Top News:
Ashley Carman / Bloomberg:
Spotify Q1: revenue rose 24% YoY to €2.66B, including €282M from ads, up 31% YoY; paid subs rose 15% YoY to 182M, despite losing 1.5M in Russia; stock down 12%+ — Spotify Technology SA has spent more than a billion dollars in an effort to become the No. 1 name in podcasting …
Discussion:
Music Business Worldwide, Financial Times, Mediaite, TechCrunch, @eldsjal, Business Wire, Spotify, Axios, @lucas_shaw, Reuters, @pkafka, Music Industry Blog, Variety, Ad Age, Billboard, @kerrymflynn, @sarahintampa, The Verge, @spotifynews, @jonporty, The Hollywood Reporter, @lucas_shaw, Engadget, @anthonyc3004, @ashleyrcarman and @anthonyc3004, more at Techmeme »
Discussion:
Tim Ingham / Music Business Worldwide: No Netflix problems here: Spotify added 2m net subscribers in Q1 - despite cutting off 1.5 million subs in Russia
Candice Ortiz / Mediaite: Spotify Subscribers Jump to Record High Despite Russia Ban and Rogan Controversy
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch: Rogan backlash didn't hurt Spotify's Q1, as paying subscribers grew 15% despite Russia exit
Daniel Ek / @eldsjal: We delivered another strong quarter building on momentum from 2021. Grateful for the tireless work of the @Spotify team on behalf of creators and listeners around the world https://newsroom.spotify.com/ ... https://twitter.com/...
Kerry Flynn / Axios: Spotify subscribers up, stock down
Lucas Shaw / @lucas_shaw: Spotify stock has fallen 12% today, and is set to close at its lowest price ever. “They've been investing in podcasting for a couple years and this market is unwilling to wait on investment returns.” @RichLightShed tells @ashleyrcarman https://www.bloomberg.com/...
Peter Kafka / @pkafka: Spotify hit its Q1 #s. CEO Daniel Ek tells me he didn't see any impact from Joe Rogan/Neil Young fight (Remember? That was this year). Also no sign of whatever malaise is plaguing Netflix. “I feel like a lot of people make more of a comparison with Netflix than it ought to be.” https://twitter.com/...
Mark Mulligan / Music Industry Blog: The attention recession has hit Spotify too
Variety: Spotify Zooms to 422 Million Users in Q1, Growing Overall Listeners Amid Rogan Controversy and Loss of Russia Subscribers
Marc Schneider / Billboard: Spotify Subscribers Crawl to 182M as Quarterly Revenue Grows 24%
@kerrymflynn: Obsessed with Daniel Ek explaining how important football ⚽️ is on the $SPOT earnings call “I know a lot of you are Americans but let me just state sports is a massive thing globally and football or soccer is the number one sport.”
Sarah Perez / @sarahintampa: Rogan backlash didn't hurt Spotify's Q1, as paying subscribers grew 15% despite Russia exit: https://techcrunch.com/...
@spotifynews: Our growing users & subscribers at a glance. Read more about $SPOT Q1 2022 here: https://newsroom.spotify.com/ ... https://twitter.com/...
@jonporty: Spotify's first quarter earnings are here, and despite #DeleteSpotify trending a couple months ago due to the Joe Rogan controversies, it doesn't seem to have had much of an impact https://www.theverge.com/...
Georg Szalai / The Hollywood Reporter: Spotify Adds 2 Million Paying Subscribers in First Quarter, Falling Shy of Forecast Amid Russia Exit
Lucas Shaw / @lucas_shaw: That's because the company constantly compared itself to netflix when it went public! (But he's right, the businesses are very different.) https://twitter.com/...
Daniel Cooper / Engadget: Spotify still grew despite Joe Rogan boycotts and Russia closure
Anthony Coyle / @anthonyc3004: $SPOT Q1 c'td: 4.0m podcasts on platform end Q1 vs 3.6m end Q4, podcast consumption growth double-digits yoy, podcast share of total consumption new all-time high, >85% new podcast creatoin happening on their Anchor platform. Net net, looks good enough vs v low expectations.
Ashley Carman / @ashleyrcarman: The big things from Spotify earnings: -The Joe Rogan controversy had no impact on user numbers, but exiting Russia did. Cost them 1.5 million subs -Ads accounted for 11% of revenue -Time spent listening to podcasts reached an “all-time high” https://www.bloomberg.com/...
Anthony Coyle / @anthonyc3004: $SPOT Q1 ctd: Q2 guide in-line despite Russia shutdown. GM 25.2% as co continues to heavily invest. Re 2-sided Mktplace, they rolled out self-serve campaign in US, doubling no of new custs, 85% retention existing custs. Rolled out Spotify for Artists in 9 new languages...
Dell Cameron / Gizmodo:
Twitter confirms it quietly “limit[ed] the visibility” of promotional tweets via its ad platform about HBO documentary Q: Into the Storm in 2021 — Twitter told the director of “Q: Into the Storm” it had “made the decision not to allow promotion of this documentary” when he tried to advertise the film.
Discussion:
@dellcam, Newslit Daily, @blakersdozen, @justinhendrix, @rothschildmd, @jeremymbarr and @anthony, more at Techmeme »
Discussion:
@dellcam: Scoop: Twitter decided last year to ‘limit the visibility’ of an HBO series critical of QAnon (and Twitter's handling of QAnon). Claims the decision is about preventing ‘offline harm’ The filmmaker didn't find out until a year after the series debuted https://gizmodo.com/...
Jose Montes de Oca / Newslit Daily: 📁 Tech Giants Duped Into Giving Up Data Used to Sexually Extort Minors
Blake Montgomery / @blakersdozen: Twitter told the director of “Q: Into the Storm” it had “made the decision not to allow promotion of this documentary” when he tried to advertise the film. https://gizmodo.com/...
Justin Hendrix / @justinhendrix: .@CullenHoback's documentary, Q: Into the Storm, is an important work that helps the viewer understand QAnon, the internet, extremism and January 6. Highly recommend. https://twitter.com/...
Mike Rothschild / @rothschildmd: Infuriating that after years of letting QAnon influencers run wild, Twitter would prevent a documentary showing the truth about Q from being promoted. https://twitter.com/...
Jeremy Barr / @jeremymbarr: This is wild. This was a wildly educational and informative documentary series. https://gizmodo.com/...
Anthony DeRosa / @anthony: For the past year, Twitter censored tweets about a documentary exploring the origins of the QAnon movement. Twitter admitted that it was restricting the reach of tweets about the series after the director tried paying to publicize the film's iTunes debut https://gizmodo.com/...
Georg Szalai / The Hollywood Reporter:
Comcast and Charter launch a joint venture to develop a nationwide streaming platform that will use Comcast's Flex streaming tech and feature Xumo content — Comcast will license Flex, its aggregated streaming platform and hardware, and contribute streamer Xumo to the joint venture …
Discussion:
New York Times, Comcast, TechCrunch, MediaPost, Variety, Deadline, CNET, @benmullin, Engadget, Next TV, Light Reading, The Verge, @comcast, @alexweprin, Media Play News and Cord Cutters News
Discussion:
Benjamin Mullin / New York Times: Cable Giants Comcast and Charter Team Up on Streaming Devices
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch: Comcast and Charter team up to launch a new streaming platform for US consumers
Karlene Lukovitz / MediaPost: Charter, Comcast Team On New Streaming Platform
Todd Spangler / Variety: Comcast, Charter Form Joint Venture to Launch Nationwide Streaming Platform
Dade Hayes / Deadline: Pay-TV Leaders Charter And Comcast Form Streaming Joint Venture Built On Xfinity Flex
Kourtnee Jackson / CNET: Comcast and Charter to Launch Joint Streaming Platform
Ben Mullin / @benmullin: Comcast and Charter are teaming up in the connected TV world. @RichLightShed tells me he thinks this means Comcast probably won't acquire Roku: https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Jeff Baumgartner / Light Reading: Charter and Comcast strike national streaming joint venture
Chris Welch / The Verge: Comcast and Charter team up in hopes of toppling Roku, Amazon streaming hardware
@comcast: Learn how this joint venture will provide consumers with a world-class user experience & navigation, all the top apps, and more choice in the streaming marketplace. ⬇️ https://corporate.comcast.com/ ...
Alex Weprin / @alexweprin: This is no small thing. Comcast and Charter combined are the main internet providers for 62 million homes. https://twitter.com/...
Washington Post:
The WHCA turned down an offer to install UV devices to fight transmission of the coronavirus at its dinner on Saturday, for which it has sold 2,600 tickets — White House correspondents rebuff proposal to install special lights to stop viral spread — More than 2,000 journalists …
Discussion:
New York Magazine, @mattbc, @ericgeller, @budrykzack, @karoli, @davidmackau, @rachelbianca, @ddiamond, @drdavidmichaels, @ebonyjhilton_md, @paulkingsley7 and @jeffjarvis
Discussion:
Matthew Cortland / @mattbc: I think the people running the WHCA who are knowingly and deliberately endangering the lives of their guests - including public officials - and the workers who will be forced to staff their event? Theyare the actual threat to national security, not disability activists https://twitter.com/...
Eric Geller / @ericgeller: me: there's no way the WHCD could get any more embarrassing for our profession the WHCA: hold my martini https://twitter.com/...
Zack Budryk / @budrykzack: One Simpsons prediction of the future that doesn't get enough credit is when the PTA unanimously votes down the fire department periodically recharging the fire extinguishers for free https://twitter.com/...
David Mack / @davidmackau: titanic planners worry lifeboats will interfere with gala https://twitter.com/...
Rachel Hatzipanagos / @rachelbianca: I'll be wearing a😷from Maryland https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Dan Diamond / @ddiamond: @farhip Fauci has pulled out of dinner, worried about risk. But Biden and 2,000-plus others still set to attend. More as DC holds breath amid fears that massive party could be city's latest super-spreading event. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... https://twitter.com/...
David Michaels / @drdavidmichaels: Requiring masks, testing & vaccinations is good but puts too much onus on individuals. We need environmental interventions - ventilation, filtration & disinfection - so it doesn't all fall on workers & others with little power to change their environment. 2/
Ebony Jade Hilton / @ebonyjhilton_md: @ddiamond @farhip The way we continuously center the privileged in this pandemic at the expense of the most vulnerable is beyond me. The elite guests have luxury of healthcare, wealth allowing for leave of absence from work if sick, and a house w/ plenty of rooms to isolate. Now do the servers?
Paul Kingsley / @paulkingsley7: Hard not to get technical here, but I wouldn't want to eat dinner in a room bathed for hours in 222nm far uv. Not enough is known about why they induce high levels of gamma-H2AX, a sign of DNA damage. Use it or not, I'd skip this dinner. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Jeff Jarvis / @jeffjarvis: They like smoke-filled rooms https://twitter.com/...
Jennifer Rankin / The Guardian:
The European Commission proposes measures to protect journalists and campaigners working to expose corruption and wrongdoing from “manifestly unfounded” SLAPPs — Anti-Slapp directive would also enable EU states to refuse to recognise judgments passed in UK
Discussion:
Edwin Hayward / @uk_domain_names: “EU announces plans to protect journalists from vexatious lawsuits Anti-Slapp directive would also enable EU states to refuse to recognise judgments passed in UK” Ah, if only this applied to our press too. But no, detractors get to keep Slapp-ing away. https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
RELATED:
Mark Bergen / Bloomberg:
YouTube starts testing ads on Shorts, including app-install ads and other promotions; Google says that Shorts now has 30B daily views — YouTube is testing advertisements on Shorts, its short-form video feature that competes with TikTok and Instagram, Google's chief business officer told investors on Tuesday.
Discussion:
Preslav Mladenov / PhoneArena: Google introduces ads in YouTube Shorts
Joe Mandese / MediaPost: Double-Digit YouTube Ad Gain Sends Alphabet Stock Down, Analyst Cites Fear Of Ad Recession
Steve Dent / Engadget: Ads are coming to YouTube Shorts
RELATED:
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Alphabet reports YouTube Q1 ad revenue of $6.87B, up 14% YoY but below estimates of $7.48B, and blames Q1 2021's “exceptional” direct response ad performance
Discussion:
MediaPost, CNBC, @stevekovach, Digiday, Music Ally, PhoneArena, Hollywood Reporter and Deadline, more at Techmeme »
Discussion:
Laurie Sullivan / MediaPost: Google: Ukraine-Russia War Drove Down Western European Ad Spending
Steve Kovach / @stevekovach: I wonder if Google now regrets disclosing YouTube ad revenue. https://www.cnbc.com/...
Stuart Dredge / Music Ally: YouTube advertising revenues up 14.4% to $6.87bn in Q1 2022
Alan Friedman / PhoneArena: YouTube's ad revenue for Q1 is a big disappointment; investors sell their Alphabet holdings
J. Clara Chan / Hollywood Reporter: YouTube Ad Revenue Growth Slows, Falls Short of Wall Street Expectations
Los Angeles Times:
After criticism, Los Angeles County's sheriff says his department is not pursuing a criminal leak probe into LA Times journalist Alene Tchekmedyian — Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Tuesday that his department was targeting a Times journalist in a criminal leak investigation …
Discussion:
@stoltzefrankly, Los Angeles Times, @rcfp, CNN, New York Times, @latimes, American Press Institute, @shelbygrad, Mediaite, Media Guild of the West, @latimes, @josie_huang, @maggienyt, @chiweethegod, @joelrubin, @jassyspeaks1st, @lacosheriff, @marshallproj, @mgerrydoyle, @popehat, @amyfiscus, @kathleencarrll, @digiphile, @fpwellman, @politicussarah, @theserfstv, @reckless, @reckless, Poynter, @steveschmidtses, @kimmasters, @janecoaston, @josephpatrice, @maggienyt, @ggreeneva, @jortsthecat, @jiejennyzou, @salhernandez, @acbowen, @steffdaz, @elaheizadi, @kevrector, The Wrap, @steveschmidtses, @jonmurray, @oliverdarcy, @rickhasen, @brooklynmarie, NPR and Deadline
Discussion:
Frank Stoltze / @stoltzefrankly: BREAKING: @LACoSheriff says he is investigating @latimes reporter @AleneTchek in connection with a leak of information, displaying a photo of her at today's newser. This is an extraordinary escalation in the sheriff's attack not only on the paper but also on the First Amendment. https://twitter.com/...
@rcfp: The LA County Sheriff's Department's announcement that it has launched a criminal investigation into a journalist because of her reporting is appalling. This blatantly retaliatory conduct aimed at @latimes & @AleneTchek violates the First Amendment. @katie_rcfp's full statement: https://twitter.com/...
Katie Robertson / New York Times: Los Angeles Sheriff, Accused of Cover-Up, Opens Investigation Into Reporter
@latimes: L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis, who along with other supervisors has clashed with the sheriff repeatedly, said that she would ask California Atty. Gen. Ron Bonta to “investigate his pattern of unconscionable and dangerous actions like the one today.” https://www.latimes.com/...
American Press Institute: Need to Know: April 27, 2022 — OFF THE TOP — You might have heard: Board fight imperils …
Shelby Grad / @shelbygrad: An important message about a free press and the dangers of criminalizing news reporting from LAT executive editor @meridak in the case of @AleneTchek https://twitter.com/...
Jackson Richman / Mediaite: LA County Sheriff Ambles Back on Targeting LA Times Reporter After Paper Slams ‘Outrageous’ Attacks
@latimes: The sheriff's attack on reporter @AleneTchek drew immediate condemnation from the newspaper. “His attempt to criminalize news reporting goes against well-established constitutional law,” said @meridak, executive editor of The Times, in a statement. https://www.latimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Josie Huang / @josie_huang: Why is this LA Times reporter being investigated? She wrote about the attempted cover-up of a videotaped incident in which a deputy kneeled on the head of a handcuffed inmate for 3 minutes. Here's the story by @AleneTchek: https://www.latimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Maggie Haberman / @maggienyt: Have never seen something like this, no matter how many times officials have tried to drag and/or demonize reporters https://twitter.com/...
@chiweethegod: billionaires are supposedly worried about free speech but you'll never hear them talking about this one. a journalist actually doing a good job of reporting for a change on a deputy at the jail kneeling on a handcuffed inmate's head = a “leak of information” according to sheriff https://twitter.com/...
Joel Rubin / @joelrubin: For the 1st Amendment nerds out there (and transparency in general) we published the letter our lawyers sent to Los Angeles Sheriff Alex Villanueva after he opened a criminal investigation into one of our reporters. https://www.latimes.com/...
@jassyspeaks1st: When you're moving so fast to distance your present self from your past self that the best picture you can find is just a blur https://twitter.com/...
Alex Villanueva / @lacosheriff: (1/3) Resulting from the incredible frenzy of misinformation being circulated, I must clarify at no time today did I state an LA Times reporter was a suspect in a criminal investigation. We have no interest in pursuing, nor are we pursuing, criminal charges against any reporters. https://twitter.com/...
@marshallproj: Condemnation was swift against Sheriff Alex Villanueva for his brazen attack on @latimes journalist @AleneTchek, who has reported on a sheriff's department cover-up. https://www.latimes.com/...
Gerry Doyle / @mgerrydoyle: this is an actual free speech issue, unlike kicking nazis off twitter https://twitter.com/...
@popehat: Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva is the reason Angelinos can no longer be smug about how many times Joe Arpaio got re-elected. He's a standout thug. https://twitter.com/...
Amy Fiscus / @amyfiscus: “You are on notice” https://twitter.com/...
Kathleen Carroll / @kathleencarrll: Oh good grief. What's more important? Investigating who kneels on an inmate, or investigating the person who tells the public about it? Ask the people who pay your salary, #sheriffvillanueva #givemeabreak @latimes @pressfreedom https://www.latimes.com/...
Alex Howard / @digiphile: What @LACoSheriff “is doing reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of basic 1st Amendment law. This has been settled for decades”- @DavidLoySD , @FACoalition https://www.latimes.com/... Don't let brazen attacks on press freedom by law enforcement stand unchallenged, @GavinNewsom. https://twitter.com/...
Fred Wellman / @fpwellman: Unchecked authoritarian power. Using the state to intimidate the free press. Right out of the fascist playbook. https://twitter.com/...
Sarah Reese Jones / @politicussarah: An actual attack on 1st amendment: https://twitter.com/...
@theserfstv: Not sure if this story is in any way related https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Nilay Patel / @reckless: When will the billionaires pay attention to the real free speech problems in America https://twitter.com/...
Nilay Patel / @reckless: We can all quit Twitter tomorrow. The police targeting you because you said unflattering things about them is far more dangerous
Tom Jones / Poynter: A journalist unveiled a sheriff coverup in Los Angeles. The department is now investigating her.
Steve Schmidt / @steveschmidtses: extremism problem. Beware the sheriffs deputies kitted up for a day of house to house combat in Fallujah as they say. Here we see a public official engaged in a grotesque abuse of power as he assaults the First Amendment and 245 years of American press freedom with a
Kim Masters / @kimmasters: We need a new sheriff. https://twitter.com/...
Jane Coaston / @janecoaston: Also an amazingly bad way to stop people from discussing her story https://twitter.com/...
Joe Patrice / @josephpatrice: While people crow about “free speech” when the richest person in the world lets people post racist memes on a private forum, here's where the First Amendment is really going in the country — prosecuting journalists for covering government scandals. https://twitter.com/...
Maggie Haberman / @maggienyt: A law-enforcement official highlighting a reporter's face under an inflammatory header at a press conference after the reporter wrote newsworthy information the department didn't want written https://twitter.com/...
Greg Greene / @ggreeneva: Let's be clear, this attempt to intimidate journalists is outrageous — but if we want to wonder how it could happen, we have to ask if many law-enforcement institutions have become unaccountable far-right factions, functionally in charge of their cities & impervious to reform. https://twitter.com/...
Jie Jenny Zou / @jiejennyzou: this is a perfect example of what NOT to do as a government agency that specifically made a “transparency promise” https://www.latimes.com/...
Salvador Hernandez / @salhernandez: Seems like a good time to remind @LACoSheriff employees that @AleneTchek - who has been doing a great job covering the dept - accepts news tips via email that's in her bio https://twitter.com/...
Andrew Bowen / @acbowen: This would be despicable behavior from any elected official, but the fact that it's coming from LA County's top law enforcement official makes it so much worse. https://twitter.com/...
Stefanie Dazio / @steffdaz: .@LACoSheriff indicated that @latimes reporter @AleneTchek is under criminal investigation for her reporting this case. Villanueva put Alene's photo up like a mugshot + refused to take Q's from her during a presser. Alene is a terrific reporter. Full stop. https://www.latimes.com/...
@elaheizadi: LAT executive editor Kevin Merida called this “outrageous.” Statement: https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Kevin Rector / @kevrector: In a brazen attack on the press, L.A. County Sheriff Villanueva said he is investigating the @latimes reporter who revealed an excessive force cover-up that Villanueva himself now stands accused of participating in: https://www.latimes.com/...
Ross A. Lincoln / The Wrap: LA Sheriff Walks Back Attempt to Intimidate Reporter Over LA Times Story on Police Abuse
Steve Schmidt / @steveschmidtses: The @LACoSheriff deserves much greater scrutiny. In fact, Sheriffs Departments all over America deserve greater scrutiny. The reason for that is we have a National Kooky Sheriff problem. The @LACoSheriff office is a mess and like many Sheriffs offices it has a political https://twitter.com/...
Jon Murray / @jonmurray: LA Times reporter reports something that questions the LA sheriff's handling/honesty about a use of force incident. The next day, he puts up the reporter's photo at a news conference. Here is the story by @AleneTchek that got this response: https://www.latimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Oliver Darcy / @oliverdarcy: Los Angeles Times Executive Editor Kevin Merida condemns the sheriff's “attack on Alene Tchekmedyian's First Amendment rights.” Merida calls it an “outrageous” move and says the “attempt to criminalize news reporting goes against well-established constitutional law.” https://twitter.com/...
Megan Graham / Wall Street Journal:
Real-time TV ad measurement service iSpot.tv raises $325M from Goldman Sachs and says it had $75M in revenue in 2021, up from $51M in 2020 — The firm helps marketers track whether their ads spurred a visit to their website or a purchase. The new funding is the latest in a flurry of deals around TV ad metrics
Discussion:
Insider, iSpot.tv, Beet.TV, Bloomberg, MediaPost, @megancgraham, @loupas, @zachservideo, @ispottv, GeekWire, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, Next TV, @nickcicero and Ad Age, more at Techmeme »
Discussion:
Sean Czarnecki / Insider: Measurement upstart iSpot raised $325 million from Goldman Sachs to take on TV ratings giant Nielsen
iSpot.tv: Goldman Sachs to Invest $325 million into iSpot.tv to Accelerate Modern TV Measurement Currencies
Robert Williams / Beet.TV: ISpot.tv Receives $325 Million Investment From Goldman Sachs to Expand TV Ad Measurement
Wayne Friedman / MediaPost: Alternate Media-Buying Currency iSpot.TV Receives $325M Investment From Goldman Sachs
Meg Graham / @megancgraham: iSpot has received a $325 million investment from Goldman Sachs Asset Management, the latest in a flurry of deals around TV ad measurement: https://www.wsj.com/...
Lou Paskalis / @loupas: “Nielsen is going to be in the mix and probably in a major way as well. But I think it's going to end up with a two- or three-player (multichannel media) market,” @seansmuller, CEO, @ispottv as told to @megancgraham @WSJ https://www.wsj.com/...
Zach Servideo / @zachservideo: TV ad measurement will end up being dominated by 2-3 players. @ispottv is absolutely the leader https://www.wsj.com/...
@ispottv: We are so proud to reach another big milestone in iSpot history! As featured in @WSJ, we've received $325M Series D from @GoldmanSachs. With this investment, iSpot will accelerate the development of alternative currencies: https://www.wsj.com/...
Todd Bishop / GeekWire: Goldman Sachs will invest $325M in iSpot, helping to break Nielsen's lock on TV ad measurement
Caitlin Huston / The Hollywood Reporter: Goldman Sachs Invests $325M in Nielsen Rival iSpot.tv
Jim Waterson / The Guardian:
BBC DG says it will cut the number of programs it makes and consider turning more stations into archive services, as it looks for £285M in annual savings — Tim Davie suggests more stations could become archive services, as he prepares to announce deep cuts
Nicholas Diakopoulos / Columbia Journalism Review:
A deep dive into predictive journalism, the value of computational methods in news media, developing a responsible journalistic practice of prediction, and more — EXECUTIVE SUMMARY — Whether it's who is going to win an upcoming election, how a pandemic will unfold next month …
Discussion:
Jane Singer / @janebsinger: Fascinating exploration @ndiakopoulos of ‘predictive journalism’ — broadly, incorporating forecasts in news. Sophisticated use is growing, notably in political and health coverage, aided by input from machine learning and output via data viz. https://www.cjr.org/... @TowCenter
Amanda Darrach / Columbia Journalism Review:
Q&A with Dean Baquet and Joe Kahn as Kahn succeeds Baquet as The New York Times' executive editor, on growing subscriptions, objectivity and democracy, and more — · Dean Baquet & Joe Kahn: What's next for the New York Times? — Last week, after years of public speculation on the matter …
Discussion:
@voxshelby, @jayrosen_nyu, @tzimmer_history, @ardenthistorian, @sifill_ldf, @jamisonfoser, @vabvox, @neontaster, @adamdavidson, @moorehn, @keitholbermann, @vabvox, @transscribe, @nickkristof, @froomkin, @pcdunham, @tomwatson, @markhughesfilms, @ashtonpittman, @joeltrose, @froomkin, @owillis and @froomkin
Discussion:
Shelby / @voxshelby: @froomkin Seems unable to discern between Democrats and democracy. I would have thought that language skills are high on the list for his position.
Jay Rosen / @jayrosen_nyu: Man, this is frustrating. The new editor of the New York Times, Joe Kahn, and the outgoing editor, Dean Baquet, sit for an interview @CJR's Kyle Pope. (Do read the whole thing.) https://www.cjr.org/... Pope asked if conservatives are a winnable audience. Kahn's reply: https://twitter.com/...
Thomas Zimmer / @tzimmer_history: This is pretty brutal - but instructive, as the key fallacies that plague mainstream media coverage of American politics are on full display here: The central goal is “nonpartisanship” over accuracy, and the struggle over democracy is relegated to just one amongst many topics. https://twitter.com/...
Annika Brockschmidt / @ardenthistorian: Just the new editor of the NYT claiming that covering the Republican Party as a threat to democracy would destroy the existence of „independent journalism" and that „threats to democracy" are just another partisan issue. I'll go scream into the abyss now. Jfc. https://twitter.com/...
Sherrilyn Ifill / @sifill_ldf: So focusing on “threats to democracy” would make the NYT “a partisan organization.” Doesn't that pretty much say it all? Disappointed that the editor appears to think that being non-partisan is a more importamt journalistic imperative than being committed to democracy. https://twitter.com/...
Jamison Foser / @jamisonfoser: the belief that focusing on threats to democracy would make the New York Times “partisan” tells you everything you need to know about the New York Times. https://twitter.com/...
Victoria Brownworth / @vabvox: “If we become a partisan organization exclusively focused on threats to democracy...” Wow. Does this mean the NYT under Kahn will be even worse than under Baquet at both-sides journalism? Should we expect a both-sides-ing of Putin's war against Ukraine? These are real concerns. https://twitter.com/...
Noam Blum / @neontaster: “It's frustrating that the New York Times doesn't want to function an an arm of the democratic party” said journalism professor. https://twitter.com/...
Adam Davidson / @adamdavidson: I am genuinely confounded. Covering threats to democracy would be partisan? And, if so, they shouldn't do too much of that coverage? How can he say these words. Also: what does “independent” mean here? How do you lose it by covering threats to democracy? https://twitter.com/...
Heidi N. Moore / @moorehn: There's a lot in this interview with the new New York Times editor, Joe Kahn, but “assuming I last” is a very funny chapeau to the politics of the place https://www.cjr.org/...
Keith Olbermann / @keitholbermann: Congrats @nytimes. You found another foppish bothsidesist just like @deanbaquet https://twitter.com/...
Victoria Brownworth / @vabvox: I do urge folks to read this, because regardless of your personal take on the NYT,this is still the paper that defines a lot of coverage—as we've seen for the past six years at least. And Dean Baquet set that bar and Joe Kahn is his hand-picked successor. https://www.cjr.org/...
Katelyn Burns / @transscribe: Is this not a tacit admission that they understand Republicans are a threat to democracy? https://twitter.com/...
Nicholas Kristof / @nickkristof: Interesting @CJR Q&A with @nytimes executive editors old and new, Dean Baquet and Joe Kahn: https://www.cjr.org/...
Dan Froomkin / @froomkin: “We're in a toxic environment where attacks on the New York Times are seen as a way to get traction on social media,” scoffs Joe Kahn, the NYT's next editor. Great attitude. https://www.cjr.org/...
PCD / @pcdunham: They are still operating on the notion that if they platform conservatives in the op-ed section, somehow they will draw conservative readers. They will never draw conservative readers while the oped section has become another venue for conservative garbage. https://twitter.com/...
Tom Watson / @tomwatson: So it's “partisan” to focus on threats to American democracy. Interesting theory from @nycscribe. 🫤 https://twitter.com/...
Mark Hughes / @markhughesfilms: New NYT editor Joe Kahn says covering threats to overthrow democracy is a “partisan” approach that he rejects. So, he sees liberty as merely an “option,” & defending it against forces of evil & destruction is “biased?” He's an unethical hack who sympathizes w/fascism. https://twitter.com/...
@ashtonpittman: New York Times' new editor, Joe Kahn, thinks democracy is a partisan issue: “I honestly think that if we become a partisan organization exclusively focused on threats to democracy ... we will lose the battle to be independent. https://twitter.com/...
Joel T. Rose / @joeltrose: Cool, the new editor of The NY Times is already the chuck todd of dean baquets. https://twitter.com/...
Dan Froomkin / @froomkin: Wow. This, from Joe Kahn, the next editor of the NYT, is the smarmiest most deceitful and clueless straw-man depiction of what critics are asking for I've ever seen. Ever. NOBODY has said anything remotely like that. For shame. This is fake news. https://www.cjr.org/... https://twitter.com/...
Marie Woolf / Canadian Press:
Rachel Curran, a Meta Canada policy manager, tells a parliamentary panel the company has “serious concerns” about an online news bill modeled on Australia's law — OTTAWA - Digital giant Meta says it has “serious concerns” about the federal government's online news bill …
Discussion:
@bgrueskin, National Post, @halsinger, @mgeist, @edmontonjournal, @dangillmor and @karaswisher
Discussion:
Bill Grueskin / @bgrueskin: Facebook is vaguely threatening to block news in Canada, over a bill to force revenue-sharing with news orgs. FB did this last year in Australia —and completely bungled it. Would they be so thick as to try it again? https://nationalpost.com/...
Anja Karadeglija / National Post: Facebook could block news in Canada over revenue-sharing bill, exec says
Michael Geist / @mgeist: .@dskok of @the_logic argued in a recent piece that Twitter wasn't caught by the government's Online News Act. Apparently Twitter isn't so sure telling a House of Commons committee it's unclear if it is within C-18's scope. https://nationalpost.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@edmontonjournal: “We didn't know the scope of it until it was tabled very recently. I will say we do have some pretty serious concerns.” #Canada https://edmontonjournal.com/ ...
Dan Gillmor / @dangillmor: Oh sure, they should just accede to shakedowns orchestrated by big media companies. Calling this revenue sharing is just wrong. It's an indirect tax, taking from one industry to benefit another. FB did bungle it in Australia, but the law there set a terrible precedent. https://twitter.com/...
Cecilia D'Anastasio / Bloomberg:
Sources: Twitch is considering cutting the revenue share for top creators in its partner program to 50%, from 70%, among other changes to boost its revenue — Twitch, the Amazon.com Inc.-owned live-streaming website, is weighing potential changes to how it pays top talent …
Discussion:
Gizmodo, @caseynewton, @froste, @cecianasta, @geometric, @ifooya, @authorblues, Engadget, PC Gamer, @wolfy2032, @carnage4life, @somospostpc, @bigcheesekit, @nottheclick, @jjliebig, @zachbussey, @cecianasta and @fredstreams, more at Techmeme »
Discussion:
Mack DeGeurin / Gizmodo: Twitch Reportedly Considering Cutting Streamer Pay to Boost Its Own Profits
Casey Newton / @caseynewton: Some Twitch streamers are already strapping themselves into chairs for 16+ hours a day; cutting their pay by 20 percent to pad Amazon's profit margins feels like the grimmest possible version of a ‘creator economy’ https://www.bloomberg.com/...
Cecilia D'Anastasio / @cecianasta: Several changes to Twitch's partner program/monetization have been discussed, including around de-emphasizing exclusivity from Partner contracts, paring down remaining 70/30 subscription splits to 50/50 and making ads a better value proposition: https://www.bloomberg.com/...
@geometric: If anything could finally potentially spur some competition amongst streaming platforms, it could be this. Twitch is an incredible website but the monopoly they have just hurts streamers at this point (and esports too) https://twitter.com/...
Danielle / @ifooya: I've been loyal to twitch for around 6 years, cutting me to 50% after all this time will actually be such a slap to the face. This is my livelihood they're playing with :/ https://twitter.com/...
@authorblues: If this ends up happening for sure, I'm going to hard-pivot to Patreon. Most creators are already losing 50%+ to Twitch, so if that number goes down further, I'm not sure there is any benefit to having income go through Twitch. https://twitter.com/...
Jon Fingas / Engadget: Twitch is reconsidering how it pays top streamers
@wolfy2032: lol this is as bad as the netflix adding ads to its service youtube really might be the future https://twitter.com/...
@carnage4life: I've long argued that a business model challenge for ride sharing is there isn't enough money for gig workers to get paid well and platforms to be profitable. Between Etsy & Twitch raising take rates, this is actually a broader creator economy problem. https://www.bloomberg.com/...
@somospostpc: history books in the 22nd century “The Andorra Financial Crisis of 2023 started with the push of a button at the Twitch headquarters in San Francisco (California)” https://twitter.com/...
@nottheclick: People often ask me “why aren't you a twitch partner, you have almost 80k followers?” - Well, they don't actually offer anything. Money isn't my primary concern, I love the Twitch community. But I'm not limiting my own content freedom with exclusivity contracts for no reason. https://twitter.com/...
@jjliebig: I can't wait for the three minute prerolls so poor Bezos can afford another trip to space. Will someone think of the billionaires 😰 https://twitter.com/...
Zach Bussey / @zachbussey: “Twitch staff is considering paring back the revenue cut of channel subscriptions granted to the top echelon of streamers in its so-called partnerships program to 50%, from 70%.” Via https://www.bloomberg.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Cecilia D'Anastasio / @cecianasta: Scoop: Twitch is considering important changes to its Partner program and content monetization, sources say. These proposed changes are part of an effort to boost profits— which some employees worry could alienate streamers. My report on the discussions: https://www.bloomberg.com/...
Lauren Feiner / CNBC:
Twitter agrees to be acquired “by an entity wholly owned by Elon Musk” for $54.20 per share in cash; the ~$44B deal requires shareholder and regulatory approval — - Twitter's board accepted billionaire Elon Musk's offer to buy the social media company and take it private, the company confirmed.
Discussion:
@jeffbezos, @elonmusk, The Verge, @pekingmike, TechCrunch, New York Times, Mediaite, @waltmossberg, Media Matters for America, @elonmusk, Fast Company, Fox News, @bdherzinger, @becketadams, @dwuff, @btaylor, @oneunderscore__, @brookesingman, @gabehudson, @tedcruz, @davidsacks, @sarahfrier, @kantrowitz, The FinanceTLDR Newsletter, The Wayward Rabbler, @jim_jordan, @ggreenwald, The Atlantic, @paraga, @sarahcpr, @tressiemcphd, @rmac18, @repbonnie, @michaelsteele, @joe_hill, Outside the Beltway, @obrien, @zubymusic, @ggreenwald, @justinhendrix, @benmekler, @sarahjeong, @evelyndouek, @mattrosoff, @reuters, @danprimack, @taylorlorenz, @chrislhayes, @djrothkopf, @ericjackson, @tomgara, @benfenton, @anthony, @alexkoppelman, @emanuelmaiberg, @aprilaser, @jamesrbuk, @ayocaesar, @atrupar, @alkapdc, @wajahatali, @mims, @ericjackson, @mgsiegler, @davidafrench, @alexhanna, @mathewi, @dcurtis, @alexhern, @emilydreyfuss, @tcarmody, @danprimack, @sriramk, @sarahfrier, @joannastern, @jarak, @kantrowitz, @buzz, @mikedrucker, @tomgara, @loganbartlett, @dylanreeve, @repjayapal, @hblodget, @thekenyeung, @manan, @lizweil, @mat, @mathewi, @espiers, @kurtwagner8, @davewiner, @kfury, @daveleeft, @mikeisaac, @artemr, @caseynewton, @mgsiegler, @film_girl, @bplewis, @tomcoates, @russellholly, @byjacobward, @leratomannya, @rmac18, @robaeprice, @sarafischer, @davidaxelrod, @repjimbanks, @mollyjongfast, @taylorlorenz and Memex 1.1, more at Techmeme »
Discussion:
Jeff Bezos / @jeffbezos: Interesting question. Did the Chinese government just gain a bit of leverage over the town square? https://twitter.com/...
Elon Musk / @elonmusk: 🚀💫♥️ Yesss!!! ♥️💫🚀 https://twitter.com/...
Corin Faife / The Verge: Conservative Twitter accounts got boost in followers after Musk acquisition, data shows
@pekingmike: Apropos of something: -Tesla's second-biggest market in 2021 was China (after the US) -Chinese battery makers are major suppliers for Tesla's EVs. -After 2009, when China banned Twitter, the government there had almost no leverage over the platform -That may have just changed
Amanda Silberling / TechCrunch: In leaked All-Hands meeting, Twitter CEO fields questions about Elon Musk's takeover
Lauren Hirsch / New York Times: Here's What's Next for Elon Musk and Twitter: Live Updates
Jackson Richman / Mediaite: Elon Musk Dunks On Trump's TRUTH Social: ‘Terrible Name’
Walt Mossberg / @waltmossberg: There is some interesting speculation being written by smart journalists and others about how @Twitter will change under @elonmusk . I am trying to ignore it, and I advise you to do the same. Speculation and prediction at this stage is almost always wrong.
Media Matters for America: Conservatives are claiming that Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter will expose biases against them on the platform. Those biases don't exist.
Elon Musk / @elonmusk: I hope that even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means
James Surowiecki / Fast Company: Elon Musk's two big goals for Twitter are totally at odds
Taylor Penley / Fox News: Twitter users suggest what Elon Musk ‘should buy next,’ including Disney, History Channel
Blake Herzinger / @bdherzinger: The chutzpah required to make this statement when your newspaper hosts a paid section from China Daily has to be galactic in its scale. https://twitter.com/...
Becket Adams / @becketadams: for more than 30 years, the Washington Post published agitprop produced by “China Daily,” the official propaganda arm of the Chinese Communist Party. “ads” disguised as legit news. between 2016 and 2020, the CCP paid WaPo $4.5M+. Bezos purchased the Washington Post in 2013. https://twitter.com/...
@dwuff: Older twitter users who have lived through geocities, web forums, livejournal, myspace, tumblr and twitter, finding out that it may be yet again time to change platforms https://twitter.com/...
Bret Taylor / @btaylor: The Twitter Board has reached an agreement with @ElonMusk https://www.prnewswire.com/...
Ben Collins / @oneunderscore__: There are plenty of models for where this site is likely headed. I'm on those sites all day. I cover extremism and lies for a living. You're not gonna like it.
Brooke Singman / @brookesingman: EXCLUSIVE: #Trump will not return to #Twitter even if #ElonMusk purchases platform, will begin using his own #TRUTHSocial https://www.foxnews.com/...
Gabe Hudson / @gabehudson: Lot of assholes cite free speech as excuse to taunt marginalized communities when free speech is abt making sure marginalized communities can speak up
Ted Cruz / @tedcruz: Exactly right. Amazing to watch the Left panic at the prospect of free speech on Twitter. https://twitter.com/...
David Sacks / @davidsacks: Things that must be true if Twitter's board is ready to accept @elonmusk's offer: 1) they did a soft market check and there were no other bidders. 2) @Jack is on board. 3) the pressure campaign worked.
Sarah Frier / @sarahfrier: -open source algorithms -defeat spam bots -authenticate all humans https://twitter.com/...
Alex Kantrowitz / @kantrowitz: Tesla's stock reacts https://twitter.com/...
FinanceTLDR / The FinanceTLDR Newsletter: Weekly TLDR - All Hail the Technoking
Brad Pearce / The Wayward Rabbler: Musk Becomes The Prince of Twitter
Rep. Jim Jordan / @jim_jordan: Free speech is making a comeback. https://www.cnbc.com/...
Glenn Greenwald / @ggreenwald: I'm not really sure how or why it happened — and at some point it should be studied with the perspective of some temporal distance - but the neediest, most ardent, and most passionate censorship crusaders are the tattletale-employees of media corporations like this: https://twitter.com/...
Parag Agrawal / @paraga: Twitter has a purpose and relevance that impacts the entire world. Deeply proud of our teams and inspired by the work that has never been more important. https://twitter.com/...
Sarah Cooper / @sarahcpr: Welp. We had a good run folks. https://www.cnn.com/...
Tressie McMillan Cottom / @tressiemcphd: Money always wins. https://twitter.com/...
Ryan Mac / @rmac18: Inside Twitter, employees seemed to be most immediately concerned about what Musk's bid will do for their stock compensation. There's also a minority of employees who are excited by the prospect of his takeover based on internal Slack messages we've seen. https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman / @repbonnie: If you can buy a major social media platform, you can pay your fair share in taxes. Tax. The. Rich. https://twitter.com/...
Joe Hill / @joe_hill: Ballsiest move since Rupert Murdoch bought MySpace and Time Warner snapped up AOL, no way this can go wrong. https://twitter.com/...
James Joyner / Outside the Beltway: Elon Musk Buys Twitter
Chris O'Brien / @obrien: Should be fun watching Musk fight the EU on this front. https://twitter.com/...
@zubymusic: This is cool. I've been on Twitter for 13 years and have watched it gradually become more and more restrictive, biased, and censorious. Not to mention huge levels of spam and bot activity. I'm confident this is a step in the right direction for freedom and fairness. https://twitter.com/...
Glenn Greenwald / @ggreenwald: If this happens even to a small extent - if he is serious about following through and able — it will be one of the best and most important developments in US/Western political discourse in some time. Expect a massive backlash from numerous power centers, which need censorship. https://twitter.com/...
Justin Hendrix / @justinhendrix: There once was a man named Musk Whose tweets were a little too brusque So he bought the whole Twitter Leaving some users bitter As we hurtle toward democracy's dusk.
Sarah Jeong / @sarahjeong: it's not nearly the funniest part of the list of things he intends on doing but “making the algorithms open source” and “defeating the spam bots” are goals that work against each other
@evelyndouek: Soon we may be wistfully remembering the good old days when Twitter was run by a different eccentric billionaire who ate only 7 meals a week & appeared to testify before Congress from his kitchen. But we can do better than such nostalgia. Wrote about it: https://www.theatlantic.com/ ...
Matt Rosoff / @mattrosoff: Members of Biden's inner circle and party strategists are concerned about an increase in misinformation. A strategist close to Silicon Valley's biggest megadonors says it's not good for the Democratic party. “I would not trust him... https://www.linkedin.com/... https://www.cnbc.com/...
@reuters: Donald Trump told Fox News that he will not return to Twitter even if his account is reinstated following Elon Musk's purchase. Trump said he will formally join his own Truth Social startup over the next seven days, as planned https://www.reuters.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Dan Primack / @danprimack: “As planned” https://twitter.com/...
Taylor Lorenz / @taylorlorenz: A lot of media are about to learn lessons about platform reliance first hand
Chris Hayes / @chrislhayes: The only thing I'll say about Elon and Twitter is a quote an old Chicago reporter once said to me about newspaper publishers and their political endorsements: “Nobody ever bought a bicycle they didn't want to ride.”
David Rothkopf / @djrothkopf: The richest guy on the 2021 Forbes 400 owns the Washington Post. Number 2 now owns Twitter. Number 3 owns Facebook. Numbers 5 and 6 started Google. Numbers 4 and 9 started Microsoft. Number 10 owns Bloomberg. Free speech? You decide.
Eric Jackson / @ericjackson: Faber just said this but I had this thought too... one person just did a $44B all cash offer for a public company which was accepted... and I remember being blown away when YouTube got bought for $1.6B in 06
Tom Gara / @tomgara: Incredible, and possibly ominous, that this is the first major news event where nobody has a really funny tweet
Ben Fenton / @benfenton: The sale of this platform to a single private individual with unknowable designs on it should remind us of the transatlantic difference between the value placed on private and public ownership of the media. We are the lucky ones.
Anthony DeRosa / @anthony: All is forgiven if @elonmusk brings back Vine and Periscope
Alex Koppelman / @alexkoppelman: I'm really looking forward to the collective reaction when Elon succeeds in “defeating the spam bots” and all of us including him lose like 75% of our followers overnight
Emanuel Maiberg / @emanuelmaiberg: the fact that powerful people in media killed my original headline, “Elon Musk Becomes King Shit of Turd Mountain,” is exactly why we need more free speech https://www.vice.com/...
James Ball / @jamesrbuk: Somewhat grim but: one of the biggest and constantly changing automated moderation challenges is banning images and videos of child abuse being transmitted. It's thousands per minute, on every network. The idea of turning off moderation and starting from scratch is a non-starter
Ash Sarkar / @ayocaesar: I think it's really cool that tech bros can develop platforms to mine and monetize our data, accidentally become central to the distribution of news, and then sell off crucial parts of information infrastructure to a billionaire whose brain is 80% juul pod. https://twitter.com/...
Aaron Rupar / @atrupar: bookmarking this for when Trump's account is reactivated, he starts tweeting again, and Truth Social is a punchline that most people don't even remember https://twitter.com/...
Alex Kaplan / @alkapdc: The founder of a major QAnon channel made up of QAnon influencers who were banned by Twitter following the January 6 insurrection seems to believe that incoming Twitter owner Elon Musk will let QAnon supporters back onto the platform. https://twitter.com/...
Wajahat Ali / @wajahatali: A victory for right-wing trolls and their favorite billionaire. https://www.nytimes.com/...
@mims: as someone who was getting into Digital Minimalism before all this happened, let me just say that if millions of Twitter addicts quit the platform as a result of this, honestly that would be such a gigantic net good (spoken as a former 20-tweet-a-day kinda person)
Eric Jackson / @ericjackson: No way Elon runs this as a non profit
M.G. Siegler / @mgsiegler: We wanted flying cars, instead we're going to get flying cars *and* 140 characters. https://twitter.com/...
David French / @davidafrench: Fine with me, so long is Twitter is a hobby, and Elon Musk keeps his eyes on the main thing: https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@alexhanna: Now would be a good time for Twitter employees to take some coordinated action, especially in solidarity with your Trust and Safety colleagues whose job is going to be made much harder if this deal goes through.
Mathew Ingram / @mathewi: Not surprising. Shareholders probably less than enamored with Musk pledging $20 billion or so in stock for this deal, not to mention taking his eye off the ball in a significant way https://twitter.com/...
Dustin Curtis / @dcurtis: There are two Musks. Musk One: save humanity by making it a multi-planetary species. Also try to save Earth with electric vehicles. Musk Two: own what has become the most toxic communication system ever used by humans, because he's addicted to it.
Alex Hern / @alexhern: “I can't stand working for a part-time CEO who focuses all his attention on his second job, I wish that would change” the twitter employee said, holding the withered monkey's paw
Tim Carmody / @tcarmody: I really thought Alphabet would have bought Twitter and destroyed it instead
Sriram Krishnan / @sriramk: New era. Thrilled for @twitter. Congratulations to @elonmusk and think this will be a fantastic moment for what is a service we all care about.
Sarah Frier / @sarahfrier: Elon Musk agreed to buy Twitter for $44B, using one of the biggest leveraged buyout deals in history to take private a platform that has become a hub of public discourse and a flashpoint in the debate over speech, by @KurtWagner8 https://www.bloomberg.com/...
Joanna Stern / @joannastern: First person to calculate this deal in Dogecoin wins... a blue checkmark.
Joey Arak / @jarak: Now that this tweet is owned by Elon Musk, allow me to say that Grimes has sucked ever since VISIONS!
Alex Kantrowitz / @kantrowitz: We're now all tweeting on Elon Musk's social network
Buzz Andersen / @buzz: I'm Twitter user number 538. Been on here since July 2006. My interest has been declining steadily for some time now, but this may finally be it.
Mike Drucker / @mikedrucker: If Elon Musk buys Twitter, I'm never signing in again until five minutes later when I'm bored and open the app without thinking
Tom Gara / @tomgara: People keep focusing on Trump coming back when the real question is Azealia Banks coming back https://twitter.com/...
Logan Bartlett / @loganbartlett: Guess this settles the shitposting vs threads debate once and for all
Dylan Reeve / @dylanreeve: I honestly struggle to imagine any way this will make Twitter better. At least, assuming his intent with owning is to make it adhere more closely to his... values. https://twitter.com/...
@repjayapal: Tax the rich. It's absurd that one person can afford to buy Twitter for more than $40 billion while working families across this country have to choose every day between buying groceries or their prescription drugs. https://twitter.com/...
Henry Blodget / @hblodget: Dear Twitter employees... What the deal deal means for you is 1) most of your stock options will be worth something, and 2) you'll have a new boss. Beyond a couple of minor tweaks, the new boss hasn't said what he'll want you to build and do. It's not clear he knows. https://twitter.com/...
@thekenyeung: Twitter will not hold a conference call on Thursday after releasing its quarterly earnings.
@manan: so everyone joining Truth Social? Or is Twitter acquiring Truth Social & Nunes becomes Twitter CEO. Devin then bans all cow memes.
@lizweil: Alt Musk theory: people will do anything to distract themselves from the true inner chaos of turning 50.
Mat Honan / @mat: Hell of a way to go about getting @elon
Mathew Ingram / @mathewi: I for one welcome our new Twitter overlord, and look forward to helping capture others who can work in his sugar mines
Elizabeth Spiers / @espiers: Alt hed: Dog Catches Car https://twitter.com/...
Kurt Wagner / @kurtwagner8: Here's the note Twitter CEO @paraga just sent employees. Company all-hands scheduled for 2 pm PT to discuss Elon Musk buying the company https://twitter.com/...
@mikeisaac: there will be an All-hands meeting held this afternoon for Twitter employees, per internal email from Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal starring Bret Taylor, Twitter's board chair, and Agrawal
@artemr: I am excited about the promises of technical improvements - the edit button, getting a handle on spam bots, authenticating all humans. But relaxing moderation is going to be a disaster that will turn Twitter into an even worse sesspool than it is now. https://www.prnewswire.com/...
Casey Newton / @caseynewton: I'll never forget where I was the moment that Elon Musk bought Twitter (I was on Twitter)
M.G. Siegler / @mgsiegler: So the whole thing just resets now, right? Here we go: Eating a poke bowl.
Christina Warren / @film_girl: I'm so happy I'm no longer a tech reporter today b/c I'm not having to work on hot takes on deadline. I can just shitpost for fun.
@bplewis: also think twice before tweeting your joke about this whole going private thing. chances are someone else has already made that dumb joke
Tom Coates / @tomcoates: Okay so it happened. Thinking of everyone at Twitter right now and the almost certain large amount of uncertainty and anger this is likely to generate. Hope their options got bought out at least there are no more RSUs to vest. https://www.prnewswire.com/...
@russellholly: Well I'm sure this app is going to be a lot of fun for the rest of the night. Week. Month. https://twitter.com/...
Jacob Ward / @byjacobward: Musk buys $twtr. “Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated,” said Mr. Musk of his new company, which will now be privately held. https://www.prnewswire.com/...
@robaeprice: Elon Musk official statement: “I also want to make Twitter better than ever by enhancing the product with new features, making the algorithms open source to increase trust, defeating the spam bots, and authenticating all humans.” https://www.prnewswire.com/...
Sara Fischer / @sarafischer: BREAKING @Twitter agrees to be bought by @ElonMusk https://www.axios.com/...
David Axelrod / @davidaxelrod: Welcome back to Twitter, Donald Trump! (Brace yourselves, America.) https://www.axios.com/...
Jim Banks / @repjimbanks: This is a huge win against the woke mob and haters of free speech! I would encourage @elonmusk to immediately: - Allow all factually true and legal content to be posted - Restore the accounts of all duly elected government officials https://twitter.com/...
Molly Jong-Fast / @mollyjongfast: This is going to be such a headache for him and possibly for us https://www.nytimes.com/...
Taylor Lorenz / @taylorlorenz: This could be enough to finally kill this app and set us all free https://twitter.com/...
RELATED:
Mike Masnick / Techdirt:
Twitter has aggressively defended users' privacy and free speech rights, pushing back on unmasking subpoenas; it's unclear if this will continue under Musk
Discussion:
@elonmusk, Insider, Mediaite, The Guardian, @ishaantharoor, @elonmusk, Jon Rappoport, @carterforva, Forbes, @noahpinion, @shaunking, Bloomberg, Poynter, @svdate, @reckless, @reckless, @tomangell, @mmasnick, @thedextriarchy, @aaschapiro, @jayblackisfunny, @juddlegum, @reckless, @parkermolloy, @johnknefel, @dylanljmartin, @mmasnick, @lldiedrich, Media Matters for America and CBS News, more at Techmeme »
Discussion:
Elon Musk / @elonmusk: By “free speech”, I simply mean that which matches the law. I am against censorship that goes far beyond the law. If people want less free speech, they will ask government to pass laws to that effect. Therefore, going beyond the law is contrary to the will of the people.
Ben Gilbert / Insider: Elon Musk buying Twitter is the latest battleground in America's ongoing culture wars
Alex Griffing / Mediaite: Elon Musk's Definition of ‘Free Speech’ Gets Roasted: ‘Intellectual Equivalent of a Train Wreck’
Ishaan Tharoor / @ishaantharoor: Still marveling at how hilarious this is. Just straight up acknowledgement that Musk Twitter will keep bowing to dictatorships and autocrats who bend the judicial process to censor or stifle dissent. But I bet he will complain more about EU laws on hate speech. https://twitter.com/...
@carterforva: The German government bans Nazi shit, Elon. You gonna ban all the Nazi shit on here? https://twitter.com/...
Noah Smith / @noahpinion: Of course tons of people are responding to this by saying that only the government can make speech unfree. Sorry, but I think that's not really true. Society has mezzanine institutions between the government and individuals, and these have real power. https://noahpinion.substack.com/ ... https://twitter.com/...
Shaun King / @shaunking: This is EXACTLY what we expected. He intends to allow hate speech and white supremacy, which are legal in the United States, on the platform. He intends to allow misinformation and disinformation, which are legal, on the platform. https://twitter.com/...
@svdate: How about saying something insanely libelous like calling a trained diver a pedophile. Free speech? https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Nilay Patel / @reckless: Also the people of the United States cannot “ask government to pass laws” to restrict speech. The government is prohibited from doing that by the First Amendment. We rely on the free market to govern speech because private companies can do things the government can't.
Nilay Patel / @reckless: I don't care if Elon buys Twitter or not but my god someone please help him do the basic reading here
Tom Angell / @tomangell: FWIW think I'm far more tolerant of letting objectionable speech flow than most of Musk's critics are, but his implicit idea here that government policy necessarily reflects the will of the people is extremely wrong & displays a fairly juvenile view of how US policymaking works. https://twitter.com/...
Mike Masnick / @mmasnick: Actual free speech experts have spent so much time and effort exploring the ins and outs and tradeoffs involved in free speech and content moderation and every single one of them knows this is 100% wrong and ignorant. Not a good first look. https://twitter.com/...
Adi Robertson / @thedextriarchy: if we're gonna speedrun the entire history of internet moderation on twitter can we at least make it weirder https://twitter.com/...
Avi Asher-Schapiro / @aaschapiro: Twitter has tens of millions of users in places like Turkey, Saudi, & India where governments use the “law” to censor political speech/journalism online. Fielding these “legitimate legal” requests is an important part of Twitter's job—and it's not clear Musk grasps that. https://twitter.com/...
Jay Black / @jayblackisfunny: Nilay is one of the smartest people on all the internets and if you want things clearly and accurately explained (regarding Elon but also HDMI cables) you need to follow him: https://twitter.com/...
Judd Legum / @juddlegum: This is an extremely facile understanding of free speech. China has numerous LAWS restricting speech. But, because they are laws, Musk believes the Chinese government doesn't infringe on free speech? https://twitter.com/...
Nilay Patel / @reckless: You cannot “match the law” and then also say you will “authenticate all humans” and block spam bots. The law protects anonymous speech. The law protects commercial speech. Every service that has ever tried this move has quickly retreated for the same obvious reasons https://twitter.com/...
Parker Molloy / @parkermolloy: This idiot is going to turn Twitter into 4chan https://twitter.com/...
@johnknefel: Most of the immediate coverage of Musk buying Twitter was far too credulous of his “free speech” framing, and very few included his anti-labor history. My quick take on yesterday's news. https://www.mediamatters.org/ ...
Dylan Martin / @dylanljmartin: “Even if the plan is not to force a ‘real names’ policy on Twitter users, but rather just for Twitter to know the real identity of all its users, that still creates massive risks — especially for people who are already at risk or marginalized.” https://www.techdirt.com/...
Mike Masnick / @mmasnick: @Twitter ... And here is my promised @techdirt post on how Twitter has a long story of fighting for *actual* 1st Amendment rights well beyond most other companies... and how unclear it is if Elon will allow the company to continue that tradition. https://www.techdirt.com/...
Lisa Diedrich / @lldiedrich: We might even describe this as a form of content moderation for billionaires. https://twitter.com/...
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