Top News:
Taylor Lorenz / Washington Post:
Biden administration is working with Gen Z For Change, a nonprofit advocacy group, to brief top TikTok stars about the war in Ukraine — On Thursday afternoon, 30 top TikTok stars gathered on a Zoom call to receive key information about the war unfolding in Ukraine.
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David Gilbert / VICE:
Investigation finds a campaign coordinated in a secret Telegram channel to pay Russian TikTok influencers to post videos pushing pro-Kremlin narratives — An investigation by VICE News uncovered a coordinated campaign to pay Russian TikTok influencers to post videos pushing pro-Kremlin narratives.
Discussion:
Media Manipulation Casebook, @willoremus, Insider, @taylorlorenz and @daithaigilbert, more at Techmeme »
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
CNN+ is launching March 29 — People who are interested in CNN Plus finally have a date when they can add it to their streaming repertoire. The WarnerMedia-owned cable-news outlet intends to launch the subscription broadband service on March 29. — The detail — perhaps the last piece …
Discussion:
CNN, CNET, Next TV, Mediaite, The Wrap, Engadget, The Verge, Deadline, @cahnemily, Hollywood Reporter, Media Play News, @owillis, @sarafischer, TVNewser, @_alastair, @sherman4949 and Barrett Media
Tatiana Siegel / Rolling Stone:
Texts, emails, and interviews document the deep ties among Jeff Zucker, Allison Gollust, and Andrew Cuomo, and Zucker and Trump's earlier relationship — Texts, email exchanges, and 36 sources tell the true story behind the downfall of TV's ultimate operator
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Jillian Deutsch / Bloomberg:
Russia moves to designate Meta as an “extremist organization”; source says WhatsApp won't be affected as it is a means of communication — Russian prosecutors have asked a court to ban Meta Platforms Inc.'s Facebook and Instagram as “extremist,” Interfax reported, the latest move in a growing crackdown on social networks.
Discussion:
@nickclegg, The Independent, Adweek, TechCrunch, Protocol, @rmac18, @donie, @donie, @donie, NPR, Metro.co.uk, Radio Free Europe/Radio … and @kevinrothrock, more at Techmeme »
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Josef Adalian / Vulture:
Netflix CFO says “never say never” to ads as HBO Max and Disney+ start experimenting with them: the model of low-cost, ad-free streaming was never going to last — Lots of factors played a role in Netflix becoming the world's biggest TV platform within the space of a decade …
Discussion:
@tvmojoe, @r0bwatson, Deadline and Hollywood Reporter
Financial Times:
EU and the UK open an antitrust probe into Google and Meta's Jedi Blue deal on online ads; EU is also probing whether Google acted without Meta's knowledge — Europe's competition chief Margrethe Vestager tells FT that ‘Jedi Blue’ deal represents ‘giant problem’ in industry
Adam B. Vary / Variety:
CEO Bob Chapek says Disney will pause Florida political donations and apologizes to LGBTQ staff for not being a stronger ally in debate on “Don't Say Gay” bill — After weeks of internal strife and external controversy surrounding the Walt Disney Company's lack of public response to the …
Discussion:
@stevekopack, The Wrap, CNBC, Deadline, @variety, @variety, @sherman4949, Hollywood Reporter and IndieWire
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Ali Kucukgocmen / Reuters:
A Turkish court sentences journalist Sedef Kabas to more than two years in prison for tweeting a proverb that was allegedly insulting to Erdogan — A Turkish court on Friday sentenced journalist Sedef Kabas to more than two years in prison after ruling that she insulted the president …
Ben Sisario / New York Times:
Sony, Warner Music, Universal Music, and Live Nation suspend operations in Russia — The three major record conglomerates and the touring giant Live Nation are suspending operations over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while individual artists have canceled tour dates.
Discussion:
NPR, Digital Music News, Billboard, Music Ally, Variety and AllAccess.com
Mitchell Clark / The Verge:
YouTube says it is blocking access to YouTube channels associated with Russian state-funded media globally, expanding from across Europe — RT and Sputnik have been blocked in Europe for over a week — YouTube says that it will start completely blocking YouTube channels funded by the Russian government …
Discussion:
@youtubeinsider, TechCrunch, Variety, Protocol, Engadget, Bloomberg, @hegelwcrmcheese, @justinbaragona, @irisovaolga, @heidibeirich, @maxseddon and @slpng_giants, more at Techmeme »
CBC News:
Saudi blogger Raif Badawi has been released from prison, 10 years after he was jailed for criticizing religious figures and promoting liberal views of Islam — Saudi blogger with family in Quebec spent 10 years behind bars for promoting liberal views of Islam
Discussion:
France 24, Al Jazeera, @anthony, @raif_badawi and Global News