Top News:
Kevin Roose / New York Times:
Facebook employees detail a clash over CrowdTangle, a tool that showed high engagement with right-wing media, which was moved under the Integrity team in April — Executives at the social network have clashed over CrowdTangle, a Facebook-owned data tool that revealed users' high engagement levels with right-wing media sources.
Joyce Karam / The National:
DOJ charges 4 Iranian intelligence officials with conspiracy to kidnap a US journalist, citizen, and activist of Iranian origin and forcibly take her to Tehran — Accused men monitored and planned to kidnap US citizen of Iranian origin and take her to Iran, officials say
Discussion:
New York Times, U.S. Department of Justice, Voice of America, @alinejadmasih, Reuters, @dojnatsec, @carlosvecchio, The Indian Express, The Guardian, @ezraacohen, @yasmohammedxx, @lunasafwan, @samanarbabi, @elliecohanim, Insider, @bariweiss, @kambizf, @dy1anonymous, @benweisernyt, @zainaerhaim, @rayhanasat, @mollyjongfast, @jason_kint, @danieldimartino, @ksadjadpour, @baldingsworld, @reptenney, @alaneyre1, @nickkristof, @smohyeddin, @julietmosesnz, @omid_m, @mehdirhasan, Politico, The Hill and The Daily Beast
Michael Kranish / Washington Post:
Profile of Tucker Carlson, including his elite upbringing, his years-long focus on racial grievance, and his top spot at Fox and the GOP information universe — Tucker Carlson huddled in a low-ceilinged dungeon that had served as a holding pen for Africans bound for enslavement in the United States.
The Daily Beast:
Sources: Shep Smith's plunging ratings at CNBC, averaging just 197,000 viewers in June, have fostered internal turmoil, including “regular tantrums” from Smith — The ex-Fox anchor's much-hyped new show has failed to bring in viewers and, per insiders, it has struggled …
Discussion:
@maxwelltani, @jayrosen_nyu, @jeremymbarr and @brianstelter
Washington Post:
Court documents show the Trump DOJ sought WaPo reporters' records in the last days of Barr's tenure, seeking to find sources of three stories in 2017 on Russia — Newly unsealed court documents show the Trump Justice Department sought a court order for the communications records …
Discussion:
Insider, @kimzetter, New York Times, @kenvogel, @matthewamiller and @katie_rcfp
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
Bauer Media and News UK launch first-party data platforms, called Bauer Illuminate and Nucleus, as they prepare for a future without third-party cookies — Bauer Media and News UK are the latest publishers to launch new first-party data platforms as the industry prepares for an internet without third-parties cookies.
Brooks Barnes / New York Times:
Profile of Disney's powerful chief communications officer for 19 years, Zenia B. Mucha, who will leave in 2022; she was paid $4.9M in total 2020 compensation — For almost two decades, Zenia B. Mucha has been responsible for protecting the vaunted Disney brand and has held influence far beyond her official duties.
Discussion:
@brooksbarnesnyt, Variety, Deadline, @sammy_roth, @motormouthmedia, @dylanbyers, @ashleylcarter1, @blowryontv, @kairyssdal, @brentalang, @russpitts, @jasonabbruzzese, @davidclinchnews, @jpanzar, @evargastv, @eva_palmer, @ksheekey, @amy_disneypr, @cityofthetown, @adamnagourney, @natjarv, @shelbygrad, @mattdpearce, @billzanetti, @lucas_shaw, @richarddeitsch, Los Angeles Times and The Wrap
Reuters:
Twitter says governments made 361 demands to remove content from 199 verified accounts of journalists and news outlets in H2 2020, up 26% from H1 — Twitter Inc (TWTR.N) saw a surge in demands over the course of last year from governments around the world to take down content posted …
Discussion:
@aveeksen and @dnvolz, more at Techmeme »
Alex Weprin / Hollywood Reporter:
In an internal memo, ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro addresses the controversy involving Maria Taylor and Rachel Nichols, calling it a “complicated personnel” matter — Jimmy Pitaro also addressed a controversy involving reporters Maria Taylor and Rachel Nichols and noted that he's planning …
Discussion:
@seungminkim, @alexweprin, Variety and Awful Announcing
Mason Walker / Pew Research Center:
US newsroom employment declined by 26% between 2008 and 2020; as the number of newspaper staff fell by 57%, employees at digital-native newsrooms rose 144% — Newsroom employment in the United States has dropped by 26% since 2008. But while newspapers have seen steep job losses during that span …
Kurt Wagner / Bloomberg:
As very few iOS users opt into tracking, Facebook's many advertisers are noticing a negative impact on tracking campaigns, targeting new customers, and more — People give iOS apps permission to track their behavior just 25% of the time — When users get asked on iPhone devices …
Discussion:
AppleInsider and @sarahfrier, more at Techmeme »
Sebastian Payne / Financial Times:
Sources: BBC Parliament faces significant cuts, with staffing levels cut to single figures, as the corporation seeks £1B in savings by March 2022 — Rolling coverage of party conferences will end in autumn along with special daily shows — The BBC's dedicated political channel …
Discussion:
@sebastianepayne, @scottygb, @josiahmortimer, @pressgazette and @johnwest_jaws