Top News:
Alexandra Steigrad / New York Post:
Bustle Digital Group, which had planned to relaunch Gawker in September, has laid off Gawker's staff and postponed the relaunch — A planned relaunch of snarky news and gossip web site Gawker is on hold indefinitely, The Post has learned. — Bustle Digital Group, which owns Gawker …
Discussion:
The Wrap, @lyzl, @rafat, @kevinmdraper, @timmarchman, @libbycwatson and @jon_christian
Erik Wemple / Washington Post:
Deadspin, owned by G/O Media, is planning a story on company CEO Jim Spanfeller; Spanfeller reacts publicly with plans for an outside editor to review the story — A friendly piece of advice for whomever ends up buying the former Gawker Media sites: Don't try to tell them what to write.
Discussion:
@benmullin, @benmullin, New York Post, @megreenwell, @pblest, @albertburneko, @nbj914, @libbycwatson, @joannelipman, @erikwemple, @erikwemple, @ourand_sbj and @erikwemple
Michael Calderone / Politico:
Black journalists, weighed down by the psychological and emotional toll of Trump's racism, push media to cover race in politics head-on — The Associated Press earlier this year shifted a national race and ethnicity reporter to its 2020 election team, an acknowledgment that race has become …
Discussion:
Mediaite, Media Matters for America, @asteadwesley, Fortune, @wesleylowery, @vmochama, @victorblackwell, @wesleylowery, @simonesnews, @yamiche, @summeranne, @wesleylowery, @kimberlyeatkins, @politico, @wesleylowery, @wesleylowery, @jayrosen_nyu, @perrybaconjr, @bgrueskin, @jamilsmith, @dcbigjohn, @wesleylowery, @wesleylowery, @emarvelous, @jayrosen_nyu, CNN and New York Times
Oliver Darcy / CNN:
Journalists John Heilemann and John Battelle launch The Recount, a politics-focused media outlet, which will feature short videos summarizing the news — New York (CNN Business)Journalists John Heilemann and John Battelle have launched a new politics-focused media outlet ahead of the 2020 elections.
Discussion:
@jbenton, Medium, @buzzfeedben, @dangillmor, @oliverdarcy and The Wrap
Sarah Ellison / Washington Post:
CNN and Jeff Zucker plot 2020 election coverage and promise things will be different; CNN won't air any rallies live, as it did repeatedly for Trump in 2016 — “Side shot! Side shot! Side shot!” — It's Mueller Day in Washington, and the man calling out instructions in the darkened control room …
Discussion:
TVNewser, @mlcalderone, @karoli, @dvillella, @ehananoki, @poniewozik, @sarahlellison, @jayrosen_nyu, @eisingerj, @amlwhere and Mediaite
Jodi Jacobson / Rewire.News:
Nonprofit publication Rewire.News to restructure due to funding shortfalls, laying off five employees, and the EIC is stepping down in the fall — Rewire.News is restructuring in an attempt to maintain our capacity for long-term sustainability, including making painful cuts in staff. — TRENDING
Discussion:
@rewirenewsunion, @cindella204, @c_stroop, @amylittlefield and @debbierachlis
Todd Spangler / Variety:
AT&T will rebrand DirecTV Now as AT&T TV Now, as it plans to test AT&T TV, a new and separate streaming TV service, in select markets — Say goodbye to the “DirecTV Now” name. — Later this summer, AT&T will retire the name of the over-the-top TV service, first launched in December 2016 …
Discussion:
AT&T, Adweek, Engadget, Broadcasting & Cable, FierceVideo, @joan_e, The Streamable, MediaPost, Seeking Alpha and Cord Cutters News
Greg Dool / Folio:
London-based Future acquires online publisher and B2B newsletter specialist SmartBrief for $45M and up to $20M in deferred payments — Future plc has reached an agreement to acquire online publisher and B2B newsletter specialist SmartBrief, the London-based firm announced Monday …
Discussion:
Press Gazette, MediaPost, Future, Business Times, Radio World and @gregdool
Andrew McCormick / Columbia Journalism Review:
A review of industry-wide data and accounts from the NYT, LAT, the Guardian, and weathercasters suggest that audience interest in climate coverage is rising — For years, conventional wisdom has held that climate coverage is not especially good for business.
Etan Vlessing / Hollywood Reporter:
Drake partners with LeBron James to expand Uninterrupted, a video network that allows pro athletes to speak directly to fans, to Canada — The deal marks the first international expansion for the NBA star's video network as its allows pro athletes to speak directly to fans.
Discussion:
Variety, Bleacher Report, USA Today, Billboard, @arashmarkazi and Fast Company
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Netflix is investing $520M+ to make three big-budget films, including at least $173M in The Irishman, a financially risky adult drama — Streaming giant spends $200 million on an action flick and makes the most expensive drama in recent years — Netflix Inc. is spending hundreds …
Discussion:
Business Insider, @ericjhonsa, Breitbart and Observer
Saritha Rai / Bloomberg:
Pocket Aces, a small digital studio shaking up Bollywood, raises $14.7M in venture capital and strikes a deal to stream its most popular show on Netflix — - Digital studio Pocket Aces' Little Things now streams globally — The Mumbai-based content creator snagged $15 million funding
Discussion:
Inc42 Media, Livemint and YourStory.com, more at Techmeme »