Mediagazer: What if Quality Journalism Isn't? (Thomas Baekdal/Baekdal Plus)

5:45 PM ET, June 15, 2014

Top News:

Chelsea Manning / New York Times:

The U.S. Military's Campaign Against Media Freedom — FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. — WHEN I chose to disclose classified information in 2010, I did so out of a love for my country and a sense of duty to others. I'm now serving a sentence of 35 years in prison for these unauthorized disclosures.

Discussion: The Huffington Post, Mediaite, @declanm, @mattseaton, @malbertnews, @jeffjarvis, @elilake, @rajivwashpost, @casparbowden, @abumuqawama, @quinnnorton and NPR

Margaret Sullivan / New York Times:

NYT needs to move faster toward a lean digital focus, which is hard for staff with print DNA — A Paper Boat Navigating a Digital Sea — IT'S Wednesday morning and 39 editors have filed in to the 10 a.m. meeting in The Times's third-floor conference room, some carrying laptops and smartphones, others with pens and notepads.

Discussion: @michaelroston, @mathewi, @underoak, @sfiegerman, @jayrosen_nyu, @raju, @johnrobinson, @pkafka, @sulliview and @palafo

Peter Kafka / Re/code:

Former BuzzFeed COO Jon Steinberg Lands at Daily Mail's Website — Jon Steinberg, the former COO of BuzzFeed, has a new job: He is running the American version of the U.K.-based Daily Mail's enormous website, formally known as MailOnline. Steinberg had worked at BuzzFeed for four years …

Discussion: Daily Mail, The Wrap, CNNMoney.com, @jonsteinberg, TechCrunch, FishbowlNY, @pkafka, @thestalwart and @hblodget

Thomas Baekdal / Baekdal Plus:

What if Quality Journalism Isn't? — By now you have probably already read the leaked Innovation Report from The New York Times. And if you haven't, you should. It provides a great overview of the challenges and thinking that are happening in the industry, not just for The New York Times, but for every newspaper and magazine.

Discussion: @fromthelabbench, @howardlindzon, @hblodget, @kissane, @antderosa, @macloo and @jayrosen_nyu

Steve Beatty / The Lens:

The Lens in New Orleans scales back school and political reporting, launches contract database — The Lens makes changes but continues focus on in-depth, public-service journalism — Like all news outlets in New Orleans and across the country, The Lens is constantly re-evaluating its mission and goals …

Discussion: Knight Foundation, @jayrosen_nyu, @ryankellycb, @jesseholcomb, @myersnews, @jesseholcomb, @johnmcquaid, @lmcgaughy, @leezurik, @jesseholcomb, @atuozzolo, @kataaron and @moseleylensnola

Tony Maglio / The Wrap:

How Snapstream's closed caption search helps Colbert and others scour recorded TV for material — The Secret Weapon Behind ‘Daily Show,’ ‘Colbert Report’ and ‘The Soup’ — Ever wondered how your favorite late-night comedy show sifts through all of those ridiculous cable news clips to bring you the most ridiculous?

Thanks:@rakeshagrawal

Ralph Cipriano / Big Trial:

At Philadelphia Inquirer, 3 execs quit, unions hope Drew Katz won't sell his father's stake — Tears and Fear At The Inky — for Bigtrial.net — The new owner of The Philadelphia Inquirer, H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest, wasn't back yet from his vacation in Vienna and Berlin.

Discussion: @romenesko

Alyson Shontell / Business Insider:

Elite Daily, the “Huffington Post for millennials”, claims 40M uniques a month, raises $1.5M — How Three 20-Somethings Built Elite Daily, A Site With 40 Million Readers, With $60,000 — Elite Daily, a news website with 55 employees and 40 million monthly uniques …

Discussion: @ladyironchef

Miles O'Brien / New York Magazine:

An accident in February cost the TV reporter Miles O'Brien his left arm. He soon discovered that every movement, no matter how small, requires rethinking. — An accident in February cost the TV reporter Miles O'Brien his left arm. He soon discovered that every movement, no matter how small, requires rethinking.

Discussion: @glennf, @laurenstarke and @stevesilberman

GoLocalProv:

Providence Journal sold to GateHouse for an estimated $50-60M, sources say — Providence Journal Sold to GateHouse, Sources Tell GoLocal — The sale of the Providence Journal is almost complete. — Unless the deal collapses, GateHouse Media, which recently emerged from bankruptcy …

Discussion: Boston Globe, @tednesi, Talking New Media, @dankennedy_nu and Media Nation

Miriam Berger / BuzzFeed:

Twitter Has Suspended An ISIS Account That Live-Tweeted Its Advance In Iraq — The Iraqi government on Friday also cut off access to social media, alleging it was necessary to stop ISIS' advance. — Twitter has suspended at least six accounts affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria …

Discussion: @wikileaks, Mashable and Guardian

Engin Onder / Nieman Reports:

The co-founder of Turkey's 140journos on building a citizen-sustained news agency from scratch — In December of 2011, Turkish military jets bombed the village of Uludere, about five miles from the border with Iraq, killing 34. Was the attack a tragic mistake or a planned strike on suspected Kurdish separatists?