Top News:
Joe Rossignol / MacRumors:
Apple announces Lockdown Mode in iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura to protect journalists and other high-risk users against “highly targeted cyberattacks” — Apple today announced a new Lockdown Mode coming to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac with iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura.
Discussion:
Apple, CNN, Washington Post, @jsrailton, @charlvdwalt, @ngleicher, @j0hnnyxm4s, @eff, @sethforprivacy and Global Community Weekly, more at Techmeme »
Tom Warren / The Verge:
Twitter starts testing a CoTweets feature that lets two accounts co-author a tweet, with both accounts tagged in a single tweet, an idea it tested in March 2022 — Twitter says it's testing CoTweets for a limited time — Twitter has started testing a new CoTweets feature this week with users of the social network.
Discussion:
TechCrunch, 9to5Mac, @brchastain and @adamhlavac, more at Techmeme »
Mike Fleming Jr / Deadline:
Stranger Things' creators Matt and Ross Duffer form Upside Down Pictures, hire Hilary Leavitt to run the company, and recommit to Netflix with several projects — EXCLUSIVE: Following the record-breaking release of the two final episodes of Stranger Things' Season 4, creators Matt & Ross Duffer …
Discussion:
Next TV, Decider, @danbarreirokfan, @deadline, @stephinteevee, @deadline, CBR, ComingSoon.net, SlashFilm, mxdwn Television, Advanced Television, @deadline, The A.V. Club, Looper, Collider, Polygon and The Wrap
New York Times:
Some librarians have been fired or quit over personal attacks for refusing to remove books; the ALA tracked 1,597 books challenged in 2021, a 20-year high — Caustic fights over which books belong on the shelves have put librarians at the center of a bitter and widening culture war.
Stuart A. Thompson / New York Times:
Analysis: “Democrats cheat” and similar ideas have been raised 5K+ times on radio shows in 2022; radio remains perhaps the most influential medium for the right — Election fraud claims from 2020 are widespread on talk radio, contributing to the belief that the midterm results cannot be trusted.
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Sony's PlayStation Store plans to remove access to hundreds of Studiocanal movie titles in August 2022 that customers in Germany and Austria have purchased — Achtung! … At the time, Sony assured customers that they “can still access movie and TV content they have purchased through PlayStation Store …
Discussion:
Eurogamer.net
Ken Thomas / Wall Street Journal:
White House communications director Kate Bedingfield, a Biden aide since his time as VP under Barack Obama, plans to leave the administration later this summer — Longtime Biden aide who played a key role in his 2020 campaign to leave post later this summer
Discussion:
CNN, Politico, @tducklo, @kthomasdc, @mj_lee, @heatherbarmore, @rflaherty46, @jrpsaki, @kbeds, @andrewjbates46, @jenmolina46, Next TV, PRWeek, The Wrap, The White House, Deadline, The Hill, CBS News, New York Post and Axios
J. Clara Chan / Hollywood Reporter:
Disney promotes Kristen Finney to a newly created role overseeing international content curation for Disney+, Star, and linear channels — The executive will manage content strategy in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Asia Pacific and India.
Gene Maddaus / Variety:
Arizona passes a law creating a program offering tax credits for film and TV productions, starting at $75M in 2023 and growing to $125M in 2025 — Arizona has adopted a new tax credit for film and TV production, as the state aims to attract productions that have gone to New Mexico and other states in recent years.
Discussion:
Axios, Arizona Mirror, The Wrap, @variety and The Hollywood Reporter
Ivan Mehta / TechCrunch:
Reddit launches an NFT-based avatar marketplace with 90 profile pictures available for purchase at a fixed price, expanding on support for Ethereum-based NFTs — Reddit is launching a new NFT-based avatar marketplace today that allows you to purchase blockchain-based profile pictures for a fixed rate.
Discussion:
Adweek, Reddit Upvoted, Gizmodo, Ethereum World News, The Block, The Verge and Engadget, more at Techmeme »
Alex Weprin / Hollywood Reporter:
Peter Chernin debuts The North Road Company, rolling up Red Arrow, Chernin Entertainment, and Words + Pictures, backed by $800M, source says at a $1B+ valuation — North Road will house Chernin Entertainment; U.S. assets of Red Arrow Studios; and Words + Pictures, with more acquisitions to follow.
Discussion:
Variety, @loudmouthjulia, @danprimack, @alexweprin, @sarafischer, The Wrap and Axios
Caitlin Huston / The Hollywood Reporter:
Comscore names Jon Carpenter as CEO, succeeding Bill Livek, who announced his planned retirement earlier in 2022; Carpenter served as CFO since November 2021 — The executive succeeds Bill Livek, who previously announced his retirement. … Carpenter takes over the role after having served …
Discussion:
Ad Age, MediaPost, Digital TV Europe, Adweek, Next TV and TVNewsCheck