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VP of policy details Facebook's limits to free speech: physically or financially endangering people, intimidating via hateful words, tricking people for profit — Hard Questions is a series from Facebook that addresses the impact of our products on society.
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TechCrunch, @cwarzel, @max_read, @mekosoff and @jfruh, more at Techmeme »
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After treating Facebook-fueled violence as occurring only in developing countries, the company now finds wealthier places aren't immune from hate speech issues — To Americans, Facebook's Alex Jones problem might seem novel, even unprecedented. — When does speech become unsafe? When can it be limited?

Apple says Infowars podcast violated company's hate speech guidelines but implies its app doesn't violate App Store guidelines
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New York Times, Poynter, Fast Company, The Hill, @lizwahl, infowars.com, TechCrunch, Business Insider, @dpfunke, Fortune, New York Times and 9to5Mac, more at Techmeme »


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 …
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Quartz, @shannonvallor, Marketing Land, @b52malmet, @page88, Beyond Search, The Conversation, infowars.com, Contemptor and Fast Company, more at Techmeme »
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Tribune calls off its $3.9B merger with Sinclair, sues Sinclair for breach of contract, seeking $1B in damages — 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 …
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Wall Street Journal, Adweek, Broadcasting & Cable, Free Press, Chicago Business, The Wrap, @lynnemarek, Washington Post, Rantt, Media Matters for America, @repmikequigley, TVNewser, @senblumenthal, TVSpy, The Guardian, @hadas_gold, Mediaite, @alexweprin, The Daily Beast, CNBC and Variety
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Tribune Q2 results: revenue rose 4% YoY to $489.4M, net income rose to $84.4M, up from a net loss of $30.4M in Q2 2017 — Tribune Media Company (NYSE: TRCO) (the “Company") today announced that it has terminated its merger agreement (the “Merger Agreement") with Sinclair Broadcast Group …
Discussion:
Gothamist, Associated Press, TechCrunch, New York Times, Fortune and NPR


Samsung and Spotify partner to build Spotify's services into smartphones, Bixby, and other Samsung devices — Samsung has announced that it's entering a long-term partnership with Spotify, including support for the just-announced Galaxy Home smart speaker.
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newsroom.spotify.com, RAIN News, Variety, CNBC, TechCrunch and @spotify, more at Techmeme »


The former EIC of NY Observer says Jared Kushner's demand that an IT worker delete several stories fits with the Trump family's hostility to journalism — I was editor in chief of the New York Observer when he allegedly had stories removed from the digital archive in secret.
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@netaustin, @davidpriess and @espiers


The Wall Street Journal has revamped its newsletters, whittling from 126 to about 40, trimming length, adding subscription requests, and improving interactivity — “The newsletter itself in your inbox is simply not enough. What is it like to speak to the editor if you reply?
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@fpmarconi, @rwhelanwsj, @anotherhelen, @whatthebit and @steverubel


Interview with Karin Pettersson, Schibsted's director of public policy, on her new role and the publication's relationship with Google and Facebook — “We can't say that Facebook is destroying democracy, but then have our newspapers collaborate with them very, very closely …
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@ab_karin, @niemanlab, @georgdiez1, @jayrosen_nyu and @rasmus_kleis

Tronc reports Q2 revenue of $253M, up 3.9% YoY and net loss of $15.1M — Tronc Inc. TRNC, +1.92% shares slipped in the extended session Thursday following a run-up fueled by reports of a possible buyout after the media company reported quarterly results. Tronc shares slipped 0.5% after hours …
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Reuters, Reuters, Business Insider, MarketWatch, @lynnemarek, @gerryfsmith and Chicago Tribune


Anchor announces Listener Support, a Patreon-style service that lets listeners pledge $0.99, $4.99, or $9.99 a month to podcasters — Anchor's app makes it really easy to throw together a podcast. But if you keep doing that and manage to build an audience, there hasn't been an easy way to get paid for it.
Discussion:
VentureBeat, 9to5Mac, Anchor and TechCrunch, more at Techmeme », Thanks:@steverubel


Authorities in Belarus detained at least 18 journalists, accusing them of illegally obtaining information from a state news agency; six have been released — MOSCOW — The authorities in Belarus have detained at least 18 journalists, accusing them of unlawfully obtaining information …