Top News:
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Disney and Comcast's NBCUniversal hit an impasse in Disney's buyout plans for NBCU's 33% Hulu stake, with a significant disagreement over valuation — Companies are discussing a Disney buyout of Comcast's stake in streaming service; with a big valuation gap, the prospect of a court battle looms
Devin Coldewey / TechCrunch:
Researchers claim that 2,107 US voters, mostly older, white Republican women, accounted for spreading 80% of the fake news on Twitter during the 2020 election — A pair of studies published Thursday in the journal Science offers evidence not only that misinformation on social media changes minds …
Discussion:
@GreenFire@mstdn.social, Science, @mediaevan and Pablo Breuer, Ph.D. on LinkedIn, more at Techmeme »
Nieman Lab:
A look at the term “fact-based journalism”: its rise coincided with “fake news” in 2016, but the term is redundant as all journalism is fact-based — “To describe one form of journalism as ‘fact-based’ is to tacitly acknowledge that there is also such a thing as ‘non-fact-based journalism.’ And there isn't."
Discussion:
Josh M. on LinkedIn, @nw@ioc.exchange and @davidpwhelan@mastodon.world
Reuters Institute:
Rasmus Nielsen, director of the Reuters Institute for the Study Institute, plans to step down at the end of September after assuming the role in December 2018 — Mitali Mukherjee will take over as Acting Director from 1 October — The Director of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism …
Kristin Robinson / Billboard:
Sampling of King Willonius' AI-generated “BBL Drizzy” creates a new precedent; the recording is public domain but Willonius' lyrics give him publishing rights — After “BBL Drizzy” was sampled in Sexyy Red and Drake's new single “U My Everything,” it required a lawyer to create a procedure for clearing AI samples.
Discussion:
Willonius Hatcher on LinkedIn and Daniel Rowland on LinkedIn
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Moonbug Entertainment names Courtney Holt, previously Spotify's head of studios and video, as managing director for the Americas, taking over from Andy Yeatman — Holt takes over the position from Andy Yeatman, who is departing Moonbug for an unspecified new gig.
Discussion:
The Wrap, Deadline and Advanced Television
Joshua Benton / Nieman Lab:
Rest of World retracts an article on WhatsApp misinformation “tip lines” in India after several fact-checking orgs detail how it was “riddled with inaccuracies” — Last week, the technology site Rest of World published a story on the apparent failings of WhatsApp misinformation “tip lines” in India.
Discussion:
@india_mca and @dau_mca, more at Techmeme »
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Sources: CNN plans to run ads during its June 27 debate between Biden and Trump, a break from tradition; networks using CNN's feed can also sell their own ads — But they will also be cut off by something else. — CNN plans to run commercials during the event, according to two people familiar …
Wall Street Journal:
WSJ posts emails between its contributor Ira Stoll and ProPublica, after ProPublica said that Stoll's op-ed about ProPublica having his tax returns was false — Ira Stoll asked the organization if it had his tax return. It stonewalled. — Editor's note: Our contributor Ira Stoll received …
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal and @propublica@threads.net
Associated Press:
Iran says Saudi Arabia expelled six of its state media journalists after detaining them for nearly a week; Saudi Arabia claims they violated visa regulations — Iran said Wednesday that Saudi Arabia expelled six members of a crew from its state television broadcaster after they had been detained …
Hadas Gold / CNN:
Hoodline, a network of local news outlets, has been posting AI-written stories under fake bylines; until recently, bylines linked to fake biographical profiles — The articles on a local news site popping up around the country appear to cover what any community outlet would focus on: crime, local politics, weather and happenings.
Discussion:
@hadas_gold, @susanbordson and PolitiFact
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
Tom Rubin, OpenAI's chief of IP and content, says publisher partnerships are “largely not” about training AI but instead about use of tools and display of news — It is “incumbent” on OpenAI to make sure smaller publishers get the same potential benefits from platforms like ChatGPT …