Mediagazer: In a defamation lawsuit against Alex Jones, four law professors who specialize in free speech argue how his false speech is not protected by the First Amendment (Alan Feuer/New York Times)

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey calls in to Fox News host Sean Hannity's radio show to defend his company, says Twitter does not shadow ban users based on politics — Twitter has not taken action against Jones, unlike Facebook, YouTube and other tech platforms. — Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey raised eyebrows …

Kara Swisher / New York Times:

Twitter needs a code of values requiring it to make tough calls on high-profile and malevolent figures like Alex Jones — The platform won't ban the dangerous liar Alex Jones because he “hasn't violated our rules.” Then what's the point of these rules? — This week, Alex Jones …

Discussion: Vox, Fast Company, Contemptor, infowars.com and Variety, more at Techmeme »

Charles Riley / CNNMoney:

Tribune calls off its $3.9B merger with Sinclair, says it will sue Sinclair for breach of contract — Trump angry with FCC chair over Sinclair deal — The Sinclair Broadcast Group acquisition of Tribune Media is dead. — Tribune said in a statement Thursday that it has terminated …

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Associated Press and CNBC

Discussion: Ad Age, Radio & Television …, The Wrap, CNNMoney and MediaPost

Alan Feuer / New York Times:

In a defamation lawsuit against Alex Jones, four law professors who specialize in free speech argue how his false speech is not protected by the First Amendment — Not long after several of the country's biggest tech firms — namely Apple, Facebook and Google — kicked the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones off …

Discussion: New York Times, Salon, The Conversation and FOX News Radio, more at Techmeme »

BuzzFeed News:

Apple says Infowars podcast violated company's hate speech guidelines, but implies its app doesn't violate App Store guidelines — Apple will continue to allow the Infowars mobile application in its App Store, the company confirmed to BuzzFeed News on Wednesday, just days …

Discussion: TechCrunch, New York Times, The Verge, 9to5Mac and The Verge, more at Techmeme »

Robert Channick / Chicago Tribune:

Sources: Tronc is weighing at least one private equity offer to buy its newspaper holdings, with a bid between $19 to $20 per share on the table — Bundles of Chicago Tribune Saturday editions are stacked for delivery at the Freedom Center, August 20, 2016, in Chicago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Discussion: Bloomberg, CNNMoney, @crepeau, @dangillmor, @katchicago, @heidistevens13, @mattdpearce, @stevedaniels27, @bhuang2012, @stevedaniels27 and @davidfolkenflik

Jason Guerrasio / Business Insider:

The Oscars reduces annual four-hour telecast to three to make it more “globally accessible” and introduces category for “popular” films, in bid to boost ratings — - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced changes to the 2019 Oscar telecast.

Discussion: Variety, @aherman2006, Hollywood Reporter, The Daily Beast, IndieWire, The Wrap, @thr, @thrmattbelloni, @captmarvelnews, @ladyqird and @9_volt_

Casey Newton / The Verge:

CEO says Pandora plans to launch its podcast genome project, a personalization feature announced in January and similar to its music recommendations, this year — Why the streaming music pioneer is focusing on podcasts — Breaking down music into its component parts helped Pandora build …

Discussion: Engadget, more at Techmeme »

Tom Lasseter / Reuters:

How Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo of Myanmar landed in jail and what it signals for Myanmar's press freedom — (Reuters) YANGON, Myanmar - Late in the afternoon of Dec. 12 last year, Wa Lone's cell phone rang. It was a man named Naing Lin, a lance corporal in Myanmar's 8th Security Police Battalion.

Janko Roettgers / Variety:

Roku beats estimates in Q2 with revenues of $156.8M, up from $99.6M in Q2 2017, and net loss of $100K, as platform revenues grow 96% YoY to $90.3M; stock up ~9% — Ad-supported streaming continues to lift Roku's results: The company solidly beat market expectations with its Q2 2018 earnings …

Discussion: Digiday, AdExchanger, Roku and Business Wire, more at Techmeme »

Discussion: NASDAQ.com, Tubefilter, Engadget and The Wrap, more at Techmeme »

Arjun Panchadar / Reuters:

Viacom Q3 earnings: revenue fell 4% YoY from $3.36B to $3.24B, net income fell 25% YoY to $511M, media network revenue decreased 2% YoY to $2.5B — (Reuters) - Media company Viacom Inc (VIAB.O) reported a 3.7 percent fall in quarterly revenue on Thursday due to a drop in domestic advertising sales …

Discussion: The Wrap, Variety and Press Release

Brent Lang / Variety:

21st Century Fox beats Q4 estimates with $7.94B in revenue, says it does not expect to host earnings call next quarter, hinting Disney merger may close by then — The box office success of “Deadpool 2” and the continued ratings strength of Fox News bolstered earnings at 21st Century Fox during the most recent financial quarter.

Discussion: The Wrap, Ad Age, MediaPost, 21st Century Fox, Hollywood Reporter and CNBC

Jon Levine / The Wrap:

Adam Weinstein resigns as acting EIC of military-focused site Task & Purpose after a clash about a headline on a VA story, says he was told to be less liberal — “As an editor, I was facing intense pressure,” Adam Weinstein tells TheWrap — Military-focused publication Task & Purpose …

Discussion: @zachiscol, New York Daily News, @adamweinstein, @derekgannoncm6, @adamweinstein, @adamweinstein, @dedwardbeck, @alexandermccoy4, @peterlucier, @adamweinstein, Washington Post and Slate