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.
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:
Between Rock and a Hard Place, @peterhotez, @mollyjongfast and @farnazfassihi
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:
MediaPost, Variety, Hollywood Reporter, The Hollywood Reporter, Forbes, Deadline, NME, Associated Press, @awallenstein, @patrick_spence, @wfederman, Numlock News, @tomperriello, Wall Street Journal, @wallstcynic, @mikedeestro, @pkafka, @variety, @cctakato, @morganicink, @filq2001, @stevendeknight, @pandemona, @williammatt22, @ballmatthew, The Verge, @variety, @richlightshed, @littlelostsunny, @shannontindle_1, The Streamable and ScreenRant, more at Techmeme »
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 …
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, @shortformernie, @om, @kendrawrites, @ckrewson, @lkmcgann, @samhoisington, @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
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 …
Discussion:
Insider, Mediaite, @brianstelter, @brianstelter, @mediaite, @oliverdarcy, @pbump, @pbump, theweek.com and Theopoliticos
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
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 and musically.com, more at Techmeme »
RELATED:
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
Agence France-Presse:
TV Pirveli, an independent station in Georgia, says a cameraman has died after being badly beaten by far-right assailants during an anti-Pride protest — Government accused of ‘culpable passivity’ after dozens of journalists were attacked covering Pride protest
Discussion:
International Press Institute
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:
@richlightshed, @matthewstoller, BIG by Matt Stoller, @adamkovac, @joshua_sisco, The Verge, Gizmodo and AppleInsider, more at Techmeme »
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
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:
@linakhanftc, @carnage4life, @nickforpa, @matthewstoller, @potus, @competitionprof, @b_fung, @jasonfurman, @caffar3cristina, @marwilliamson, @jason_kint, Wired, musically.com, The White House, Quartz, @eriqgardner, @entstrategyguy, @pkafka, @karlbode, @jbarro and Reuters, more at Techmeme »
Katherine Huggins / Mediaite:
During Trump's CPAC Speech on Sunday, Fox News added a disclaimer that “voting system companies have denied the various allegations made by President Trump” — During Donald Trump's CPAC speech on Sunday, Fox News added a disclaimer that “voting system companies have denied …
Discussion:
Raw Story, The Hill, HuffPost, @new_narrative, @mikesington, @numbersmuncher, @rumpfshaker, @thedailybeast, Insider and Media Matters for America
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 …