general does a horrible job. But they can be counted on to be the only ones who can do the really critical job of reporting on government malfeasance in a way that will get recognized, should we truly need it. TYT or Alex Jones or whatever we may prefer will not be able to tell that story to the world.

So quash any attempts to freeze out or boycott media outlets, is what I'm saying. It will snowball if we don't.

Disney isn't a government entity.

They owe the press dick.

 

[aaronsan]

Disney isn't a government entity.

They owe the press dick.

True and yet completely irrelevant to my point. Congratulations.

 

[ItemCollector]

Disney isn't a government entity.

They owe the press dick.

It still makes them look bad.

 

[RCU005]

"Journalists" just want to behave like spoiled kids and see the movie early and for free!

 

[Bigby_Wolf]

If I may, I believe the concern remains because it was only through action by OTHER press outlets that might harm Disney with their reporting that Disney's attempted press boycott failed. I would imagine the person you replied to is worried about the repeated attacks on the press we've seen lately. From, I think, ignorant people who have NO idea the end result if we allow the press, in general, to be pushed aside.

Disney can push aside any member of the media it wants from now until the end of time.

They have that right as a private organization.

 

[Bigby_Wolf]

It still makes them look bad.

Yes and it creates it's own negative story which Disney can't control and that's usually bad for business in a free market system.

Which is why they've backed down. They've lost control of their messaging on this one.

 

[theechrisfox]

What would be an unfair article for Disney? Are they taking too seriously that "rottentomatoes is destroying movies"?

I believe this is the LA Times article that got their panties in a bunch.

http://www.latimes.com/projects/la-fi-disney-anaheim-deals/

For good reason, as it is full of stuff Disney would rather kept quiet.

 

[Night Angel]

"Journalists" just want to behave like spoiled kids and see the movie early and for free!

A scorching take.

I'm getting worried about Disney's position in the film industry. They're strong arming theaters into the worst terms they've ever seen for the new Star Wars movie, and their reaction to this event doesn't sit well with me. If they manage to buy Fox properties as well, they'll have an even stronger grip on the industry.

 

[RCU005]

A scorching take.

I'm getting worried about Disney's position in the film industry. They're strong arming theaters into the worst terms they've ever seen for the new Star Wars movie, and their reaction to this event doesn't sit well with me. If they manage to buy Fox properties as well, they'll have an even stronger grip on the industry.

I do feel that while Disney may not have a good execution, they do have a good stance. They don't want theathers or journalists to spoil the movies, and also they want to show them in the best possible screens. I think they just need to manage it better.

Disney has a strong grip on the industry because their movies are making a billion! Which other company can say that? That's the reason they can gave strong arm, because they know theathers will also make a lot of money from their movies. Thier mistake will be when they start getting way too arrogant for their own good. (Like how Sony was with the PS3).