Top News:
William Earl / Variety:
Joe Rogan announced on Instagram that he tested positive for COVID-19 and says he is feeling better after he used ivermectin and other remedies — Joe Rogan, the mega-popular podcaster who has questioned the necessity of the COVID vaccine on his show, revealed to his fans that he was sick …
Discussion:
New York Times, @variety, The Wrap, Fox News, @popehat, ABC7, @katie_roof, @jeffjarvis, TMZ.com, @dataeditor, @thr, The A.V. Club, @thr, @jilliancyork, @maxwelltani, @thecomixkid, @oliverdarcy, @oliverdarcy, Hollywood Reporter, @kerrymflynn, @sowmyak, KCLO-TV and The Hill
Katie Robertson / New York Times:
The Associated Press names Julie Pace, its Washington bureau chief, as its new executive editor and senior vice president — Julie Pace, The A.P.'s Washington bureau chief, started out wanting to be an international correspondent. Now she has the top newsroom job.
Discussion:
Associated Press, CNN, @brendannyhan, @brianstelter, @farhip, @joenbc, @mikebarnicle, @dabeard, @petesouza, @sarafischer, @dsupervilleap, @juliehdavis, @tamarakeithnpr, @indira_l, @ddale8, @froomkin, @juliaioffe, @mikesisak, @brianstelter, @ceciliakang, @justinwolfers, Washington Post, @jonlemire, @jaskiratsb, @brianstelter, @cliffordlevy, @etuckerap, @junkscience, @kimzetter, @raju, @jemberga, @mikebalsamo1, @zekejmiller, @willwilkinson, @margarettalev, @brendanbuck, @jayrosen_nyu, @kathleencarrll, @brianstelter, The Hill, Axios and The Wrap
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Media Rating Council suspends Nielsen's national ratings accreditation, which will affect Nielsen ratings starting in mid-September — “While we are disappointed that the situation has come to this, we believe these are the proper actions for the MRC to take at this time," said George W. Ivie …
Discussion:
Insights - Nielsen, Adweek, The Wrap, Radio & Television …, MediaPost, @bristei, The Drum, @bristei, @bristei, @bristei, @bristei and Hollywood Reporter
Maribel Perez Wadsworth / USA Today:
For the second year, Gannett posts demographic details for some of its newsroom staffs as part of its effort to mirror community demographics by the end of 2025 — One year ago, America was in the depths of a global pandemic and grappling with a racial reckoning that tore at the fabric of our nation.
Discussion:
@mwadsworth, @jason_kint and @cynthiabenjamn
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Nicole Carroll / USA Today:
USA Today says its newsroom is now majority female, with women making up 51.7% of all journalists, up from 48.1% in 2020 — I'm USA TODAY editor-in-chief Nicole Carroll, and this is The Backstory, insights into our biggest stories of the week. If you'd like to get The Backstory in your inbox every week, sign up here.
Discussion:
USA Today, @nicole_carroll, @heyitsanika, @nathanbomey, @usatoday, @dpfunke, @lindsdee and The Hill
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Facebook says it is launching Facebook Fantasy Games for major sports events and popular TV shows like Survivor in the US and Canada, available free on its app — Facebook is getting into fantasy sports and other types of fantasy games. The company this morning announced the launch …
Discussion:
About Facebook, Social Media Today, The Verge and Tubefilter, more at Techmeme »
Shelley Hepworth / The Guardian:
Salman Rushdie will publish his next book on Substack with new sections coming out approximately once per week over the course of about a year — The author on why he's chosen to release his next book on the online platform - and why he hopes digital won't see off the medium he loves most
Discussion:
New York Times, @bendwalsh, Gizmodo, @tommycollison, @annebergman, @doctorsyntax, @snowden, @kolatubosun and Publishers Weekly
Josh Rogin / Washington Post:
Amid the chaos and dysfunction at the Kabul airport, the Biden administration left behind 100+ USAGM employees, plus their families and contractors — Now that the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan is complete, many stories of heroic efforts to save Americans and Afghan allies are pouring out …
Discussion:
Mediaite, New York Post, The Wrap, USA Today, @greta, Fox News, @hughhewitt, @kenweinstein, @heatherchilders, @kir_bigg50, @kimzetter, @dlippman, @leahmcelrath, @repmeijer, @swanniontv, @neoavatara, @mccormackjohn, @farhip, @joshrogin, @joshrogin, @joshrogin, @joshrogin, @albertomiguelf5, @joshrogin, @joshrogin, @noonanjo, @victoriacoates, @joshrogin, @poppyharlowcnn, Voice of America and New York Times
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Joel Simon / Wall Street Journal:
The Biden administration pledged to support press freedom around the world, but so far has failed the test in Afghanistan
Discussion:
@wsjopinion, @wsjopinion, Mediaite, New York Post, @davidakaye, @kathleencarrll, @wsjforero, @cjchivers, @kenweinstein, @jrezaian, @peterlattman, @nicdawes and @pressfreedom
Justin Baragona / The Daily Beast:
Fox News fails to disclose that Jack Keane, who appeared 33+ times since August 16 to talk about Afghanistan, serves as chairman of Humvee maker AM General — Neither Jack Keane nor any of his hosts have brought up the deal his company secured to profit directly from the prolonged engagement in Afghanistan.
Discussion:
@justinbaragona, @getwired, Mediaite, @thedailybeast, @justinbaragona, @crewcrew, @oliverdarcy and @billprady
Colin Kalmbacher / Law & Crime:
Court dismisses a defamation suit against Twitter by a source for NY Post stories about Hunter Biden's laptop; the source claimed Twitter labeled him a hacker — A federal court in Florida has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed against Twitter by the Delaware computer repairman …
Discussion:
Reason
Paul Farhi / Washington Post:
At least four talk radio hosts in the US who had espoused anti-vaccine and anti-mask sentiments succumbed to the virus in August — Marc Bernier was adamant: He was not going to get a coronavirus vaccination. — “I'm Mr. Anti-Vax,” he told listeners of his talk-radio program in Daytona Beach …
Discussion:
Insider, @washingtonpost, @dfrlab, @itootweet, @sarahsimmonstv, @rorydoesphonics and @adamgoldmannyt
Tom Horton / London Evening Standard:
UK government launches a consultation on new rules that would make streaming services subject to the same standards as traditional broadcasters — Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said the Government is looking to introduce ‘proportionate’ new rules. — N
Discussion:
GOV.UK, Reuters and Light Reading
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