{"id":51238,"date":"2017-11-08T06:28:06","date_gmt":"2017-11-08T06:28:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=51238"},"modified":"2017-11-08T06:28:06","modified_gmt":"2017-11-08T06:28:06","slug":"disney-ends-ban-on-los-angeles-times-amid-fierce-backlash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/business\/disney-ends-ban-on-los-angeles-times-amid-fierce-backlash.html","title":{"rendered":"Disney Ends Ban on Los Angeles Times Amid Fierce Backlash"},"content":{"rendered":"

Disney Ends Ban on Los Angeles Times Amid Fierce Backlash<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Disney Ends Ban on Los Angeles Times Amid Fierce Backlash: 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\u2019s business dealings in Anaheim.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had productive discussions with the newly installed leadership at The Los Angeles Times regarding our specific concerns, and as a result, we\u2019ve agreed to restore access to advance screenings for their film critics,\u201d Disney said in a statement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Disney\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

The company also faced pressure from several high-profile Hollywood figures, including Ava DuVernay, who directed \u201cA Wrinkle in Time,\u201d which is to be released by Disney on March 9.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSaluting the film journalists standing up for one another,\u201d Ms. DuVernay wrote on Twitter on Monday. \u201cStanding with you.\u201d<\/span>
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Critics\u2019 organizations also came out against Disney.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019s blackout of The Los Angeles Times. Each group voted to disqualify Disney\u2019s movies from year-end award consideration unless the blackout was \u201cpublicly rescinded.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Los Angeles Times had made Disney\u2019s 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 \u201cThor: Ragnarok\u201d so that it could prepare a review in time for the movie\u2019s Friday opening.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019s access to its films and executives is \u201ca privilege and not a right.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In explaining this particular blackout, Disney cited a Los Angeles Times investigation that was published in September about the company\u2019s business ties to Anaheim, Calif., where its popular Disneyland and California Adventure theme parks are.<\/span><\/p>\n

The two-part investigative series detailed the \u201csubsidies, incentives, rebates and protections from future taxes\u201d that Disney had secured from the city, as well as the company\u2019s impact on local elections.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe regularly work with news organizations around the world that we don\u2019t always agree with, but in this instance the L.A. Times showed a complete disregard for basic journalistic standards,\u201d Disney said in a statement last week.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Disney\u2019s decision to block Los Angeles Times journalists from advance screenings inadvertently drew national attention to the articles on the company\u2019s dealings with Anaheim. It also stirred outrage and scrutiny.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs long as Disney is blocking the critics from the Los Angeles Times from press screenings, I can\u2019t in good conscience attend similar showings or write reviews in advance,\u201d Alyssa Rosenberg, who covers culture for The Washington Post, wrote on Monday.<\/span><\/p>\n

The New York Times also joined the boycott on Tuesday, before Disney lifted the ban, saying in a statement that it would \u201cnot attend preview screenings for Disney movies until access is restored to the Los Angeles Times.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA powerful company punishing a news organization for a story they do not like is meant to have a chilling effect,\u201d The Times said. \u201cThis is a dangerous precedent and not at all in the public interest.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2017\/11\/07\/business\/disney-la-times.html<\/span><\/p>\n

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