Top News:
Dave Gershgorn / The Verge:
The maker of a new documentary about Anthony Bourdain says he used AI to re-create Bourdain's voice and synthesized the audio of three quotes from the TV host — ‘We can have a documentary-ethics panel about it later’ — In a new documentary, Roadrunner, about the life and tragic death …
Discussion:
New Yorker, @daveweigel, @markberman, @seanmburns, Variety, TechCrunch, Mediaite, @actnormalorelse, Insider, @hels, @hels, @dashingcripple, @poniewozik, @cd_hooks, @jennyyangtv, @apark2453, @boringstein, @craig_rangoon, @caseyjohnston, @dfriend, @austin_walker, @scottwamplerbmd, @furioursus, @variety, @variety, @variety, @lollardfish, @threepointone, @john__sadler, @dadvansss, @xor, @risingaction, @jsidman, @ashleylynch, @mathewi, Input, @daveweigel, @taylorjoyanyas, @doubleemmartin, @coldbrewedtool, @richardlnewby, @sonnybunch, @greg_jenner, @mattdpearce, @imranzomg, @ayeshaasiddiqi, @jbenton, @walshfreedom, @gregobr, @dancow, @briankoppelman, @fansince09, @somebadideas, @jasondashbailey, @mathewi, @lucyeverleigh, @ldbahr, @craigsilverman, @dmschulman, @guylodge and IndieWire, more at Techmeme »
Marc Tracy / New York Times:
Daily Beast EIC Noah Shachtman named EIC of Rolling Stone, starting in August; Daily Beast executive editor Tracy Connor will serve as interim EIC — Noah Shachtman, an experienced online journalist with a newsy sensibility, will lead the pop music bible founded in 1967.
Discussion:
@marcatracy, @noahshachtman, @mollyjongfast, @willsommer, @selectedwisdom, @markmazzettinyt, @clarajeffery, @markszaidesq, @noahshachtman, @jose_pagliery, @nxthompson, @shaneharris, @weinbergersa, @nathanwurtzel, @johnavlon, @claireeshaffer, @marlownyc, @tiffkhsu, @emmacarew, @davidkenner, @benjysarlin, @mlcalderone, @jimhansondc, @samstein, Mediaite, @seamushughes, @jimlaporta, @oneunderscore__, @samstein, @thedewline, @erinbanco, @hunterw, @danlamothe, @ridt, @djrothkopf, @harrysiegel, @taylorlorenz, @choire, @dgisserious, @draperrobert, @juliadavisnews, @jerryportwood, @brandyzadrozny, The Hill and The Wrap
Ted Johnson / Deadline:
US surgeon general issues his first advisory, reserved for urgent public health threats, seeking action from journalists and others against vaccine misinfo — As the rate of Covid-19 vaccination slows and cases rise again, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called on tech platforms …
Discussion:
NPR, CNN, CNN, Insider, HHS.gov, Free Press, Al Jazeera, @peterhotez, @peterhotez, Mediaite, Reuters, The Western Journal, New York Post, @weese_scott, @bruceaheyman, @mediawise, @datadrivenmd, CNBC, Forbes, New York Times, @ideagov, @peterhotez, @masclab, Surgeon General of the United States and Financial Times, more at Techmeme »
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
ESPN has long fed content to other parts of Disney's empire, but as Disney made more rights deals and streaming's impact has grown, more sharing is on the way — An increasing amount of what ESPN does isn't going to be seen on good ol' ESPN. — “Sunday Night Baseball” …
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Genvid raises $113M to build out interactive live gaming events, hires Cindy Holland, ex-Netflix VP for original content, to advise on strategy and acquisitions — Genvid wants to bootstrap a new category of large-scale interactive games that unfold in real-time — based on well-known movie, comic book or gaming franchises.
Discussion:
Fast Company, YouTube, @lux_capital, @ballmatthew and Protocol, more at Techmeme »
Bloomberg:
Netflix hires ex-Facebook and EA exec Mike Verdu as VP of game development; source: Netflix plans to offer games as a new programming genre within the next year — Netflix Inc., marking its first big move beyond TV shows and films, is planning an expansion into video games and has hired …
Discussion:
New York Times, Insider, Reuters, Protocol, Hollywood Reporter, The Wrap, Tubefilter, ComingSoon.net, UPROXX, The Streamable, MediaPost, Financial Times, @doomassistme, @imranzomg, @paultassi, @ballmatthew, New York Post, @thomastkalinske, @chrismlacy, @davidwildgoose, @benjisales, @stephentotilo, @faris, @chrismlacy, @lucas_shaw, @s_m_i, @tomwarren, @gavinpurcell, Front Office Sports, IGN, PC Gamer, 9to5Mac, ScreenRant, AppleInsider, CNBC and The Verge, more at Techmeme »
Sam Levin / The Guardian:
Citizen Lab says government hackers using spyware from an Israeli company created sites impersonating news outlets, with names including Euro News and CNN 24-7 — Researchers say web domains masquerading as activist, health and media groups are used by governments to hack targets
Discussion:
Washington Post, @jsrailton, @jsrailton, Financial Times, CNBC, @ericgarland, @skirchy and @amaramarasingam, more at Techmeme »
Dade Hayes / Deadline:
Charter signs a carriage deal under which it will distribute ViacomCBS's Paramount+, Pluto TV, BET+, and Noggin as well as its linear channels — ViacomCBS and Charter Communications, the No. 2 U.S. cable operator, have struck a new multi-year carriage deal that includes distribution for streaming services.
Discussion:
The Streamable, Variety and Radio & Television …
Associated Press:
Renowned Dutch crime reporter Peter R De Vries, who was shot last week in Amsterdam, has died — THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Peter R. de Vries, the renowned Dutch crime reporter shot last week in a brazen attack in Amsterdam, has died, Dutch media reported Thursday citing a statement from his family.
Discussion:
Voice of America, Al Jazeera, The Hill, Associated Press, The Sun, @valskuiken, Committee to Protect …, Forbes, @nycjim and @mayajrodriguez
New York Times:
VC interest in companies that provide digital tools for creators is up; The Information estimates VCs have invested $2B in 50 creator-focused startups this year — The online influencer culture is starting to draw serious interest from big venture capital firms.
Discussion:
@vincechag, @kdurquiza, Insider, @taylorlorenz, @nickchilds, @ediggs and Terms of Service w …
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
MSNBC renames its streaming channel on Peacock to The Choice and will add programming, including a show featuring debriefs with WaPo journalists — Mika Brzezinski, Nicolle Wallace and Jonathan Capehart are among the MSNBC anchors taking on new programming duties — but not on MSNBC.
Discussion:
TVNewser, The Streamable and @bristei
Kim Masters / Hollywood Reporter:
Sources: Netflix fired three senior film marketing executives who worked for VP Jonathan Helfgot after they were found secretly grumbling about bosses on Slack — Three senior staffers were let go after the streamer discovered they were secretly griping about management, including chief marketing officer Bozoma Saint John.
Discussion:
@sarahlizchar, @yung_oldhead, @britnidwrites, @the_stefano_dlc, @kimmasters, @mikeyoconnell, @kingthor, @royalpratt, @weareyourfek and @josheidelson