Top News:
Aidan McLaughlin / Mediaite:
President Trump announces on Twitter that Press Secretary Sarah Sanders will leave the White House at the end of the month — President Donald Trump made a stunning announcement on Twitter Thursday: that his longtime press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders is set to leave the White House next month.
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Douglas Busvine / Reuters:
Axel Springer announces plans to merge Business Insider and eMarketer in 2020, with Insider CEO Henry Blodget leading the merged operation — Axel Springer, the German publisher, said on Thursday it would combine the operations of its two main U.S. units, millennial-focused financial news …
Discussion:
Ad Age, Adweek, Fast Company, MediaPost, CNBC and @chris_ciaccia
Nicholas Diakopoulos / The Conversation:
How artificial intelligence will create new types of work in journalism as human roles evolve to suit AI's capabilities and accommodate its limitations — Some estimates suggest that current levels of AI technology could automate only about 15% of a reporter's job and 9% of an editor's job.
Discussion:
Nieman Lab and @charliebeckett
Helen Coster / Reuters:
Comcast to invest ~$1.27B over five years in Sky Studios programming, which will produce content for NBC, Universal Pictures, and other distributors — Comcast Corp will more than double its investment in European original programming and start an in-house studio at its European unit Sky …
Discussion:
Bloomberg, @gerryfsmith, @richbtig and CNN
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
iOS app Mogul News offers curated articles from FT, Bloomberg, and The Economist ad-free for £9.99/month, with a 7am briefing; Android, desktop versions to come — A new app offering content from the Financial Times, Bloomberg and the Economist for a single monthly payment has been launched.
Ashley Carman / The Verge:
Spotify rolls out an updated library tab for premium users, separating podcasts and music more clearly — Making room for podcasts — After at least a month of testing, Spotify is rolling out an updated library look for its premium users that will separate podcasts and music more clearly.
Discussion:
Spotify, MIDiA Research, TechCrunch, RAIN News, Billboard and TechCrunch, more at Techmeme »
Eriq Gardner / Hollywood Reporter:
Several ad agencies tell a federal court Facebook agreed to a settlement in a lawsuit claiming Facebook misstated video metrics by 150-900% — Facebook was alleged to have been knowingly overstating viewership by as much as 900 percent. — Several advertising agencies told …
Discussion:
MediaPost and @eriqgardner
The Intercept:
Sources: DarkMatter, a cybersecurity firm working for the UAE, discussed targeting The Intercept in 2016, though no evidence of an attack has been found — Operatives at a controversial cybersecurity firm working for the United Arab Emirates government discussed targeting The Intercept …
Discussion:
@samfbiddle, @evacide, @weinbergersa, @aaschapiro, @maassp, @jennamc_laugh, @lhfang, @bmakuch, @dnvolz and @josephfcox
Jon Lafayette / Multichannel News:
Viacom partners with Emerge Gaming, which will develop NickX, an esports tournament platform for Nickelodeon gaming content, to launch in July in Africa — Viacom is getting into business with Emerge Gaming, which will develop an eSports tournament platform for kids using Nickelodeon gaming content called NickX.
James Walker / Press Gazette:
The UK's Evening Standard and Independent may face a government inquiry after an investor with ties to the Saudi State bought a share in their parent companies — The UK Government could open an investigation into the Evening Standard and The Independent after an investor with “strong links” …
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Jonathan Stempel / Reuters:
Real estate billionaire Sam Zell and other former Tribune execs reach a $200M settlement over the media company's disastrous 2007 leveraged buyout — (Reuters) - Real estate billionaire Sam Zell and other former officers and directors of Tribune Co have reached a $200 million settlement resolving allegations …
Discussion:
Chicago Sun Times
Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:
Netflix is licensing its characters to outside studios to produce video games, starting with Stranger Things 3: The Game, out July 4, and The Dark Crystal — - ‘Stranger Things,’ ‘Dark Crystal’ titles coming out this year — Company still figuring out how to best capitalize on hit shows
Frontline:
With Knight Foundation funding, PBS Frontline will partner with local print, TV, radio, or digital outlets for projects, paying a $75,000/year reporter's salary — FRONTLINE, PBS's flagship investigative documentary series, is launching a new initiative to bolster local journalism in cities …
Discussion:
@raneyaronson, @raneyaronson and @whatthebit
The Guardian:
UK Home Secretary signs extradition order to the US for Julian Assange; the courts will make the final decision, though it may be months before a hearing — Home secretary opens way for court to consider whether Assange should be sent to US — The home secretary, Sajid Javid …