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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 …
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@jack, @oneunderscore__, HuffPost, Fast Company, @cwarzel, Mediaite, @sulomeanderson, @damemagazine, @cwarzel, CNET, CNBC, @cwarzel, @oneunderscore__, @slpng_giants, @kateconger, @kateconger, @jeffjarvis, @danpfeiffer, @rob_sheridan, @jason_kint, @jeffjarvis, @shannoncoulter and The Verge


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, IndieWire, @thr, @thrmattbelloni, @captmarvelnews, @9_volt_ and @ladyqird


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.


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, @stevedaniels27, @bhuang2012, @mattdpearce, @davidfolkenflik, @stevedaniels27 and @dangillmor


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 …
Discussion:
@mathewi


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 …
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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
Discussion:
Salon, The Conversation and Fast Company

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, FOX News Radio, infowars.com, Columbia Journalism Review, Light Reading, Tubefilter, The Verge, Gizmodo, @profgalloway, Law & Crime, @jaclynglenn, @ceciliakang, Mediaite, @roboct6, @hashtaggriswold, @gl33p, @dankennedy_nu, @scottgreenfield, @nathanblawrence and @gustavomayajr, more at Techmeme »


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


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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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


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


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, Adweek, @joannacoles, Hearst and Ad Age


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:
Washington Post, TVNewser, @arifleischer and @varadmehta


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, MediaPost and Radio & Television …