Los Angeles Times

Beloved Viral Internet Sensation "Nora the Piano Cat" Inspires Development of New Animated Series for Children Worldwide

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 15, 2024

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, All That's Good Productions unveils an official sizzle reel for Nora the Piano Cat, a creative, culturally diverse, and educational animated children's series for all ages, inspired by "one of Philadelphia's first viral animal stars", Nora the Piano Cat. The show stars Nora, who first became globally recognized in 2007 as a musically gifted internet sensation after a YouTube video of her playing the piano went viral. Nora has been featured on BBC Earth, TODAY.com, The Los Angeles Times, USA Today, 6ABC Action News, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Hong Kong's My Pet magazine, National Geographic, and more.

Key Points: 
  • The show stars Nora, who first became globally recognized in 2007 as a musically gifted internet sensation after a YouTube video of her playing the piano went viral.
  • Despite this loss, her memory endures through the music and joy she brought to her devoted global fanbase.
  • "I did not adopt Nora the Piano Cat, she adopted me," says Nora's owner Betsy Alexander.
  • This new series, produced in Nora's hometown of Philadelphia, aims to enrich global audiences by showcasing diverse music genres.

Beloved Viral Internet Sensation "Nora the Piano Cat" Inspires Development of New Animated Series for Children Worldwide

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 15, 2024

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, All That's Good Productions unveils an official sizzle reel for Nora the Piano Cat, a creative, culturally diverse, and educational animated children's series for all ages, inspired by "one of Philadelphia's first viral animal stars", Nora the Piano Cat. The show stars Nora, who first became globally recognized in 2007 as a musically gifted internet sensation after a YouTube video of her playing the piano went viral. Nora has been featured on BBC Earth, TODAY.com, The Los Angeles Times, USA Today, 6ABC Action News, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Hong Kong's My Pet magazine, National Geographic, and more.

Key Points: 
  • The show stars Nora, who first became globally recognized in 2007 as a musically gifted internet sensation after a YouTube video of her playing the piano went viral.
  • Despite this loss, her memory endures through the music and joy she brought to her devoted global fanbase.
  • "I did not adopt Nora the Piano Cat, she adopted me," says Nora's owner Betsy Alexander.
  • This new series, produced in Nora's hometown of Philadelphia, aims to enrich global audiences by showcasing diverse music genres.

OscarⓇ-Nominated Documentary BOBI WINE: THE PEOPLE’S PRESIDENT Returns to Theaters President’s Day Weekend for Limited Run

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Museveni has been in power since 1986 and changed Uganda’s constitution to enable him to run for yet another five-year term.

Key Points: 
  • Museveni has been in power since 1986 and changed Uganda’s constitution to enable him to run for yet another five-year term.
  • More recently, the film was nominated for Best Documentary at the 96th Academy Awards.
  • It was awarded the prestigious Best Documentary Feature Award by the International Documentary Association (IDA).
  • The following theaters will be showing BOBI WINE: THE PEOPLE’S PRESIDENT:
    New York - Firehouse: DCTV's Cinema for Documentary Film - Find showtimes here .

Saving the news media means moving beyond the benevolence of billionaires

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Most spectacularly, the Los Angeles Times recently slashed more than 20% of its newsroom.

Key Points: 
  • Most spectacularly, the Los Angeles Times recently slashed more than 20% of its newsroom.
  • Yet, as we’ve previously argued, relying on the benevolence of billionaire owners isn’t a viable long-term solution to journalism’s crises.
  • In what we call the “oligarchy media model,” it often creates distinct hazards for democracy.

Systemic market failure

  • Rather, it’s a systemic market failure with no signs of reversal.
  • As print advertising continues to decline, Meta’s and Google’s dominance over digital advertising has deprived news publishers of a major online revenue source.
  • The advertising-based news business model has collapsed and, to the extent it ever did, won’t adequately support the public service journalism that democracy requires.
  • But they’re outliers; in the end, billionaire owners can’t change these inhospitable market dynamics.

The way forward

  • That’s why we believe it’s urgently important to grow the number of outlets capable of independently resisting destructive market forces.
  • Billionaire owners willing to release their media properties could help facilitate this process.
  • Its nonprofit ownership model has enabled the Inquirer to invest in news at a time when so many others have cut to the bone.
  • However, most struggle mightily to generate enough revenues to even pay themselves and a few reporters a living wage.

Donors can still play a role

  • A 2023 Media Impact Funders report pointed out that foundation funders once primarily focused on providing a bridge to an ever-elusive new business model.
  • The thinking went that they could provide seed money until the operation was up and running and then redirect their investments elsewhere.
  • However, journalists are increasingly calling for long-term sustaining support as the extent of market failure has become clear.

The limits of private capital


Still, philanthropic support for journalism falls far short of what’s needed. Total revenues for newspapers have fallen from a historic high of $49.4 billion in 2005 to $9.8 billion in 2022.

  • Philanthropy could help fill a portion of this deficit but, even with the recent increase in donations, nowhere near all of it.
  • Nor, in our view, should it.

Public funds for local journalism

  • A strong, accessible media system that serves the public interest will ultimately require significant public funding.
  • Along with libraries, schools and research universities, journalism is an essential part of a democracy’s critical information infrastructure.
  • It’s worth noting that U.S. investment in public media is a smaller percentage of GDP than in virtually any other major democracy in the world.
  • Under these plans, news outlets prioritizing local journalism receive various kinds of public subsidies and grants.


The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Internationally renowned filmmaker Rory Kennedy coming to Canada this weekend for Film Training Manitoba’s Film Master Series, Kennedy available for interviews

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 7, 2024

“Rory Kennedy is one of the world’s foremost documentary filmmakers with a stellar and exceptional body of work,” said Film Training Manitoba’s Executive Director Adam Smoluk.

Key Points: 
  • “Rory Kennedy is one of the world’s foremost documentary filmmakers with a stellar and exceptional body of work,” said Film Training Manitoba’s Executive Director Adam Smoluk.
  • He added, “This is a rare opportunity for Manitoba film professionals to learn from the very best the industry has to offer.
  • Pre-event one-on-one online interviews with Rory Kennedy are available by appointment on Thursday, February 8 from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm CST.
  • There may be the possibility that Rory Kennedy might be available for limited interviews outside this time frame by arrangement.

Deb Autor, Former FDA Deputy Commissioner, Appointed CEO of Healthcare Innovation Catalysts

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 1, 2024

Her government career spanned two decades, culminating in the crucial role of Deputy Commissioner of FDA where she oversaw all inspections and international operations.

Key Points: 
  • Her government career spanned two decades, culminating in the crucial role of Deputy Commissioner of FDA where she oversaw all inspections and international operations.
  • Before FDA, Ms. Autor was a decorated federal prosecutor at the U.S. Department of Justice, and FDA was her client.
  • “We are honored to have Deb take the helm as our first CEO,” stated Michael Singer, Executive Chairman of HIC.
  • Since 2018, she has served as Chair of the FDA Alumni Association, where she continues to work to support the agency’s mission.

With New Hotel License Requirement Looming, UNITE HERE Local 11 Raises Alleged Worker Abuses at Aimbridge-Operated Hotels with LA Police Commission

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 24, 2024

The hospitality workers’ union, UNITE HERE Local 11, has sent letters to the Los Angeles Police Commission to inform it of allegations of worker rights abuses at two hotels operated by Aimbridge Hospitality: Holiday Inn LAX and the San Pedro DoubleTree.

Key Points: 
  • The hospitality workers’ union, UNITE HERE Local 11, has sent letters to the Los Angeles Police Commission to inform it of allegations of worker rights abuses at two hotels operated by Aimbridge Hospitality: Holiday Inn LAX and the San Pedro DoubleTree.
  • The Police Commission is responsible for considering license applications from hotel operators under the Ordinance’s new hotel permitting scheme.
  • Any recently found violations of the Hotel Worker Protection Ordinance, state wage law, or state child labor laws, would serve as grounds for denial of an operating license.
  • The letters asked the Board of Police Commissioners to consider the alleged abuses and pending investigations or claims into consideration in evaluating the permit applications of those two hotels.

Robert Downey Jr. and Thomas Kostigen Release Cool Food Book: Call to action for eating right and doing well by the planet

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 22, 2024

NEW YORK, Jan. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Cool Food: Erasing Your Carbon Footprint One Bite at a Time by celebrated actor and philanthropist Robert Downey Jr. and New York Times bestselling author Thomas Kostigen will be published January 23rd by Blackstone Publishing.

Key Points: 
  • Join Robert and Tom on this fun, exciting, and enlightening adventure and learn how to become part of the Cool Food revolution.
  • Cool Food is a guide to help demystify the cool food movement sweeping the world.
  • Cool Food is a new category of food that encompasses those items with lower, or negative carbon footprints.
  • Swapping even one food item to one that's more sustainable, or cool, can produce a massive, positive climate impact, Downey and Kostigen write in Cool Food.

Haute Residence and Joyce Rey Continue Their Real Estate Partnership Into Eighth Year

Retrieved on: 
Friday, January 19, 2024

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Jan. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Referred to as the "Billionaire's Broker" by ELLE, "First Lady of Luxury Real Estate" by the Chinese media, and "Grand Dame of Real Estate" by the Los Angeles Times—Joyce Rey is an icon in her own right. After more than four decades working in the highest echelons of international luxury real estate, she has amassed more than $6 billion in career sales and a roster of celebrity clients who revere her discretion. Negotiating historic estates is her specialty. She is known for marketing and selling some of the most expensive properties in the United States, including the esteemed Perenchio Estate, "Chartwell," in Bel Air. Each year, she breaks sales records—including her own.

Key Points: 
  • Haute Residence and acclaimed real estate agent Joyce Rey take their partnership into its eighth year.
  • As a Haute Residence member, Joyce is one of the agents who exclusively represents the high-end real estate market in Beverly Hills, California.
  • After more than four decades working in the highest echelons of international luxury real estate, she has amassed more than $6 billion in career sales.
  • Joyce's legendary rise in Los Angeles luxury real estate began in 1974, after her first sale—the estate of Christina Onassis.

Tickets now on Sale for Inaugural Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 18, 2024

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tickets are now on sale for the inaugural Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival — the newest addition to Los Angeles' culinary scene that celebrates the intersection of food and culture. Presented by IMG (the Endeavor-owned global events leader behind events such as Taste of London, Frieze and New York Fashion Week: The Shows), the three-day event takes place March 1st through March 3rd, 2024 (7:30pm - 10pm on Friday and Saturday; 12:30pm-3pm on Sunday) at the Santa Monica Pier.

Key Points: 
  • New additions to the three-day festival line up include: Jitlada, Pizzana, Holbox and more
    LOS ANGELES, Jan. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tickets are now on sale for the inaugural Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival — the newest addition to Los Angeles' culinary scene that celebrates the intersection of food and culture.
  • The festival will feature a mix of high-profile culinary and beverage talent, beloved local restaurants, and cultural initiatives.
  • Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival takes place in conjunction with Frieze Week Los Angeles , which animates the creative communities across LA from February 26th to March 3rd.
  • Additional programming and events will be announced in coming weeks, and more information can be found at lawineandfood.com or @lawinefoodfest on Instagram.