Mediagazer: RIAA Wants Infamous File-Sharer to Campaign Against Piracy (David Kravets/Wired)

8:55 AM ET, July 12, 2013

Top News:

Margaret Sullivan / The Public Editor's Journal:

How Acceptable Was Anonymous Speculation About Snowden's Laptops? — It's the story that just won't quit: The tale of Edward J. Snowden and his leak of classified information about the United States government's secret surveillance of citizens. — Rife with skirmishes and subplots …

Discussion: Softpedia News, @balthazarbierma, @michelelassauxh, @jackshafer, @jamesrbuk, @ggreenwald, The Week and FP Passport

Shalini Ramachandran / Wall Street Journal:

Charter's Tom Rutledge Pushes Cable Consolidation — Tom Rutledge, the chief executive of cable operator Charter Communications Inc., CHTR -0.12% was on vacation in the Caribbean in February when he got an unexpected phone call. Cable tycoon John Malone was on the line.

Liana B. Baker / Reuters:
Malone says cable companies should make joint bid for Hulu

Discussion: Hollywood Reporter, @lianabaker and TBI Vision

Josh Gerstein / Politico:

Holder to deliver report to Obama on press probe guidelines — Attorney General Eric Holder is scheduled to deliver a report to President Barack Obama Friday on proposed changes to Justice Department guidelines on criminal investigations that involve the news media.

Eriq Gardner / Billboard:

Amazon Battles European Tax Levy on Blank CDs — Once upon a time, about 10 years ago, it was commonplace to put movies, music and other content on blank CDs and DVDs. This also was a moment when the entertainment universe was familiarizing itself with the disruption of file-trading …

Discussion: Electronista, Engadget, CNET and Reuters

Roy Greenslade / Guardian:

Journalists quit Trinidad newspaper in press freedom crisis — A major crisis has broken out at the Trinidad Guardian, the leading newspaper in Trinidad and Tobago. Three of the paper's senior journalists have resigned in protest at alleged editorial interference by its owners.

Discussion: Big News Network.com and Global Voices

George Szalai / Hollywood Reporter:

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp to Move Into New London Headquarters — The publishing company will consolidate its operations in the British capital at a single location. — LONDON - Rupert Murdoch's News Corp said Friday it plans to move its operations in the British capital into a single location on the south bank of the Thames River.

Discussion: Deadline.com, Reuters, The Times, London News, Property Week and Bookseller news

Andrew Beaujon / Poynter:

Pew: About a quarter of Americans say journalists contribute little to society — 27 percent of Americans say journalists contribute little or nothing to society's well being, according to a study by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life.

Discussion: Syracuse Post-Standard, Pew Forum on Religion …, TVSpy, @jackshafer, NationalJournal.com and The Wrap

Hamish McKenzie / PandoDaily:

Upworthy's biggest threat: Becoming a one-note wonder — Upworthy is one of the hottest media stories around. In May, it registered 30 million unique visitors, an incredibly high number for a 13-month-old company, placing it above Hulu.com, NBC Sports, and Us Magazine on the pageview totem pole.

Discussion: eMedia Vitals

New York Times:

20th Century Fox Enlists Help in Bringing Its Properties to the Stage — LOS ANGELES — One of the last Hollywood studios without a Broadway division, 20th Century Fox, is diving into the live theater business by teaming with Kevin McCollum, a producer of hits like “Rent,” “Avenue Q” and “Motown.”

David Kravets / Wired:

RIAA Wants Infamous File-Sharer to Campaign Against Piracy — Did you hear the one about the world's most infamous music file-sharer being asked to publicly extol the virtues of the Recording Industry Association of America's anti-piracy platform? — The RIAA is suggesting Jammie Thomas-Rasset do just that.

Discussion: TorrentFreak, AllAccess.com, SlashGear, Digital Music News, Techdirt, Consumerist, Softpedia News and The Verge

Beth Healy / The Boston Globe:

Field of bidders for Globe narrows — At least three investor groups with local ties apparently remain in contention to buy The Boston Globe and its related businesses, according to people briefed on the matter. — The narrowed field of bidders includes members of the Taylor family …

Adam C. Engst / TidBITS:

Explaining the Apple Ebook Price Fixing Suit — By now, you've undoubtedly heard the news that U.S. District Judge Denise Cote has ruled against Apple in the antitrust suit filed against the company by the U.S. Department of Justice and 33 states, saying that Apple conspired with five major publishers …

Discussion: TeleRead, Slate, TUAW, Forbes and CNET

Jason Illian / PublishersWeekly.com:

Analysis: A Band-Aid for B&N's Gunshot Wound — Can Barnes & Noble be Saved? — It's been a rough week for Barnes & Noble. And month. And year. And it may get worse before (if) it gets better. For those of you who have been in cryogenic sleep the last few weeks, here is a brief recap:

Discussion: Forbes and New York Times