Mediagazer: For News From Syrian Battleground, a Reliance on Social Media (Ben Sisario/New York Times)

3:55 AM ET, August 31, 2013

Top News:

Margaret Sullivan / The Public Editor's Journal:

In News Coverage and Editorials on Syria, How Much Skepticism in The Times? — Many Times readers are looking at recent news coverage of Syria, and editorials on the same subject, through the lens of another international conflict: the United States invasion of Iraq.

Ben Sisario / New York Times:

For News From Syrian Battleground, a Reliance on Social Media — When Secretary of State John Kerry delivered the United States' report on Friday about the use of chemical weapons in Syria, he noted that “all hell broke loose in the social media” just 90 minutes after the alleged attack.

Discussion: Foreign Policy, @sukille, @kirstinestewart and @jncatron

Alex Weprin / TVNewser:

Network Correspondents Converge On Syria And Surrounding Countries — All eyes are turning to Syria, as escalated rhetoric suggests that a U.S. attack could be imminent. Unlike Iraq, which saw correspondents reporting while embedded with U.S. troops or from the balcony of their hotels …

Discussion: @yancyfaith

Sara Morrison / The Wrap:
Syria Crisis: How the Networks Are Covering

Discussion: Mediaite, The New Yorker Blog, Hollywood Reporter and @saramorrison

Mark Hosenball / Reuters:

UK asked N.Y. Times to destroy Snowden material — (Reuters) - The British government has asked the New York Times to destroy copies of documents leaked by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden related to the operations of the U.S. spy agency and its British partner …

Discussion: Mediaite, @emilydparker, @jesselynradack, @mattwaite, @jayrosen_nyu and The Independent

David Barrett / Telegraph:

David Miranda was carrying password for secret files on piece of paper — A journalist's partner who was detained carrying thousands of British intelligence documents through Heathrow airport was also holding the password to an encrypted file written on a piece of paper, the government has disclosed.

Discussion: Joshua Foust, @harrisj, The Independent, The Verge, The Atlantic Wire, Softpedia News, Politico, New York Magazine and @jayrosen_nyu

Robert Booth / Guardian:
UK took three weeks to act over data at New York Times, says Guardian

Discussion: Techdirt, @rydermc, @fredriklaurin, The Switch, @kgosztola, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, @dangillmor, @jamesrbuk, @ncilla and Softpedia News

Rosie Gray:
British Embassy Approached New York Times About Snowden Documents

Discussion: @buzzfeedben, @rosiegray and @buzzfeedben

insideradio.com:

Townsquare Media buys 53 stations from Cumulus. — In deal-making that will solidify its position as the third-biggest radio group, Townsquare Media is adding 71 stations in 15 markets. It'll do that a series of three deals, valued at a combined $281 million.

Discussion: radioworld.com

Jeff Bercovici / Forbes:
Looking To Radio's Future, Cumulus Media Buys Syndicator Dial Global

Discussion: Benzinga, Businessweek, New York Times, Billboard, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Wall Street Journal, NetNewsCheck Latest and @ethanwsj

Meg James / Los Angeles Times:

L.A. City Council to debate Time Warner Cable-CBS blackout — The Los Angeles City Council plans to wade into the contentious contract dispute between Time Warner Cable and CBS Corp., which has led to a four-week blackout of local CBS stations in more than 1 million homes in Los Angeles.

Discussion: @megjameslat

Joshua Benton / Nieman Journalism Lab:

New York Times improves its recommendations engine — Discussions about the future of news often feature a dystopian, filter-bubbly argument: Let people personalize the news they consume and it'll kill the common conversation essential to democracy. — I've always been suspicious of that argument.

Discussion: @niemanlab and The Next Web

Beejoli Shah / Defamer:

Can Journalism Save Hollywood? (Or Vice Versa?) — After Earth failed. Lone Ranger flopped. R.I.P.D. fizzled. Studios' cash cow—the effects-laden, foreign-audience-compatible blockbuster—is drying up, and Hollywood is looking around for something new.

The Media Briefing:

WPP's Sorrell: No media sector is safe from digital disruption — No media business is immune from serious disruption as the growth of digital, data-driven advertising continues unchecked, says Sir Martin Sorrell, the sloganeering leader of advertising and marketing giant WPP.

Thanks:@mediabrief

Lucia Moses / Adweek:

People Mag Prepares New Subscription Model — Time Inc. cash cow People is preparing to unveil a new pricing model designed to transform the way people think about subscriptions, according to people familiar with the publisher's plans. Other titles in the company are expected to follow suit.

Discussion: FishbowlNY

Erik Maza / WWD: Time Inc. CEO Laura Lang to Exit in September

Laura Hazard Owen / GigaOM:

Heads up, ebook buyers: Here's how much you're likely to get in the Apple ebook settlement — All five publishers who were accused of conspiring with Apple to set ebook prices at the launch of the iBookstore have settled with the federal government and with the states, and until …

Discussion: CNET, Speakeasy and MacRumors

Dallas Morning News:

Time Warner customers to get Longhorn Network in time for Texas' kickoff — Texas head football coach Mack Brown answers question from the media on the new Longhorn Network studio desk. ESPN in conjunction with the University of Texas show off their new Longhorn Network production offices …

Discussion: @ourand_sbj, @utaustin, ESPN MediaZone, @dfbarron, @ourand_sbj, @pbatbon, @ourand_sbj, www.austin360.com, voices.mydesert.com and @longhornnetwork

Adrienne LaFrance / Nieman Journalism Lab:

Columbia is launching a new post-bac program to breed journalism unicorns — The journalism unicorn exists. I've seen one — even worked with one. Maybe you know the kind: a journalist who's as nimble and dynamic as a reporter as she is with coding. — Yes, journalism unicorns are out there …

Discussion: @emilybell, @kleinmatic, @sisiwei, @greglinch, @derekwillis and Tow Center for Digital …

Mike Isaac / AllThingsD:

Twitter General Counsel Alexander Macgillivray to Leave Company — Twitter's free speech defender is leaving the nest. — Alexander Macgillivray, Twitter's general counsel and chief navigator of its thorny digital First Amendment issues, is departing the company.

Discussion: bricoleur, @mikeisaac, Guardian, NYT Bits, ReadWrite, Los Angeles Times, The Verge, CNET, GigaOM, Betabeat, Mashable, TechCrunch, @trevortimm, Hillicon Valley and Digits

David Goetzl / MediaPost:

Nielsen Negotiates With FTC To Secure OK On Arbitron Deal — Nielsen looks to be negotiating with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on an agreement that would have it taking some action to get the federal agency's blessing to go through with its proposed acquisition of Arbitron.

Discussion: Radio & Television …