Top News:
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:
Reuters, Financial Times, MediaPost, The Wrap, The Bamboo Splinter, Insider, Hollywood Reporter, NME, The A.V. Club, @tomwarren, @s_m_i, @gavinpurcell, @doomassistme, @davidwildgoose, @chrismlacy, @lucas_shaw, @thomastkalinske, @faris, @imranzomg, @benjisales, @stephentotilo, @paultassi, @ballmatthew, @chrismlacy, Variety, IGN, PC Gamer, Protocol, 9to5Mac, ScreenRant, AppleInsider, CNBC, The Verge and Front Office Sports, more at Techmeme »
Taylor Lorenz / New York Times:
Mark Zuckerberg says Facebook will pay $1B to creators by the end of 2022; creators can earn money using Instagram or Facebook tools or by hitting milestones — Facebook is setting up a program to pay $1 billion to creators through the end of 2022, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's chief executive …
Discussion:
About Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, @mosseri, Vox, Variety, Protocol, the mesha tribe, musically.com, @melissajpeltier, @facebook, @nbashaw, @msyoungprofess, Understanding TikTok, @dennishegstad, @emmalbriant, @jetscott, @mattbelloni, @jarroddicker, @coopercooperco, @gatamchun, @admaniexplains, @taylorlorenz, @kantrowitz, @kerrymflynn, @taylorlorenz, @matt_pc, @taylorlorenz, @taylorlorenz, @taylorlorenz, @kashhill, @taylorlorenz, @kerrymflynn, Input, Wall Street Journal, The Verge, Adweek, Ad Age, The Hollywood Reporter, CNBC, The Wrap and After School, more at Techmeme »
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:
The Guardian, Committee to Protect …, Forbes, The Sun and The Independent
Erik Wemple / Washington Post:
NYT has posted its second recent editor's note about a conflict of interest: Karen Crouse wrote a story about Michael Phelps, with whom she is writing a book — In the run-up to the Tokyo Olympics, New York Times sports reporter Karen Crouse last month wrote a story on the enduring influence …
Discussion:
New York Times, @erikwemple, Awful Announcing, @andrewmarchand and @erikwemple
Alex Heath / The Verge:
Twitter says it will retire Fleets, its stories-like service, on August 3 after low adoption — A fleeting moment for Fleets — Say goodbye to Fleets, the row of fullscreen tweets at the top of the Twitter timeline that expire after 24 hours. The ephemeral tweet format is shutting …
Discussion:
@twitter, Twitter, MediaPost, @alexeheath, Ad Age, @backlon, @thean1meman, @scottlincicome, The Drum, @film_girl, @delia_cai, @jeff_gluck, @tanayj, @baekdal, @gabrtv, @kevinakwok, @twittersupport, @caseynewton, @ow, @pkafka, @howardlindzon, @robbiebarstool, @alexhern, @shortformernie, @reckless, @harrymccracken, @tomwarren, @kurtwagner8, @ow, @taylorlorenz, Mumbrella, The Indian Express, TechCrunch, Tubefilter, The A.V. Club, Mediaite, One Man & His Blog, The Week, ScreenRant, Input, Bloomberg, The Wrap and Variety, more at Techmeme »
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:
Insider and Terms of Service w …
Manish Singh / TechCrunch:
India-based Inshorts, an aggregator app that summarizes news articles in 60 words, raises $60M, sources say at a $550M valuation — Indian startup Inshorts, which operates an eponymous news aggregator service, has raised $60 million in a new financing round as its two-year-old bet …
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:
Justice News, Reuters, @alinejadmasih, Committee to Protect …, CNN, BBC, New York Times, @rashaalaqeedi, @joel_schectman, @abc, @alinejadmasih, @arash_tehran, @jrezaian, @mikepompeo, @negarmortazavi, @middleeasteye, @carlosvecchio, @dojnatsec, @zainaerhaim, @lunasafwan, @alaneyre1, @samanarbabi, @julietmosesnz, @benweisernyt, @baldingsworld, @bariweiss, Al Jazeera, @nickkristof, @mehdirhasan, @danieldimartino, @ezraacohen, @mollyjongfast, @omid_m, @jason_kint, @ksadjadpour, @rayhanasat, @yasmohammedxx, @elliecohanim, @kambizf, @dy1anonymous, @reptenney, @smohyeddin, The Guardian, 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.
Discussion:
Mediaite, @brandyzadrozny, Talking Points Memo, Poynter, @sulliview, Cup of Coffee, @nandoodles, @fpwellman, @yottapoint, @mikejason73, Vanity Fair, @mmcintire, @amy_siskind, @billkristol, @samstein, @nickkristof, @dandrezner, @jrubinblogger, @karaswisher, @sykescharlie, @tvietor08, Educational Endeavors, @davidfolkenflik, @brianstelter, Raw Story and Insider
Sarah Hartley / Google News Initiative:
Google News Initiative announces $2.1M in funding for 22 recipients working on projects in 14 countries, including Turkey, Kenya, Syria, and Morocco — During a 14-year career as a journalist, Dina Aboughazala reported on issues impacting people's lives across the Middle East.
Discussion:
@ijnet and Google News Initiative
Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:
Profile of Spotify's chief legal officer Horacio Gutierrez, who leads its campaign against Apple in the US and EU, painting Apple as an abusive monopolist — Horacio Gutierrez made his name in U.S. corporate law two decades ago defending Microsoft Corp. against charges of anticompetitive behavior …
Discussion:
@bloombergasia, @counternotions and @appfairness, 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:
Front Office Sports, Awful Announcing, @seungminkim, Fox News, @alexweprin and Variety