Top News:
Jaclyn Peiser / New York Times:
NYT reports Q2 profit of $24M, adds 109K subscribers, increasing total number of digital subs by 20% to 2.9M and generating $99M in revenue for the paper — The New York Times continued its digital growth in the second quarter of 2018, adding 109,000 digital-only subscribers.
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:
Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Variety, The Wrap, Fast Company, @thr, @thrmattbelloni, @captmarvelnews, @9_volt_ and @ladyqird
Jeremy Barr / Hollywood Reporter:
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 …
Discussion:
@oneunderscore__, HuffPost, @cwarzel, CNET, CNBC, @slpng_giants, @danpfeiffer, @rob_sheridan, @shannoncoulter, @jeffjarvis, @kateconger, @kateconger, @jason_kint, @jeffjarvis, @oneunderscore__, Contemptor and The Verge
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, @dangillmor, @stevedaniels27, @bhuang2012, @mattdpearce, @davidfolkenflik and @stevedaniels27
Stefan Nicola / Bloomberg:
Profile of Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer, on his high-profile digital acquisitions like Business Insider, his missteps, and plans for future growth — Weaving past workers in orange vests and hard hats, Mathias Doepfner struts through what looks like a giant steel …
Benjamin Mullin / Wall Street Journal:
Axios has signed a deal with HBO to develop a series of news documentaries timed to the midterm elections — The show, titled ‘Axios,’ will focus on politics, technology and culture — Axios, the digital news startup known for concise stories, is about to go long—on TV.
Discussion:
Fast Company, Axios, @seangriffey, @jgreendc, @owillis, @ssavitsky, @danprimack, @justin_b_smith, @jimvandehei and @jbenton
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:
AdExchanger, Roku and Business Wire, more at Techmeme »
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Kali Hays / WWD:
Kate Lewis has been named Chief Content Officer of Hearst Magazines, replacing Joanna Coles — Lewis has been named new chief content officer, a role that was created for Coles in 2016. — Ariana Grande on the cover of Elle magazine's August edition. — Hearst didn't waste time in finding …
Discussion:
Folio, Hearst, Adweek, Ad Age and @joannacoles
ProPublica:
ProPublica expands its Local Reporting Network, plans to fund salaries for reporters covering state politics and government at seven news outlets — In an effort to help stanch the decline in aggressive statehouse coverage across the country, ProPublica today announced that it is expanding …
Discussion:
New York Times, @charlesornstein, @stephgracela, @louisekiernan, @jcsheckler and @charlesornstein
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:
Salon, Fast Company and The Conversation
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David French / New York Times:
Given the malleability of the “hate speech” label, tech companies should use libel and slander legal standards when removing content like Infowars
Given the malleability of the “hate speech” label, tech companies should use libel and slander legal standards when removing content like Infowars
Discussion:
New York Times, Columbia Journalism Review, infowars.com, Light Reading, Tubefilter, @profgalloway, Law & Crime, The Verge, Gizmodo, @jaclynglenn, @ceciliakang, Mediaite, @roboct6, @hashtaggriswold, @gl33p, @dankennedy_nu, @scottgreenfield, @nathanblawrence, @gustavomayajr and @davereaboi, more at Techmeme »
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, MediaPost, CNBC, Hollywood Reporter and 21st Century Fox
Todd S. Purdum / The Atlantic:
Ex-NYT White House reporter Todd Purdum says Jim Acosta's confrontations with Sanders play into Trump's narrative that press is at war with him — The CNN reporter is speaking truth to power—but he's also amplifying the president's anti-press campaign. — The verb to accost comes …
Discussion:
TVNewser and Washington Post
Ted Johnson / Variety:
Sinclair and Tribune Media must decide by midnight whether to continue to pursue their $3.9B merger deal despite FCC's refusal to approve the transaction — WASHINGTON — Sinclair Broadcast Group and Tribune Media face a midnight deadline on whether to continue to pursue …
Discussion:
CNNMoney, Radio & Television … and MediaPost