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Among captains of industry, entertainment executives continue to reap some of the biggest rewards when it comes to compensation.

The biggest pay day so far went to Discovery Communications Chief Executive David Zaslav, who received a $156.1-million compensation package in 2014 even though he manages one of the smaller media companies. That's a stratospheric level even by Wall Street standards. Consider that JPMorgan Chase & Co., the nation's largest bank, reported in January that CEO Jamie Dimon raked in a pay package of $20 million.

The lucrative compensation packages come at an increasingly troubled time in the media industry. Media companies are struggling to adapt to changes brought on by digital competitors such as Netflix, which is attracting consumers who once spent the bulk of their free time watching traditional TV channels.

Zaslav is not the only media executive with handsome rewards. CBS Corp. Chief Executive Leslie Moonves last year received a pay package valued at $57 million, according to a CBS proxy filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission late Friday.

Moonves' compensation, which included a $25-million bonus, represented a nearly 15% decline from 2013. Moonves' pay package had been shooting up along with the value of CBS stock but the company's shares lost ground last year as Wall Street fretted about the industry trends of audience fragmentation and the proliferation of online streaming services.

CBS shares closed up 40 cents Friday at $61.60. The stock has declined 8% during the last year. Discovery's stock is down much more: 23% during the last 12 months. Discovery shares closed down 17 cents at $33.04 on Friday.

Charles Elson, director of the John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware, said that sky-high executive compensation packages for media executives is just a symptom of a larger problem. Many of the companies have two classes of stock voting and nonvoting shares which reduces ordinary shareholders to bystanders with no influence.

"Investors in media companies really don't have a voice like they do in other companies," Elson said Friday. "That's why you see all of these high salaries in media. The whole thing is a toxic cocktail for investors."

CBS, Comcast Corp., Viacom Inc., Discovery Communications and Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox all have dual classes of stock. Key figures in those companies control the voting shares, which gives them a disproportionate influence in their company's affairs. For example, Murdoch controls 39% of the voting shares at Fox and his second company, News Corp., and less than 15% of the economic interest.

Murdoch's fiscal 2014 compensation was $29.2 million.

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Media executives' pay packages are still in stratosphere

When:

April 2, 2015 @ 2:00 pm 3:00 pm

2015-04-02T14:00:00-04:00

2015-04-02T15:00:00-04:00

Where:

Knight TV Studio 555 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest Washington, DC 20001 USA

Cost:

Free with Newseum admission. Seating is on a space-available basis.

Anti-American sentiment and a nationalist fervor in Russia are rated higher today than at Cold War peaks and at the heart of those twin developments is a master of propaganda, media control and mass audience appeal: Russian president Vladimir Putin. This year is the 30th anniversary of the launch of perestroika and glasnost under Mikhail Gorbachev and the 15th anniversary of Putin becoming president.

Join a panel of experts for a provocative program examining how this high-profile, yet enigmatic leader has shaped his own public image, taken control of the Russian news media and marshaled public support to put Russia on a collision course with the West. How do and can Europe and the United States counter the production and promotion of a hybrid truth in Russia and news produced in formats that mimic Western news media, but in reality generated by state entities with no political oversight or control?

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Journalism/Works: Putin: Power, Persuasion and Propaganda

By LORI HINNANT and ELAINE GANLEY Associated Press

PARIS (AP) - Hackers claiming allegiance to the Islamic State group simultaneously blacked out 11 channels of a French global TV network and took over its website and social media accounts on Thursday, in what appeared to be the most ambitious media attack so far by the extremist group.

Anti-terror prosecutors opened an investigation into the attack that began late Wednesday and blocked TV5 Monde from functioning part of the day Thursday. Operations were fully re-established Thursday evening.

France's interior minister, while counseling caution until investigators find hard evidence, said the attack was likely a terrorist act. "Numerous elements converge to suggest the cause of this attack is, indeed, a terrorist act," Bernard Cazeneuve said at a news conference.

France is "absolutely determined to catch those who want to strike at its heart," the minister said.

The hackers briefly cut transmission of 11 channels belonging to TV5 Monde and took over its websites and social media accounts. The channel's director, Yves Bigot, said the attack continued into Thursday. However, the station was able to broadcast its 6 p.m. live show, "64 Minutes."

"We are no longer dark," the station said.

More than a dozen technicians worked to return the station to life "without erasing the traces of the intrusion, which are precious for the investigation," the National Agency for Computer Systems Security said in a statement.

The message on the TV5 Monde website read in part "I am IS" with a banner by a group that called itself Cybercaliphate.

Hackers operating under the name Cybercaliphate have carried out a string of attention-seeking attacks against media outlets - including several in the U.S. - since late last year. Even though the hackers express support for the Islamic State group and routinely use its imagery in their attacks, it is difficult to know for sure whether they are genuine members, simple supporters or hackers with no link to IS. Experts who have followed the group's online communications say its supporters have regularly expressed interest in launching cyber-attacks at Western targets.

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French network's channels hacked by group claiming IS ties

When it comes to social media communications, its not why or whenits how and where.

But accounting firms face significant hurdles and oftentimes it seems like the risks are not worth the rewards. Overzealous regulators, independence rules, clients that largely avoid the use of social media professionally and skeptical leadership all stand in the way.

As a strategic communications company that caters to accounting firms, weve heard it all. Our clients aren't using social media so why should we? Social media is for consumer brands, not accounting firms. Social media poses too much risk and we can lose control of the conversation.

Sound familiar? The objections are plentiful and the excuses are easy; however the rewards for those that do it right can be handsome.

If your firm has stumbled out of the gate trying to create a meaningful social media presence, or you are considering stepping up your companys efforts, you probably have questions. And here are the answers to three questions that your senior leadership team is likely asking:

1. How can my company and employees publish and circulate content over social media and not run afoul of regulators?

Regulators are often cited among the top reasons why accounting firms dont embrace a proactive social media effort. However, technologies and platform companies such as Hearsay Social and CommandPost make it easier for firms to track and report social media activity and adhere to strict compliance demands. Whats more, proper social media training and focusing content on thought leadership rather than conducting business (aka selling solutions) will also help manage compliance issues and avoid the wrath of regulators. It will also prove more effective in reaching and intriguing your target audiences.

There is a great opportunity to get your firms stance out there on a range of important issues. How are new technology tools, software and digital communications changing the business of accounting and the ability of companies to track, assess and report data? How are changes in accounting standards or new regulatory regimes impacting how clients are managing compliance demands? Prospective clients, media and other important audiences are looking for guidance on these and other timely topics.

2. How do I convince my firms leadership that social media is a worthwhile investment when our clientswho are mostly senior level business executivesdont use it?

If one of your communications goals is to enhance and increase the quality of media coverage of your firm and its leaders, social media is a vital tool. It is the conduit for the brand and its lead spokespeople to engage with media on topics and issues that are driving much of their editorial coverage. Many reporters and media outlets that cover the audit industry are active on social media. Look no further on Twitter than @Rapoportwsj, @AICPA_JofA and @AccountingToday If youre not present on social media, youre missing a golden opportunity to build relationships with these media.

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Why Accounting Firms Must Embrace #SocialMedia

Deliberations during the first two days of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) conference on the Parliament and the media law were good and fruitful, Speaker of AP Legislative Assembly Kodela Siva Prasada Rao said on Thursday.

He said delegates felt that the self-control was needed as far as social media were concerned and this would benefit society, he said.

Feedback forms received from the delegates would be sent to the CPA and the comments and suggestions would help in improving the associations activities, Dr. Siva Prasada Rao said. The main object of CPA was to promote parliamentary democracy and the role of media was important in it, Assistant Director (programmes) Arlene Bussettee said. The workshop outcome document would be circulated among the 170 branches of the CPA, she said. There are 17,000 MPs and members of legislatures in these countries.

The third and final day of the conference would be held at tourist centre Araku, situated on the Eastern Ghats, on Friday. Answering a question on how self discipline could be entertained when all types of people are entering the media, Dr. Siva Prasada Rao and Mr. Roy said that said there were good and bad elements every where. If the limits were crossed the judiciary and legislatures were certainly stepping inOn the delay in the process of law making, Mr. Roy said some bills were passed quickly but some were delayed. Some like the GST bill pending for many years were big in size and they needed thorough scrutiny with an effort to get consensus of all States.

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Self-control must for social media: Kodela