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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 …
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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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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 …
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New York Times, The Huffington Post, Fast Company, Slate, @edmundlee and Fortune
Felix Salmon / Fusion:
If Peter Thiel's strategy against Gawker works, it may then be emulated by other billionaires against any media organization
If Peter Thiel's strategy against Gawker works, it may then be emulated by other billionaires against any media organization
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Jack Shafer / Politico:
Questions about Peter Thiel's motives, secrecy, and position on Facebook's board amid lawsuit funding disclosure
Questions about Peter Thiel's motives, secrecy, and position on Facebook's board amid lawsuit funding disclosure
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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”
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”
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Mike Shields / Wall Street Journal:
Facebook to shut down FBX, its ad exchange that lets third party companies purchase ads for desktop as company shifts focus toward mobile — Social network focusing on its own ad network and mobile ad inventory — Facebook is planning to shut down its ad exchange, FBX …
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Greg Sterling / Marketing Land:
Facebook expands Audience Network reach beyond just its users — to everyone — All people on Audience Network mobile sites and apps can now be targeted using familiar Facebook parameters. — Two years ago Facebook launched the Facebook Audience Network as part of an effort to expand …
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Facebook, USA Today, TechCrunch, @joshconstine and Fortune
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.
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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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SBNation:
SB Nation releases Vox Media review of Daniel Holtzclaw profile and vows to work on building and valuing staff diversity, among other changes — At SBNation.com, our goal is to produce thoughtful, informative, entertaining and high-quality sports coverage.
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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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.
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Wall Street Journal:
Viacom Director Presses for Access to Sumner Redstone — Lead independent director writes to mogul's attorney seeking face-to-face meeting — Viacom Inc.'s lead independent director wants to hear directly from Sumner Redstone about the chaos unfolding in his media empire but so far …
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New York Times
Yasmeen Abutaleb / Reuters:
Vietnam restricted access to Facebook during Obama visit: activists — The Vietnamese government restricted access to Facebook Inc inside Vietnam for several days this week as part of a broader crackdown on human rights and political dissidents during a visit by President Barack Obama, two activist organizations said on Thursday.