Top News:
Ben Smith / New York Times:
Five bright spots for US journalism: from strong nonprofit reporting on the NRA to ventures like climate-focused Bloomberg Green and texting-based Outlier Media — A look at some of the ventures that have sprung up, fueled by a new sense of mission in American journalism and by the sheer quantities of money available.
Discussion:
@benyt, @gabrielroth, @teamtrace, @nytimes, @lydiadepillis, @erinoverbey, @williams_paige, @mikespiesnyc, @sarabethberman, @hwise29 and @mikespiesnyc
Discussion:
Ben Smith / @benyt: Taking a few Sunday nights off after 16 months writing this column, but first wanted to write about 5 new news things that make me optimistic https://www.nytimes.com/...
Gabriel Roth / @gabrielroth: The work of @mikespiesnyc and @teamtrace is “a testament to the power of focused, diligent investigative reporting” [spousebrag/disclaimer: @taliwoodward is quoted in the column] https://twitter.com/...
@teamtrace: Proud that @mikespiesnyc's NRA reporting is featured in this @benyt roundup, alongside our past partners @media_outlier: https://twitter.com/...
@nytimes: “Around the world, digital news outlets that shattered the status quo, from Manila to Moscow, are hanging on for dear life. And yet in the U.S., there's also a generation of ventures growing up in the cracks in the sidewalk,” media columnist @benyt writes. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Lydia DePillis / @lydiadepillis: This is a nice reminder from @benyt that it's ok for journalists (including me) who mostly see their work as surfacing the world's ills to once in a while highlight what's actually working https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Erin Overbey / @erinoverbey: My former intern—and now a truly great reporter— @mikespiesnyc with a well deserved plaudit in @benyt's new piece on optimistic trends in media👏 https://twitter.com/...
Paige Williams / @williams_paige: Much deserved. Spies has owned the NRA beat. https://twitter.com/...
Mike Spies / @mikespiesnyc: Very meaningful and gratifying to be mentioned here. Thanks, @benyt https://www.nytimes.com/...
Sarabeth Berman / @sarabethberman: Anyone who tells you there is no hope for local news isn't paying attention. Great @benyt column on smart things happening including a historic local philanthropy investment in Wichita KS w/@JournalismProj and @media_outlier. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Jeremy Fuster / The Wrap:
Disney says Marvel's Black Widow has earned $60M+ on opening weekend via its Premier Access program, which lets Disney+ subscribers rent the movie for $30 — Opening weekend estimates for Marvel Studios' “Black Widow” took a hit after Saturday grosses were lower than expected …
Discussion:
Variety, Hollywood Reporter, Forbes, Deadline, @awallenstein, @patrick_spence, @wfederman, @tomperriello, Wall Street Journal, @wallstcynic, @mikedeestro, @pkafka, @variety, @cctakato, Daily Herald, @morganicink, @filq2001, Vanity Fair, @stevendeknight, @pandemona, @williammatt22, @ballmatthew, The Verge, @variety, @richlightshed, The Streamable, @littlelostsunny, @shannontindle_1 and ScreenRant, more at Techmeme »
Discussion:
Rebecca Rubin / Variety: Box Office: Marvel's ‘Black Widow’ Debuts With Dazzling $80 Million in Theaters, $60 Million on Disney Plus
Pamela McClintock / Hollywood Reporter: Box Office: ‘Black Widow’ Spins Record $80M U.S. Opening, Earns $60M On Disney+ Premier Access
Scott Mendelson / Forbes: ‘Black Widow’ Worldwide Box Office: $158M In Theaters Plus $60M On Disney+
Anthony D'Alessandro / Deadline: ‘Black Widow’ Spins $39.5M Friday, Pandemic Opening Record Now At $89M+; All Pics At Weekend B.O. Headed To $125M+ High - Saturday AM Update
Andrew Wallenstein / @awallenstein: Also wondering: Does #BlackWidow box office/streaming split embolden a Warner Bros. or Paramount to try a Premier Access-ish window for one of their future blockbusters? Maybe a sub-$30 price point? 🤔
Patrick Spence / @patrick_spence: “Hollywood at Home” is a growing trend, even for big productions https://twitter.com/...
Will Federman / @wfederman: I hope this option exists for more movies. I love the cinemas, but we've got a pretty great setup at home and with a kid on the way, we are more apt to eat the equivalent cost of 2 movie tickets to see a movie at home than go to the theaters. https://twitter.com/...
Tom Perriello / @tomperriello: So #BlackWidow straight-up crushed F9's opening weekend AND then pulled in another $60m from home viewing?! #Respect https://variety.com/...
R.T. Watson / Wall Street Journal: Disney's ‘Black Widow’ Tops Box Office, Lifting Prospect of Moviegoing Rebound
Diogenes / @wallstcynic: So “Black Widow” did $140M this weekend, which is similar to most MCU opening weekends. The bad news? Only $80M of that was at movie theaters. It did $60M in streaming, which Disney keeps 100% of. If this is the future of action movie openings, theaters are in trouble. $AMC https://twitter.com/...
Mike Deestro / @mikedeestro: first time I've seen Disney+ release their at home access numbers. Wow. That's straight 💰 for them. https://twitter.com/...
Peter Kafka / @pkafka: This is a pretty satisfying pie chart for Disney (which as @Lucas_Shaw notes is why they're disclosing it): Roughly equal Black Widow numbers for US theaters, international and streaming. That is: Lots of people went to see it in person and lots of people watched at home. https://twitter.com/...
@variety: In a rare disclosure of digital revenues, Disney reported that #BlackWidow generated more than $60 million from Disney Plus Premier Access in addition to earning $80 million in theaters https://variety.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@cctakato: Remember all that discourse months ago about how releasing movies digitally at the same time as theaters was going to somehow kill the theater industry and people were never going to go to the movies again? https://twitter.com/...
Lindsey Bahr / Daily Herald: ‘Black Widow’ soars to pandemic box office record
LaToya Morgan / @morganicink: Streaming Residuals now. Box Office: Black Widow Collects $80 Million in Theaters, $60 Million on Disney Plus - Variety https://variety.com/...
Filippo / @filq2001: I refuse to believe 2 million people decided “yes I will buy Black Widow on Disney+ for $30” https://twitter.com/...
Jordan Hoffman / Vanity Fair: Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow Catches $215 Million in Her Web
Steven DeKnight / @stevendeknight: They need to pay up. All of the guilds need to press this issue during their next negotiations. https://twitter.com/...
Sara Beykpour / @pandemona: Wow. $60mm on D+ 🤯 https://twitter.com/...
@williammatt22: Marvel's “Black Widow” captured a massive $80 million in its first weekend, more than $60 million “in Disney Plus Premier Access & $78 million from 46 international territories: The final weekend figure sits at $215 million. https://variety.com/...
Matthew Ball / @ballmatthew: @RichLightShed @disneyplus Alt Q: How many people would sign-up to $8 Disney+ to watch the newest Marvel movie, but chose not to do this for “WandaVision” (Jan-Feb), “Falcon & Winter Soldier” (March-April), or “Loki” (airing during same window as “Black Widow") or for “What If” (next month) Doubt many.
Jay Peters / The Verge: Black Widow has been a big hit on Disney Plus
@variety: Disney and Marvel's superhero adventure #BlackWidow captured a massive $80 million in its first weekend, crushing the benchmark for the biggest box office debut since the pandemic https://variety.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Rich Greenfield / @richlightshed: How come Disney isn't talking about how many subscribers joined @disneyplus this weekend to pay up for #BlackWidow premiere access Wonder what the impact on @disneyplus would be if it had been included like Hamilton or Soul or Luca https://twitter.com/...
Jason Gurwin / The Streamable: Marvel's “Black Widow” Surpasses $60M in Disney+ Premier Access Sales During Opening Weekend
@littlelostsunny: https://variety.com/... Disney always knows what they're doing. To all the “who tf would pay $30?” crowd, well, it's clearly a shit ton of people. And that includes my sister, who has 2 kids too young to be vaxxed.
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Laura McGann and Mark Bauman raise $10M Series A for a new DC-based media company focusing on policy, politics, tech, and more; McGann will be editorial lead — Laura McGann, former politics editor of Vox.com and Politico, and Mark Bauman, previously with the Smithsonian …
Discussion:
@sarafischer, @ranjanxroy, @jayrosen_nyu, @lkmcgann, @samhoisington, @abbyleehood, @om, @kendrawrites, @ckrewson, @dangillmor, @neontaster, @doranimated, @parkermolloy, @mmasnick, @themaxburns, @brian_riedl, @wilson__valdez, @jhagner, @maxkennerly, @paulbradleycarr, @mattthomasnyc, @tysonbrody, @dlind, @ejmiller25, @bonchieredstate, @aghamilton29, @cwarzel, @moorehn, @pkafka, @dgisserious, @tysonbrody, @lkmcgann, @dwdavison, @felixsalmon, @ryp__, @lkmcgann, @dwdavison, @benspielberg, @tunkuv and The Wrap
Discussion:
Sara Fischer / @sarafischer: 🚨NEW: D.C. journalists @lkmcgann and Mark Bauman are launching a new, DC-based media company with $10 million+ Series A funding — @mattyglesias will be editor at large — Have already hired 20+ people, aiming to have ~60 by end of year — Launching Sept https://www.axios.com/...
Jay Rosen / @jayrosen_nyu: D.C. journalists launch media company with $10 million in funding. https://www.axios.com/... Good for them. But I can't tell what this is yet. Supposed to be “a radically different publication, one that uses a distinct set of formats to deliver a nuanced and comprehensive view...”
Laura McGann / @lkmcgann: We'll have more news soon, but for now, I'm delighted to get to say that I'm in the trenches with @kaysteiger, our politics and ideas editor, and @TomNagorski, our global editor. They're building teams of reporters and experts right now.
Sam Hoisington / @samhoisington: Sorry, you don't just get to “decline” to name the person who gave you millions of dollars. This is unethical https://twitter.com/...
Abby Lee Hood / @abbyleehood: Looks like these folks have shady funding meanwhile I've been fundraising for months to try and open an investigate publication for the South. But I guess that's less sexy. https://twitter.com/...
@om: Scratching my head and wondering where have I read this story before — maybe a few years ago? And more scratching later: so what's different & what will be the model! More importantly who is the sugar daddy buying the influence here? Anyone? @mathewi https://www.axios.com/...
Chris Krewson / @ckrewson: @gabrielsnyder I thought those days were over and then today I saw this. https://www.axios.com/...
Dan Gillmor / @dangillmor: Very interesting new venture. Immediate thoughts: 1) The founders say they want to provide context, not “piecemeal” coverage. That's incredibly rare in today's journalism, so great to hear. 2) Funding and funders' influence are murky, and need to be much more transparent. https://twitter.com/...
Noam Blum / @neontaster: Make your own Vox. https://twitter.com/...
Mike / @doranimated: The left announces another jobs programs for young people getting a start in DC. How can the right compete if it doesn't have “investors” like these. | “The company has 22 job openings posted on its website. It hopes to have at least 60 people on staff....” https://www.axios.com/...
Parker Molloy / @parkermolloy: Not sure the world needs more Matt Yglesias takes in it, but https://twitter.com/...
Mike Masnick / @mmasnick: Constantly amazed at the amount of cash thrown at people with bad takes to start up new news orgs while we still struggle to survive. If anyone wants to throw crazy amounts of cash at me, I promise (mostly) good takes. https://twitter.com/...
Max Burns / @themaxburns: Can't wait to read all the exciting news paid for by the United Arab Emirates and anonymous wealthy American backers! https://twitter.com/...
Brian Riedl / @brian_riedl: They say they will focus on combatting political bias & misinformation, but article paints a picture of a group of young, uniformly-progressive activist journalists, which suggests even more bias & groupthink. Need legit ideological diversity and tolerance to overcome that. https://twitter.com/...
Centrism Fan Acct / @wilson__valdez: Just what we needed! https://twitter.com/...
John Hagner / @jhagner: Tired: investing in local journalism Wired: hiring the same people to do the same things at yet another DC based online news outlet https://twitter.com/...
Max Kennerly / @maxkennerly: LOL, off to a great start with funding from “a U.S.-based individual that the company declines to name.” This definitely won't raise questions about whether this is a front for that person's financial interests and idiosyncratic political beliefs. https://twitter.com/...
Paul Bradley Carr / @paulbradleycarr: I think we can all be excited about this new politics/tech media organization, funded by a secret backer and with Matthew Yglesias in charge of “pioneer[ing] new policy writing formats” https://www.axios.com/...
Socialist Fraternity X / @mattthomasnyc: lotta people asking who this is for, and the answer is all the gargoyles at vox who still wanna write explainers about why we need to cut entitlements but not about how the marvel cinematic universe needs more non-binary representation https://twitter.com/...
Tyson Brody / @tysonbrody: Upon further reflection Vox 2 should try to tie itself to predictit and the other prediction markets like ESPN does gambling https://twitter.com/...
Dara Lind / @dlind: I am so excited to see this project arrive and flourish. If you think you might be interested in working for a journalism startup and thinking big, def give it a look. https://www.axios.com/...
@ejmiller25: Can we please launch a new, Houston and/or Miami based Latino center-right media company with $10 million+ whatever the hell series A funding means https://twitter.com/...
Bonchie / @bonchieredstate: Because what the world needs is another DC based media company. https://twitter.com/...
@aghamilton29: Maybe I'm wrong, but the description just sounds like a carbon copy of Vox... Not sure there is much demand for more of the same. https://twitter.com/...
Charlie Warzel / @cwarzel: oh man...the contributing writer gig *on top* of the substack. the dream. https://twitter.com/...
Heidi N. Moore / @moorehn: This new political news publication aims to have a consulting arm. IMO It's interesting how the organizing principle for so many political-news launches seems to be “what does the intelligence community need.” https://www.axios.com/...
Peter Kafka / @pkafka: @felixsalmon Maybe they will find a combination of new and existing investors, like Vox Media and Axios and have done in subsequent rounds? I don't understand the concern troll here - I don't recall you fretting that Axios was compromised by getting Comcast or Lerer or Laurene Powell Jobs $.
Danny Gold / @dgisserious: Lol. All these companies are the same and they're all boring https://www.axios.com/...
Tyson Brody / @tysonbrody: Only sustainable models for funding journalism today - anger fueled subscriptions or extraordinary rich individuals who don't care about losing money https://twitter.com/...
Laura McGann / @lkmcgann: Also in the mix is @mattyglesias, who is coming on as editor at large to help us think through new formats, particularly on policy, and lead through example with his own contributions.
Derek Davison / @dwdavison: lmao UAE TV https://twitter.com/...
Felix Salmon / @felixsalmon: It will be fascinating to see how transparent this site is w/r/t the degree to which they're owned/controlled by UAE, and its minister of state Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber. https://www.axios.com/...
Robert Young Pelton / @ryp__: Ruh Ro: “One is a U.S.-based individual that the company declines to name; The second is International Media Investments, a UAE-based fund that has a minority stake in Euronews, Europe's top international news network, Sky News Arabia and others.” https://www.axios.com/...
Laura McGann / @lkmcgann: More info on the stealth project I mentioned this week: https://www.axios.com/...
Derek Davison / @dwdavison: It's a brand new media venture that's also exactly the same as every other media venture. Boldly going where everybody has gone before. https://twitter.com/...
Ben Spielberg / @benspielberg: The company's two investors so far are “a U.S.-based individual that the company declines to name” and “a UAE-based [private equity] fund.” Given that information and the editor at large it's unfortunately hard to imagine this site's coverage will serve the public interest. https://twitter.com/...
Tunku Varadarajan / @tunkuv: Why bother? https://www.axios.com/...
Sarah Jackson / Insider:
New York Magazine art critic Jerry Saltz says he refused a $250K deal from Substack, over 2x his current salary, says he doesn't want to write for “subscribers” — - Famed New York Magazine art critic Jerry Saltz says he has turned down a $250,000 deal from Substack.
Discussion:
@jerrysaltz, Proof, @hunterw, @iankar_, @lilastories, @whatdotcd, @felixsalmon, @benedictevans, @philippabateman, @mikelledstreet, @ginianyt, @poniewozik, @maxthegirl, @moryan, @jerrysaltz, @vallmeister, @hamishmckenzie, @kylepope, @aweissman, @tomgara, @nicdawes, @thugclive, @kyleorl, @aliciakennedy, @davidsirota, @moryan and Sicker/Sickest
Discussion:
Jerry Saltz / @jerrysaltz: I ❤️ @NYMag / I can't write if writing is without you. https://twitter.com/...
Seth Abramson / Proof: What the Recent Public Statement by Jerry Saltz of New York Magazine Means for the Future of America Media
Ian Kar / @iankar_: Substack offered Jerry Saltz 250k a year to come on board. Honestly this is great for journalism! I hope more writers join Substack! But how people say substack isn't a media company is beyond me. It's just a tech enabled media company. But media nonetheless https://twitter.com/...
Lila Krishna / @lilastories: Well articulated. This is why my substack stays free. There's no point monetizing the small audience I have unless I give them something substantial like a book. (also you can subscribe here: https://lila.substack.com/ I post excerpts from my novel about indian independence there) https://twitter.com/...
@whatdotcd: World would be better and cooler if “creative ppl” weren't conditioned to fear selling their work. https://twitter.com/...
Felix Salmon / @felixsalmon: The value to an art critic of being able to blame ~editors~ whenever someone asks “why didn't you review my show” is almost infinite https://twitter.com/...
Benedict Evans / @benedictevans: The paradox of content today: money comes in a U-shaped curve by audience size. A thousand paying readers or a million free readers are worth money, but 10k or 100k free readers are worth very little money, and converting them to pay means you give up your audience https://twitter.com/...
Philippa Bateman / @philippabateman: I love this. “I want to reach strangers; be loved and hated by strangers” I love @jerrysaltz for not being bought but @NYMag up his pay, if possible. https://twitter.com/...
@mikelledstreet: ???? I'm sorry I want to be in solidarity to this but ... if you are on staff at NY Magazine you are absolutely writing for subscribers. Either to the print edition or to those who subscribe online. ???????? what? https://twitter.com/...
Ginia Bellafante / @ginianyt: This is how real writers do it... https://twitter.com/...
James Poniewozik / @poniewozik: I don't think a Substack is any less authentic than writing for a subscription publication but this gets at some tradeoffs. Not every writer wants to be their own sales dept. And there's always a line b/w writing to serve your readers and writing to ingratiate yourself to them. https://twitter.com/...
Max Weiss / @maxthegirl: I would like to officially inform Substack that I would accept $250,000. https://twitter.com/...
Mo Ryan / @moryan: No matter what changes the media industry goes through, no matter what new forms arise or evolve, I will always hear, multiple times per year, of high-profile male writers being offered/making 2 to 3 (to 4 to 5) times what I have ever been offered/been paid on any staff, ever. https://twitter.com/...
Jerry Saltz / @jerrysaltz: Hey! An article about me feeling like the luckiest critic on the face of the earth at @nymag ❤️ . “NY Mag Art Critic Declinesu $250k Substack Salary Over Subscriber Focus.” I'd stink and be embarrassed at trying to drum up new paying subscribers." https://www.businessinsider.com/ ...
Aaron Vallely / @vallmeister: Cannot put a price on integrity. More power to you @jerrysaltz @NYMag https://twitter.com/...
Hamish McKenzie / @hamishmckenzie: Props to Jerry. He's being way underpaid. Writers have been undervalued for too long. https://twitter.com/...
Kyle Pope / @kylepope: “The only reason I would do it is ... for the money.” This from one of the best critics writing today and the winner of a 2018 Pulitzer Prize. https://twitter.com/...
Andy Weissman / @aweissman: “I want to reach strangers; be loved and hated by strangers; talk about art to anyone any where any how” https://twitter.com/...
Tom Gara / @tomgara: Holy shit NY Mag, give your Pulitzer winner a raise for God's sake! https://twitter.com/...
Nicholas Dawes / @nicdawes: On not joining Substack despite the $ on offer, a manifesto: “I do not want a prescreened audience who already reads and likes me. I want to reach strangers, be loved and hated by strangers ... who have no idea who I am or what I do” https://twitter.com/...
Clive Martin / @thugclive: https://twitter.com/... Yeah, and the reason younger writers are turning to subscriber media is because people like this are holding onto their jobs until their 70's
Kyle Orland / @kyleorl: At some point I think some subscription-based online pub is going to succeed by adding some sort of “pay XX cents to read this article a la carte” one-click option to the “Pay $YY to subscribe monthly” option. https://twitter.com/...
Alicia Kennedy / @aliciakennedy: It truly would be a terrible idea for a white male critic with a staff job to leave that job for a newsletter. https://twitter.com/...
David Sirota / @davidsirota: There's one problem: In general, corporate media is a hostile environment for content that challenges corporate power. So if you don't wanna question corporate power, corporate media is a great home. If you do wanna question corporate power, you gotta do something different. https://twitter.com/...
Mo Ryan / @moryan: Everyone's kindness/validation means SO much. But this tweet 👇—it's not about substack. It's at having seen EXACTLY THIS dynamic for 20+ yrs. What JS makes *now*? Again, I have *never* made that when on staff anywhere (I've freelanced for last few yrs) https://twitter.com/...
Porochista Khakpour / Sicker/Sickest: hello again
Josh Sisco / The Information:
Sources: the FTC has opened an in-depth investigation into Amazon's purchase of MGM — Any hopes that Amazon had of completing its $8.5 billion purchase of movie and TV studio MGM anytime soon may have just gone out the window. — The Federal Trade Commission on Friday opened …
Discussion:
BIG by Matt Stoller, @matthewstoller, @adamkovac, @joshua_sisco, Gizmodo, AppleInsider and The Verge
Discussion:
Matt Stoller / BIG: Biden Launches Sweeping Action on “Big Tech, Big Pharma, and Big Ag.” Can It Be Real?
Matt Stoller / @matthewstoller: 5. Standing behind Biden as he signed the order was @linakhanFTC, the new aggressive chair of the Federal Trade Commission. And almost immediately afterwards, news broke on the FTC launching an investigation into Amazon's purchase of MGM. https://www.theinformation.com/ ...
Adam Kovacevich / @adamkovac: Prediction: this deal will be to Khan's FTC what AT&T/Time Warner was to Delraham's DOJ antitrust division: a vertical deal that should clearly be approved, but will be challenged (or at least stretched out) for political rather than substantive reasons. https://twitter.com/...
Josh Sisco / @joshua_sisco: Friday evening antitrust scoop. The FTC today opened and in depth probe of Amazon's $8.5 billion takeover of MGM studios https://www.theinformation.com/ ...
Alyse Stanley / Gizmodo: FTC Launches Investigation Into Amazon's MGM Acquisition: Report
RELATED:
Eriq Gardner / Hollywood Reporter:
Netflix will benefit from Biden's EO as net neutrality resurfaces and competitors' mergers face scrutiny, such as the Amazon-MGM and WarnerMedia-Discovery deals
Discussion:
Lina Khan / @linakhanftc: 1. Today's Executive Order on competition launches an important cross-government effort to re-center antimonopoly policy as a key tool for promoting a fair and thriving economy. https://www.whitehouse.gov/...
Cristina Caffarra / @caffar3cristina: Extraordinary times. The US has gone from “the last thing you ever did was Microsoft 20 years ago” to State AGs groundswell and now to #this in a year. https://twitter.com/...
Dare Obasanjo / @carnage4life: The FTC banning Amazon from buying MGM or Warner-Media & Discovery from merging to compete with Netflix just means Netflix gets to extend its lead. At this rate Netflix & Disney will likely split up the market while all other services fight over scraps. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ ...
Nick Pisciottano / @nickforpa: This is excellent news and a great first step towards reviving the promise of prosperity for all Americans. The @nytimes has a good rundown of the order: https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Matt Stoller / @matthewstoller: 6. The order does a lot. It decrees U.S. policy that consolidation in pharma, ag, tech is a problem. It recommits the Federal government to addressing consolidation and sets up a council to focus on fair competition. And it has 72 specific action items. https://www.whitehouse.gov/...
President Biden / @potus: Tune in as I deliver remarks and sign an executive order on promoting competition in the American economy. https://twitter.com/...
Jon Brodkin / Wired: Biden Wants the FCC to Fix Net Neutrality—but It Can't Yet
Nicolas Petit / @competitionprof: Besides the clear structuralist turn in US antitrust, what strikes a European in Biden's EO? https://www.whitehouse.gov/... 1/n
Marianne Williamson / @marwilliamson: Thrilled you're there @linakhanFTC https://twitter.com/...
Jason Furman / @jasonfurman: The President's competition executive order is impressive & important. I expected a strong signal of his commitment to greater competition but was blown away by how detailed it was in setting out 72 specific initiatives across a wide range of agencies. https://www.whitehouse.gov/...
Brian Fung / @b_fung: Biden: “Rather than competing for consumers, [businesses are] consuming their competitors.” https://twitter.com/...
Jason Kint / @jason_kint: hello, @linakhanFTC. “to address persistent and recurrent data practices that inhibit competition...in the Chair's discretion...unfair data collection and surveillance practices that may damage competition, consumer autonomy, and consumer privacy” https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Eriq Gardner / @eriqgardner: As President Joe Biden signs a wide-ranging executive order intended to promote competition in the American economy, I ask: Just how did Netflix get so lucky? https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ ...
@entstrategyguy: Wow, love this take by @eriqgardner. Really, the biggest benefit to Netflix in particular is to (potentially) set up a firewall between devices and streamers. A new ban on vertical integration. Very far from happening, but a potential outcome. https://twitter.com/...
Peter Kafka / @pkafka: Good point: Increased M&A scrutiny is great for Netflix, since much of the M&A is aimed at competing with Netflix. https://twitter.com/...
Karl Bode / @karlbode: There's good stuff in this Biden executive order related to broadband, and you can see Tim Wu's fingerprints all over it. Glad we could take a break from myopically focusing on “big tech” to remember that “big telecom” still exists. https://www.whitehouse.gov/...
Josh Barro / @jbarro: Lots of political rhetoric about promoting business competition consists of inane complaints about corporate “bigness.” So I'm glad to see the White House competition agenda is largely full of sensible, concrete ideas to make markets more competitive. https://www.whitehouse.gov/...
Pei Li / Reuters:
Sources: China to order Tencent Music to give up exclusive rights to music labels, and fine ~$77K for lapses in reporting the acquisitions of two streaming apps — China's antitrust regulator is set to order the music streaming arm of Tencent Holdings Ltd (0700.HK) to give up exclusive rights …
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
Public Interest News Foundation survey finds 56 of UK's independent publishers earned a combined revenue of less than £5.4m in 2020 despite a reach of 10.1M/mo — Almost 60 of the UK's independent publishers earned a combined revenue of less than £5.4m in 2020 despite a reach …
Discussion:
What's New in Publishing: Survey shows that reach doesn't always equate to revenue: The Media Roundup
@pressgazette: Independent publishers finding it hard to compete with Facebook and Twitter's “grip on people's eyeballs” https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/ ... https://twitter.com/...
@pressgazette: “The digital economy's bias towards scale is not only contributing to a market failure; it is widening the democratic deficit, leaving some communities disenfranchised, and vulnerable to misinformation and disinformation” https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/ ... https://twitter.com/...
@pressgazette: Almost 60 of the UK's independent publishers earned a combined revenue of less than £5.4m in 2020 despite reach of 10.1m people per month. “The digital economy is contributing to a market failure for important forms of journalism.” @PINewsF report finds https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/ ... https://twitter.com/...
Marina Estarque / LatAm Journalism Review:
Profile of Colombian media outlet Mutante, which creates a “cycle of conversations” with readers to instigate action on difficult topics such as sexual violence — Colombian media outlet Mutante has been starting conversations about difficult topics since it was launched more than two years ago.
Discussion:
Associated Press:
News Media Alliance again criticizes Louis DeJoy's plans to raise periodical postal rates by 8%+ on Aug. 29, saying the move will hurt newspapers and the public — The U.S. Postal Service's plan to raise mailing rates could present one more damaging blow to community newspapers already reeling …
Paul Farhi / Washington Post:
TV news crews are increasingly threatened with violence on the job: in industry survey, 86% of station managers said they made security changes in the past year — TV reporter Dillon Collier went to cover the aftermath of a house fire in a San Antonio neighborhood Monday morning. A routine story, he thought.
Discussion:
@spj_tweets: “Some stations have gotten rid of logos on company vehicles & on reporters' clothing to lower their profile. Many said they no longer assign a lone ‘multimedia’ journalist to cover potentially dangerous stories, instead using two- & three-person crews...” https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Jonathan McCall / @jonathanmccall: I tell people all the time, this job isn't as glamorous as you may think, and it's not for the faint of heart. TV news crews are increasingly threatened with violence on the job - The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Jim Acosta / @acosta: “It's the expected consequence of calling the media ‘the enemy of the people.’” https://twitter.com/...
Oliver Darcy / @oliverdarcy: “In recent months, local TV news crews have faced verbal and physical abuse while on the job. A few reporters have been injured. Some have been robbed or had equipment damaged.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
@rtdna: “Many people feel as if they have permission to be aggressive toward journalists.” @MurrowNYC reminds journalists: Watch your backs but don't back down. #JournalistSafety https://twitter.com/...
Kim Masters / @kimmasters: Turns out constant attacks on the press are dangerous. But that's the point when the clear goal is to destroy democracy. https://twitter.com/...
Martina Navratilova / @martina: And thank you trump for this too... https://twitter.com/...
Deborah Potter / @dpotternews: This is no surprise to anyone who has been out reporting lately. But it is terrifying. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Dr. Alex Wild / @myrmecos: Odd how this started happening when the Republican Party openly embraced political violence. https://twitter.com/...
Jim Ludes / @jmludes: Important to understand that violence (including against truth tellers) is a feature, not a bug, of fascist movements. https://twitter.com/...
@washingtonpost: In recent months, local TV news crews have faced verbal and physical abuse while on the job. A few reporters have been injured and some have been robbed or had equipment damaged. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Chris Bury / @chrisburynews: The Post reports most of these attacks are on crews covering routine stories, not political ones. Trump's “enemy of the people” vitriol still threatens hard-working pros who are just doing their jobs. https://twitter.com/...
Mike Warner / @mikekatu: THIS: 2 days ago a guy tried to run down @AngelicaKATU and I with his truck as we talked to a man at a homeless camp. We get this stuff daily after being labeled'enemy of the people' for a few years #LiveOnK2 #media https://twitter.com/...
@sulliview: TV news crews are increasingly threatened with violence on the job. Scary details here from @farhip https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Andrew Kimmel / @andrewkimmel: TV news crews are increasingly threatened with violence on the job. Many of the culprits were demonstrators, but police have also been involved in roughing up journalists. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Eric Zuckerman / @ericzuck: Unacceptable https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Julia Ioffe / Tomorrow Will Be Worse:
White House reporters reflect on changes between covering Trump's White House and Biden's: fewer leaks, less drama, but lower ratings and web traffic — Hello, and welcome back to Tomorrow Will Be Worse. I hope you all had a lovely Fourth of July weekend and shortened work week, and are ready for more newsletter after the respite.
Discussion:
Alex Thompson / @alexthomp: via @juliaioffe https://twitter.com/...
Julia Ioffe / @juliaioffe: As one White House reporter told me, “Trump has been good for many journalists professionally, myself included.” How do White House reporters feel now that the Trump circus has left town? My latest: https://ckarchive.com/...
Joan Walsh / @joanwalsh: I finally read this. It made me sad. I wrote about the brave crusaders who focused on that “website crashing,” a long time ago. It broke my heart to reread my old piece because I was more right than I knew. https://www.salon.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Daniel Lippman / @dlippman: “'I mean, it wasn't just the fact that Trump was a gravy train,' said one industry insider. 'It's also juxtaposed to the most boring administration in modern history. You go from a circus with flaming chainsaws to ... what? An old man watching his dog?'” https://twitter.com/...
Dominick Mastrangelo / The Hill: Trump ramps up attacks on media
Asawin Suebsaeng / @swin24: fwiw, here's my response to the transition, when asked by @perlberg: https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Tom Watson / @tomwatson: No one should be shocked by the insane lack of ethics exposed in this story. It's why we're here. Political journalists think they're part of a process, that they're players. So acting as bagmen for “scoops” feeds that misguided role playing. https://twitter.com/...
Dyann Espinosa / @dywrite: @mediagazer @juliaioffe Ratings and viewer traffic depend as well on the reporters, the stories, and the kind of information they are offering the public.
Andy Barr / @andybarr34: 1. Reporters going on background to complain about access is both hilarious and sad 2. We elect people to govern not create storylines 3. Most of the best run organizations in the world are intentionally not filled with people who want to talk to the press all the time https://twitter.com/...
Paul Sacca / TheBlaze: White House reporter says Democrats expect journalists ‘to be on their side,’ have ‘much thinner skin’ than Republicans
Branko Marcetic / @bmarchetich: Two takeaways here: 1. The Trump era's scoops & court gossip wasn't some golden era of journalism but a function of the admin's unique chaos. 2. Biden is as tightly controlled & restrained by his team as it looks, and this 👇 is fine to say anonymously: https://ckarchive.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Naomi Kowles / @naomikowles: kinda a side note but i love peter baker's comments in this. Off-the-record and “on background” is massively abused, misused, and overused across the reporting spectrum: https://twitter.com/...
Rachel Vindman / @natsechobbyist: How fortunate for them. Not everyone can say the same 😒 https://twitter.com/...
Soledad O'Brien / @soledadobrien: I agree with the “everyone is dogshit” part. https://twitter.com/...
Steven Rich / @dataeditor: i see some folks think everything is just a game cool cool cool https://twitter.com/...
Julia Ioffe / @juliaioffe: Chaser: https://twitter.com/...
Julia Ioffe / @juliaioffe: Shot: https://twitter.com/...
Jay Rosen / @jayrosen_nyu: One of the more telling things I have read about the Washington press corps and what it prizes. The theme is coming down from the insane high of Trump to the sedate professionalism of the Biden White House. In commenting on this they reveal themselves. https://ckarchive.com/...
Matthew Chapman / @fawfulfan: @AlexThomp @juliaioffe @Acosta The real problem is that reporters have vastly different expectations of Republican and Democratic behavior with the press. They expect Republicans to shatter the First Amendment to pieces, but Democrats to never have opinions about journalistic decisions ever.
Financial Times:
Sources: a BBC board member with close government ties stalled the hiring of ex-HuffPost UK EIC Jess Brammar to oversee news channels, on political grounds — Sir Robbie Gibb concerned that preferred candidate would damage relations with government — BBC News is facing a test …
Discussion:
Media Voices Podcast, @raymondsnoddy, @charlestannock, @jfwduffield, @kevin_maguire, @bobbyalbon, @emmaburnell_, @fcaidan, @liliangreenwood, @jostevenslabour, @bthroughparty, @tomlondon6, @kevinjrawlinson, @mrjamesob, @brokenbottleboy, @iandunt, @lindsaymackie, @mattgarrahan, @horton_official, @emmakennedy, @cityhobo61, @campbellclaret, The Guardian, @hughsykes, @lauraph222, @davesthompson, @lauraph222, @arusbridger, @mikegapes, @campbellclaret, @hughsykes, @steamedhamms, @lorna_tveditor, @annettedittert, @jimwaterson, @jolyonmaugham, @rossmccaff, @conor_matchett, @_zsipod_, @sime0nstylites, @matinastevis, @samfr, @bonn1egreer, @nadimjbaba, @trillingual, @joeltaylorhack, @brucemcd23, @matthewwells, @spanishdan1, @strandedatsea, @politicalhackuk, @janemerrick23, @danreast, @paulwaugh, @jakubkrupa, @sebkraemer, @antoniabance, @paulwaugh and The Guardian
Discussion:
Esther Kezia Thorpe / Media Voices Podcast: Journalism.co.uk Editor Marcela Kunova on nurturing innovation in newsrooms
Raymond Snoddy / @raymondsnoddy: Such interference must be resisted https://twitter.com/...
Dr Charles Tannock / @charlestannock: The man reportedly responsible for promoting Brexit within the BBC https://twitter.com/...
John Duffield / @jfwduffield: She clearly isn't an objective journalist. She just had a recent personal spat with a government minister! https://twitter.com/...
Kevin Maguire / @kevin_maguire: BBC must appoint @jessbrammar to demonstrate independence after this outrageous editorial interference by a Conservative Government's chief spin doctor. And @RobbieGibb should be asked to resign or be sacked as a BBC director. https://www.ft.com/...
Bob Albon / @bobbyalbon: What struck me about this story were the references to the fact that Gibb, on the BBC Board, help set up GB News! The perceived insignificance of this obvious conflict of interests tells you how bad things really are. https://twitter.com/...
Emma Burnell / @emmaburnell_: The BBC have got a chance to prove themselves here. Please God they take it. https://www.ft.com/...
Aidan Foster-Carter / @fcaidan: Extraordinary, indeed. But with respect, that word alone is too weak. This is disgraceful. And sinister. https://twitter.com/...
Lilian Greenwood / @liliangreenwood: He needs to go. https://twitter.com/...
Jo Stevens / @jostevenslabour: This raises serious questions about Conservative cronyism at the heart of the BBC. If Robbie Gibb is in post to further Tory interests, then he's in the wrong job. Dowden must join the calls for him to resign or the BBC must sack him immediately https://www.ft.com/...
@bthroughparty: Whatever your opinion of the BBC, it is the most powerful news outlet in the UK. The fact that Tories have fully infiltrated it & are now blocking hires of journalists who've challenged this govt is a very grim state of affairs. #ToryDictatorship https://www.ft.com/...
Tom London / @tomlondon6: This is - or should be - a HUGE story BBC is by far the most powerful news outlet in the UK https://twitter.com/...
Kevin Rawlinson / @kevinjrawlinson: A former aide to Theresa May, who's thought to have been appointed to the BBC board with help from senior Tories, is reportedly now trying to stop the broadcaster hiring a journalist because he believes the government wouldn't approve https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
James O'Brien / @mrjamesob: A chilling aspect of this story is that Gibb, as head of the Beeb's political output, was instrumental in both normalising Brexit unicornism & platforming secretly-funded Tufton Street shills as legitimate commentators. These people despise impartiality. https://www.ft.com/...
Mic Wright / @brokenbottleboy: Robbie Gibb interfering in BBC recruitment because Jess Brammar stood up for one of her journalists when a government minister publicly attacked her is unsurprising. He's a creep and is only in that non-exec role at the BBC as government appeasement https://www.ft.com/...
Ian Dunt / @iandunt: Appalling. Brammar is a studiously objective journalist who has stood up for her reporters against ministerial pressure. There could be few better recommendations for the job. Gibb is trying to turn the BBC into a government press office. https://www.ft.com/...
Lindsay Mackie / @lindsaymackie: Astonishing . Gibb is also on the DCMS secret panel on public service broadcasting- this shows he is totally unsuited to give advice on strengthening an independent PSB ecosystem. https://twitter.com/...
Matthew Garrahan / @mattgarrahan: A non-executive director of the BBC with ties to the government has sought to block a senior editorial appointment. Big test of the broadcaster's independence https://www.ft.com/...
Helena Horton / @horton_official: I think @jessbrammar is the perfect person for the role and this is very disappointing and upsetting to read https://twitter.com/...
Emma Kennedy / @emmakennedy: This is a disgraceful intervention by @RobbieGibb https://twitter.com/...
@cityhobo61: ‘Non-executive directors at the BBC are responsible for “upholding and protecting” the independence of the broadcaster and must comply with a code of practice setting out rules on a range of things including political activities.’ #RobbieGibb failing on every count then! https://twitter.com/...
Alastair Campbell / @campbellclaret: The man who ran Westminster coverage for years, who did nothing to rebut the right wing myth that the Beeb was ‘full of lefties’, now tries to stop anyone but government lackeys getting into editorial position. It's Putinism with posh accents https://twitter.com/...
Clea Skopeliti / The Guardian: Labour demands resignation of No 10 ally accused of trying to block BBC appointment
Hugh Sykes / @hughsykes: @arusbridger @RobbieGibb @jessbrammar In full here for those who don't subscribe to the FT. Feels egregiously corrupt. ex Theresa May comms director allegedly sends text to head of @BBCNews @franunsworth warning her she “cannot make this appointment.” https://www.reddit.com/...
@lauraph222: @HughSykes @arusbridger @RobbieGibb @jessbrammar @BBCNews @franunsworth BBC IS NOT A STATE BROADCASTER. IT MUST BE FREE OF GOVT. @RobbieGibb is a non-exec director on the BBC Board. @BBC's own website says he's ‘responsible for upholding and protecting the independence of the BBC by acting in the public interest and exercising independent judgement.’
David Thompson / @davesthompson: @LauraPh222 @HughSykes @arusbridger @RobbieGibb @jessbrammar @BBCNews @franunsworth @BBC A very quick read of Gibb's Twitter timeline will quickly lend the lie to his, er, “independence”! It's an absolute Toryfest.
@lauraph222: @lindsaymackie @HughSykes @arusbridger @RobbieGibb @jessbrammar @BBCNews @franunsworth @BBC This illustrates the problem IMO with the appointment of @RobbieGibb to @BBC board. When Mr Gibb has made his own party political+#Brexit sympathies so known, it's clear that ‘impartiality’ has a particular meaning for him.
Alan Rusbridger / @arusbridger: “An intervention by a BBC board member with close ties to Downing Street stalled a senior editorial appointment on political grounds.” If true, @RobbieGibb should resign & @jessbrammar must get the job https://www.ft.com/...
Mike Gapes / @mikegapes: This is what happens in authoritarian post Communist regimes. Is that what we have become under the Johnson government? It is totally unacceptable. Gibb should resign or be sacked. https://twitter.com/...
Alastair Campbell / @campbellclaret: Because he is part of the corrupt conservative cabal in charge of the government and its media ecosystem https://twitter.com/...
Hugh Sykes / @hughsykes: In full here for those who don't subscribe to the FT. Egregiously corrupt? ex Theresa May comms director @RobbieGibb allegedly sends text to head of @BBCNews @franunsworth warning her she “cannot make this appointment.” https://www.reddit.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@steamedhamms: appointments blocked because they might “damage relations with government” the state of public service broadcasting in this country is very sick https://www.ft.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@lorna_tveditor: Robbie Gibb; the man permanently wedged up the arse of the Tory Party. I only wish I was surprised. This country is a sewer full of rancid Tory cockroach excrement. https://twitter.com/...
Annette Dittert / @annettedittert: Whoever leaked this might now force the BBC to prove its independence. Interesting how this will pan out. https://twitter.com/...
Jim Waterson / @jimwaterson: Hmmm good media scoop this https://www.ft.com/...
Jo Maugham / @jolyonmaugham: Wow. A serious breach - by a Number 10 Board appointee - of the notion of an editorially independent BBC. https://www.ft.com/...
Ross McCafferty / @rossmccaff: So grim. If the BBC rolls over on this they might aswell disband the whole regiment. They should never have allowed Gibb on the board https://twitter.com/...
Conor Matchett / @conor_matchett: This is just such a ridiculous over-reach by Gibb, and a shameless attack on the very foundations of the BBC. https://twitter.com/...
Irons / @_zsipod_: Robbie Gibb and Andrew Neil were central figures in shaping BBC politics coverage for more than a decade. A hard right agenda dictating editorial policy. Shocking. https://twitter.com/...
Matina Stevis-Gridneff / @matinastevis: Sorry to use the word extraordinary again but it really is. And for what it's worth, the Beeb should *kill* to get Jess. https://twitter.com/...
Sam Freedman / @samfr: Absolutely appalling. @jessbrammar would be a great hire. https://twitter.com/...
Bonnie Greer / @bonn1egreer: Happening in the #arts world, too. Necessary to tow the government line (they don't say that, of course, this is Britain!)... in #culture and #sport world..or ... The #Tories...the English Channel branch of the #GOP. https://twitter.com/...
Nadim Baba / @nadimjbaba: The man's a menace. Tries to stop a straightforward appointment because government's “fragile trust in the BBC will be shattered”. Jesus wept. https://twitter.com/...
Daniel Trilling / @trillingual: I taught a class on media to visiting US students earlier this week and one of them asked “does the government ever try to interfere politically with the BBC?” https://twitter.com/...
Joel Taylor / @joeltaylorhack: This appears quite rotten & surely prompts huge questions about Gibbs' position at the BBC https://twitter.com/...
Bruce McD / @brucemcd23: If true that Downing Street's former Communications Director, Robbie Gibb , now a non executive Director of BBC , intervened in the appointment of @jessbramar , it is an outrage and he should resign forthwith Operational matter on which Gibb has no business expressing a view https://twitter.com/...
Matt Wells / @matthewwells: Well for a start congratulations to @jessbrammar on her appointment and secondly I look forward to reading @RobbieGibb's letter of resignation as a BBC non-exec director by the morning if not before https://twitter.com/...
@strandedatsea: Ffffuuuuuccccckkkkk off Robbie Gibb. Leave us alone. We want to be a normal country, not this hollow shell that you want us to be. https://twitter.com/...
John O'Shea / @politicalhackuk: Much easier if the government pick the journalists who might hold them to account. https://twitter.com/...
Jane Merrick / @janemerrick23: Wow this is quite a story https://twitter.com/...
Daniel Reast / @danreast: Where do you even start with the BBC? A cultural icon, a global leader in entertainment and news...being eaten away from the top down by hungry worms. https://twitter.com/...
Paul Waugh / @paulwaugh: Full details in the FT. But here's a taste of the story by the excellent @alexebarker, @DJBond6873 and @GeorgeWParker . https://twitter.com/...
Jakub Krupa / @jakubkrupa: This kind of political interference in public service media is really grim and lead to dreadful outcomes & low public trust. Believe me: we're learning the hard way in Poland. Also, @jessbrammar is a brilliant & inspiring journalist, so the BBC would be lucky to have her. https://twitter.com/...
@sebkraemer: “Sir Robbie Gibb issued his warning to the news division's managers after Jess Brammar, former editor of HuffPost UK and deputy editor of BBC Newsnight, emerged as the favoured candidate in the recruitment process” https://www.ft.com/...
Antonia Bance / @antoniabance: Astonishing. @jessbrammar would be a fantastic hire. https://twitter.com/...
Paul Waugh / @paulwaugh: This is truly extraordinary. How can a non-exec director of the BBC interfere in a recruitment process? Especially when the only crime of the journalist involved, @jessbrammar, is standing up for her reporters' right to ask questions of the government? https://www.ft.com/...
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