Top News:
Ashlee Vance / Bloomberg:
A look at D Billions, a network of YouTube channels run by Kyrgyzstan-based media company AWA and which got billions of views by teaching kids words via songs — A landlocked country in Central Asia is home to an international hit. — The US has Mr. Beast. The Kyrgyz Republic has D Billions.
Max Hoppenstedt / Washington Post:
German prosecutors say Elon Musk's X has complied with hundreds of hate-crime user data requests; Twitter used to push back if requests threatened free speech — The social media company has complied with hundreds of hate-crime user data requests from German authorities since Musk's purchase, prosecutors say
Discussion:
@pir8qu33n, @tempf451 and Futurism, more at Techmeme »
David Marchese / New York Times:
Q&A with Rolling Stone co-founder Jann Wenner on interviewing his friends, boomers' legacy, and his new book, The Masters, about seven white male rock musicians — “We've lived really privileged lives,” says the co-founder of Rolling Stone. “Now we get to rest.”
Discussion:
The Messenger, Awful Announcing, @jayrosen_nyu, @jodyrosen, @moorehn, @franklinleonard, @johntomlinson, @jacobtwop, @jkarsh, @lebassett, Insider, The Hollywood Reporter, @kbeninato@mstdn.party, @nedraggett@spaceballs …, ET Canada, Consequence, @mitchellepner.bsky.social, @bowiesongs.bsky.social, @thisismari.at, @nberlat.bsky.social, @nedraggett.bsky.social, @electriceden92.bsky.social, @bowiesongs.bsky.social, @usefulnoise.bsky.social, @bowiesongs.bsky.social and UPROXX
Uriel J. García / The Texas Tribune:
Mexican journalist Emilio Gutiérrez Soto wins the right to US asylum after a 15-year legal battle against deportation to Mexico, whose military threatened him — Emilio Gutiérrez Soto fled with his son to the U.S. border in 2008 after his reporting on the Mexican military led to threats.
Discussion:
@pressfreedom, @juliaprestonnow, @dabeard, @dabeard, National Press Club, Reuters, LatAm Journalism Review, Washington Post and Al Jazeera
Canadian Press:
Canada-based Metroland Media Group makes its 70+ local newspapers digital-only and cuts 605 jobs, as its parent company seeks bankruptcy protection for the unit — Daily papers will continue to operate in print and online — Nordstar, the company that owns the Toronto Star and other newspapers …
Discussion:
@cbcnews, @palewire, @theactualkjm, @dgrdon, @mattdagley, @jgreig, @winstarvander, @michaeltaube, @kevinnimmock, Unifor National, Unifor Local 87-M, Reuters and CTV News
Mediaite:
Sources: Fox News fired veteran executive John Finley on September 8 following a woman alleging he sexually harassed and stalked her; Fox settled with the woman — John Finley, a top Fox News executive who was fired last week after more than 20 years at the network, was ousted after a woman alleged …
Discussion:
@seeleycat, @travelurownpath, @matthewkeyslive, @dianafalzone, @matthewkeyslive, Adweek, The Wrap and @joelmathis.bsky.social
Rick Porter / The Hollywood Reporter:
Nielsen: Thursday Night Football's 2023 season debut averaged a record 15.05M viewers on Amazon Prime Video and local broadcasters, up 15.5% from 2022's opener — The NFL's weeknight game scores its biggest audience since moving to streaming. — Thursday Night Football scored …
Discussion:
Sports Media Watch, Sportico, Associated Press, NBCSports.com, TVLine, Deadline, Decider and New York Post
David Voreacos / Bloomberg:
Hedge fund Citadel founder Ken Griffin subpoenas ProPublica and five journalists for docs tied to stories on his tax returns; ProPublica vows to protect sources — - ProPublica vows to protect sources amid ‘sprawling’ requests — Griffin suing IRS over failure to protect his secret tax data
Discussion:
@dmihalopoulos, @stocksensefrank, @dmihalopoulos, @eisingerj and Insider
Max Goldbart / Deadline:
WBD's General Manager for Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, Hannes Heyelmann, steps down, following the exits of EMEA head Priya Dogra and UK head Antonio Ruiz — Warner Bros. Discovery Germany boss Hannes Heyelmann has become the latest to exit from Gerhard Zeiler's international team.
Discussion:
Variety and Broadband TV News
Elizabeth Wagmeister / Variety:
After a backlash, Drew Barrymore apologizes to writers and unions for her show returning on September 18, saying “we will be in compliance” with strike rules — Drew Barrymore is offering up an explanation as to why her daytime talk show is returning, amid fierce criticism during the writers strike.
Discussion:
The Guardian, The Wrap, NBC News, The Onion, Axios, TV Insider, @mollyjongfast, @itsmecarolamptp, @marlownyc, Insider, Bleeding Cool News, Sydney Morning Herald, @erinbiba.bsky.social, @mikedrucker.bsky.social, The A.V. Club, Decider, Los Angeles Times, @hellolanemoore@threads.net, @hellolanemoore@threads.net, Fox News, @themeteor@threads.net, @themeteor@threads.net, @themeteor@threads.net, Mediaite, @brendelbored.bsky.social, TVLine, CNN, The Daily Beast, Vanity Fair, The Week, @beccalew.bsky.social, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, UPROXX, Consequence and The Messenger
Ernesto Van der Sar / TorrentFreak:
Plex notifies users that the streaming company plans to block access in October for those who use the hosting company Hetzner, citing large-scale TOS violations — Plex is a multifunctional media software and service that allows users to easily access all their entertainment in one place.
Discussion:
@bytebln, @hackbard and Plex Forum
Max Goldbart / Deadline:
Sources: VFX firm DNEG told staff to take 20%+ pay cuts for seven months or agree to a 36-month loan scheme; DNEG cut ~7.5% of its London HQ workforce in July — EXCLUSIVE: Just weeks after laying off dozens in its London HQ, Dune VFX firm DNEG is asking staff to take up to 25% pay cuts …
Discussion:
@_harvey__dent_, @godofash1, @ryandeel, @filmupdates, @cartoonbrew, @stephanfleet, @irishaniworkers, LinkedIn, Sydney Morning Herald, ComingSoon.net, Collider and r/vfx