Top News:
Adi Robertson / The Verge:
Texas' AG, “troubled” by Elon Musk's claims, probes Media Matters, which calls X's suit “frivolous”; X avoids anti-SLAPP statutes by filing in the 5th Circuit — X, formerly Twitter, has followed through with owner Elon Musk's threat to sue the left-leaning nonprofit Media Matters.
Discussion:
Texas Attorney General, Fox News, TIME, Livemint, Android Headlines, CoinGape, @esqueer_@threads.net, @deanobeidallah@threads.net, @noturtlesoup17@threads.net, @davmicrot@threads.net, @rodhilton@threads.net, @chancerydaily@threads.net, @aridrennen@threads.net, @swaffordaustin@threads.net, @chrisgeidner@threads.net, @oneunderscore__@threads.net, @tristansnell@threads.net, @malwaretech@threads.net, @nicholasrfish@threads.net, @datadrivenmd@threads.net, @matthewcortland@threads.net, @matthewcortland@threads.net, @advisercounsel, @rmac18, @joshuaerlich, @chrisgeidner, @jamisonfoser, @wendysiegelman, @collinrugg, @dogs10gods0@threads.net, @originalspin@threads.net, Cryptopolitan, @kenpaxtontx, NBC News, Social Media Today, New York Times, @carnage4life@mas.to, Politico, Reclaim The Net, The Popehat Report, Business Insider, @bettybowers, New Republic, Mediaite and The Messenger, more at Techmeme »
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Sharon Knolle / The Wrap:
X files a defamation lawsuit against Media Matters, claiming the outlet “knowingly and maliciously” misrepresented the amount of antisemitic content on X — Musk says the watchdog org “would not let truth get in the way of a story” — Elon Musk has followed through on his threat …
Discussion:
MediaPost, Axios, Variety, @lindayax, United States District Court, The Northern District of Texas, Reuters, TMZ.com, @parkermolloy, @xdaily, @oneunderscore__, @nandoodles, @jason, @jason_kint, @jason_kint, @parismarx, @oneunderscore__, @scottbudman, @jason_kint, @eriqgardner, @yashar, @ggreenwald, @watcherguru, @xdaily, @mike.hixenbaugh@threads.net, Deadline, @carnage4life@mas.to, @elonmusk, The Desk, @_cingraham, Mashable, @ehananoki, @oneunderscore__, Los Angeles Times, CNN, Rolling Stone, @kenwhite.bsky.social, The Messenger, Bloomberg, Forbes, Boing Boing, The Daily Beast, TechCrunch and news.ycombinator.com, more at Techmeme »
Kylie Robison / Fortune:
At a hastily assembled all-hands, Linda Yaccarino said Media Matters is known “to force a narrative” and asked staff to “be as fiscally responsible as possible”
Discussion:
Business Insider, @oneunderscore__, @kyliebytes, @kyliebytes, @edzitron, @realfrankbrank, @byajperez, @edzitron, @dancow, @christaylor_nyc, Ars Technica, @kyliebytes, The Hollywood Reporter, Engadget, The Hill, @kyliebytes, @mjk_4mjk@mastodon.ie, Ad Age, CNN, The Wrap, New York Post, The Messenger and Mediaite
Devin Coldewey / TechCrunch:
Media Matters' claims that some companies' ads appeared next to antisemitic content do not seem to be “manufactured”, contrary to what X alleges in its suit
Discussion:
9to5Mac, Reuters, @carnage4life@threads.net, @matthewcortland@threads.net, @renee.diresta@threads.net, @georgescriban@threads.net, @realjuddlegum@threads.net, @timothyjchambers@threads.net, @bostonjoan, @matthewcortland@threads.net, @kenpopehat@threads.net, @oneunderscore__@threads.net, Decrypt, The Register, Mediaite, Engadget, @tchambers@indieweb.social and The Wrap
Max Tani / Semafor:
Sources: Linda Yaccarino asked her son and X executive Matt Madrazo to reach out to GOP ad spenders; X aims for $100M in political ads during the 2024 elections
Discussion:
@maxwelltani, @jhweissmann, @chrisharihar, @nsnadeemsarwar, @jsrailton, @walthickey, Axios, @davidfrum, Variety, Bloomberg, The Messenger and Financial Times
Matt Binder / Mashable:
After big advertisers flee X, right-wing media outlets and influencers pledge to buy ads or donate, like Benny Johnson, Andrew Tate, Gavin McInnes, Babylon Bee
Discussion:
CNN, @sethdillon, @timcast, The Hill, New York Post, @PattyHanson@mastodon.social, @shinjiikarus@mstdn.social, Business Insider and Ad Age
Caitlin Huston / The Hollywood Reporter:
In a note to employees, Linda Yaccarino says the Media Matters report about ads on X is “misleading” and that X is in the midst of battling “deceptive attacks”
Discussion:
The Verge, CNN, Tech Xplore, TVNewsCheck, BBC, The Information, New Yorker, @digitalshields, @rmac18, TechCrunch, Axios, 9to5Mac, Business Insider, CBS News, Forbes, Variety and The Messenger
Press Gazette:
Jeff Zucker's RedBird IMI plans to take control of the Telegraph and Spectator after agreeing to a loan of £600M to repay debts owed by the Barclay family — Abu Dhabi-backed investment fund RedBird IMI has said it is set to take control of the Telegraph and Spectator publications …
Discussion:
Sky News, Telegraph, @beerg, @markkleinmansky, @markkleinmansky, Frontpage Mag, Mediaite, @janemartinson, New York Post, Sky News, Financial Times, The Guardian and Bloomberg
Vicky Ge Huang / Wall Street Journal:
Crypto exchange Bullish, run by a former NYSE president, acquires CoinDesk for an undisclosed sum in an all-cash deal; DCG acquired CoinDesk for $500K in 2016 — CoinDesk says former Wall Street Journal Editor in Chief Matt Murray will chair an independent editorial committee
Reuters:
Lebanese TV channel Al Mayadeen says an Israeli strike killed two of its journalists and a third person in south Lebanon, near the border with Israel — An Israeli strike killed two journalists working for a Lebanese TV channel and a third person near the border with Israel on Tuesday …
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John Ourand / Sports Business Journal:
Sources: NASCAR expanded its proposed midseason package to media companies from six to 10 races; front-runners Amazon and Turner could split the package — Jay Marine, the head of Amazon's sports group, is “The Big Get” on this week's Sports Media Podcast. — NASCAR shops 10-race package to media companies
Discussion:
@dabfordale, @racecanada_ca, @a_s12 and @ourand_sbj
The Verge:
Epic v. Google: a Google exec confirms that Spotify pays no commission when users buy subscriptions via Spotify's payment system and 4% when they pay via Google — Music streaming service Spotify struck a seemingly unique and highly generous deal with Google for Android-based payments …
Discussion:
Engadget, Android Central, TechCrunch and Music Ally, more at Techmeme »
Washington Post:
Investigation: as Amazon and Netflix back down on daring films, self-censorship pervades the Indian streaming industry due to pressure from Modi's ruling BJP — MUMBAI — Over a three-decade career, the filmmaker Anurag Kashyap often trained a critical eye on his native India as he wove tales …
Emmanuel Morgan / New York Times:
A look at the surge of NFL players who have begun hosting podcasts during the season, a surprising development in a league that tends to suppress individuality — The N.F.L. tends to suppress individuality, but podcasts from stars like the Kelce brothers, Micah Parsons and Tyreek Hill are popping up as valuable portals to fans.
Aamir Siddiqui / Android Authority:
YouTube confirms that “users who have ad blockers installed may experience suboptimal viewing”, after users reported five-second delays on non-Chrome browsers — - Users are reportedly seeing a five-second delay when loading YouTube videos in non-Chrome browsers …
Nicolas Parasie / Bloomberg:
Middle East-based streamers OSN+ and Anghami plan to merge; OSN Group plans to inject $50M into Anghami and become a majority shareholder in the company — - Entity to have over 120 million users, $100 million in revenue — OSN Group to continue to run its pay TV business separately
Yana Lyushnevskaya / Nieman Reports:
How Ukrainian media is balancing war coverage, with national TV speaking in a highly patriotic, pro-government voice and critical reporting thriving online — Yana Lyushnevskaya, NF '24, on the difficult dilemma Ukrainian journalists face when covering war in their own country
Discussion:
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