Top News:
Zahraa Alkhalisi / CNN:
Fox Networks makes a deal with Saudi media group MBC to launch its streaming service, Fox Plus, in the Middle East and North Africa for $4.99/month — Dubai (CNN Business)Fox Networks has struck a deal with a Saudi media group to launch a new TV streaming service in the Middle East and North Africa.
Discussion:
Gulf News, OZY, ArabianIndustry.com, ArabianBusiness.com and The Hill
@crookedmedia:
Crooked Media says that Tim Miller, who has worked with the Facebook-contracted PR firm Definers Public Affairs, will no longer be a contributor — Hey everybody, We wanted to give you an update on Tim Miller. We invited Tim to contribute to Crooked because he took a public stand against Trump when most of his party capitulated. That took courage, and unlike many Republicans who declared themselves to be Never Trumpers during the campaign, he's still one today.
Discussion:
New York Times, Facebook, CNN, HuffPost, @nytimes, The Guardian, @katestarbird, @profcarroll, The Wrap, @jacknicas, @emilybell, @emilydreyfuss, @vermontgmg, @tomperriello, @_drew_mccoy_, @justkarl and @chicawgodog, more at Techmeme »
Jeremy Barr / Hollywood Reporter:
White House communications chief Bill Shine received $8.4M severance from Fox News in May 2017 and will get $3.5M in bonuses both this year and next — The White House communications chief got an $8.4 million package and will receive $3.5 million from 21st Century Fox this year and next.
Discussion:
CNBC, The Wrap, The Wrap, Mediaite, Deadline, USA Today, The Daily Beast, @raju, @atomicanalyst and @powellnyt
Cynthia Littleton / Variety:
Disney report shows ESPN lost 2M US subscribers in FY 2018, now totalling 86M, while Disney Channel lost 3M subscribers, now down to 89M — ESPN has shed about 2 million domestic subscribers over the past 12 months, according to Disney's newly released annual report.
Alex Kotch / Sludge:
In addition to donations to ASNE, 2017 tax returns from the Charles Koch Foundation and the Charles Koch Institute show donations of $980K to the Daily Caller — Koch Industries has a reputation for attacking journalists who write things that make it look bad, but that isn't stopping its billionaire CEO …
Discussion:
@alexkotch
Cory Doctorow / Boing Boing:
CBC pulled an interview after its reporter criticized CBC relationship with Facebook; reporter says Facebook routinely complains to CBC after on-air criticism — Jesse Hirsh the CBC Toronto's longstanding and deservedly respected tech columnist, a fixture for many words …
Discussion:
CBC News, @sdbcraig, @mattgallowaycbc, @jessebrown, @danjokaz00ie, @jessebrown, @jessebrown, @ryanmerkley, Macleans.ca and CANADALAND
Fred Ryan / Washington Post:
Congress should press for an independent, thorough inquiry into Khashoggi's death, impose penalties on his murderers, and suspend US weapons sales to Saudis — Fred Ryan is publisher and chief executive of The Washington Post. He served as assistant to President Ronald Reagan.
Discussion:
BBC, Slate, Business Insider, KTLA, Public Seminar, CNBC, Contemptor, HuffPost, @jrezaian, @ignatiuspost, Middle East Eye, @ktumulty, @postopinions, @postopinions, @delwilber, @takahashikosuke and Mediaite
Toronto Star:
Canada to give tax breaks for journalism: a 15% tax credit for subscribers, classifying donations to some nonprofits as charity, and tax credit for labor costs — OTTAWA—The federal government is giving a tax break to digital news subscribers, a refundable tax credit to news outlets …
Discussion:
@ruralj, @jayrosen_nyu, Globe and Mail, @suzakitheamazon, @gemmaod1, @baekdal, @mathewi, Michael Geist, @jj_mccullough, @arusbridger, @colette_sexton, @paxtonguy1, @jessebrown, @ezralevant, @sheilagunnreid, @michellerempel, @jessebrown, @justin_ling, @emilybell, HuffPost Canada and CTVNews
Eric Johnson / Recode:
Interview with Jameel Jaffer, executive director of the Knight First Amendment Institute, on tech pressure on free speech and privatization of the public square — The executive director of the Knight First Amendment Institute, Jameel Jaffer, unpacks the answer on the latest Recode Decode.
Tony Romm / Washington Post:
Facebook says Mark Zuckerberg won't appear before the UK-led grand committee of eight countries on Tuesday, sending the VP of public policy to testify instead — Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has declined to testify at a rare joint hearing with lawmakers from seven countries …
Discussion:
Vanity Fair, more at Techmeme »
Frederic Filloux / Monday Note:
By pushing the “link tax” in the EU, publishers are shooting themselves in the foot because better options exist by working with Google to drive traffic — Within Google, some call into question the validity of helping the media industry. By lobbying the EU on the “link tax”, publishers are waging a rearguard battle.
RELATED:
BBC:
Raed Fares, founder of Radio Fresh, an independent radio station broadcasting from inside opposition-held areas in Syria, has been assassinated in Idlib — A prominent Syrian radio journalist has been shot dead by gunmen in the rebel-held province of Idlib, Syria.
Discussion:
Associated Press, Washington Post, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, @nprinskeep, @annacnolan, @alicefordham and Middle East Eye
Aidan McLaughlin / Mediaite:
In tweet, Trump suggested he might attend WHCD in 2019 and insulted comedian Michelle Wolf; she replied, “I bet you'd be on my side if I'd killed a journalist” — Michelle Wolf fired back at Donald Trump on Wednesday after the president derided her as a “so-called Comedian.”
Discussion:
@realdonaldtrump, USA Today, Bleeding Cool and @sifill_ldf
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