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The Knight Foundation's support for Semafor's event with Tucker Carlson betrays its mission; the event frames media as a game of access and audience-building — By sponsoring a journalism event featuring Tucker Carlson, the philanthropy is mistaking openness for strengthening democracy.
Discussion:
Knight Foundation, @karlbode, @karlbode, @karlbode, @mollydeaguiar, @nandoodles, @karlbode, @justinhendrix, @karlbode, @bostonjoan, @froomkin, @daveleeft, @coreypein, @nandoodles, @daveleeft, @joanespositochi, @jon_gluck, @mlsif, Mediaite, @jeffjarvis, @dannagal, @karaswisher, @bostonjoan, @semaforben, @mlsif, @daveleeft, @karlbode, @froomkin, @karlbode and @meredithshiner


Sources: Group Black, which aims to invest in and develop Black-owned media, is in talks to buy a large stake in BDG Media and is exploring acquiring Vice Media — Group Black is in talks to buy stake in Bustle parent and has been eyeing a deal for Vice Media
Discussion:
@jbflint, @juwanthewriter and PRWeek


Netflix executives say they don't plan to change programming; two bank analysts say a cheaper ad-supported tier could cannibalize the higher-paying subscribers — Long Hollywood's leading innovator, the streaming service is staying the course, despite serious challenges to its business and questions about its content.
Discussion:
Bloomberg, @benmullin, @richlightshed, @kennethturan, @benmullin, @brooksbarnesnyt and The Streamable
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A group of 68 journalists writes to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre asking to reopen large events to all and end an opaque pre-screening process — A group of 66 journalists sent a rare protest letter to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre Thursday asking …


News outlets should stop running puff pieces about Supreme Court justices written by lawyers with ties to the court; a review shows their incorrect predictions — Lisa Blatt, an attorney who has argued more than 40 cases before the Supreme Court, wrote an opinion piece for Politico Magazine …
Discussion:
@bgrueskin, @erikwemple, @pomeranian99, @jayrosen_nyu, @donmoyn, @bgrueskin, @davidminpdx, @taniel, @mollyjongfast, @gadyepstein, @cwarzel, @gadyepstein, @xor, @ronhogan, @nberlat, @keitholbermann, @clairehoworth, @gadyepstein, @soledadobrien, @dceiver, @lschmeiser, @dangillmor, @rachellarris, Mediaite and Boing Boing


NBCU says Peacock has garnered $1B in upfront revenue, double 2021's, part of a “record-breaking” 2022 upfront; in 2021, NBCU saw $7B+ in upfront commitments — NBCUniversal says 2022 was the “highest grossing upfront since Comcast's acquisition” of the company more than a decade ago.
Discussion:
Ad Age, MediaPost, @digitalshields, @adage and Deadline


Amazon secures British rights to 17 Tuesday Champions League soccer games per season from 2024-27; BT Sport retains most live UEFA rights for £305M per season — About Julian Clover — Julian Clover is a Media and Technology journalist based in Cambridge, UK. He works in online and printed media.
Discussion:
@pompey__, The Guardian, Daily Herald and Reuters


Roughly 65 Wired workers threaten to strike on July 12 and July 13, Amazon's Prime Days, seeking more pay and the inclusion of product reviewers in their union — The union representing roughly 65 editorial workers at Wired, the tech publisher owned by Condé Nast …
Discussion:
Press Gazette, @wiredunion, @fsp_nwu, @lilyhnewman, @stevenlevy, @lordravenscraft, @knibbs, @sarafischer and Talking Biz News


Google gave user data to Russian ad company RuTarget, including potentially sensitive info about users in Ukraine, four months after the US sanctioned RuTarget — The internet giant may have provided Sberbank-owned RuTarget with unique mobile phone IDs, IP addresses, location information …
Discussion:
@dlberes, @ericgarland, @craigsilverman, @jason_kint, @craigsilverman, @craigsilverman and @craigsilverman, more at Techmeme »


Julian Assange filed two appeals on Thursday to the UK high court to contest his extradition; the court will decide whether the appeals can be heard — The WikiLeaks founder has appealed his extradition from the U.K., prolonging a yearslong fight against being sent to the U.S. to face spying charges
Discussion:
CNET


Universal Music Group acquires Frank Zappa's estate, including his catalog, film archive, publishing rights, name and likeness, and unreleased material — Deal between Zappa Family Trust and UMG includes publishing and the rights to the legendary rocker's name and likeness
Discussion:
Variety, @jackshafer, @ethanwsj, @budhavara, Reuters, Digital Music News, Bloomberg, Billboard and Music Business Worldwide


Refinitiv: the value of M&As in media and entertainment fell to $105.1B in H1 2022 from $215.5B in H1 2021, with the number of deals down from 1,710 to 1,546 — Exit Content Preview — The deal value for global M&A activity in media and entertainment shrunk in half for H1 2022 compared to H2 2021.