Top News:
Jessica Toonkel / Wall Street Journal:
National Amusements ends talks with Skydance; sources: Shari Redstone will likely seek a sale of just National Amusements, without including Paramount directly — Redstone likely to pursue sale of National Amusements, the family company that controls Paramount, with other potential bidders
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New York Times:
Sources: Shari Redstone was irked that Skydance's revised Paramount terms reduced National Amusements' value from $2B to $1.7B, affecting her family's holdings — There were several hitches in the last week as Skydance, Paramount and its parent company, National Amusements, reached the final stages of negotiations.
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
In an email to staff, Skydance CEO David Ellison acknowledges Paramount merger talks have ended, and says that Skydance is “stronger” because of the talks — “I have great respect for the legacy of Paramount, value our ongoing partnership and wish them the best,” he added in the note …
Rolling Stone:
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito suggests partisan funding of ProPublica is to blame for its coverage of the court, in a secret recording at a recent dinner — In a new, secret recording, the Supreme Court justice suggests partisan funding is to blame for coverage of justices' undisclosed luxury gifts
Discussion:
@jstatepost@mstdn.social, @normornstein, @slackermom.bsky.social, @macloo.bsky.social, @eisingerj, @eisingerj, @justinelliott, @rollingstone, @rollingstone, @rollingstone, @anatosaurus, @markjacob16, @lawindsor, @7im, Mediaite, Boing Boing, New Republic, NewsNation, Fox News and New York Times
Laura Wagner / Washington Post:
The Baltimore Sun's union says the paper's new ownership has “tossed aside” ethical standards, reusing a below-standard Sinclair Broadcast Group story and more — “Ethical standards,” the Sun's union says, “have been tossed aside under new ownership.”
Discussion:
Popular Information, Washington-Baltimore …, CNN, @healthcarerenew, @jamieson, @strannik_reb45, @jamieson and @tvnuggetfinder
Joshua Benton / Nieman Lab:
Journalists rejoice after Apple says iOS 18 will support call recording and transcription, and participants will be notified that they're being recorded — “There are decades where nothing happens, and there are weeks when decades happen.” — The word you're looking for is “sherlocked.”
Discussion:
Scott Snyder on LinkedIn, @jherrerx, AppleInsider, @jenseniorny, @mishaalrahman, Vered Horesh on LinkedIn, @anne_loreto, @josephzeballos, @jasonwilson@mastodon.online, @bourgwick@heads.social, @petersterne, @jasonwilson@mastodon.online, @ursulaperano, @klundster, @joshhterry, @taylorlorenz, The Verge, Fast Company and The Verge, more at Techmeme »
Washington Post:
Sources: Jeff Bezos has been closely engaged with Will Lewis, as the WaPo's new publisher developed the plan to create a “third newsroom” for new audiences — Critics raise concerns about the values of a new team of executives. Meanwhile, the business woes are real. What does Jeff Bezos want?
Discussion:
New Republic, @ashleyrparker, @farhip, @washingtonpost, @farhip, @elaheizadi, The Daily Beast and Poynter
Mark Stenberg / Adweek:
Comscore: Roku is the most popular CTV OS by time spent, with 49% of the total market, and The Roku Channel is most popular FAST service by total hours — Roku leads Pluto TV and Tubi among free, ad-supported TV streamers — A new report from measurement firm Comscore has shed light …
Adam Ganucheau / Mississippi Today:
Pulitzer-prize winning Mississippi Today appeals to the Mississippi Supreme Court following a lower court order to turn over documents amid a defamation suit — A judge ordered our newsroom to turn over privileged documents regarding our Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporting.
Discussion:
@stevenldoyle, @freedomofpress, Committee to Protect … and Poynter
Aidan Ryan / The Boston Globe:
Current and former staff at Boston public media outlet GBH criticize top salaries after 31 people were laid off; nine execs earned $300K+ in base pay in 2023 — When GBH laid off nearly three dozen workers last month, chief executive Susan Goldberg cited flat revenue and rising costs that left …
Discussion:
@dankennedy_nu, @chipgoines, @aidanfitzryan, Inside Radio and Radio Ink
Alberto Nardelli / Bloomberg:
Docs and sources detail how Russian operative Artem Kureyev helped run influence operations in Europe for years, including contacting journalists about Ukraine — - Agent had frequent contacts with journalists about Ukraine — US and EU are stepping up efforts to combat disinformation
Discussion:
@GaryRLundberg@newsie.social, @KimPerales@toad.social, Semafor and @rvps2001@mastodon.social
Bloomberg:
Source: Spotify plans to launch a higher-priced premium plan later in 2024, charging $5+ more per month for better audio, playlist and library tools, and more — The plan will cost at least $5 more per month and include access to high-fidelity audio and new playlisting tools.