Top News:
Jack Queen / Reuters:
A jury says Alex Jones must pay two Sandy Hook parents $45.2M in punitive damages, on top of $4.1M in compensatory damages, for claiming the shooting was a hoax — U.S. conspiracy theorist Alex Jones must pay the parents of a 6-year-old boy killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre $45.2 million …
Discussion:
New York Times, CNN, New York Times, @oneunderscore__, Insider, New York Times, @statesman, @houstonchron, @barthsnotes, @blaw, @lionelmedia, @theagentndn, @chucklindell, @senwhitehouse, @anniemal, @motherboard, @jagdbs, Axios, @doniveson, @katiephang, Associated Press, @morgantremaine, @amandamarcotte, @irvinewelsh, @mmpadellan, @adambspencer, @consumersos, Vanity Fair, Bloomberg, NPR, @aweissmann_, @tomcolicchio, @renato_mariotti, @joshtpm, @jemelehill, @gmbutts, @barbmcquade, @dansolomon, @wingoz, @amandionair, @shannonrwatts, @dansolomon, @averytravistv, @averytravistv, The Triad, @dansolomon, @evacide, @oliverdarcy, @thezhanly, @derrelldurrett, @popehat, @popehat, @andykroll, @annamerlan, @rvawonk, Washington Post, VICE and Infowars
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Parker Molloy / The Present Age:
How mainstream outlets boosted right-wing commentators Alex Jones, Tomi Lahren, and others to the point of manifesting the rising star narrative they created — When mainstream media outlets decide to interview right-wing trolls like Jones, they're paving the way for the fringe's future success.
Discussion:
@dceiver, @bykatesmith, @sr_lazarus, @alanmairson, @orlagleans, @parkermolloy, @parkermolloy, @jdhughez, @parkermolloy, @mimmymum and @mimmymum
Janet Miranda / Bloomberg:
Texas law caps punitive damages, meaning Alex Jones may get a reduced fine; his lawyers plan to seek a fine reduction that the plaintiffs' lawyers plan to fight
Texas law caps punitive damages, meaning Alex Jones may get a reduced fine; his lawyers plan to seek a fine reduction that the plaintiffs' lawyers plan to fight
Discussion:
New York Times, @karaswisher, @nytliz, The Wrap, @staceyh1970, @blaw, @heidilifeldman, @jordanonrecord, @sarahfrier and The Verge
Ryan Faughnder / Los Angeles Times:
Warner Bros. Discovery's stock closed down 16.53% on August 5, after its first combined financial report revealed disappointing revenue and streaming challenges — Shares of Warner Bros. Discovery sank Friday after the media and entertainment giant reported disappointing earnings …
Discussion:
@thr, @thr, @amazehayes_, Global Community Weekly, @thr, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Barron's Online and Insider
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Jill Goldsmith / Deadline:
CNN and Warner Bros. Discovery plan to launch a CNN Originals hub on Discovery+ starting on August 19, featuring 800+ hours of current and legacy programming — CNN and Warner Bros. Discovery are launching a dedicated CNN Originals hub on Discovery+ domestically starting August 19.
Discussion:
@ourand_sbj and Los Angeles Times
Kim Masters / The Hollywood Reporter:
Sources: DC Films President Walter Hamada was on the verge of leaving the studio after Batgirl's shelving, but agreed to stay on at least until October 21, 2022 — The executive has agreed to remain in his post at least until the Oct. 21 release of the Dwayne Johnson film ‘Black Adam.’
Discussion:
Puck, @theericgoldman, @ray8fisher, @nickatina_show, @cdncapedcrusadr, SlashFilm, The Wrap, IndieWire, Insider, Variety, Looper and Los Angeles Times
Wall Street Journal:
Gannett, Warner Bros. Discovery, The New York Times, Paramount, and other US media firms have noted a Q2 2022 advertising slowdown and headwinds in Q3 guidance — Warner Bros. Discovery, New York Times and Paramount Global warn of pressure on ad revenue — U.S. television networks …
Discussion:
@newley and @blackamazon
Nico Grant / New York Times:
Inside the “YouTube automation” cottage industry, which is persuading people to spend thousands of dollars on tutorials for creating video businesses on YouTube — A cottage industry is persuading people to spend thousands to create video businesses on YouTube. Disclaimer: It is harder than it looks.
Joe Pompeo / Vanity Fair:
An interview with Rachel Maddow on her decision to step back from MSNBC's daily prime time slot after 14 years to focus on a WWII-era podcast and other projects — The cable juggernaut signed a multimillion-dollar contract to not be on the air five nights a week.
Discussion:
@vanityfair, @neilmcmahon, @vanityfair, Insider, @mlcalderone, Blood & Ink and @joepompeo
Geoff Edgers / Washington Post:
How a record store owner exposed MoFi's use of digital files after the company claimed for years its pricey vinyl album reissues are purely analog reproductions — MoFi Records claimed its expensive reissues were purely analog reproductions. It had been deceiving its customer base for years.
Discussion:
@sterlewine, @dada_drummer, @charlesarthur, @swiftonsecurity, @amandamarcotte, @boringstein, @anthony, @bubbaprog, Sebastopol Times, @2020science, @nspector4, @_almaqah, @nickfalacci, @notrivia, @hoffmang, @nedraggett, @martinsfp, @katienotopoulos, @jasonleopold, @jasoncfry, @jbenton, @tedgioia and @malitzd
Rowan Philp / Global Investigative Journalism Network:
Pulitzer-winning Associated Press reporter Martha Mendoza and eight more investigative reporters discuss their mistakes and what journalists can learn from them — If there is one type of lesson that journalists never forget, it is the kind that follows a strategic reporting mistake that stalls an otherwise promising investigation.
Discussion:
@danielsilliman, @gijn, @ibwellssociety, @spj_tweets, @journoresource, @miamalan, @bhekisisa_mg and @risj_oxford
Kathryn Foxhall / Columbia Journalism Review:
Reporters' ability to talk with US federal agency staff without public information officer approval has been gradually cut off, and the media should fight back — In 1981, Cristine Russell, then a health reporter at the Washington Post, asked to interview C. Everett Koop, who was nominated to be surgeon general of the United States.
Billboard:
Todd Boehly's Eldridge Industries and MRC complete split of shared media assets; Eldridge retains Dick Clark Productions and Hollywood publication investments — The companies said that a transition structure will be put in place over the next several months in order to ensure a smooth separation.
Discussion:
The Wrap, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline