Top News:


Google says it will pay publishers $1B+ through 2023 to create and curate high-quality journalism for the new Google News Showcase, starting in Germany, Brazil — Google will pay publishers more than $1 billion over the next three years to create and curate high-quality journalism for a new set …
Discussion:
The Keyword, Reuters, CNN, Financial Times, Digiday, Bloomberg, Adweek, MediaPost, Press Gazette, Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, The Hill, Fortune, Engadget, CNBC, @pierrechappaz, @travelfish, @percykaren, @raju, TechCrunch, @charliebeckett, @sarafischer, @quentindempster, @jason_kint, @sundarpichai, @sarafischer, @jeffjarvis, New York Post and CNET, more at Techmeme »


In an interview on Wednesday, Chris Wallace conceded he was initially reluctant to step in during the Trump-Biden debate, saying he doesn't favor muting mics — The veteran anchor conceded he was initially “reluctant” to step in during the Trump-Biden matchup. “I've never been through anything like this,” he said.
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, CNBC, CNN, The Hill, New York Post, @grynbaum, @schwarzenegger, Morning Consult, @brianstelter, @jerrydunleavy, @pistachio, @emilynussbaum, @philiprucker, @amy_siskind, @mikiebarb, @peterhamby, @chriswarcraft, @edokeefe, @brianstelter, @jrubinblogger, @jeremymbarr, @soledadobrien, @katierogers, @grynbaum, @davidfolkenflik, @tvietor08, Fox News, Newser, NBC 6 South Florida, New Republic, UPROXX, Slate, Deadline, Washington Post, Mediaite, The Week, Raw Story, Axios, TVNewser, The Wrap, Breitbart, The Bulwark and Politico
RELATED:

The Commission on Presidential Debates says it is considering adding “additional structure” to the format “to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues” — The Commission on Presidential Debates speaks: https://twitter.com/...
Discussion:
@norahodonnell, @porter_anderson, Fast Company, Washington Post, CBS News, @abbydphillip, New York Times, Fortune, Variety, @benmullin, @rachelbitecofer, @imillhiser, @juliaioffe, @grynbaum, The Sun, @larrysabato, @jeffjarvis, @digiphile, @pegobry, @shakirasison, @cmclymer, @lanceulanoff, @becketadams, @dduane, @elisacardnell, @kfile, @ninaburleigh, @jayrosen_nyu, @geoffrbennett, @ashleyfeinberg and Axios


Nielsen: 73M+ people watched the first Trump-Biden debate across 16 TV channels, lower than the first Trump-Clinton debate, but higher than almost all others — New York (CNN Business)More than 65 million people watched the first debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden Tuesday night.
Discussion:
Ad Age, Insights - Nielsen, Axios, The Atlantic, @bmorrissey, @tvmojoe, @nymag, @usatodaydc, @brianstelter, @mgsiegler, @brianstelter, @juqual87, @hasanthehun, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, MediaPost, Breitbart, The Wrap and The Wrap


Hundreds of thousands watched the Trump-Biden debate on Amazon-owned Twitch, with streamers who normally narrate gaming sessions providing instant commentary
Discussion:
@hzguo616, @kellen_browning, @hutchinson, @nkulw, @slasher, @tiffkhsu, @slasher, @ryangrim, @splitharegames, @connortmurph, @dpakman, Raw Story and CNN

Moderating his second presidential debate, Fox News anchor Chris Wallace struggled to keep the event coherent, pleading at times with Trump to let Biden speak
Discussion:
@bostonjoan, @joebiden, Check Your Fact, @realdonaldtrump, Los Angeles Times, @axios, @kevinroose, @podsaveamerica, @jbarro, @soledadobrien, @dribram, Breitbart, New York Post, @bbcnickrobinson, NPR, The Wrap, @asymmetricinfo, The Hill, @daveweigel, @oliverdarcy, @joncoopertweets, @kimmasters, Fortune, @asharma, @juddlegum, @brianstelter, Mediaite, Mashable, The Atlantic, NBC 6 South Florida, 1A, @tedlieu, @wendiaarons, @emilynussbaum, @wesleylowery, @hshaban, @wesleylowery, @ingrahamangle, @iansams, @taniel, @mjs_dc, @deepakadk, @travisfain, @msvanessaw, @erinmayequade, @colbyitkowitz, @iansams, @franklinfoer, @msvanessaw, @aapolicyforum, @grynbaum, @senpattykuderer, @maxwelltani, @bgrueskin, @wakeup2politics, @wakeup2politics, @mcwm, @business, @walldo, @jaketapper, @gabbyorr_, @davidakaye, @colbyhall, @sykescharlie, @jillwinebanks, @soledadobrien, @andrewkirell, @jdiamond1, @demmacratic, @kathleenpurvis, @adamparkhomenko, @adamserwer, @marynewsom, @tommytomlinson, @larrysabato, @cbckatie, @mharrisperry, @rawstory, @washingtonpost, HuffPost, The Wrap, Variety and Raw Story

Failing some radical reform in the debate format that gives moderators more power, there's no reason for the next two debates to take place as scheduled
Discussion:
Columbia Journalism Review, @mviser, The Wrap, @jayrosen_nyu, @jon_allsop, @rebeccaballhaus, @kfaulders, @morningmoneyben, @mosheh, @katebennett_dc, @jamesfallows, The Guardian, Deadline, Slate, @oliverdarcy, @sheilacoronel, @jbarro, @miriamgoldste, Breitbart, @anthonyha, @cherylrofer, @murpharoo, @timobrien, @niemanlab, @mmpadellan, @nycjim, Mediaite, Raw Story, Vanity Fair, Reason, USA Today, Poynter and Politico


In letter to Congress, directors and Hollywood trade bodies say 69% of small and mid-sized theater companies will go bankrupt or shutter without government help — Dozens of established filmmakers joined with the Directors Guild of America, the National Association of Theater Owners …
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, The Playlist, EW.com, ComingSoon.net, Hollywood Reporter, Reuters, Top Celebrity News …, UPROXX and Forbes


Condé Nast hires its first-ever chief of diversity and inclusion officer, Yashica Olden, and reverses the pay cuts it implemented in April — Condé Nast has announced Yashica Olden as its global chief diversity and inclusion officer, a new role recently created by the legacy publishing company.
Discussion:
WWD


Questions have arisen before about the reporting of NYT's Rukmini Callimachi, whose work faces review after charges against a character in her Caliphate podcast — In May 2018, Rukmini Callimachi, a star reporter for the New York Times, faced some questions about her reporting.
RELATED:

Dean Baquet told NYT staff that the paper will “re-report” Caliphate after the podcast's main character was charged in Canada with concocting a terrorist hoax
Discussion:
Columbia Journalism Review, Reason, @ggreenwald, @pspoole, @richardwarnica, @maxwelltani, New York Times and Meduza.io


Playboy to go public again via SPAC after going private in 2011; the deal values the magazine at $415M and its current owners will retain a 66% share — The company, which pivoted to brand licensing and commerce, is valued at $415 million — Playboy is going public again after being acquired …


Essence magazine furloughs some staff but says it doesn't anticipate the furloughs lasting longer than six months — MAJOR LOSSES — One of America's oldest and best-known major publications dedicated to Black women readers has furloughed some staff. In a press release on Tuesday …


Marc Rosen, EVP of entertainment for Authentic Brands Group, says Sports Illustrated is profitable, due in large part to 15 active licensing deals for the brand — When Sports Illustrated was purchased by Authentic Brands Group for $110 million from Meredith in May 2019 …


Sweden's national radio broadcaster is pairing journalists' pre-publication ratings of news stories with an algorithm to improve the personalization for users — How can we produce more relevant news stories and at the same time promote the values of outstanding public service journalism?


A look at Troy Young's tenure at Hearst, his clashes with editors and staff, initial success with digital profits, and the company's status since his departure — On the evening of July 22, a New York Times story began pinging around among employees of Hearst Magazines, one of the few surviving titans of the magazine era.
Discussion:
@simonowens, @chantalfdez, @nishachittal, @julievad, @katerinareports, @katie_robertson, @caleweissman, @kerrymflynn, @e_alexjung and @jessgrose