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.
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:
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Tiffany Hsu / New York Times:
How Tucker Carlson, Laura Ingraham, and other Fox News hosts helped elevate vaccine skepticism, once relegated to the fringes, to the conservative mainstream — Months after Rupert Murdoch got a Covid-19 dose, one of his network's stars, Tucker Carlson, called a Biden vaccination proposal “the greatest scandal in my lifetime.”
Discussion:
Insider, @joyannreid, @marmel, Between Rock and a Hard Place, @mollyjongfast, @peterhotez, Vanity Fair, @farnazfassihi, CNN and Ars Technica
CNN:
Sources: Tucker Carlson is furious with Fox News executives and its PR team for not defending his evidence-free claims that NSA spied on him — (CNN Business)Tucker Carlson is furious with Fox News executives for not vigorously defending him amid his evidence-free claims …
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@brianstelter, Vanity Fair, Insider, The Hill, @oliverdarcy, @brianstelter, @mediaite, @brianstelter, @oliverdarcy, Mediaite, @pbump, @pbump, theweek.com and Theopoliticos
Kate Kaye / Digiday:
Facebook confirms it is delaying a brand safety audit by industry body MRC, after publicly committing to the audit a year ago during an ad boycott — Facebook's brand safety audit is postponed. — The company promised the Media Rating Council, the industry's decades-old measurement verification body …
Sarah Butler / The Guardian:
TikTok opens its first pop-up venue in UK, with influencer sessions explaining content creation and sessions for parents to learn about keeping teenagers safe — Influencers including Kyle Thomas, Ehiz Ufuah and Poppy O'Toole will offer sessions on creating content
Discussion:
@mattnavarra
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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 …
Discussion:
Variety, @saketreddy, musically.com, Bloomberg, Associated Press, Reuters and Variety, more at Techmeme »
Kalyeena Makortoff / The Guardian:
DMGT chairman Lord Rothermere is considering an offer to buy about 70% of the newspaper group and take it private, in a deal that values DMGT at £810M — Daily Mail & General Trust chair's family would buy about 70% of group that it does not already own
Discussion:
Reuters, @jimwaterson, @mrjkilcoyne, @janemartinson and @campbellclaret
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 …
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, @shortformernie, @om, @kendrawrites, @ckrewson, @jayrosen_nyu, @samhoisington, @lkmcgann, @abbyleehood, @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
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
Stream Publishing will launch a dedicated UK edition of Rolling Stone, over 50 years after an attempt by Mick Jagger dissolved in just a few months — Rolling Stone is getting a dedicated UK edition more than 50 years after the first attempt sponsored by Mick Jagger dissolved in just a few months.
Discussion:
@attitudemag
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, @chrismoranuk, @mathewi, 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