Mediagazer: Researchers find WhatsApp was used both to spread fake news and to strengthen accountability and promote inclusion around Nigeria's 2019 elections (University of Birmingham)

Joshua Benton / Nieman Lab:

The LAT's disappointing digital subscriber numbers attest to the importance of subscriber retention, which the paper should invest in like the NYT has — When Patrick Soon-Shiong bought the Los Angeles Times out of its tronckian purgatory last year, it was an occasion to consider where it sat …

John Eggerton / Broadcasting & Cable:

Nexstar and Tribune Media settle with DOJ, agree to divest TV stations in 13 markets to resolve antitrust concerns over their proposed $6.4B merger — Delrahim says he has been pleased with companies' cooperation — Nexstar and Tribune have settled with the Justice Department to get their proposed $6.4 billion merger approved.

Discussion: Reuters, @johnhendel and U.S. Department of Justice

Javier C. Hernández / New York Times:

Profile of Hu Xijin, the influential and hawkish EIC of China's Global Times, a Fox News-like tabloid, with 2M print readers and 30M monthly online visitors — BEIJING — Inside a bustling, 700-person newsroom in downtown Beijing, Hu Xijin leads a 24-hour propaganda machine that some media scholars call China's Fox News.

Discussion: @amyyqin, @hernandezjavier and @niubi

Matthew Kassel / Columbia Journalism Review:

Seventeen journalists discuss “aha” moments that changed the way they thought about their work — Between 2013 and 2016, I worked as a reporter for The New York Observer. It was my first full-time job in journalism, there was little oversight, and I had no assigned beat.

Discussion: @xpatriciah

Denise-Marie Ordway / Journalist's Resource:

Journalist's Resource 2019 survey: 53% of respondents not sure they can spot flawed research, 64% say they use academic research in reporting at least monthly — Each year, we survey journalists, journalism faculty and others in our audience for feedback on how they use our free materials …

Discussion: @crampell, @janebsinger, @tamarhaspel and @journoresource

Laura Hazard Owen / Nieman Lab:

Study: news organizations in wealthy countries cover climate change very differently from those in poorer countries, framing it as a domestic political issue — News organizations in wealthy countries cover climate change very differently from news organizations in poorer countries …

Discussion: @niemanlab, ScienceDirect.com and Editor & Publisher

Donie O'Sullivan / CNN:

Facebook details its first takedown of inauthentic accounts linked to the Saudi government, alongside a separate takedown of accounts linked to UAE and Egypt — Washington (CNN Business)Facebook said Thursday it had found evidence of something cyber security and national security experts …

Discussion: Facebook, Business Insider, Reuters and @jamesrbuk, more at Techmeme »

Keith J. Kelly / New York Post:

Nylon EIC Gabrielle Korn is stepping down following the title's acquisition by Bustle; Bustle Digital EIC Emma Rosenblum will be interim editor — There's even more churn at Bryan Goldberg's Bustle as Nylon Editor-in-Chief Gabrielle Korn is exiting after five years, Media Ink has learned.

University of Birmingham:

Researchers find WhatsApp was used both to spread fake news and to strengthen accountability and promote inclusion around Nigeria's 2019 elections — At the Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Centre in Abuja, Nigeria, on Monday 29 July, researchers from the Centre for Democracy and Development (Nigeria) …

Discussion: CDD

Julia Alexander / Medium:

Given the sea of Netflix content, show cancellations due to low ratings may reflect a failure of the algorithm to surface shows, rather than a lack of interest — Thursday, 9-10pm ET. That was the golden ticket to a successful show a decade ago. There are hierarchies at networks.

Discussion: @nina_metz and @loudmouthjulia

Patricia Nilsson / Financial Times:

Ofcom gives BBC approval to make its content available on iPlayer for a year or more, scrapping the previous 30-day limit, to help compete against Netflix — The UK media regulator has given permission for the BBC to transform its iPlayer from a catch-up service into a Netflix-style streaming platform …

Discussion: BBC, London Evening Standard and TBI Vision, more at Techmeme »

Reuters:

Thomson Reuters Q2: $1.42B in revenue, up 9% YoY; it and Blackstone-affiliated funds have sold Bloomberg rival Refinitiv to the London Stock Exchange for ~$27B — Thomson Reuters Corp on Thursday reported a 9% rise in quarterly sales compared to the same period a year ago, while also raising its forecasts for the next two years.

Discussion: CNN and The Guardian