Media Insider: ViacomCBS To Sell CBS Studio, Vox Acquires Criminal Productions, Daily Mail Editor Ousted

Welcome to Media Insider, PR Newswire’s roundup of media news stories from the week.

NEW YORK POST | ALEXANDRA STEIGRAD
ViacomCBS selling its CBS studio for $1.8 billion

ViacomCBS is selling its CBS Studio Center to real-estate firms Hackman Capital Partners and Square Mile Capital Management. The firms will buy the historic lot for $1.8 billion, which is $500 million higher than the projected price three months ago when it was put up for sale. The high demand for shows and movies has created a shortage of production studio space in Los Angeles, causing real estate prices to soar. Hackman and Square Mile have been buying up sound stages, office space, and other real estate tied to show biz throughout this year.

ICYMI: Pending Meredith acquisitions by Gray and IAC’s Dotdash receive regulatory approvals.

MEDIAPOST | TONY SILBER
Vox Media Acquires Leading Podcast Creator Criminal Productions

Vox Media has acquired narrative audio storytelling studio Criminal Productions. The critically acclaimed company was founded by former public radio journalists Phoebe Judge and Lauren Spohrer and has launched three successful podcast franchises. Criminal will join the Vox Media Podcast Network, effectively doubling its staff. Vox plans to expand Criminal into a weekly show, launch new shows, and eventually invest in expanding the franchises beyond podcasting.

Read next: Spotify’s new Podcast Subscriptions expand to global markets.

THE GUARDIAN | JIM WATERSON
Geordie Greig ousted as editor of the Daily Mail

The Daily Mail’s parent company announced the removal editor Geordie Greig. The announcement came days after the promotion of Richard Caccappolo. Caccappolo has worked closely with the editor of the Daily Mail’s sister newspaper, MailOnline, and helped turn its website into a global success story. Ted Verity will replace Greig and have oversight of both titles. Many are wondering if these moves are hinting that the sister newspapers will soon be operating as a combined operation.

More personnel news: Harvard Crimson elects first Latina president in student newspaper’s nearly 150-year history.

AP NEWS | TED SHAFFREY and BOBBY CAINA CALVAN
US journalist jailed for months in Myanmar lands in New York

American journalist Danny Fenster has returned to the United States after six months in jail in military-ruled Myanmar. Fenster was sentenced to 11 years of hard labor for spreading false or inflammatory information, contacting illegal organizations, and violating visa regulations. He is one of more than 100 journalists, media officials, or publishers who have been detained since the military ousted the elected government in February. Fenster told reporters that he was physically OK and had not been starved or beaten while in custody. He also said he hoped his story would help focus world attention on the suffering of the people of Myanmar.

Read next: U.S. and China agree to ease restrictions on journalists.

THE MARSHALL PROJECT
The Marshall Project to Launch Criminal Justice News Operation in Cleveland

The Marshall Project will launch a news operation in Cleveland with the support of a three-year grant from the George Gund Foundation. The Cleveland news operation will report on abuses in Cuyahoga County’s criminal justice system, producing investigative, data, and engagement journalism. It will serve local audiences, including those directly affected by the criminal justice system, and work collaboratively with existing local newsrooms.

Listen: How Vice Media Group’s Daisy Auger-Dominguez has put DE&I plans into practice.