Top News:
Josh Constine / TechCrunch:
SoundCloud closes $169.5M Series F funding round led by Raine Group and Temasek to stay afloat; former Vimeo CEO Kerry Trainor replaces Alex Ljung as CEO — SoundCloud has just closed the necessary funding round to keep the struggling music service afloat.
Paul Mozur / New York Times:
Source: Facebook approved the stealthy release of app similar to Moments in China via a local company that appears to be closely linked to Facebook — SHANGHAI — Facebook and many of its apps have been blocked in China for years. To change that, Mark Zuckerberg has made a big point …
Discussion:
The Verge, ZDNet, Engadget, The Daily Caller, Fortune, Business Insider, The Drum, Wall Street Journal, The Next Web, Axios and Mashable, more at Techmeme »
Sean Illing / Vox:
Interview with Tom Rosenstiel, executive director of the American Press Institute, on the dangers of the Trump campaign's “real news” series on Facebook — The president has launched an online TV network. He's calling it “real news.” — “Overall, since the president took office …
Charlie Warzel / BuzzFeed:
“This Is Just Like GamerGate”: How The Pro-Trump Media Turned James Damore Into A Hero Overnight — A week ago, James Damore was anonymous. Now, the Google engineer who lost his job after he wrote a viral anti-diversity screed has become an icon of the alt-right …
Discussion:
Recode, The Guardian, @dmccabe, @oliviasolon, @michellerafter, @walldo, @cwarzel, @crschmidt, @juliacarriew, @jeffgiesea, The Daily Caller, VentureBeat, Vox, Business Insider, bookforum.com and Forbes, more at Techmeme »
Bloomberg:
Sources: Verizon's new online TV service is delayed due to lack of deals with content owners, executive turnover and internal discussions over service specifics — Company planned to offer live web service by late September — Carrier is still shaping strategy amid turnover on media team
Discussion:
Multichannel News, FierceCable and Engadget
Derek Thompson / The Atlantic:
How Disney's change in TV strategy could play out, contributing to a shift in the $40B US TV ad market toward the internet — Disney's decision to build its own streaming service is smart. It's also the latest sign that the traditional cable bundle is doomed. — {{#existing_user}}
Discussion:
Variety
Cynthia Littleton / Variety:
Research analyst says “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville was timed with city's removal of confederate statue to use media coverage as recruitment tool — The turnout of white nationalists that sparked violence in Charlottesville, Va., this weekend reflects an alarming level …
Discussion:
Mediaite, Deadline, @wexler and The Daily Caller
Winona Daily News:
Bernetta Kouba retires, at 91, after a five-year stint delivering newspapers for The Winona Daily News in Minnesota — If she isn't working, Bernetta Kouba hardly knows what to do with herself. — A divorcee and a mother of three, Kouba spent 20 years in the finance department at City Hall.
Benjamin Mullin / Poynter:
Editor in chief Sean Fennessey of The Ringer on the site's relaunch: more video and podcasts, but focus remains on writing — Fans of Bill Simmons, fear not: The Ringer isn't pivoting to video anytime soon. — The sports columnist-turned-podcaster-turned- entrepreneur's website …
BuzzFeed:
About 10 activists turn their backs on Trump aide Omarosa Manigault during tense panel at the National Association of Black Journalists conference — “Walking into a room where you get shut down does not open a line of communication so change can happen," said one of the top African-American officials in the White House.
Discussion:
Page Six, NPR, @carrasquillo, @buzzfeednews, @lexistv, Washington Post, Mediaite, Business Insider, @veralynmedia, @wesleylowery, @lpolgreen, @profpasha, Washington Times, The Wrap, AOL and TVNewser
Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:
Online radio company TuneIn raises $50M in round led by Marker LLC, IVP, and Comcast Ventures; the deal values TuneIn at $500M, a source says — Funding round is led by Marker, IVP and Comcast Ventures — Latest deal is said to value company at about $500 million
Discussion:
NPR
Todd Spangler / Variety:
After 14 years at Viacom, Sarah Iooss is joining Mic as executive VP of revenue to expand branded-content offerings — Sarah Iooss, after 14 years at Viacom, is joining digital-media company Mic as executive VP of revenue. — At Mic, she will oversee the sales team and market-facing products …
Discussion:
Adweek