Mediagazer: CEO says Pandora plans to launch its podcast genome project, a personalization feature announced in January and similar to its music recommendations, this year (Casey Newton/The Verge)

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 »

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

Discussion: Salon, The Conversation and FOX News Radio, 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_

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

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

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

Eriq Gardner / Hollywood Reporter:

WH Communications Director Bill Shine has settled a suit that claimed he leaked information to “sock puppet” media outlets to out a show's host as homosexual — Silas Pierce was to star on a reality show until Fox News executives learned something about him.

Discussion: The Hill and @eriqgardner