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Apple quietly launches a catalog of books narrated by AI on its Books app, in a move that publishers, authors, and agents warn may upend the audiobook market — Exclusive: tech firm quietly launches new audiobook catalogue narrated by AI - but move expected to spark backlash


The Wall Street Journal asks the Phoenix PD to conduct an internal review after an officer handcuffed and detained WSJ reporter Dion Rabouin in November 2022 — PHOENIX — The Wall Street Journal is demanding the Phoenix Police Department conduct an internal review and take action …
Discussion:
Mediaite, Talking Biz News, Committee to Protect …, @phil_lewis_, @wesleylowery, @laurieroberts, @nickriccardi, @eugene_scott, The Daily Beast, @faizsays, @devlinbarrett, @sgurman, @davebiscobing15, @davebiscobing15, @davebiscobing15, @cornellwbrooks, @davidgura, @freedomofpress, @davebiscobing15, @davebiscobing15 and @seungminkim


The UK government confirms it will not proceed with Channel 4's privatization, instead opting for reforms to preserve the broadcaster's financial sustainability — Whitehall rejects privatisation in favour of reforms to preserve broadcaster's financial sustainability
Discussion:
The Guardian, Variety, GOV.UK, Press Gazette, Reuters, The Guardian, Deadline, Variety, BBC, Daily Express, Sky News, @jake_kanter, @hrwright, @tvkev, @scottygb, @reviewwales, @scottygb, Broadband TV News, Broadcast, All 4, @dcms, @stewartpurvis, The Hollywood Reporter, @jake_kanter, @krishgm, @c4press, @manori_r, @drchrisnewton, Broadband TV News, The Drum, Bloomberg, Press Gazette, RXTV info, NME, The Independent and Deadline


Sources: Facebook dropped plans to heavily demote content on politics and sensitive topics, after views for “high quality news publishers” fell, and more — Hitting mute button on political content recommendations brought unintended consequences
Discussion:
@emilyglazer, @mattzeitlin, @reaganbrad and @keachhagey


A look at three independent Marblehead, Massachusetts news outlets launched in 2022 to fill the void left by Gannett making the Marblehead Reporter go regional — In the wake of newspaper closures, three new outlets have sprung up in the North Shore town. — Not quite a year ago, the local news outlook in Marblehead appeared bleak.
Discussion:
@virginiabuckin1, @jimdao, @bostonglobe, @jrebosglobe, @jenniferlevitz, @deborahblum, @nytimescramer, @sarahscire, Marblehead Current and Media Nation


TikTok plans to license IMDb data to let US and UK users tag movies and TV shows and access an in-app page with information about the titles — Users will be able to tag a specific work and have access to a dedicated in-app page with relevant information about the title, such as cast, crew release date, run time and more.
Discussion:
Ad Age, Adweek, TechCrunch, Amazon, Tubefilter, @tiktokcomms, BGR, @discussingfilm and @manofbeskar


Private media outlets in Poland republish a report critical of the government by Warner Bros. Discovery-owned TVN, after Poland launched proceedings against TVN — Poland's largest private media outlets have republished a report by one of their rivals, TVN, in a show of solidarity …


An investment group led by LionTree takes a majority stake in Transmit.Live, which develops ad technology for live streaming, valuing the company at $350M — Boutique bank leads group taking majority stake in Transmit.Live — LionTree is betting that live sports is going to continue …
Discussion:
@ericfranchi, Transmit.Live and Front Office Sports


New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signs a law requiring public schools to teach media literacy to K-12 students, making NJ the first US state to do so — New Jersey has become the first state in the country to require public schools to teach media literacy to K-12 students as a way to combat misinformation …
Discussion:
Politico, State of New Jersey, @cyn_mccrackan@mastodon.world, @tauhidchappell and @phillyinquirer


Iran warns France of an “effective and decisive response” after Charlie Hebdo published cartoons depicting Ayatollah Khamenei that were deemed to be insulting — Iran warned France on Wednesday of consequences after satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo published cartoons depicting …
Discussion:
Fox News, Ministry of Foreign Affairs …, The Guardian, Associated Press, Politico, New York Post, The Hill, The Local, Politico, Bloomberg and Semafor


After FTX collapsed, citizen journalists, including @AutismCapital, Coffeezilla, and Doomberg, stepped up to cover the saga, often outshining traditional media — A group of online creators has skyrocketed to fame by covering every aspect of the meltdown, but some optimize for attention over accuracy
Discussion:
@niubi, more at Techmeme »


Sources: Sirius XM and Amazon slow podcast dealmaking and Spotify froze its US budget for new podcasts; all three seek to keep 50% of ad revenue vs. 20% before — As the podcasting universe has matured in recent years it has picked up many of the trappings of more established media industries …
Discussion:
Radio Ink, @dada_drummer, @felixgillette, @bizboyle, @ericspiegelman, @ashleyrcarman, @lucas_shaw and The Information