Top News:


Reporters say White House sometimes demands changes to press-pool reports — White House press-pool reports are supposed to be the news media's eyes and ears on the president, an independent chronicle of his public activities. They are written by reporters for other reporters …


Washington Post announces cuts to employees' retirement benefits — The Washington Post announced large cuts in retirement benefits on Tuesday, declaring that it would eliminate future retirement medical benefits and freeze defined-benefit pensions for nonunion employees.
Discussion:
Politico, FishbowlDC, bizjournals, @jamieson, @aterkel, The Huffington Post and GeekWire

Sirius XM found liable for copyright infringement for failing to pay royalties on pre-1972 recordings — Sirius XM Loses Lawsuit on Royalties for Oldies — In a case that could have wide implications for the digital music business, a federal judge in California ruled on Monday that Sirius XM …


Comcast Accuses Time Warner Cable Deal Opponents of “Extortion” — Netflix, Discovery Communications and other companies opposing Comcast's $45 billion deal to acquire Time Warner Cable are doing so after they failed in “extortion” attempts to get special favors, Comcast told federal regulators Wednesday.
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal and @brianstelter


What the Founders of Vice Media, Upworthy, and Aereo Have to Say About Media Innovation — The disruptors behind three of media's most fascinating companies talk about what they've learned and what's next. — Chet Kanojia (Left), Suroosh Alvi. … Vice began 20 years ago as a free publication, the Voice of Montreal.


Forest Service says media needs photography permit in wilderness areas, alarming First Amendment advocates — First Amendment advocates are alarmed by a U.S. Forest Service policy requiring journalists to get a permit to shoot videos in federal wilderness areas including those on Mount Hood.


Stephen Hayes, Weekly Standard writer and Fox News contributor, makes DHS Terrorist Watchlist — Stephen Hayes, a senior writer at The Weekly Standard and a regular Fox News contributor, was informed Tuesday that he had been placed on the Department of Homeland Security's Terrorist Watchlist.
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, Business Insider, Washington Times, The Daily Caller and Mediaite


Google Currents For iOS Now Called Google Play Newsstand Following Big Redesign — Google Currents, Google's magazine-like news reading iOS app and a competitor to Flipboard, is rolling out a redesign and a handful of new features, including a way to subscribe to topics you're interested in …
Discussion:
The Verge, The Next Web, PhoneDog.com, iClarified, App Advice, Talking New Media and Engadget


Publishers are sending less data to Facebook, as it increases user tracking for advertising — Websites Are Wary of Facebook Tracking Software — Some Businesses Block Sharing of Data, Fearing Social Network's Increased Clout — Online retailers and publishers are pushing …
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, AdAge, PandoDaily and SocialTimes


Time Warner focuses on its growth strategy for HBO — HBO typically needs a wheelbarrow to haul all of the trophies it collects during awards season. — Top-tier Hollywood producers, directors and stars, including Martin Scorsese, Steven Soderbergh and Matthew McConaughey …
Discussion:
@richbtig and ParisLemon


Showtime Unveils First Trailer with Haptic Technology Effects — ‘Homeland’ Season 4 Will Include Immersion Technology for Android Devices — Showtime is launching the first ever tactile feedback video for Android mobile devices, available on the fourth season of the drama series, Homeland.
Discussion:
Associated Press, Inside TV and Adweek


The Sun rips off website exclusive without seeking permission — Article, including verbatim quotes, ‘borrowed’ from Swedish-based website without attribution — The Sun's splash today, “Inside Islamic State terror camps”, is a terrific revelation about the training of jihadist fighters.
Discussion:
@greenslader, @paulosbourne, @drevanharris, @marcusvanhalen and International Business Times


Phone hacking: Trinity Mirror to pay out over 10 claims — Claimants include ex-England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, actor Christopher Eccleston and the BBC's Alan Yentob — The publisher of the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror has agreed to pay compensation to 10 victims of alleged phone hacking …
Discussion:
Reuters, Guardian, @rachelstevenson, London Evening Standard, ITV, BBC, Press Gazette, RTTNews, The Drum, Wall Street Journal, Telegraph and @marksweney


Federal shield law doomed due to congressional gridlock — Shield law for journalists a gridlock casualty — Back in July 2013, Sen. Charles Schumer was brimming with confidence that Congress would at long last enact a desperately needed federal shield law granting journalists protection …
Discussion:
@susanpage and @jmfreespeech

Russian MPs back initial proposal to curb foreign media ownership — (Reuters) - Russian lawmakers gave initial backing on Tuesday to a draft law limiting foreign ownership of Russian media to 20 percent from the existing ceiling of 50 percent, a move critics say will reinforce the dominance of outlets loyal to the Kremlin.
Discussion:
Associated Press, Guardian, Broadband TV News, New York Times and Bloomberg


Starz meets with 21st Century Fox about possible acquisition — Executives with Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox and Starz met Tuesday to discuss a possible acquisition of the premium cable movie service, a deal that could expand Murdoch's reach into homes across the country.
Discussion:
Variety, @irishfilmcritic, Wall Street Journal, Home Media Magazine, The Wrap and Hollywood Reporter


Amazon launches Kindle unlimited subscription service in UK for £7.99/month with access to over 650K ebooks, 2K audiobooks — Amazon launches Kindle Unlimited - a Netflix-for-books - in the UK — Harry Potter, Hunger Games, audiobooks and more bundled in to £7.99-a-month subscription, following US debut in July
Discussion:
Engadget, Gizmodo UK, PC Advisor, TechRadar.com, Amazon, Bookseller news and Pocket-lint


Burundi's journalist union takes repressive press law to court — If the state decides that a journalist's article in Burundi jeopardizes someone's “moral integrity” under the country's Media Law it can demand that the journalist reveals sources, and it can suspend the publication.


TV Ratings Now Focus On Who Will Watch In The Future — The start of the fall TV season marks the first real concerted effort by the big four broadcast networks - ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC — to highlight viewers for a show over a full week.The move reflects the shift away from live television viewing …
Discussion:
@buzzfeedben