Top News:
New York Times:
Nexta Telegram channel founder Roman Protasevich arrested as Belarus, under orders from Lukashenko, sends fighter jet and forces Ryanair flight to land in Minsk — The dissident, Roman Protasevich, co-founded a Telegram channel that is a popular opposition outlet in Belarus.
Discussion:
@ryanairpress, Nieman Lab, @lizsly, @gitanasnauseda, @maxseddon, New York Times, @franakviacorka, @franakviacorka, @tsihanouskaya, @vonderleyen, Financial Times, The Guardian, DW.COM, Poynter, The Atlantic, @thomasvlinge, New York Times, @primeministergr, @ingridasimonyte, @krisjaniskarins, @sarahemclaugh, The Daily Beast, @cdeloire, @tadeuszgiczan, @biannagolodryga, Bloomberg, @tcwittes, @anneapplebaum, Washington Post, @briankarem, United States Senate Committee …, @kenroth, @jimsciutto, CNN, United States Department …, @lionelbarber, TechNadu, @anthony, Glenn Greenwald, @billbrowder, @kenroth, The Morning Dispatch, @sevaut, Insider, Fox News, Fast Company, @billbrowder, @matinastevis, Politico, @maxseddon, @agnescallamard, Foreign Policy, @chrismurphyct, @emilybell, @jeffjarvis, @guyverhofstadt, @nytgraphics, DW.COM, The Week, @mikebutcher, @reedbrody, @christopherjm, @simoncoveney, @ruskin147, @iyervval, @g_boccaletti, @brianklaas, @iyad_elbaghdadi, @juliaangwin, @stavridisj, @bopanc, @antontroian, @lotteleicht1, @carlzimmer, @thinink, @raydubicki, @arjunbasu, @cbcchrisbrown, @edgarsrinkevics, @flyingwithsara, @mathieuvonrohr, @mollyjongfast, @denismacshane, @charlesarthur, @nytimesworld, @ivohdaalder, @tashecon, @linkeviciusl, @lisanandy, @billbrowder, @vladdavidzon, @tadeuszgiczan, @lugaricano, @bryvkin, @radeksikorski, @josepborrellf, @glandsbergis, @josepborrellf, @ndkirschmann, @avindman, @davidcoltart, @evanchill, @sashachavkin, @kshahrooz, @wiczipedia, @donie, @erinburnett, @jesselynradack, @biannagolodryga, @phastidio, @maxseddon, @j_bertolotti, @ncweaver, @davmicrot, @michaeldweiss, @cjcmichel, @xsovietnews, @b_nishanov, @christopherjm, @repmeijer, @maxseddon, @dethveggie, @mitchprothero, @jamesrbuk, @christopherjm, @biannagolodryga, @danielrhamilton, @bobrae48, @andrewkimmel, @vloracitaku, @sovietsergey, @nycsouthpaw, @marcburleigh, @jason_kint, @henryjfoy, @asluhn, @tadeuszgiczan, Lucian Truscott Newsletter, Reuters, Slate, APOLLO NETWORK Newsletter, The Guardian, Bloomberg, The Republican Standard, BBC, ABC News, The Sun, Voice of America, TASS, Mirror.co.uk, euronews, Radio Free Europe/Radio … and CNN
Discussion:
@ryanairpress: Our FR4978 flight has landed safely in Vilnius at 19:25hrs UK time (21:25hrs local time). Here is Ryanair's statement on today's diversion to Minsk Airport 👇 https://twitter.com/...
Joshua Benton / Nieman Lab: A “state hijacking” in Belarus shows how far its autocratic regime will go to stop dissident journalists
Liz Sly / @lizsly: UPDATE: Ryanair has now amended its statement on the abduction of the Belarus journalist from its plane in Minsk. “Nothing untoward” has been changed to “an act of aviation piracy.” https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@gitanasnauseda: Unprecedented event! A civilian passenger plane flying to Vilnius was forcibly landed in #Minsk. Belarusian political activist & founder of @NEXTA_EN was on the plane. He is arrested. 🇧🇾 regime is behind the abhorrent action. I demand to free Roman Protasevič urgently!
Max Seddon / @maxseddon: With a completely straight face, the Belarusian transport ministry claims: - the Ryanair “bomb threat” came from Hamas - Hamas didn't send it to the Vilnius airport, but Minsk, a totally different one not on the flight path - they demanded a ceasefire two days after it happened https://twitter.com/...
@franakviacorka: BREAKING! The regime landed @Ryanair plane, which was flying from Athens to Vilnius,in order to arrest the famous Belarusian journalist Roman Protasevich. In Belarus, he faces the death penalty. Belarus has seized a plane,put passengers in danger, in order to repress an opponent https://twitter.com/...
@franakviacorka: ❗❗Raman Pratasevich, obviously beaten, says Lukashenka's thugs treat him “correctly” and “lawfully”. He is in the Minsk Detention Center #1. Terrifying video. https://twitter.com/...
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya / @tsihanouskaya: The regime forced the landing @Ryanair plane in Minsk to arrest journalist and activist Raman Pratasevich. He faces the death penalty in Belarus. We demand immediate release of Raman, @ICAO investigation, and sanctions against Belarus. https://twitter.com/...
Ursula von der Leyen / @vonderleyen: It is utterly unacceptable to force @Ryanair flight from Athens to Vilnius to land in Minsk. ALL passengers must be able to continue their travel to Vilnius immediately and their safety ensured. Any violation of international air transport rules must bear consequences.
Andrew Roth / The Guardian: Belarus KGB believed to be on plane forced to land in Minsk, says Ryanair CEO
Tom Jones / Poynter: The Associated Press fired a reporter over social media use — and what it means for other news outlets
Anne Applebaum / The Atlantic: Other Regimes Will Hijack Planes Too
Thomas van Linge / @thomasvlinge: #Belarus: insta-stories by one of the passengers on board #FR4978. Protasevich apparently begged the @Ryanair crew not to hand him over. They told him “we have no choice, it's in Ryanair legal agreements” https://twitter.com/...
Ivan Nechepurenko / New York Times: Belarus Scrambles Jet to Force Down Plane Carrying Dissident
Prime Minister GR / @primeministergr: The forced landing of a commercial plane to detain a journalist is an unprecedented, shocking act. We demand all passengers' immediate release. Tomorrow's #EUCO must address the need to step up pressure on Belarus. Enough is enough.
@ingridasimonyte: Passengers and crew of Ryanair flight en route from Athens to Vilnius have been put in danger - when forcibly landed in Minsk. We demand that the plane and passengers be allowed to fly to Vilnius immediately!
@krisjaniskarins: Concerning reports about forced landing of @Ryanair flight in Minsk and safety of all the passengers. We call for independent international investigation of this incident and immediate release of Belarusian opposition activist Roman Protasevich arrested on this flight.
Sarah McLaughlin / @sarahemclaugh: Mrs. Lincoln took part in a night at the theater. Following a delay, she departed the theater safely after the performance. https://twitter.com/...
Julia Davis / The Daily Beast: Top Kremlin Pundits Celebrate Mid-Air Takedown of Journo Facing Execution
Christophe Deloire / @cdeloire: What happened may seem extravagant, in reality it is extremely serious. Hijacking a plane to arrest a journalist is pushing state treachery to the extreme. We expect from the international community sanctions commensurate with this perfidy. #PressFreedom #Belarus https://twitter.com/...
Tadeusz Giczan / @tadeuszgiczan: What we know so far: KGB operatives boarded the plane in Athens this morning together with Roman Protasevich (he noticed dodgy-looking ppl taking pics of him at the gate). Then when the plane has entered Belarus airspace KGB officers initiated a fight with the Ryanair crew (1/2)
Bianna Golodryga / @biannagolodryga: Belarus release a video of Roman Protasevich claiming that he is in good health and being treated lawfully. He also acknowledges he was at the protests and is cooperating with the govt. This has all the hallmarks of a forced confession and I can only imagine how fearful he is. https://twitter.com/...
Tamara Cofman Wittes / @tcwittes: This is horrifying. https://twitter.com/...
Anne Applebaum / @anneapplebaum: The Belarus government has forced down a commercial airplane flying over its territory in order to arrest a passenger - an opposition journalist. This is state-sponsored hijacking. https://twitter.com/...
Brian J. Karem / @briankarem: When you don't impose sanctions against MBS and Saudi Arabia for murdering a journalist, you give every other despot on the planet the go ahead . . . and this is the fallout. https://twitter.com/...
Senator Bob Menendez / United States Senate Committee …: Chairman Menendez and European Allies Condemn Lukashenka Regime for Intercepting Civilian Flight to Arrest Journalist
Kenneth Roth / @kenroth: A new low for Belarus President Lukashenko: his forces endanger a commercial jet flying over its territory to force it down and arrest a dissident journalist on board. https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Jim Sciutto / @jimsciutto: And the costs are clearly survivable. If Russia can poison and then jail its main opposition leader (and throw others out windows), Belarus calculates it can hijack a plane to arrest its own. And the cycle goes on. https://twitter.com/...
Antony J. Blinken / United States Department of State: Diversion of Ryanair Flight to Belarus and Arrest of Journalist
Lionel Barber / @lionelbarber: A brazen act of air piracy which demands a response, starting with demands for the freeing of the targeted dissident blogger. Failure to act by EU will render all journalists and critics of Belarus fair game for the regime https://www.ft.com/...
Lore Apostol / TechNadu: Belarusian Opposition Journalist Arrested After His Flight Was Intercepted, World Leaders Fret
@anthony: Belarus secret service agents also believed to be on the diverted plane, says Ryanair's Michael O'Leary, calls it a state-sponsored hijacking https://www.wsj.com/...
Glenn Greenwald: As Anger Toward Belarus Mounts, Recall the 2013 Forced Landing of Bolivia's Plane to Find Snowden
Bill Browder / @billbrowder: Ryanair's statement fails to mention that 6 people didn't continue on to Vilnius: Roman Protasevich, the Belarusian opposition journalist and his girlfriend who were detained, and four mysterious Russians who decided to end their trip on Minsk. https://twitter.com/...
Kenneth Roth / @kenroth: The Belarus pretext — to address a security threat rather than to arrest a dissident — isn't even credible for its forced down of the Ryanair jet. The jet was already nearer its destination in Vilnius than it was to Minsk where it was forced to land. https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Seva / @sevaut: I see people claiming that Lukashenko is acting on Putin's orders and folks, Lukashenko does not need anyone's orders to do insane idiotic things
Bill Bostock / Insider: Belarus had KGB agents on the passenger plane that was diverted to arrest a dissident journalist, Ryanair CEO says
Edmund DeMarche / Fox News: US condemns Belarus regime over ‘shocking act’ to divert commercial flight
Michael Grothaus / Fast Company: Belarus condemned by global leaders after forced landing of Ryanair flight carrying journalist
Bill Browder / @billbrowder: Correction: the Belarusian opposition journalist arrested on the commandeered Ryanair flight faces the death penalty! https://twitter.com/...
Matina Stevis-Gridneff / @matinastevis: Paul Rusesabagina, a Belgian national & Rwandan dissident accused of “terrorism” by Rwandan govt, was lured on to a Greek-operated private plane bound for Burundi. He was forcibly taken to Kigali, jailed instead. Lawlessness in the skies has precedent for EU citizens too.
Shawn Pogatchnik / Politico: Ryanair CEO calls Belarus landing a ‘state-sponsored hijacking’
Max Seddon / @maxseddon: Even by the standards of Belarus' crackdown, this story is nuts. Lukashenko personally forced an EU plane flying between EU capitals to land just so Belarus could arrest a dissident. A huge test for EU foreign policy. with @JamesShotter and @rmilneNordic https://www.ft.com/...
Agnes Callamard / @agnescallamard: Forcing a plane to land, on false pretense (a bomb threat), so that a journalist could be arbitrarily arrested: this is how far #Belarus is prepared to go in its repression. https://www.ft.com/...
Chris Murphy / @chrismurphyct: Just a run of the mill unscheduled 7 hour layover in Minsk for a journalist kidnapping. Sorry for the inconvenience! Apply online for a voucher! https://twitter.com/...
Emily Bell / @emilybell: Listening to the BBC reports about Protasevich this morning, they are using the phrase ‘prominent opposition activist’ , but not ‘journalist’ which is how the NYT, and others, are describing him https://www.nytimes.com/...
Jeff Jarvis / @jeffjarvis: The mother of Roman Protasevich to @derspiegel: “I ask the world community to influence this insane regime. As a mother, I ask, I implore you.” https://twitter.com/...
Guy Verhofstadt / @guyverhofstadt: This is big ! International community must condemn this hostile act & demand his immediate release. Time for EU to step up sanctions ! https://twitter.com/...
NYT Graphics / @nytgraphics: Belarus sent a fighter jet to intercept a European airliner traveling through its airspace and ordered the plane to land, where a prominent opposition journalist aboard was seized, provoking international outrage. https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Peter Weber / The Week: Lithuania is investigating Belarus for potential terrorism over ‘state hijacking’ of RyanAir jet
Mike Butcher / @mikebutcher: The head of Russia Today: “I have never envied Lukashenko. But now i do. A beautiful performance by Bat'ka” - translates like “Daddy” #Protasevich https://twitter.com/...
@reedbrody: Reminds me of when the US forced down the plane of #Bolivia president Evo Morales in #Austria in its hunt for whistleblower #EdwardSnowden @snowden. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... https://twitter.com/...
Christopher Miller / @christopherjm: Reaction from the Belarusian opposition leader in exile who'd have likely won last year's presidential election if it hadn't been rigged. She's asking for an international response, including further sanctions against Lukasheno's regime. https://twitter.com/...
Simon Coveney / @simoncoveney: It is utterly unacceptable. This is an Irish Airline with EU citizens on board, forced to land in Minsk, while travelling between EU cities. A strong an united response from EU needed. EU inaction or indecision will be taken as weakness by Belarus. @dfatirl https://twitter.com/...
Rory Cellan-Jones / @ruskin147: Terrifying thread https://twitter.com/...
Abhijit Iyer-Mitra / @iyervval: Not unprecedented- in 2010 Iranians did the same to an Emirati plane from Dubai to Bishkek capturing & executing AbdolMalek Rigi. ZERO action against Iran. Notice despite the fury nobody is citing the exact law that prevents a first freedom flight from being forced to land https://twitter.com/...
Giulio Boccaletti / @g_boccaletti: This is insane. A civilian passenger plane of a European airline forcibly landed. No one is safe if @EU_Commission tolerates a dictator and autocrat at its gates hijacking a plane. It must respond. https://twitter.com/...
Brian Klaas / @brianklaas: This is a crucial point. What happened in Belarus is being watched closely by authoritarian despots around the world. Can you get away with forcing down a civilian aircraft with a fighter jet to arrest someone? The West needs to ensure that the answer is a resounding “No.” https://twitter.com/...
@iyad_elbaghdadi: This is an extremely dangerous precedent for all journalists, activists, and journalists in the entire world. If this is allowed to pass without serious - and I mean *serious* - consequence, then it's no less dangerous than the precedent set by the 2018 Khashoggi murder
Julia Angwin / @juliaangwin: This is horrifying and will transform the threat models for journalism - and global air travel - if it goes unchallenged. https://twitter.com/...
@stavridisj: This is beyond outrageous. The international community must take decisive action to demonstrate that this behavior utterly unacceptable. The alternative is to surrender international air travel to the whim of dictators. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Bojan Pancevski / @bopanc: A Ryanair airliner flying between two EU/Nato countries was hijacked and escorted by warplane on the personal order of Belarus's dictator to kidnap a dissident. How will Europe respond? https://www.nytimes.com/...
Anton Troianovski / @antontroian: A Russian MP's reaction to the Ryanair forced landing today: “A brilliant special operation.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
Lotte Leicht / @lotteleicht1: Incredible. #Lukashenko's thuggish regime force a commercial plane -en route from one #EU state to another EU state- to land in #Belarus .. for the purpose of arresting a critical journalist on board the airliner. End impunity. #JusticeMatters. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Carl Zimmer / @carlzimmer: Belarus Forces Down Plane Carrying Dissident and Seizes Him https://www.nytimes.com/...
Thin / @thinink: What the actual eff? This is going to embolden the world's dictators even more... https://www.nytimes.com/...
Ray Dubicki / @raydubicki: Not that you needed more to pay attention to, but keep an eye on Belarus. Forcing down a civilian flight with a sham terrorist attack in order to arrest a journalist is bad stuff. https://twitter.com/...
Arjun Basu / @arjunbasu: Wow. This is nuts. https://twitter.com/...
Chris Brown / @cbcchrisbrown: This is an incredible story that's unfolding ... https://twitter.com/...
@edgarsrinkevics: This is completely unacceptable and contrary to the international law. Plane and ALL passangers must be released immediately and should continue to their destination. International reaction must be strong and effective https://twitter.com/...
Sara Nelson / @flyingwithsara: Deeply concerning reports coming out of a Belarus that the government there essentially hijacked a Ryan Air flight, forced it to land and then arrested a journalist onboard https://twitter.com/...
Mathieu von Rohr / @mathieuvonrohr: #Ryanair leave out of their statement that one of their customers was kidnapped in #Minsk by state authorities https://twitter.com/...
Molly Jong-Fast / @mollyjongfast: This is fucked up https://twitter.com/...
Denis MacShane / @denismacshane: Well said https://twitter.com/...
Charles Arthur / @charlesarthur: Fine while Lukashenko was just imprisoning people inside his country. Now he's detaining overflying jets? Things are going to change. Of course, have to hope this isn't Gavrilo Princip's sandwich. https://twitter.com/...
@nytimesworld: Belarus said its president gave an “unequivocal order” to make the plane, carrying Roman Protasevich, do a U-turn and land. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Ivo Daalder / @ivohdaalder: Outrageous actions by Belarus to force down civilian plane flying from Athens to Vilnius requires strong, concerted action by US and EU, including new sanctions and banning flights from Belarus. https://twitter.com/...
Timothy Ash / @tashecon: No plane is safe flying over Belarus airspace after this. https://twitter.com/...
Linas Linkevicius / @linkeviciusl: It just turned out that Pratasevich was detained at #Minsk airport. All this reckless and lawless ‘operation’ by 🇧🇾 special services deserves strong response, not just condemnation. One can't use airspace controlled by regime criminals. https://twitter.com/...
Lisa Nandy / @lisanandy: Intercepting a civilian airliner to detain a journalist is appalling, dangerous, and illegal. It imperils the freedoms of the air and freedom of speech. The Belarus government must face serious consequences. https://twitter.com/...
Bill Browder / @billbrowder: Truly shocking and unprecedented: Ryanair flight carrying Belarusian journalist critical of the regime forced to land in Minsk. The journalist was subsequently arrested and faces 15 years in prison. A true nightmare. This is why I'll never fly over Russia. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Vladislav Davidzon / @vladdavidzon: French, Belgian, Greek, Romanian and almost a hundred Lithuanian citizens have been taken hostage after Belarus hijacks plane in midair to capture a political opponent. https://twitter.com/...
Tadeusz Giczan / @tadeuszgiczan: MiG-29 of the Belarusian Air Force has returned to the airbase in Baranovichi after successfully intercepting Ryanair Athens-Vilnius flight and forcing it to land in Minsk. The plane with 171 passengers on board still hasn't been released. https://twitter.com/...
Luis Garicano / @lugaricano: Dear Mme @vonderleyen This kidnapping shows that the dictators-first Putin, then Erdogan, now Alexandr Lukashenko have discovered there is nothing behind our “we condemn” and our “we strongly condemn”. Let's save ourselves the words now, and take action. https://twitter.com/...
Boris Ryvkin / @bryvkin: von der Leyen to Lukashenko: all passengers must be able to continue their travel to Vilnius immediately! Lukashenko to von der Leyen (who he regards as utterly impotent): have a carrot. https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Radek Sikorski Mep / @radeksikorski: This is a dangerous precedent for travellers everywhere. I shall be tabling a resolution @Europarl_EN to expel Belorus from @ICAO and impose other sanctions until Mr Pratasevicz is freed and the guilty of this outrageous act of state terrorism are punished. https://twitter.com/...
Josep Borrell Fontelles / @josepborrellf: We hold the government of Belarus responsable for the security of all passengers and the aircraft. ALL passengers must be able to continue their travel immediately. (2/2)
Gabrielius Landsbergis / @glandsbergis: Disturbing news regarding @Ryanair plane from Athens to Vilnius forced landing in Minsk. Working with international partners to secure safe passage back to Vilnius for all passengers.
Josep Borrell Fontelles / @josepborrellf: Closely following developments around today's @Ryanair flight from Athens to Vilnius, which was forced to land in Minsk over an alleged security threat. This is totally inadmissible. (1/2)
ND Kirsch / @ndkirschmann: Whelp, definitely NOT taking Ryanair this summer. Seriously, how does this happen? The EU and US need to slap (more) sanctions on these clowns. https://twitter.com/...
Alexander S. Vindman / @avindman: Good thread on events in Belarus. Yes, the Gov. of Belarus forcing down a Ryanair flight to detain an opponent is a Human Right violation. Yes, this was a terror act. It is also violation on international norms with grave implications for vital US national interests. https://twitter.com/...
David Coltart / @davidcoltart: Belarus President Scrambles Jet to Force Down Plane Carrying Dissident . Tyrants are the same the world over. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Evan Hill / @evanchill: Belarus appears to have staged a snatch operation to force a commercial aircraft flying over its airspace to land in order to arrest 26-year-old opposition journalist Roman Protasevich. https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Sasha Chavkin / @sashachavkin: Brazen assault on press freedom and the rule of law. Dictator Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus scrambles military jets to force down an international flight carrying an opposition journalist, who was arrested upon landing https://www.nytimes.com/...
Nina Jankowicz / @wiczipedia: Absolutely unacceptable behavior from Belarus. Protasevich and NEXTA have played an integral role in informing citizens during the past year or protest; he should be freed, and the EU & US must act to discourage this wanton disregard for int'l norms. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Donie O'Sullivan / @donie: This is incredibly messed up: A leading opposition figure has said the Belarusian regime “forced the landing of the plane in Minsk to arrest journalist and activist Raman Pratasevich. https://www.cnn.com/...
Erin Burnett / @erinburnett: See Anne's full thread about how this went down - KBG on board forced plane down https://twitter.com/...
@jesselynradack: Remember when the U.S. asked European countries to force down the plane of Bolivian President Morales bc they thought @Snowden was aboard?? https://www.nytimes.com/...
Bianna Golodryga / @biannagolodryga: Strong statement. Question is, what will be the consequences? https://twitter.com/...
Mario Seminerio / @phastidio: Waiting for the consequences, then https://twitter.com/...
Max Seddon / @maxseddon: Strong statement on Roman Protasevich's detention in Belarus from the head of the EU commission. But the bloc's options are pretty limited. “We will be super concerned and demand his release,” one diplomat told me. “But the EU can't do much, sad as it is.” https://twitter.com/...
Jacopo Bertolotti / @j_bertolotti: Immediate sanctions on Lukashenko and his cronies. Thank you @EUCouncil https://twitter.com/...
Nicholas Weaver / @ncweaver: One problem that the EU and US face on this: The EU and US did this to the President of Bolivia because we thought Snowden was on the plane, albeit not with a bomb threat. https://en.wikipedia.org/... https://twitter.com/...
David Rothschild / @davmicrot: “Belarus security service, still known as KGB” https://twitter.com/...
Michael Weiss / @michaeldweiss: Belarusian KGB hijacked a plane headed to Vilnius with a fake bomb threat to arrest a journalist wanted by Lukashenko. Extraordinary. https://www.rferl.org/...
@cjcmichel: Needless to say, unless there's massive pushback against this from the West, we're going to see repeats of this new tactic in Russia, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, etc. https://twitter.com/...
X Soviet / @xsovietnews: It's now reported that a Belarusian fighter jet was scrambled to escort the Ryanair flight to Minsk so that journalist Roman Protasevich could be arrested. “On the orders of the commander-in-chief.” https://twitter.com/...
Bakhti Nishanov / @b_nishanov: The regime has gone absolutely rogue https://twitter.com/...
Christopher Miller / @christopherjm: Here's the president of Lithuania reacting to today's absolutely mad events. The Ryan Air fight was headed to his capital of Vilnius. The Irish airline had flown through EU airspace before crossing into Belarusian airspace. https://twitter.com/...
Rep. Peter Meijer / @repmeijer: The authoritarian Belarusian regime just forced down a civilian Ryanair plane flying from Greece to Lithuania to arrest a political activist who criticized the dictator Lukashenko. This is an egregious violation that deserves condemnation and stronger sanctions against Belarus. https://twitter.com/...
Max Seddon / @maxseddon: The president of Lithuania, where the plane reportedly carrying activist Roman Protasevich was headed, is calling for his release https://twitter.com/...
Deth Veggie / @dethveggie: https://www.bbc.com/... How is this not hijacking? This is incredibly messed up. https://twitter.com/...
Mitchell Prothero / @mitchprothero: Official: Belarus conducted an operation on a Ryanair flight from Greece to Lithuania to force the plane down in Minsk so they could arrest a dissident journalist on board. i'm having a difficult time processing how illegal this is under various international laws and treaties https://twitter.com/...
James Ball / @jamesrbuk: This action *must* have consequences, or else the reach of dictatorships to suppress free speech will extend even further than it does already. https://twitter.com/...
Christopher Miller / @christopherjm: Unbelievably brazen move by Belarusian dictator Lukashenko to fake a bomb threat, scramble a jet, & force a @Ryanair flight to land in Minsk to arrest @nexta_tv founder @pr0tez, who helped organized last years protests against Lukashenko. Protasevich could face the death penalty. https://twitter.com/...
Bianna Golodryga / @biannagolodryga: 🚨An authoritarian regime forced the landing of a plane en route to Lithuania to arrest a journalist. This is outrageous and requires immediate response from the EU. Beyond just a harsh statement. https://twitter.com/...
Daniel Hamilton / @danielrhamilton: It doesn't just require a response on the part of the EU, @biannagolodryga; it requires coordinated action on the part of the *entire* international community to exclude Belarus from the global banking system, end debt financing and to impose ban on dual-use exports. https://twitter.com/...
Bob Rae / @bobrae48: This is the world we are in - the authoritarian world ! https://twitter.com/...
Andrew Kimmel / @andrewkimmel: Belarus secret police hijacked a commercial airliner to arrest a journalist. https://twitter.com/...
@vloracitaku: This is absolutely unacceptable. The way how EU will respond to this act of aggression will determine whether such despicable actions conducted by states will become a norm in the future. https://twitter.com/...
Southpaw / @nycsouthpaw: The Belarusian govt reportedly forced a plane down in order to arrest a journalist on board. https://twitter.com/...
Marc Burleigh / @marcburleigh: Latvia's PM on the @Ryanair plane forced to land in #Belarus https://twitter.com/...
Jason Kint / @jason_kint: And this context is spot on. It's a risk calculation and any failure to respond appropriately for press freedoms and international law only increases risk to press and democracy globally. https://twitter.com/...
Henry Foy / @henryjfoy: Belarus media reporting that a @Ryanair flight from Athens to Vilnius, while over Belarus airspace was ordered to land in Minsk, where a journalist critical of the Lukashenko regime was taken from the plane and detained. Some reports say a fighter jet was also used https://twitter.com/...
Alec Luhn / @asluhn: Roman Protasevich of the Nexta Telegram channel, which exposed Belarus police brutality, has been arrested after his Athens-Vilnius flight made a surprise landing in Minsk due to a “bomb threat” https://meduza.io/... https://twitter.com/...
Tadeusz Giczan / @tadeuszgiczan: insisting there's an IED onboard. Eventually the crew was forced to send out SOS (literally moments before the plane would've left Belarus airspace). MiG-29 took off and escorted it to Minsk. Security services entered the plane and arrested Protasevich. (2/2)
Lucian K. Truscott IV / Lucian Truscott Newsletter: Ryanair flight forced down by military jets in Belarus
Daniel Politi / Slate: Belarus Under Fire After it Diverts Plane to Arrest Journalist: “Unprecedented Act of State Terrorism”
APOLLO NETWORK Newsletter: Bielorusia interceptează zborul Ryanair și îl reține pe jurnalist, provocând scandal internațional
Andrew Roth / The Guardian: Belarus accused of ‘hijacking’ Ryanair flight diverted to arrest blogger
Shaun Kenney / The Republican Standard: TRS Sunday Post | Crumbling Democrats Are Desperate For New Narratives
Patrick Reevell / ABC News: Ryanair flight forced to land in Belarus with top activist on board
Will Stewart / The Sun: PLANE DRAMA Ryanair bomb scare: Plane forced to land after ‘false threat led to fighter jets being scrambled to arrest passenger’
Valda Kalnina / TASS: Lithuanian president says Ryanair plane was forced to land in Minsk
Emma Grimshaw / Mirror.co.uk: Ryanair plane ‘forced to land’ in Belarus with fake bomb scare as journalist ‘detained’
RFE / Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Belarusian Journalist Arrested After His Flight Diverted To Minsk By Military Fighter Jet
RELATED:
Financial Times:
A look at the media activism of Belarusian Telegram channels like Nexta, which not only reported on last year's protests but also helped coordinate them
Discussion:
Brian Stelter / @brianstelter: “Many Belarusian activists realised ten years ago that activism was not enough to win, and that in journalism you can do much more. At the same time, journalism cannot win alone. And this hybrid type of media activist appeared and Roman was one of them.” https://www.ft.com/...
Mansur Mirovalev / Al Jazeera: Why Belarus risked the wrath of the world to arrest an activist
Tim Lister / CNN:
Profile of Roman Protasevich, who now works for Telegram channel Belamova after its founder was imprisoned by Belarus in 2020, as he faces the death penalty
Discussion:
Ephrat Livni / New York Times: Bitcoin Rebounds After a Big Tumble: Live Updates
Sergei Kuznetsov / Politico: Why the Belarusian journalist was snatched from the Ryanair flight
Lindsey Ellefson / The Wrap:
Over 100 AP staff sign a letter saying they “strongly disapprove” with how Emily Wilder's firing was handled and call on AP to update social media policies — Over 100 Associated Press employees signed a letter to management Monday saying they “strongly disapprove” …
Discussion:
@janinezacharia, @kat__stafford, BuzzFeed News, CNN, @brianstelter, @tasneemn, Columbia Journalism Review, Mediaite, Vanity Fair, The Hill, @dylanbyers, @jordanchariton, @debrajsaunders, @karenattiah, @juliareinstein, @froomkin, @jakemgrumbach, @nycsouthpaw, @davidfolkenflik, @bruce_arthur, @w7voa, @dakekang, @jayrosen_nyu, @sameralatrush, @thegarance, @elaheizadi, @bcrodriguez, @feliciasonmez, @brianstelter, @laurie_garrett, @froomkin, @jnicholsonindc, @dctello, @jdakwar, @miriamelder and @chrisrugaber
Discussion:
@janinezacharia: Many have commented on the selective application of social media policies in @vv1lder's firing by @AP and have discussed the need for clearer guidelines and enforcement. I agree that would be helpful. But I want to explain how that isn't the core issue here. (1/12)
Kat Stafford / @kat__stafford: A statement from @AP staff: We love the AP. We also want it to change. We hope the institution that we serve with bravery and tenacity every day will join us in charting a more equitable future. https://docs.google.com/...
Tasneem Nashrulla / BuzzFeed News: AP Staffers Demanded To Know Why Emily Wilder Was Fired After A Conservative “Smear Campaign” Over Her Pro-Palestinian Activism
Brian Stelter / CNN: Associated Press employees want answers after reporter's firing
Brian Stelter / @brianstelter: When asked for comment about today's open letter, a corporate spokesperson said “The @AP looks forward to continuing the conversation with staff about AP's social media policy.”
Tasneem N / @tasneemn: AP spokesperson responds to the open letter signed by more than 100 AP staffers criticizing how the company fired Emily Wilder for violating its social media policy https://www.buzzfeednews.com/ ... https://twitter.com/...
Jon Allsop / Columbia Journalism Review: Emily Wilder, tradition, and the double standards around objectivity
Rudy Takala / Mediaite: AP Staffers Blast Reporter's Firing for Old Social Media Posts in Open Letter: It ‘Caused the Public to Question the Credibility of Our Reporting’
Charlotte Klein / Vanity Fair: Ousted AP Journalist Says She Was “Hung Out to Dry” By the News Agency
Thomas Moore / The Hill: Associated Press reporters protest firing of Emily Wilder
Dylan Byers / @dylanbyers: Update: AP News leadership just sent email to staff outlining plans to address concerns about social media policy. Re: @vv1lder firing: “We can assure you that much of the coverage and commentary does not accurately portray a difficult decision that we did not make lightly.” https://twitter.com/...
Jordan / @jordanchariton: Underneath the pushback against the AP for firing Emily Wilder is the reality that all of these corporate outlets pretend to be neutral when they are overwhelmingly biased toward corporations, capitalism, government officials, and the status quo https://www.buzzfeednews.com/ ...
Debra J. Saunders / @debrajsaunders: Bad journalism trend: Stories with link to conservative tweets but not original left-wing tweets that sparked brouhaha. AP Staffers Demanded To Know Why Emily Wilder Was Fired After Conservative “Smear Campaign” Over Her Pro-Palestinian Activism https://www.buzzfeednews.com/ ... @TasneemN
Karen Attiah / @karenattiah: A masterclass in how to write a lot of words, but say absolutely nothing. https://twitter.com/...
Julia Reinstein / @juliareinstein: love to see this collective action from the AP staff https://www.buzzfeednews.com/ ...
Dan Froomkin / @froomkin: The implication here that somehow @vv1lder presented a danger to the “business of fact-based journalism” is despicable and someone @AP is digging in deeper and needs to be stopped. https://twitter.com/...
Jake M. Grumbach / @jakemgrumbach: This is nice. The Emily Wilder firing is an especially hurtful one. A Jewish American woman tarred as antisemitic and fired at the behest of antiliberal Fortress Worlders and Christian End-Timers for doing the most Jewish thing of all: standing up for the downtrodden https://twitter.com/...
Southpaw / @nycsouthpaw: I guess they didn't name her publicly, just curtly announced her departure to AP staff worldwide ensuring the news would leak. https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
David Folkenflik / @davidfolkenflik: UPDATE: AP Executive Editor @SallyBuzbee tells NPR she had no role in dismissing @vv1lder: “By the time the situation came up, I had accepted The Post job and thus handed over day-to-day operations at AP, so I was not involved in the decision at all.” More on this at 4.24/6.24p
Bruce Arthur / @bruce_arthur: Whole thread. Every news organization needs a Gamergate editor, or just enough senior people who have read this. https://deadspin.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Steve Herman / @w7voa: “We demand more clarity from the company about why Wilder was fired. It remains unclear — to Wilder herself as well as staff at large — how she violated the social media policy while employed by the AP.” - @AP staff open letter regarding the firing of @vv1lder. https://twitter.com/...
Dake Kang / @dakekang: 1/ The AP has a strict social media policy. I generally support having one and believe it is necessary for us to do unbiased journalism. Though some of Wilder's posts from her college days would likely have violated the policy, this policy isn't and shouldn't be retrospective. https://twitter.com/...
Jay Rosen / @jayrosen_nyu: The current policy is unsustainable. The employees know it. Any social media policy grounded in the attempt to manage “appearances” hands power to the culture warriors who want you dead, or injured. https://twitter.com/...
Samer Al-Atrush / @sameralatrush: “We are also concerned about the ramifications of this decision for newsroom morale and AP's credibility. Wilder was a young journalist, unnecessarily harmed by the AP's handling and announcement of its firing of her.” https://twitter.com/...
Garance Franke-Ruta / @thegarance: Creating a playbook for supporting staff targeted by digital harassment campaigns is so important and something all news orgs that cover controversial subjects need to have in place. https://twitter.com/...
Elahe Izadi / @elaheizadi: Open letter signed by AP staff calls on AP to provide more clarity on why it fired Emily Wilder, and more. “Once we decide to play this game on the terms of those acting in bad faith, we can't win.” https://twitter.com/...
Barbara Rodriguez / @bcrodriguez: I started my career at @AP and care deeply about it. But the news organization needs to do better. I'm proud of my former colleagues for demanding more equitable policies from AP on its social media practices and how it plans to support staff targeted by harassment campaigns. https://twitter.com/...
Felicia Sonmez / @feliciasonmez: Wow. Bravo to the @AP staffers across the country and globe who organized and signed this letter on @vv1lder's firing. “We need to know that the AP would stand behind and provide resources to journalists who are the subject of smear campaigns and online harassment.” https://twitter.com/...
Brian Stelter / @brianstelter: More than 100 employees at the Associated Press have signed an open letter calling for more transparency about the firing of @vv1lder. My latest >> https://www.cnn.com/...
Laurie Garrett / @laurie_garrett: AP reporter Emily Wilder came under attack from the @Stanford Young #Republicans Club for her personal statements about Palestinians, posted years ago. AP fired her, and the editor who did so is taking over the @washingtonpost . Now AP reporters worldwide are rallying to Wilder. https://twitter.com/...
Dan Froomkin / @froomkin: By the way, NICE JOB AVOIDING CONTROVERSY, @AP! And we still need to hear directly from @SallyBuzbee. https://twitter.com/...
Jonathan Nicholson / @jnicholsonindc: A) this is VERY un-AP, where the old bulls tell tales of being consigned to the overnight “lobster shift” for looking at the buro chief sideways; and b) needed if AP is to shed its rep for stodginess and compete for best talent. https://twitter.com/...
Darcy Costello / @dctello: “As journalists who cover contentious subjects, we are often the target of people unhappy with scrutiny. What happens when they orchestrate a smear campaign targeting another one of us?” https://twitter.com/...
Jamil Dakwar / @jdakwar: Important letter that should be a wake-up call for other media organizations as well. If you want media freedom and independence to be protected you should support your journalists when they get smeared. Background in case you're just hearing about it: https://www.vanityfair.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Amazon is nearing a deal to buy MGM Holdings for almost $9B, which could be announced as early as this week — Deal for the ‘Rocky’ and ‘James Bond’ studio would mark tech company's second largest-ever acquisition — Amazon.com Inc. is nearing a deal to buy the Hollywood studio MGM Holdings …
Discussion:
@jbflint, Observer, Gizmodo, CNBC, The Streamable, @claireatki, @sherman4949, @danprimack, @alexjamesfitz, @jbenton, @jbenton, @jbflint, Hollywood Reporter, Cord Cutters News and Media Play News
Discussion:
Brandon Katz / Observer: Amazon May Be Overpaying for MGM, But Does It Even Matter?
James Whitbrook / Gizmodo: Jeff Bezos, a Real-Life Bond Villain, May Own James Bond Very Soon
Alex Sherman / CNBC: Amazon nears deal to buy MGM Studios for nearly $9 billion
Derek Walborn / The Streamable: Reports: Amazon Close to Landing Lucrative MGM Deal
Claire Atkinson / @claireatki: The great 2021 media rethink: AT&T spins WarnerMedia, MGM sells to Amazon, Wanda gets out of AMC, Televisa/Univision merger. And then there's the SPACs/IPOs. Good time to be a media banker, lawyer. What's next Aryeh?
Alex Sherman / @sherman4949: Good on @theinformation for the initial scoop on this one — I can add an Amazon/MGM deal is expected as soon as tomorrow between $8.5b-$9b. https://www.cnbc.com/...
Dan Primack / @danprimack: Amazon talks with MGM confirm something a top Amazon corp dev exec told me just before the pandemic, when I asked if antitrust concerns would slow big acquisitions: (paraphrased) “We'll keep doing big deals until one actually gets blocked, instead of just political rhetoric.”
Alex Fitzpatrick / @alexjamesfitz: man the bond market is outta control https://twitter.com/...
Joshua Benton / @jbenton: Nation's 20th-Century Visual Heritage Finds New Life as Marginal Upsell Incentive for 2-Day Shipping https://www.wsj.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Joshua Benton / @jbenton: Eventually, the Bezos comes for us all https://www.wsj.com/...
Joe Flint / @jbflint: MGM board briefed on Amazon deal. Sale likely unveiled later this week. https://www.wsj.com/... via @WSJ
Jess Barnes / Cord Cutters News: Amazon and MGM Are Close to Making a Deal
Erik Gruenwedel / Media Play News: Report: Amazon, MGM Acquisition Deal Imminent
Ben Smith / New York Times:
Tension is rising at WNYC amid HR complaints about bullying and a formal complaint to the NLRB about an alleged campaign by the EIC against her internal critics — In public radio, there is either an epidemic of bullying or an epidemic of whining, depending on whom you ask.
Discussion:
@heyfeifer, @freedlander, Media Nation, @katierosman, @scottdetrow, @dandrezner, @markdistef, @jillfilipovic, @mattdpearce, @mgerrydoyle, @wolfe321, @dlberes, @jbenton, @saletan, @benyt, @daveweigel, @harrymccracken, @farai, @cgasparino, @alanmontecillo, @kainazamaria, @byrontau, @jbweinz, @annehelen, contextisking.com, @jodyavirgan and The Wrap
Discussion:
Jason Feifer / @heyfeifer: At first I saw “barnyard epithet” in @benyt's column and was like... cowfuck? Assgoat? But then I found this old @chicagotribune history of the phrase in the @nytimes https://twitter.com/...
David Freedlander / @freedlander: Such a delicious @benyt column this week, but think it is really worth keeping an eye on this dynamic : https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Dan Kennedy / Media Nation: As ‘On the Media’ turns: Brooke Gladstone says Bob Garfield deserved to be fired
Katie Rosman / @katierosman: “Mean-Too” is such a great phrase, spot-on in describing the anti-asshole moment we are (at long last) entering. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Scott Detrow / @scottdetrow: SHOCKING TWIST! “...and he is starting a newsletter on Substack on Monday.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
Daniel W. Drezner / @dandrezner: In the future, whenever I think that university politics are getting to be too much, I'll re-read this @benyt column and count my blessings. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Mark Di Stefano / @markdistef: Feel like everyone in this story needs some combo of a nap/holiday/long look in the mirror. Chrissst. https://twitter.com/...
Jill Filipovic / @jillfilipovic: Having some mixed feelings about this piece, but it's clear that one problem with the media industry (and many industries) is that the professional trajectory rewards talent with promotions to managerial roles. And a talented journalist is not necessarily a good manager. https://twitter.com/...
Matt Pearce / @mattdpearce: where do you even begin https://www.nytimes.com/...
Gerry Doyle / @mgerrydoyle: the implication that there is some level of jerkish behavior that is ok or even expected in journalism/the media is pretty bad https://twitter.com/...
Lauren Wolfe / @wolfe321: “Audio production makes literal many of the inequalities that journalists complain about... .(It's sort of like TV, but with less camera-ready people and without a fat salary to make up for the indignities.)” Good read about controversies at WNYC by @benyt https://www.nytimes.com/...
Damon Beres / @dlberes: Everything else aside, Substack really, really needs to start investing seriously in diverse talent to fight back against the well-earned image that it's for powerful white dudes with an axe to grind. I guffawed seeing Bob Garfield is starting one tomorrow https://www.nytimes.com/...
Joshua Benton / @jbenton: AP customers can't really “plagiarize” AP content. They're paying for the right to use that content, either as freestanding stories or within their own work. AP itself does the same for its members' stories! https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Will Saletan / @saletan: One of @benyt's best skills (or maybe it's a disposition) is looking into conflicts that seem largely ideological, and unearthing the peculiar personal dynamics that shape how they turn out. Culture matters, but you have to understand the people involved. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Ben Smith / @benyt: Just added @fredmogul's response to tonight's column, after his earlier email to me somehow went to spam — for which mea culpa. https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Dave Weigel / @daveweigel: “WNYC fired him for violating its anti-bullying policy, and he is starting a newsletter on Substack on Monday.” https://twitter.com/...
Harry McCracken / @harrymccracken: I don't remember ever witnessing anyone screaming at work, or even shouting. Is that normal? https://twitter.com/...
Farai Chideya / @farai: Can I remind everyone I went to Laura Walker, then CEO of WNYC. She did nothing and as a result I suffered greatly financially and gave up trying to have a biological child. //It's the Media's ‘Mean-Too’ Moment. Stop Yelling and Go to Human Resources. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Charles Gasparino / @cgasparino: Read this @benyt piece and tell me if you really think the media biz can survive. It attracts the wokeist of the woke. Its completely self absorbed and it spends almost no time thinking about what the customer needs from it — https://www.nytimes.com/...
Alan Montecillo / @alanmontecillo: One of many 👀 details: 'On Sunday, the company's labor union filed a formal complaint against the station's editor in chief, Audrey Cooper, with the National Labor Relations Board, for reportedly waging a “coordinated and aggressive campaign” against her internal critics.' https://twitter.com/...
Kainaz Amaria / @kainazamaria: “Ms. Cooper sought to professionalize Gothamist away from its bloggy and irreverent roots, telling reporters to be less openly hostile to the New York Police Department in their reporting, two reporters said.” 👀 https://www.nytimes.com/...
Byron Tau / @byrontau: WNYC fired veteran journalist Fred Mogul for plagiarism on the grounds that he included a snippet of AP copy in an online story. At a staff meeting, stunned radio reporters explained this was standard practice on air. “Fire all of us,” one host said. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Jillian Weinberger / @jbweinz: This makes me sad for several reasons, including: WNYC is filled with dedicated journalists who care about their city and our world. They want to be focused on producing & reporting stories that serve their listeners instead of dealing with all this!!! https://www.nytimes.com/...
Anne Helen Petersen / @annehelen: Framing's weird here! https://www.nytimes.com/...
Ashkan Karbasfrooshan / contextisking.com: Finesse meets Force: The legend of the Gordian Knot
Jody Avirgan / @jodyavirgan: WNYC says it is reining in Gothamist for “an element of editorializing to its coverage that can be interpreted as bias.” If your *official* position is basically “we're worried about what bad faith critics will think” then you're in real trouble. https://www.nytimes.com/...
New York Times:
Sources: in October 2016, shortly before the AT&T-Time Warner acquisition, Disney's Bob Iger called Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes about a possible deal — What if Time Warner had gotten a fateful phone call earlier in 2016? — What could have been — After its $100 billion deal …
Discussion:
New York Times, @edmundlee, @frankpallotta, @andrewrsorkin, @birdyword, @stevekovach, @modestproposal1, @preetatweets and @ennisnyt
Discussion:
New York Times: Interviews with 18 people reveal details of the Discovery-WarnerMedia deal, including stock structure change and an awkward talk with WarnerMedia's Jason Kilar
Edmund Lee / @edmundlee: Time Warner (now @WarnerMedia) could have been owned by @Disney if a phone call in October 2016 had come just a few weeks earlier. Me and @andrewrsorkin in this morning's @dealbook: https://www.nytimes.com/...
Frank Pallotta / @frankpallotta: A DC vs. Marvel movie would've made like $3 billion. https://twitter.com/...
Andrew Ross Sorkin / @andrewrsorkin: Revealed: Disney's Bob Iger tried to buy Time Warner right before it announced a deal with AT&T... https://www.nytimes.com/...
Mike Bird / @birdyword: Sort of blows me away that this is how absolutely colossal mergers happen. I guess it shouldn't be surprising, it just feels like the companies are imperfect substitutes and well... They cost tens of billions of dollars! https://twitter.com/...
Modest Proposal / @modestproposal1: I guess Iger agreed https://twitter.com/...
Anupreeta Das / @preetatweets: This tick-tock of the AT&T-Discovery deal by @koblin, @grynbaum, @edmundlee and @LaurenSHirsch is so vivid and rich in detail. And there's a fantastic pic of Steve McQueen. Inside the Discovery-AT&T Deal: Cute Emails, a Big Loan and Now, a Media Giant https://www.nytimes.com/...
Matthew Dessem / Slate:
In a Last Week Tonight episode about sponsored content, John Oliver tricked three local US TV stations into airing a promo for a bogus “sexual wellness blanket” — The single greatest thing about Last Week Tonight has always been John Oliver's willingness to spend HBO's money …
Discussion:
YouTube, Mashable, TVSpy, Paste, @thr, @mariancw, @mnshap, @iamjohnoliver, @jillgeisler, The A.V. Club, @oliverdarcy, @beebrookshire, The Wrap and Mediaite
Discussion:
Sam Haysom / Mashable: John Oliver sets up fake company, tricks local news stations into airing ridiculous product
Garrett Martin / Paste - Recently Added: John Oliver Creates a “Sexual Wellness Blanket” to Point Out Local News Stations' Problem with Sponsored Content
@thr: The ‘Last Week Tonight’ opening credits references both his old and new corporate chiefs as “rich idiots” https://thr.cm/yVgKCgD
Marian Wang / @mariancw: This one is super fun — come for the George Clooney appearance, stay for the “Nazi-era fuck blanket” https://twitter.com/...
Manisha Pande / @mnshap: Genius episode on sponsored content that looks suspiciously like news. Much like the UP government ads that are running like news bulletins on major channels. https://www.youtube.com/...
John Oliver / @iamjohnoliver: Here's our story from last night about the importance of local news, and the dangers of sponsored content...https://www.youtube.com/ ...
Jill Geisler / @jillgeisler: This piece on sponsored content on local TV is an ethics nightmare. ‘Last Week Tonight’: John Oliver Advertises “World's First Sexual Wellness Blanket” In Crusade Against Sponsored Content https://deadline.com/... via @Deadline
Dennis Perkins / The A.V. Club: John Oliver diagnoses your local news' product integration ailment with a fake Nazi sex blanket
Oliver Darcy / @oliverdarcy: If you haven't seen this segment yet, do yourself a favor and give it a watch. https://twitter.com/...
Bethany Brookshire / @beebrookshire: This is amazing and horrifying and even more important than you think. John Oliver's team got a random blanket on a bunch of local news stations as a “Venus Veil” that used “magneto-genetics. How they did it? It's spon-con. https://slate.com/...
The Information:
Sources: Bleacher Report revenue fell 15% to $140M in '20; Jason Kilar met with Bleacher Report execs to explore a role for it in HBO Max but nothing came of it — Shortly after Jason Kilar took over WarnerMedia a year ago, he met with executives at Bleacher Report to discuss the future …
Discussion:
Sahil Patel / @sizpatel: What happens to Bleacher Report as Discovery merges with WarnerMedia? Turner Sports says it still values BR, which is a key cog in its sports-rights deals. But BR has received M&A interest, while the business has felt stalled since AT&T took the reins. https://www.theinformation.com/ ...
Andi Ortiz / The Wrap:
Former Trump spokesman Jason Miller is ordered to pay Gizmodo Media Group $42K to cover legal fees after a second attempt at suing Gizmodo — Jason Miller, a spokesperson for former President Donald Trump, has been ordered by a federal judge to pay Gizmodo Media Group almost $42,000 …
Discussion:
@sollenbergerrc, The Daily Beast, Vanity Fair, @timobrien, @kylegriffin1, @jason_kint and Insider
Discussion:
@sollenbergerrc: A US District Judge has ordered Trump flack Jason Miller to pay Gizmodo nearly $42,000 to cover legal expenses from his failed $100 million defamation suit. The judge found Gizmodo accurately reported a court filing alleging Miller slipped an abortion pill into a woman's smoothie https://twitter.com/...
Roger Sollenberger / The Daily Beast: Trump Flack Jason Miller Ordered to Pay $42,000 in Legal Fees for Failed Suit
Charlotte Klein / Vanity Fair: Trumpworld's Jason Miller Must Pay Gizmodo Thousands for Accurately Reporting Insane Story About Him
Tim O'Brien / @timobrien: “Every day I strive to become a better husband, a better father and a better person, and I am humbled by the opportunity for a second chance to serve President Trump.” - Jason Miller, last year. https://twitter.com/...
Kyle Griffin / @kylegriffin1: A U.S. District Court judge has ordered Trump spokesman Jason Miller to pay G/O Media $42,000 in legal expenses. This comes after a federal appeals court rejected Miller's second defamation suit against G/O, the parent company of Gizmodo and Jezebel. https://www.thedailybeast.com/ ...
Jason Kint / @jason_kint: the $100mm failed lawsuit intended to chill press reporting on Jason Miller and the entire Trump campaign. Notably it was filed against a sister brand of Gawker that was sued into oblivion by Peter Thiel $. So yes it's nice to see Miller has to cove their legal expenses. https://twitter.com/...
Pew Research Center:
Study: 33% of US papers with Sunday circulations of 50K+ faced layoffs in 2020, vs. 24% in 2019; 18% of the most visited digital-native news sites faced layoffs — Staff layoffs continued to pummel the beleaguered U.S. newspaper industry in 2020. A third of papers with an average Sunday circulation …
Discussion:
@pewresearch: % of large U.S. newspapers that have experienced layoffs from 2019 to 2020, according to news coverage, by circulation category: • 50,000-99,000: 29% ➡️ 31% • 100,000-249,000: 18% ↗️ 27% • 250,000+: 27% ↗️ 55% https://www.pewresearch.org/ ... https://twitter.com/...
@pewjournalism: Staff layoffs continued to pummel the beleaguered U.S. newspaper industry in 2020. A third of papers with an average Sunday circulation of 50,000 or more experienced layoffs last year. https://www.pewresearch.org/ ... https://twitter.com/...
Jason Gewirtz / CNBC:
CNBC is selling an NFT of a video of Mark Haines calling a bottom in the stock market on March 10, 2009, to honor the anchor on 10th anniversary of his death — CNBC launches NFT of the ‘Haines Bottom’ for charity — Ten years to the day since our cherished colleague Mark Haines passed away …
Discussion:
Talking Biz News, @jyarow, @harrymccracken, @toddgordonta, @sandymaltzman and @thedomino
Discussion:
Jay Yarow / @jyarow: It's been 10 years since CNBC's beloved anchor Mark Haines died. We're honoring that memory with an NFT — our first ever. Proceeds to charity. https://www.cnbc.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Harry McCracken / @harrymccracken: Just saying right now that when I go, I hope that none of my former employers auction off an NFT in my honor. https://www.cnbc.com/...
Todd Gordon / @toddgordonta: The ENTIRE studio got very quiet very quickly, but then you could hear the sobbing and crying from different corners of EC. It was indescribable https://www.cnbc.com/...
Sandy Maltzman / @sandymaltzman: How cool is this? Honoring Mark Haines with @CNBC's first NFT auction https://www.cnbc.com/...
Dominic Chu / @thedomino: .@CNBC 1st ever #NFT auction...own a piece of market history w/ the late, great Mark Haines calling the market bottom during Great Financial Crisis... Auction starts 9 am ET today...ends Wed 1030 am ET. All proceeds benefit @autismspeaks @CouncilEconEd https://www.cnbc.com/...
David McCabe / New York Times:
A new Florida law regulates how Twitter, YouTube, and others moderate speech, with fines for banning candidates; the law exempts companies that own theme parks — The new law, a direct response to Facebook and Twitter's suspension of former President Donald J. Trump, affects candidates for statewide offices.
Discussion:
Insider: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis just signed a bill allowing people to sue big tech firms over alleged censorship - and the state to fine companies $250,000
Hannah Bleau / Breitbart: Gov. Ron DeSantis Signs Law Equipping Floridians to Fight Big Tech Censorship
Alexei Oreskovic / @lexnfx: The solution for Facebook is obvious: a ZuckWorld theme park in Orlando. https://twitter.com/...
Radley Balko / @radleybalko: There are many things you could call policy that forces private companies to allow political leaders to use their platforms at any time, for any reason, with no moderation, no matter how repugnant or dangerous their message. But it is not “free speech.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
Farhad Manjoo / @fmanjoo: Can't wait for Googleland Tampa! https://www.nytimes.com/...
Peter Schorsch / @peterschorschfl: Good luck, Floridians, suing the wealthiest, most powerful companies in the world. Trial lawyers, I'm sure, will be tackling each other for the chance to take you're case! https://twitter.com/...
Emilee Speck / WKMG: New Florida law requires social media companies to explain censorship or face fines
John Paczkowski / @johnpaczkowski: “Big Tech is prohibited from de-platforming Floridian political candidates. The Florida Election Commission will impose fines of $250,000 per day on any social media company that de-platforms any candidate for statewide office” https://twitter.com/...
Ron DeSantis / @govrondesantis: Florida's Big Tech Bill gives every Floridian the power to fight back against deplatforming and allows any person to sue Big Tech companies for up to $100,000 in damages. Today, we level the playing field between celebrity and citizen on social media. https://www.flgov.com/...
Brendan Farrington / Associated Press: Florida law seeks to rein in large social media companies
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis: Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Bill to Stop the Censorship of Floridians by Big Tech
BBC:
BBC will review its editorial practices and Martin Bashir's rehiring after a report found it covered up Bashir's “deceitful behaviour” to get a Diana interview — The BBC is to review its editorial practices and investigate how journalist Martin Bashir was rehired …
Discussion:
The Hill, Fox News, @robburl, Variety, Hollywood Reporter, @pressgazette, Press Gazette, @robburl, The Guardian and Advanced Television
Discussion:
Thomas Moore / The Hill: BBC investigating editorial practices after critical inquiry into Diana interview
Stephanie Nolasco / Fox News: BBC ‘must act quickly to restore trust’ after Princess Diana interview scandal, U.K. culture secretary says
Rob Burley / @robburl: I worked in the same office as Bashir at ITV from 1999-2001, his reputation as unscrupulous in his methods was well known. Very hard to understand how he was rehired by News executives. The new BBC Chairman quite clearly means to find out. https://www.bbc.com/...
Naman Ramachandran / Variety: BBC Board to Review Editorial Practices After Princess Diana ‘Panorama’ Interview Scandal
Alex Ritman / Hollywood Reporter: BBC Calls Princess Diana Interview Scandal “Profoundly Sobering Period,” Launches Editorial Review
@pressgazette: BBC announces new review of news division governance and corp's wider culture. But has so far failed to address other questions arising from Dyson report. BBC board non-execs Sir Nick Serota, Ian Hargreaves and Sir Robbie Gibb will conduct the review https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/ ...
Dominic Ponsford / Press Gazette: Eight unanswered questions for the BBC which mean Bashir scandal will not go away
Rob Burley / @robburl: For clarity I was a very lowly producer at the time at ITV. All I heard was stories about his MO. I just think, as Richard Sharp does, that it's a puzzle that he was rehired given how widely this stuff shared alongside his well known downfall in the US. https://twitter.com/...
Deputy Ed. - Gen. Assignment Desk, DC — 
EU Technology Reporter, Brussels — 
Breaking News Reporter, NY — 
Harrisburg Reporter, PA — 
Senior Editor - Styles, NY — 
Part-time Editor, Remote — 
Home & Travel Reporter, Ireland — 
Assistant Digital Editor, MA — 
Senior Editor - Visuals (Temporary), DC — 
Copy Editor, Remote US — 
Markets Reporter, NY/CA — 
Staff Writer, MI — 
Food Reporter, CA — 
Staff Writer, NV — 
Pharma Editor, Remote — 
Higher Ed. Reporter, Remote CA — 
Politics Reporter, Brussels — 
Investigations & Enterprise Ed., WI — 
Social Strategy Editor, NY — 
Senior Narrative Editor, CA — 
Editor-in-Chief, NY (flexible) — 
Housing Reporter, OK — 
Writer/AI Content Reviewer, CA — 
Writer/Editor, Remote — 
Multi Media Reporter, NC — 
Afternoon/Night Editor, NH — 
Education Lab Editor, WA — 
Senior Editor, Remote US — 
State Worker Reporter, CA — 
Executive Editor, NM — 
News Assistant, NY — 
Local Editor, NJ (Remote) — 
News Editor/Reporter, KS — 
