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How the media is covering the Olympics, as COVID restrictions limit reporters' access to events and athletes and the absence of spectators dampen the atmosphere — The Olympic Games officially open today. Thousands of people, including journalists, have faced a gauntlet of health restrictions …
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Taboola says it is buying retail- and e-commerce-focused ad network Connexity for $800M in cash and stock — Taboola, the company that operates a popular grid-based advertising and content recommendation network across media properties, today announced an acquisition to expand its reach further …
Discussion:
Bloomberg, AdExchanger, ZDNet, MediaPost, Ad Age and Adweek, more at Techmeme »

Sources: an NSA review finds no evidence for Tucker Carlson's claims the agency spied on him; Carlson's name was “unmasked” after third parties mentioned it — The NSA has found no evidence to support Tucker Carlson's accusations that the agency had been spying on him in an effort …


The couple behind EcommerceBytes has sued eBay and ex-CEO Devin Wenig, as some members of eBay's security team face criminal charges for targeting them — Filing in bloody pig mask case says “morning shots of alcohol” were common at eBay. — A former eBay security official who pleaded guilty …
Discussion:
@marcorandazza, @ranjanxroy, @harrymccracken, @kenpex, @lordbikebot, @slhintze, EcommerceBytes and Insider


Analysis of 47 newsroom union units finds first contract negotiations average ~18 months and voluntary recognition doesn't seem to shorten negotiations — More and more workers are heading to the bargaining table for the first time, and some are finding contract negotiations to be surprisingly difficult


Senators introduce Local Journalism Sustainability Act, which would offer tax credits to news consumers, local outlets, and SMEs to advertise in local outlets — Rebuild Local News, a coalition representing more than 3,000 local newsrooms, funders of local journalism, and civil society …
Discussion:
Report for America, @stevenwaldman, @wgaeast, @bgrueskin, @timafranklin, @bgrueskin, @penamerica, @stevenwaldman, @shawn_mooring, @whatworks_nu, @scottbrodbeck, @tomlappas, @heidilegg, @sarahscire, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell …, Radio & Television …, The NewsGuild - CWA and Editor and Publisher


Outbrain closes flat on its first day of trading, after raising $160M in its IPO at a valuation of $1.25B — Watch now. — Outbrain, which provides recommended web links at the bottom of news stories, raised $160 million at a $1.25 billion valuation in its initial public offering today.
Discussion:
@crainsnewyork, MarketWatch, @yonicheifetz, @mukund, Reuters, TheStreet, @tomjenen and Crain's New York Business


A look at the showdown between Lee Enterprises and the Buffalo News, as Buffalo union fights for a local copy desk and job security protections — When Lee Enterprises bought The Buffalo News from Berkshire Hathaway last year, it ended the paper's long run of independence.
Discussion:
@susanelizabeth, @studyhallxyz and @susanelizabeth


Russia labels Latvia-based The Insider a foreign agent; The Insider, whose staff often work in Russia, helped Bellingcat probe Kremlin's assassination attempts — Move against the Insider seen as revenge for part in revealing Kremlin's role in Salisbury and other assassination attempts
Discussion:
Meduza.io, Radio Free Europe/Radio …, @lukeharding1968, @kenroth, Washington Post and Reuters


China's antitrust authorities order Tencent Music to end its exclusive music licensing deals with global record labels within 30 days and impose a fine of ~$77K — - The State Administration for Market Regulation on Saturday ordered Tencent to give up its exclusive music licensing rights …


Influencer marketing spending in the US is set to grow more than 30% this year and exceed $3B — Influencer marketing spending in the US is set to grow more than 30% this year and surpass a key milestone. According to our inaugural forecast on US influencer marketing spending …
Discussion:
musically.com


NBCU is adopting the Ad-ID identifier, which helps reduce ad repetition and separate competitors' ads by assigning a trackable code to each ad — Collaboration between 4A's and ANA expands on existing work on broadcaster's Peacock streaming service — NBCUniversal is looking to clean …