Mediagazer: Sources: CNN will begin experimenting in early October with a metered paywall, charging some readers for digital access after they read a set number of articles (Benjamin Mullin/New York Times)

3:55 PM ET, September 26, 2024

Top News:

Benjamin Mullin / New York Times:

Sources: CNN will begin experimenting in early October with a metered paywall, charging some readers for digital access after they read a set number of articles — CNN will begin experimenting in October with a subscription model, in a major initiative from its chief executive, Mark Thompson.

Discussion: TVNewsCheck, The Wrap, @dankennedy_nu@threads.net, @kalihays1@threads.net, @benmullin, @sherman4949, @2xaught7.bsky.social, @benmullin, @dylanbyers and @paulwiggins

Ted Johnson / Deadline:

Newsmax and election systems company Smartmatic reach a confidential settlement that averts Smartmatic's defamation lawsuit over 2020 election lies — Newsmax has reached a settlement with election systems company Smartmatic, averting a defamation trial that was set to start next week.

Discussion: The Guardian, The Hill, CNN, Reuters, Media Matters for America, New York Times, CNN, Advanced Television and TVNewsCheck

New York Times:

Hoda Kotb plans to leave NBC's Today early next year but will remain an occasional contributor to NBC; her exit will create two vacancies in the Today franchise — Her exit, planned for early next year, is a seismic shift for NBC and opens up a pair of morning TV's most coveted anchor chairs.

Carly Thomas / The Hollywood Reporter:

CNN won 11 awards in the 2024 News & Documentary Emmy Awards, ABC News won eight including three credited to Hulu, and National Geographic won five — The awards were handed out at the Palladium Times Square in New York City on Wednesday. — CNN, ABC and National Geographic are among …

Discussion: Variety, Barrett Media, Deadline, CNN, GoldDerby and TVNewsCheck

Ross A. Lincoln / The Wrap:

Palestinian journalist Bisan Atef Owda wins the Emmy for Outstanding Hard News Feature: Short Form, after the Academy rejected a push to rescind her nomination — Other winners from the News & Documentary ceremony include ABC and CNN with multiple wins each

Discussion: The Wrap and The Emmys

Thomas Claburn / The Register:

Matt Mullenweg says WP Engine no longer has free WordPress.org access and directs WP Engine customers having trouble with their websites to WP Engine support — WordPress on Wednesday escalated its conflict with WP Engine, a hosting provider, by blocking the latter's servers …

Discussion: WordPress News, @viewfromthebox, Dave Martin, WP Engine's Status Page, @jbenton, @bgardner, @bgardner, @photomatt, @automattic, @carlhancock, @bowefrankema, @ozskier, @photomatt, @davidtaggart, @photomatt, @vinnysgreen, @benjmay, @patchstackapp, @mgeheren, @stshank, @rmccue, @fjzeit, @bgardner, @shendison, @joshmanders, @keithdevon, @itsdavemartin, @thespacedmonkey, MarTech, @thedannorris, @dcurtis, @wpdavidv, @taraclaeys, @mrlanphear, @danielcid, @tomfrankly, @seldo, @pressable, @t3dotgg, @williamsba, @raymmar_, @slexaxton, @photomatt, @photomatt, @deviorobert, @tealou, @wordpress, @photomatt, @timbouchard, @tmeister, Search Engine Journal, @runakog@threads.net, @dvk@toot.re, TechCrunch, TechRadar, @Kye@tech.lgbt, @Jayhoffmann@mastodon.social, @bretcarmichael@mastodon …, @jalefkowit@vmst.io, @chris@mastodon …, One Man & His Blog and TechCrunch, more at Techmeme »

Matt Mullenweg:
Matt Mullenweg says Automattic has “been attempting to make a licensing deal” with WP Engine “for a very long time, and all they have done is string us along”

Discussion: Fast Company, TechCrunch, @photomatt@mastodon.social and Automattic, more at Techmeme »

Andrew Marchand / New York Times:

Sources: ESPN lays off NBA senior writer Zach Lowe as part of continuing cost cutting; his salary, in excess of seven figures annually, was the biggest factor — ESPN has parted ways with NBA senior writer Zach Lowe as part of the network's continuing layoffs, sources briefed on the decision told The Athletic on Thursday.

Discussion: Washington Post, Mediaite, Awful Announcing, Sports Media Watch, New Jersey Online, Barrett Media, Front Office Sports, @marcatracy, @yourmandevine, @philiprr_omd, @howelloneill.bsky.social, @waldersports, UPROXX, @tyler_greever, @fmaddennba, @sherman4949, @johnjf125 and USA Today

Marci McCue / Flipboard:

Flipboard says it is federating 250 publisher profiles and 4,000 of their curated Magazines, including ABC News, the AP, The Atlantic, PBS, and USA Today — BYMARCI MCCUE — Today Flipboard is federating 250 publisher profiles and 4,000 of their curated Magazines, making it possible …

Discussion: @mike@flipboard.social, @Flipboard@flipboard.social and @tchambers@indieweb.social

Todd Spangler / Variety:

AI company Runway launches The Hundred Film Fund, offering grants of $5,000 to $1M for 100 short films and feature-length movies that use generative AI — Runway is launching The Hundred Film Fund, an initiative to help produce and fund as many as 100 short films and feature-length movies …

Discussion: The Wrap, @dfwsam.bsky.social, Christina Lee Storm on LinkedIn, IndieWire, @YakyuNightOwl@mastodon.world, @fifilamoura@eldritch.cafe and The Hollywood Reporter

Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:

Subscription management platform RevenueCat acquires Dipsea, an app that offers subscriptions for “spicy” audiobooks, as a test ground for RevenueCat's features — On the heels of its earlier $12 million fundraise, subscription management platform RevenueCat has made its first acquisition — and it's an unusual one.

The Guardian:

The Economist's events division, Economist Impact, faces backlash after an investigation found it has large sponsorship contracts with three tobacco companies — Exclusive: Experts pull out of health conferences run by Economist Impact after revelations of commercial links

Discussion: @qubcancerprof and @mattjhodgkinson@scicomm.xyz

Kayleigh Barber / Digiday:

Business Insider Chief Subscriptions Officer Katie Friedman says a test of an AI smart paywall from December 2023 to April 2024 increased conversions by 75% — This article was provided as an exclusive preview for Digiday+ members, who were able to access it early.

Discussion: Insider, Inc. on LinkedIn, David Clinch on LinkedIn, Katie Friedman on LinkedIn, Thomas Swann on LinkedIn, Talking Biz News, @bipressroom and @simondowens@threads.net

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