Top News:
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 …
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Axios, Variety, Deadline, BBC, TechCrunch, New York Times, @_cingraham, @kenwhite.bsky.social, CNN, Mediaite, @ehananoki, @oneunderscore__, Bloomberg, The Messenger, Boing Boing and Forbes, more at Techmeme »
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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.
Forbes:
Sources: ad executives told Linda Yaccarino that she is risking her reputation and should step down as X's CEO to make a statement about racism and antisemitism — In the aftermath of IBM, Disney, Apple and others pausing spending on X, formerly known as Twitter, top advertising executives …
Discussion:
Axios, @elonmusk, The Verge, Engadget, NBC 7 San Diego, @kerrymflynn, The Register, Press Telegram, 9to5Mac, TechCrunch, Business Insider, The Wrap, @johnpaczkowski, Ad Age, Vanity Fair, Media Voices, The Messenger, TIME, New York Post, Alex Konrad on LinkedIn, @voxexsinister.bsky.social, @carnage4life@mas.to, @joelmathis.bsky.social, CBS News, Music Ally, The A.V. Club, CNN, Variety and Supercharged
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 — So far, they are at least hundreds of millions of dollars short on making up for X's potential lost revenue. … Disney.
Discussion:
New York Post, @shinjiikarus@mstdn.social, @PattyHanson@mastodon.social, @sethdillon, The Hill, @timcast and Ad Age
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
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:
@walthickey, Variety, @maxwelltani, @davidfrum, @chrisharihar, @jhweissmann, @jsrailton, @nsnadeemsarwar, Bloomberg, Financial Times and Business Insider
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”
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”
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
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
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”
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:
Reuters, CNN, The Information, Axios, New Yorker, @digitalshields, @rmac18, Business Insider, Variety, The Messenger, prima donna …, The Hill, New York Times, CNBC, Financial Times, Mediaite, Deadline and The Desk
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, Mediaite, @beerg, @janemartinson, Sky News, New York Post, Financial Times, @markkleinmansky, @markkleinmansky, The Guardian, Bloomberg and Frontpage Mag
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Bloomberg:
Sources: senior UK ministers, including the business minister and security minister, raised concerns about the possibility of foreign ownership of the Telegraph — - Badenoch, Tugendhat raise worries with Media Secretary Frazer — Lloyds seized the Telegraph titles in June to claw back debts
Discussion:
Financial Times, @ianjsilvera, @alexwickham, The Guardian, @simontilford, City A.M. and @tw_seal
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
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:
TechCrunch, Android Central, Engadget and Music Ally, more at Techmeme »
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
LADbible Group launches a tech website to help build on the brand's existing Unilad Tech social pages, after the audience for its tech content grew 187% YoY — The launch builds on Unilad Tech's social audience of 18 million followers. — Ladbible Group has launched a dedicated tech website …
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.
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:
New York Post
Wall Street Journal:
A look at a campaign for the US State Department to label Alsu Kurmasheva as wrongfully detained, committing the US to work to secure her release from Russia — The family and employer of Alsu Kurmasheva, a dual U.S.-Russian citizen, say she has been targeted because she is an American and a journalist
Discussion:
Radio Free Europe/Radio …