Top News:
Steven Perlberg / Wall Street Journal:
Source: Gawker Media is exploring strategic options, including potential sale — Digital media company in the middle of costly legal battle with professional wrestler Hulk Hogan — A judge denied Gawker's motion for a new trial and a reduction of the $140 million privacy invasion judgment awarded to wrestler Hulk Hogan in March.
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Nick Denton / Gawker:
Nick Denton challenges Peter Thiel to a public debate in open letter, says decade-long campaign by Thiel is out of proportion, asks about ultimate intent — Nearly a decade ago, after you had opened up to friends and colleagues, a gay writer for Gawker shared an item with the readers of Valleywag …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Hollywood Reporter, @oliyoung, @ryanchittum, @thrmattbelloni, @edmundlee, @carneross, @yaelwrites, Alternet and Recode
Andrew Ross Sorkin / New York Times:
Peter Thiel acknowledges he spent around $10M to fund a team of lawyers to help Gawker “victims” like Hulk Hogan sue the company, in act of “deterrence” — A billionaire Silicon Valley entrepreneur was outed as being gay by a media organization.
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Felix Salmon / Fusion:
If Peter Thiel's strategy against Gawker works, it may then be emulated by other billionaires against any media organization — Funding Hulk Hogan's lawsuit against Gawker? That's not cool. Actively going out to find potential plaintiffs who might have cases against Gawker and then giving them the money to bring those cases?
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Kara Swisher / Recode:
As Facebook courts publishers, the company and some of its directors decline to comment on board member Peter Thiel's funding of lawsuit against Gawker — And there will also likely be no action, either. — Here's a very good question swirling around Silicon Valley and the media universe today …
Discussion:
New York Times, Fast Company, Slate, Fortune and The Wrap
Jack Shafer / Politico:
Questions about Peter Thiel's motives, secrecy, and position on Facebook's board amid lawsuit funding disclosure — Nobody's ever sympathized with Gawker before. — Multibillionaire Peter Thiel's desire for revenge has led him to do a wild but entirely legal thing.
Discussion:
Reveal, Forbes, Washington Post, The Daily Caller, @mcarney and Daring Fireball
New York Times:
Gossip, revenge, and the complicated relationship between Silicon Valley and media including Gawker's Valleywag
Gossip, revenge, and the complicated relationship between Silicon Valley and media including Gawker's Valleywag
Discussion:
Talking Biz News, @lauramholson, Fortune, @meslackman, @sacca, @anildash, @mikeisaac, @kashhill, @trevortimm, @moorehn and @sarahjeong
Peter Sterne / Politico:
Florida judge upholds $140.1 M verdict against Gawker, Nick Denton, and AJ Daulerio; Gawker to appeal
Florida judge upholds $140.1 M verdict against Gawker, Nick Denton, and AJ Daulerio; Gawker to appeal
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Kurt Wagner / Recode:
Twitter execs Jana Messerschmidt, head of business development, and Nathan Hubbard, head of media and commerce, are planning to leave the company — Jana Messerschmidt (business development) and Nathan Hubbard (media) are exiting. — Two top Twitter executives — Jana Messerschmidt …
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USA Today, BuzzFeed, Vanity Fair, Fortune, @nathanchubbard, Variety, The Next Web, Consumerist, Engadget, Wall Street Journal, Marketing Land, INSIDER, Adweek and Fast Company
Erik Wemple / Washington Post:
Subjects in Under the Gun documentary object to deceptive editing; producer apologizes if anyone was offended, and Katie Couric stands by producer's statement — It looks as though Katie Couric stunned her interviewees. Knocked them out with a bombshell inquiry: “Let me ask you another question …
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Washington Free Beacon, Fox News, The Wrap, The Huffington Post, The Federalist, Hot Air, New York Times, The Daily Caller, Independent Journal …, Mediaite, Newser, Hollywood Reporter, Breitbart, Townhall.com, CNNMoney, Fox News Insider, Deadline, @kenvogel, Mediaite, Washington Times, Hit & Run, The Week and The Daily Caller
Financial Times:
Sources: Apple had preliminary discussions about buying Time Warner last year as spending on original content set to increase — A top Apple executive raised the prospect of the iPhone maker buying Time Warner at a meeting with the owner of HBO, CNN and Warner Brothers, according to three people who were briefed on it.
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Politico to drop paywall on its media coverage, consolidate under a single hub, and add morning newsletter — Media junkies will soon have a new way to get their fix. Politico, the news outlet devoted to all things politics, is taking much of its media coverage out from behind a paywall …
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Politico, @makejdm, Newsmax, @joepompeo, Media Wire Daily, Talking Biz News and FishbowlNY
Lee Glendinning / Guardian:
Guardian takes down 13 articles and removes unverifiable information from others after checking freelancer Joseph Mayton's work, will review processes — After sources quoted in several stories denied speaking with a freelance reporter, Joseph Mayton, the Guardian has fact-checked all of his stories.
Discussion:
Mediaite, @pmarca, @mmasnick, @ggreenwald, Telegraph, @sandmonkey, @thekarami, @lee_glend, @lee_glend, iMediaEthics and @daviddebolt
Jon Brodkin / Ars Technica:
GOP proposal would cut FCC budget by $69M and block enforcement of rules on net neutrality, data caps, and set-top boxes — Republicans use nation's budget to launch broad attack on FCC regulations. — House Republicans yesterday released a plan to slash the Federal Communications Commission's budget …
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The U.S. House …, DSLreports, AppAdvice.com Latest, Techdirt, FierceCable, The Hill, Fast Company, TechCrunch and Engadget
Angelique Chrisafis / Guardian:
French trade union members prevented printing of all but one national newspaper after papers refused to run opinion piece by union leader — Striking CGT members prevented publication of papers that refused to print opinion piece by union leader — France's CGT trade union has been accused of a …