Top News:
Jasmine Hicks / The Verge:
The New York Times makes Wordle available in its Crossword app on iOS and Android, joining Crossword variants, Spelling Bee, and others — The online game is still free for now — Wordle is now available in The New York Times Crossword app for both iOS and Android users.
Discussion:
The New York Times Company, Android Police, AppleInsider, TechCrunch and CNET
Jim Waterson / The Guardian:
Former BBC presenter Emily Maitlis calls BBC board member Robbie Gibb an “agent of the Conservative party” who is “acting as the arbiter of BBC impartiality” — Former Newsnight presenter says former No 10 communications chief Sir Robbie Gibb on board acting as ‘arbiter of impartiality’
Discussion:
BBC, @alextaylornews, @mikegalsworthy, @skynews, @iammightor, @johncleese, Sky News, @campbellclaret, @darrengrimes_, @femi_sorry, @robwilson_rdg, @naj562, @johnbarnesuk, @mrjamesob, @robburl, @nj_timothy, @colin1866, @phelpsiesarah, @chakrabortty, @annettedittert, @louiserawauthor, @fitzpas, @skynews, @cjfdillow, @aljhlester, @jonsopel, @peterjukes, @philipcball, @mediaguido, @owenjones84, @jamesoflynn, @nigella_lawson, @paulmasonnews, @jayrosen_nyu, @shahmiruk, @robburl, @brianukulele, @georgiebingham, @markoosterveen, @mikegalsworthy, @mattthr, @dminghella, @manveenrana, @tomlondon6, @chakrabortty and @jeffreynewman
RELATED:
Jim Waterson / The Guardian:
The Guardian Media Group appoints Anna Bateson as CEO; previously, she helped develop its voluntary contributions strategy and served as interim CEO in 2020 — Former interim chief, who helped develop voluntary contributions strategy, returns to company — The Guardian's parent company …
Discussion:
@kathviner and @vivian
Issie Lapowsky / Protocol:
Google's Jigsaw and YouTube to test video ads in Europe to “pre-bunk” anti-refugee sentiment, after a study found such ads raised awareness about misinformation — Three months after Russia launched its brutal assault on Ukraine, sending millions of refugees over the border …
Discussion:
@marklittlenews, @issielapowsky, @protocol, @issielapowsky, @issielapowsky, @issielapowsky, @raehodge, The Verge and NBC News, more at Techmeme »
Mark Stenberg / Adweek:
Subscription management platform Zuora reaches a deal to acquire Zephr, which provides paywall software to News Corp, Tribune Publishing, and others, for $44M — Zephr will bring its dynamic paywall technology to the subscriptions company — The subscription management platform Zuora …
Discussion:
Business Wire, @markstenberg3 and @bmorrissey
Annabel Ross / VICE:
Interviews with 22 current and former staffers at Beatport, an electronic dance music-oriented online store, show incidents of racism, sexism, and bullying — The powerhouse dance music retailer preached inclusivity and diversity, but ex-staffers say bullying, sexism, and casual racism was pervasive.
Discussion:
@vice, @_alexamaro, @iamlouislaroche, @kurosarakokuou, @annabel_ross and @katalunia030
Jeremy Fuster / The Wrap:
Rotten Tomatoes: among 100+ critics it added over the past year, 74% are from underrepresented groups, 48% are women, 38% PoC, and 34% from new media platforms — Rotten Tomatoes will expand its efforts to increase diversity among film and TV critics, with the review website announcing …
Discussion:
Digital Trends, Media Play News and IndieWire
Andrew Kersley / Press Gazette:
An interview with NowThis' president on how the outlet became the largest news brand on TikTok with ~9M followers, developing original programming, and more — The president of US-based brand Now This has spoken to Press Gazette about how it became the most-viewed US-based news and politics brand on Facebook, Youtube and Twitter.
Discussion:
@michellemanafy, @pressgazette, Simon Owens's Media Newsletter, @pressgazette, @simonowens and @mediaguy19
Hope King / Axios:
Marginal MediaWorks agrees to acquire Fresno Unlimited, which wants to use AI trained on public consumer interest data to help studios green light projects — A new tie-up between a startup content studio and a data science startup aims to flip the way Hollywood green lights movies and shows.
Joe Coscarelli / New York Times:
Capitol Music Group severs ties with FN Meka, a virtual “robot rapper” powered partly by AI with 10M+ TikTok followers, after backlash over racial stereotypes — The record company apologized to “the Black community” for insensitivity in promoting an AI-backed artist that critics said was …
Discussion:
Complete Music Update, Protocol, Variety, Vibe, UPROXX, The FADER, @modernistwitch, @passionweiss, @mrchuckd, @reptilianhybrid, @natealyn, @billboard, @fakeshoredrive, Music Ally, @eileenguo, @jherskowitz, @heranmamo, @joecoscarelli, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Music Business Worldwide, The FADER, Hip-Hop Wired, AfroTech, Input, Fortune, Pitchfork, Stereogum, UPROXX, Yahoo News, The A.V. Club, The Hill, The Wrap, Los Angeles Times, Insider, Rolling Stone, Billboard and Consequence
Todd Spangler / Variety:
NBCU says current seasons of NBC shows will stream on Peacock Premium the day after airing starting September 19, after it reclaimed rights from Hulu — Fans of NBC current-season shows will no longer find them on Hulu as of next month — they'll be flying over to NBCUniversal's Peacock.
Adam Kovacevich / Chamber of Progress:
The Journalism Competition and Preservation Act would support Breitbart, Newsmax, and hedge funds; other bills may help local journalism without paying for hate — Bill would require Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft to pay and link to right-wing news — Congressional Democrats are in array.