Mediagazer: Amazon teams up with Mattel to streams kids TV shows alongside related merchandise (Brooks Barnes/New York Times)

5:35 PM ET, June 2, 2014

Top News:

Xan Brooks / Guardian:

Oliver Stone to direct adaptation of Guardian journalist Luke Harding's book on Snowden — Edward Snowden NSA whistleblowing story to be filmed by Oliver Stone — Director of Platoon and JFK will direct a big budget adaptation of Guardian journalist Luke Harding's book about Snowden's role in exposing the NSA's surveillance culture

Discussion: gq-magazine.co.uk, Mediaite, The New York Observer, FishbowlNY, The Wrap, Politico, Variety, @drudge_report, @ewenmacaskill, The Verge, @timkarr, @paullewis, New York Magazine and Pressing Issues

Associated Press:

Supreme Court rejects Risen's appeal to avoid being forced to testify and reveal his sources — Justices reject reporter's bid to protect source — WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday refused to get involved in the case of a reporter who has been ordered to testify at the trial …

Discussion: New York Times, Reuters, Poynter, Forbes, @ap, Fortune, Techdirt, @ddknyt, The Huffington Post, Gawker, Media Law Prof Blog and Politico

Charlie Savage / New York Times:
Amid Moves on Shield Laws, Journalist Tells of a 2011 Subpoena Fight

Discussion: USA Today

Patrick Kingsley / Guardian:

Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef winds up TV show due to safety fears — Show was seen as a barometer for free speech in Egypt, but Youssef claims he is no longer safe to work — The television satirist seen as the barometer for free speech in post-revolutionary Egypt, Bassem Youssef …

Discussion: GlobalPost, Bloomberg, Associated Press, Mashable, TIME, Wall Street Journal, BBC, International Business Times, Washington Post, Daily News Egypt, Naharnet, The Straits Times and TheAustralian

Max Fisher / Vox:

The real tragedy of Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef's censorship is he played a role in it — Egyptian political satirist Bassem Youssef, internationally celebrated as “Egypt's Jon Stewart” for his willingness to poke fun at his country's top leaders through years of turmoil …

Discussion: @patrickkingsley

Myles Tanzer / BuzzFeed:

American Prospect lays off some staff, returns to roots as an academic journal, say sources — American Prospect Mass Exodus Begins — The publication that created a pipeline of digital journalists is going back to its roots as an academic journal. “The ownership is saying they are preserving …

Discussion: @patcaldwell, @buzzfeedben, @rachellarris, @alyssarosenberg, @danagoldstein and @suzykhimm

Caroline O'Donovan / Nieman Journalism Lab:

New study from University of Texas shows increasing demand for “solutions journalism” — Readers like stories about problems more when they also include possible solutions — If you tell someone about a problem, it's best to offer up a solution.

Discussion: @ceodonovan, @danhaugen and @jcstearns

Brooks Barnes / New York Times:

Amazon teams up with Mattel to streams kids TV shows alongside related merchandise — Amazon and a Mattel Unit Plan a ‘Content Hub’ Focusing on Children — LOS ANGELES — “Fireman Sam,” a cartoon aimed at preschoolers, has long been a hit overseas. Now Mattel and Amazon are teaming …

Discussion: Marketing Pilgrim, @awallenstein, C21Media and Los Angeles Times

Lucas Shaw / The Wrap:

Following Disney deal, Maker Studios laying off 10% of 380 staff — Maker Studios to Lay Off Staff After Disney Deal — Maker Studios will lay off about 10 percent of its staff of 380, according to individuals familiar with the large network of online video channels.

Discussion: Variety and Mashable

Steven Perlberg / Wall Street Journal:

Bloomberg Hires Paul Caine As New Revenue Chief … The terminal business may be Bloomberg's main moneymaker, but Justin Smith, the newly-minted chief executive of the company's media unit, has promised a “new direction” to lure ad dollars to Bloomberg's financially beleaguered news side.

Discussion: Radio & Television …, @perlberg, @justin_b_smith, @paulcaine and @samanthamcaine

Andy Pasztor / Wall Street Journal:

FAA Weighs Letting Film, TV Industry Use Drones — Regulators Consider Approving Drone Use for Some Companies, Signaling End of Legal Logjam — Federal regulators said they are considering exempting a handful of companies working for the film and television industry from current prohibitions …

Discussion: Hollywood Reporter and BBC

Fergus Pitt / Tow Center for Digital Journalism:

Sensor journalism study recommends more reporting, access to data from publicly funded sensors — Sensors and Journalism, A Major Report — Today, the Tow Center is publishing a report about the uses, the opportunities and the risks of sensors and journalism.

Discussion: @jseiken

Lisa De Moraes / Deadline.com:

Study: Colbert Report viewers more informed about campaign financing than actual news viewers — Study: Stephen Colbert More Effective Than Journalists At Explaining Campaign Financing During Last Election Cycle — A new report warns just how much this country stands to lose …