Mediagazer: AP starts publishing robot-generated earnings stories (Andrew Beaujon/Poynter)

12:30 PM ET, July 21, 2014

Top News:

In the wake of a merger bid between non-print media giants, a meditation on print's inadequacy — Riding the Juggernaut That Left Print Behind — Even if you aren't one of those people worried about media consolidation — there are many in that number — the big bolt of lightning last week …

Brian Stelter / CNNMoney.com:

Sources: NBC pulled Ayman Mohyeldin from Gaza due to network infighting, not to silence him — What really happened with NBC and Ayman Mohyeldin — NBC News Foreign Correspondent Ayman Mohyeldin returned to Gaza on Sunday, four days after network management told him to leave the conflict zone amid breaking news coverage.

Discussion: New York Magazine, @jayrosen_nyu, @blakehounshell, @jayrosen_nyu, @brianstelter, @jeffjarvis, @mlcalderone, @peterfhart, @jayrosen_nyu, @allisonkilkenny, Pressing Issues and @nbcnewspr

Bloomberg:

Fox Said to Mull Using Sky Sale to Boost Time Warner Bid — Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox Inc. (FOXA) is considering using proceeds from the sale of its Italian and German pay-TV assets to boost its offer for Time Warner Inc. (TWX), according to two people familiar with the matter.

Discussion: TVNewser, Business Insider, @pkafka and @edmundlee

Capital New York:

The 60-second interview: Taylor Lorenz, head of social media, The Daily Mail/Mail Online — CAPITAL: What are your major responsibilities as social media lead? What is your day-to-day like? — LORENZ: My responsibilities are pretty varied. My No. 1 goal is to promote …

Discussion: @stevekovach, @socarolinesays, @sfiegerman, @jaredbkeller, @mattnavarrauk, @perlberg, @timherrera, @lauraelizdavis and @elanazak

Author Earnings:

Study: 31% of ebooks sold on Amazon are self-published; DRM harms sales at all price levels — July 2014 Author Earnings Report — It has been nearly half a year since we first pulled data for nearly every ranked ebook on Amazon.com's thousands of category bestseller lists.

Discussion: @ydbxmhc and Boing Boing

Capital New York:

The story behind The New Yorker's website relaunch, unveiled today — A relaunch for The New Yorker, with high stakes — The New Yorker will debut its long awaited, revamped website today, about which you'll see plenty of commentary and criticism. — But to understand what the imperatives …

Discussion: New Yorker, The Next Web, The Awl, Politico, FishbowlNY, @cncep, @alexweprin, @dfroms and @garrettquinn

New York Times:

Big TV mergers are forcing smaller cable networks like AMC, Starz to consider survival plans — Smaller Cable Networks Plan Their Survival Under the Feet of Giants — The flesh-eating zombies in AMC's hit television series “The Walking Dead” are shambling into a land of even bigger monsters.

Discussion: Los Angeles Times, @emilysteel, @peterlattman and The New Yorker Blog

Andrew Beaujon / Poynter:

AP starts publishing robot-generated earnings stories — AP's robot-written stories have arrived — AP earnings-report stories written with automation technology have begun to appear. Earnings reports for Hasbro Inc., Honeywell International Inc. and GE, among others, bear the legend …

Discussion: @poynter

Thanyarat Doksone / Associated Press:

Thai junta's gag on media raises alarm, criticism — FILE - In this June 13, 2014 file photo, Thailand's Army commander Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, left, arrives at the Royal Thai Army Club in Bangkok, Thailand. Critics and journalists raised concerns Saturday, July 19, 2014 …

Discussion: @jonrussell, Asian Correspondent and The Week

James Hanning / The Independent:

Phone hacking scandal: Police are holding back evidence, claims Glenn Mulcaire — The phone interceptor says a mysterious third person commissioned him to listen to Milly Dowler's voicemails — Glenn Mulcaire, the private investigator at the heart of the News of the World phone-hacking …

Discussion: The Independent, Press Gazette, Sunshine Coast Daily, @magsnews, @martin_hickman and The Independent

Josh Halliday / Guardian:

Sky News apologises after presenter is seen looking through MH17 luggage — Broadcaster met with storm of criticism after footage emerges of Colin Brazier picking items from suitcase at crash site — Media professor Joe Watson described Brazier's actions as a ‘horrible moment for journalism’.

Discussion: The Daily Caller, @wjoewatson, @sabinewolff, @unamullally, @pvdmeersch, @vidyut, @themurdochtimes, BuzzFeed and The Drum

Jeffrey Dvorkin / Now The Details:

NPR Learns About (New) Media Accountability - the Hard Way — NPR HQ in Washington, DC — It began with a job posting on the NPR website. — NPR is looking for a new ombudsman to replace Edward Schumacher-Matos who has held the post for the past three years. He steps down in September.

Discussion: @acarvin and @jayrosen_nyu