Top News:
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Sources: three media veterans are launching a subscription media company with funding led by 40 North Media and TPG Growth, to bundle journalists and resources — Joe Purzycki, Jon Kelly and Max Tcheyan are striking off on their own.
Discussion:
New York Times, @benyt, @atrubek, @michelledean, @sarthakgh, @kimmasters, @katie_robertson, @jmrivera02, @silviakillings, @edmundlee, @nbj914, @lpolgreen, @michellemanafy, @loudmouthjulia, @film_girl, @tomgara, @loudmouthjulia, @loudmouthjulia, @loudmouthjulia, @kimmaicutler, @eliotwb, @chaykak, @edmundlee, @mikeallen, @bigblackjacobin, @doree, @loudmouthjulia, @jayrosen_nyu, @lkmcgann, @nickconfessore, @sarafischer, @kantrowitz, @axios, @tomgara, @dylanbyers, @peterhamby, @nbashaw and The Hill
Justin Baragona / The Daily Beast:
Tucker Carlson used the J&J vaccine pause to suggest the US government knows that COVID-19 vaccines don't work but is purposely “not telling you that” — “Well, you'd hate to think that especially if you've gotten two shots but what's the other potential explanation?
Discussion:
@jesselehrich, @mattgertz, Columbia Journalism Review, @vermontgmg, Twin Cities, @ericboehlert, @aravosis, New Republic, Discourse Blog, @mattnegrin, @rschooley, NewsNation Now, @chelseaclinton, @parkermolloy, @davidfrum, @drkomanduri, @oliverdarcy, @patterico, Media Matters for America, Washington Post, @mattgertz, Fox News, The Hill and Mediaite
Wall Street Journal:
Sources detail how Amazon uses its power across markets to compel companies like WarnerMedia, Viacom, and AMC Networks to accept its terms — A heavyweight in retail, cloud computing, digital advertising, streaming and smart speakers, the tech giant compels vendors in one market to engage with it in others
Discussion:
@danamattioli, @danamattioli, @wsj, @hawleymo and Insider, more at Techmeme »
Morgan Chalfant / The Hill:
The White House Correspondents' Association dinner has been canceled for a second year due to the pandemic; the next dinner is set for April 30, 2022 — The annual White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner has been canceled for the second year in a row due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Discussion:
The Wrap, Variety, Washingtonian, Politico, Newser, @ameshiacross, @rtyson82, @jayrosen_nyu and TVNewser
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Disney confirms that Kim Godwin will be the next president of ABC News, taking over the role most recently held by James Goldston — Kim Godwin, a veteran of local and national TV-news operations, will be the next president of ABC News — and the first Black executive to run a broadcast-network news operation.
Discussion:
CNN, New York Times, @soledadobrien, The Daily Beast, @deannafrytv, @enrique_acevedo, @bristei, @yamiche, Adweek, @errolbarnett, @jonathanblakely, @kathleencarrll, New York Post, The Week, The Wrap and Insider
Max Willens / Digiday:
The New York Post says it is testing a personalized shopping widget after its affiliate commerce revenues grew 94% YoY in 2020 — The New York Post is one of many publishers that's recently learned its audience trusts their shopping recommendations. It's trying to get more mileage …
New York Times:
Hundreds of executives and companies, including Netflix, ViacomCBS, Apple, and Amazon, sign a statement opposing “any discriminatory legislation” around voting — Amazon, Google, G.M. and Starbucks were among those joining the biggest show of solidarity by businesses over legislation in numerous states.
Discussion:
Reuters, @ariberman, The Verge, @rayformayor, @lisapjackson, @jrubinblogger, New York Post, @markos, Mediaite, @mikeisaac, @paulg, @kylegriffin1, @goobergunch, @ariberman, @nelsonforwi, @edmundlee, @gcvp, @sarahriggsamico, @dougconant, EarthWatch, @maragay, Hollywood Reporter, GeekWire, The Hill, Insider, The Daily Caller, The Wrap and Maples on Politics, more at Techmeme »
Jim Prosser / Medium:
Shifts driving a16z and others to start their own media: business has more trust than press, consumption changes devalue news orgs, PR reps outnumber reporters — Earlier this year, venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz set off a shockwave through the technology, tech investing …
Discussion:
The Rebooting, @kvox, @jimprosser and @nataliekerris
Reuters:
Fox says Lachlan Murdoch will return to LA from Australia in early September to reopen Fox HQ “and will go back to working and living in the US” — SYDNEY (Reuters) - Fox Corp chief executive Lachlan Murdoch will return to the United States from a months-long Australian sojourn …
Discussion:
@benyt, @donmoyn, @benyt, @mollyjongfast, @brianstelter, @mattzeitlin, @mslindsaygraham, @alexweprin, The Hill, @karaswisher, @jayrosen_nyu, @oliverdarcy and @jgreenblattadl
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
In TikTok's first-ever funding of an episodic series by a publisher, the company is backing VIRAL from NowThis, featuring health experts and a live pandemic Q&A — TikTok is taking another step towards directly funding publishers' content with today's announcement that it's financially backing …
Discussion:
MediaPost
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
TrillerNet, parent of TikTok competitor Triller, acquires customer engagement platform Amplify.AI and combat sports streaming and events service FITE TV — Would be TikTok competitor Triller, operated by parent company TrillerNet, is gaining a new CEO, the company announced today.
Karlene Lukovitz / MediaPost:
Ampere Analysis: there were nearly 340M subscriptions to streaming services in the US in Q1, with the average consumer reporting subscribing to 4+ services — There are now nearly 340 million subscription contracts to OTT streaming services in the U.S., exceeding the country's 330-million population …