Top News:
Kevin J. Delaney / Quartz:
Quartz announces new four-person investigation team, focused on ramifications of tech, which will use machine learning developed by its Quartz AI studio — For nearly seven years, Quartz has been obsessed with how technology infuses our lives, from Machines with Brains (algorithms and robots) …
Discussion:
@jkeefe and @charliebeckett
Gideon Resnick / The Daily Beast:
Center for American Progress says ThinkProgress will not function as a sounding board for scholars at the think tank and will instead be archived — The recently closed progressive news site will no longer exist as a sounding board for think tank scholars after union complaints.
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, The Wrap, @pykea, @libbycwatson, @benspielberg, @xlnb, @papapishu, @zackbeauchamp, @dylanmatt, @gzornick, @tara_cr, @them_l_g, @nataliesurely, The Wrap, @cjcmichel, @zachdcarter, @joeconchatv and @pdmcleod
New York Times:
Hedge fund Elliott Management takes a $3.2B stake in AT&T, questions its media ambitions in open letter, suggests sale of non-core businesses including DirecTV — With its $85.4 billion purchase of Time Warner last year, AT&T announced to the world that it was becoming a new kind of corporate behemoth …
Paul Smalera / Marker:
Medium launches Marker, a publication covering the world of business, with Paul Smalera as editor in chief — Ideas, investigations, and inspiration. A new Medium publication about business. — Welcome to Marker! We are a new publication focused on making you smarter about the world of business …
Mark Sweney / The Guardian:
Marie Claire UK to cease print publication after 31 years — Women's title will continue online and overseas print editions are unaffected — The UK edition of Marie Claire is to cease publication after 31 years as the monthly women's title joins a growing list of magazines that have succumbed to the shift to digital reading.
Lukas I. Alpert / Wall Street Journal:
Atlas Obscura raises $20M Series B, led by Airbnb, which will let users book Atlas Obscura trips and experiences through the platform — Travel and exploration website's trips and events to be listed on Airbnb as part of deal — Travel and exploration website Atlas Obscura has built …
Discussion:
@alexisohanian and @besvinick
Patrick Wintour / The Guardian:
UK MP committee report: the Foreign Office's media freedom campaign lacks focus, should include threat of sanctions against state actors targeting journalists — Report says UK should consider sanctions against political actors targeting journalists — The Foreign Office's campaign …
Discussion:
Press Gazette, @meeraselva1, @xinwenxiaojie, @jodieginsberg, @cijournalism and House of Commons
Mike Farrell / Multichannel News:
Mark Cuban sells majority stake in his AXS TV and HDNet channels to Anthem Sports, with TV host Steve Harvey also investing and developing content with Anthem — Mark Cuban, Steve Harvey take equity stakes — Anthem Sports and Entertainment, on the prowl for scale-building assets …
Discussion:
MediaPost, Bloomberg, @nandodifino, Deadline, Cageside Seats, Wrestling Inc., UPROXX, Variety and The Wrap
Kyle Wiggers / VentureBeat:
Apple TV+ will launch on November 1 for $4.99/month in 100 countries; customers get one year free with the purchase of an Apple device — Back in March, Apple unveiled Apple TV+, a subscription television and film service featuring a slate of original content from Steven Spielberg …
Discussion:
Fast Company, The Streamable, Apple, @laurengoode, @laurengoode, @neilcybart and The Verge, more at Techmeme »
Joan E. Solsman / CNET:
YouTube vowed to suspend comments on videos with kids age 13 and younger, but six months later, comments on such videos are still easy to find — YouTube is about to reposition how its massive online video service treats clips for children. Following a record $170 million penalty …
Rafat Ali / Skift:
Skift acquires EventMB, a twelve-year old online media resource covering the events industry — Skift has been covering the business of meetings and events for the last three years, and now with EventMB as part of our family, we become the largest independent media source in the events industry as well.
Discussion:
@seangriffey and @rafat
Etan Vlessing / Hollywood Reporter:
Cineplex bars screening of Amazon and Netflix films at its Toronto International Film Festival venue — Exhibitor Cineplex says only TIFF titles that respect “the traditional theatrical model” may play on Scotiabank Theatres screens. — There's a survival thriller at the Toronto International …