Top News:
Tom Jones / Poynter:
Internal memo says LA Times is nowhere close to meeting its goal of doubling digital subs from 150K in 2018 to 300K in 2019, having only netted 13K this year — Troubling news at one of the nation's top newspapers. — Digital subscriptions at the Los Angeles Times are way below expectations …
Discussion:
Nieman Lab, @noahchestnut, @raju, American Press Institute, @juliaturner, @chrisburkeshay, @jbenton, @davewiner, @danagoldstein, @samanthamatsu, @xor, @emilyweinstein, @balajis, @mattdpearce, @conroyforreal, @melaniesill, The Wrap, @jayrosen_nyu, @jbenton, @poynter, MediaPost, @juliaturner, @juliaturner, @juliaturner, @jkristufek, @daytonpubpolicy, @scribeguy, @susannahbreslin, @mitrakalita, @esotouric, @juliaturner, @palewire, @sewellchan, @shelbygrad, @jmckellogg, @jbenton, @jayrosen_nyu and @thebenbergman
Margaret Sullivan / Washington Post:
CNN's first debate, featuring divisive questions, frustratingly short response times, and outsize attention to fringe candidates, was a lost opportunity — About 40 minutes after the start of Tuesday night's Democratic primary debate, I got an email from a Washington Post reader with this subject line: “I don't care for this.”
Discussion:
@realdonaldtrump, The Wrap, Columbia Journalism Review, @jcstearns, @jayrosen_nyu, Slate, Los Angeles Times, Bloomberg, Slate, Mediaite, Washington Post, Fortune, The Week, @nymag, @jamesfallows, @deanluk, @lpolgreen, @mattgertz, NBC News, @slate, @jayrosen_nyu, @rmc031, Axios, @cjr, @lawrence, @fenitn, @jon_allsop, @gadyepstein, Media Matters for America, Deadline, Hollywood Reporter, HuffPost and The Cut
Laura Hazard Owen / Nieman Lab:
After six months fact-checking for Facebook, Full Fact makes 10 recommendations, including expanding the program to Instagram, enlisting help on public health — In December 2016, Facebook enlisted a handful of U.S.-based news organizations (ABC News, Snopes, PolitiFact, FactCheck.org …
Alex Heath / The Information:
Sources: Facebook is working on a new TV device that can stream video and make video calls using its Portal tech, and has approached Netflix, Disney, and others — Facebook has approached Netflix, Disney and other media companies about putting their streaming services on a new Facebook device …
Discussion:
@brandonleblanc, Variety, The Streamable, Multichannel News, FierceVideo, The Verge and Engadget, more at Techmeme »
Wall Street Journal:
Four major broadcast networks sue Locast, which is funded by AT&T, to try to stop it from freely retransmitting the signals of their local TV stations — CBS, ABC, NBCU and Fox say AT&T-funded Locast is retransmitting their signals without permission and in violation of copyright law
Tim Ingham / Music Business Worldwide:
Spotify reports 108M paying subscribers in Q2, up 31% YoY, and an operating loss of €3M on revenue of €1.67B, up 31% YoY; stock drops 5%+ — Spotify closed its second calendar quarter this year with 108m subscribers and 232m total Monthly Active Users (MAUs).
Discussion:
The Verge, Variety, Spotify, VentureBeat, Financial Times, @richattbd, RAIN News, @pkafka, Memeburn, Billboard and Engadget, more at Techmeme »
The Guardian:
Facebook says it was “not our role” to remove fake news during Australian election; it only demotes fake news, removes content that violates community standards — Exclusive: Facebook executive Simon Milner says company ‘only removes content that violates our community standards’
Discussion:
@vanbadham, @firstdraftnews and CNET
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
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
Cynthia Littleton / Variety:
Profile of Warner Bros.' incoming CEO Ann Sarnoff, the first woman to lead the studio, who brings diverse experience from Viacom, WNBA, Dow Jones, and the BBC — Ann Sarnoff has yet to begin her new job as chairman-CEO of Warner Bros., but she already has deep family ties to the entertainment company.
Discussion:
@batmancanseeyou, @dancampos, @variety and @womensforumny
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
Claire Atkinson / NBC News:
Sources: if CBS and Viacom merge, Shari Redstone will consider even more acquisitions to help the company compete with other sizable media operations — Shari Redstone has held conversations about quickly pursuing acquisitions that would help the company compete with other sizable media operations.
Discussion:
@claireatki
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