Top News:
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:
NBC News, Washington Post, Crooks and Liars, @stuartathompsonnyt …, DNyuz, @katie_robertson, Newser, Axios, NPR, Forbes, Associated Press, @jswatz_tx@threads.net, CNN, Mediaite, CNN, Adweek, The Desk, The Wrap, CBS News, New York Times, The Daily Beast, The Guardian, The Hill, Reuters, Los Angeles Times, Radio & Television …, New York Daily News, TVNewsCheck, Barrett Media, ABC7, Media Matters for America and Advanced Television
Katie Kilkenny / The Hollywood Reporter:
Former child star Demi Lovato joined California Governor Gavin Newsom as he signed two bills that financially protect child influencers and content creators — Former child star Demi Lovato joined the California governor on Thursday as he greenlit legislation that expands the Coogan Law …
Discussion:
Governor of California, The Wrap, The Hill, @kayreneeesq, Maria J Da Mata Mulero on LinkedIn, ABC7, Rolling Stone, NBC News, Mashable, DNyuz, Billboard and KSTP-TV
The Information:
Source: Amazon exceeded its goal of $1.8B in ad-spending commitments for its video-streaming offerings, including Thursday Night Football, in the coming year — Amazon's decision to introduce ads within its Prime Video streaming service is already paying off for the company.
Discussion:
The Wrap, Reuters, Deadline and Adweek, more at Techmeme »
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.
Sarah Scire / Nieman Lab:
A look at National Trust for Local News, which owns 65 newspapers across Colorado, Maine, and Georgia, employs ~250 journalists, and has 100K paying subscribers — “What we're trying to solve for is not necessarily a business model problem. We're trying to solve for an ownership incentive problem."
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
A look at publishers' growing use of Subtext, founded in 2019 by Advance Local's Alpha Group, to drive traffic, reduce churn, and drive affiliate revenue — Could old-fashioned SMS texting be a more reliable alternative to fickle social media algorithms for publishers?
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:
TVNewsCheck, Adweek, Washington Post, ComingSoon.net, New York Post, @kforch1@threads.net, Front Office Sports, Deadline, @sepinwall@threads.net, @johnjf125, @tyler_greever, @sherman4949, @waldersports, @philiprr_omd, @fmaddennba, @yourmandevine, @marcatracy, Mediaite, Sports Media Watch, New Jersey Online, Awful Announcing, @howelloneill.bsky.social, UPROXX, Barrett Media and USA Today
Elizabeth Lopatto / The Verge:
X is blocking links to Ken Klippenstein's newsletter with a hacked JD Vance dossier and suspended Klippenstein's X account for posting Vance's private info — X is preventing users from posting links to a newsletter containing a hacked document that's alleged to be the Trump campaign's research …
Discussion:
Axios, HuffPost, Adweek, @pkafka@threads.net, NBC News, @alibreland, @leahmcelrath, @emptywheel, @leahmcelrath, @alibreland, @thezedwards, @leahmcelrath, @jessicalburbank, Breitbart, @rmac18, @leahmcelrath, @rmac18, @eliothiggins, @justinbaragona, New York Daily News, @newrepublic@threads.net, Engadget, @omimesis@mastodon.social, @BackFromTheDud@mas.to, New Republic, @oremus.bsky.social, @davekarpf.bsky.social, @davekarpf.bsky.social, Ken Klippenstein, @Cyberpreppy@mastodon.social, @hn50@social.lansky.name, @digiphile@mastodon.social, Elizabeth Lopatto on LinkedIn, The Hill, @passantino@threads.net, Mediaite, @mmasnick.bsky.social, DNyuz and Hacker News, more at Techmeme »
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:
Talking Biz News, The Wrap, Variety, Variety, Barrett Media, CNN, Deadline, TVNewsCheck and GoldDerby
RELATED:
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 …
Elle Kehres / Radio World:
The FCC voted to impose fines for three Miami-area pirate radio operators totaling $800K+ and proposes fines totaling $1M for three suspected NYC-area operators — Commission carries out three fines, has three more proposed — The Federal Communications Commission has taken swift action …
Hadas Gold / CNN:
Nevada court hearings in the Murdoch family succession fight ended outside of public view; resolution may take weeks and be appealed to Nevada's Supreme Court — New York CNN — — The fate of Rupert Murdoch's vast media empire, including Fox News, is now in the hands of a Reno probate commissioner …
Discussion:
@passantino@threads.net
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.
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” — In short, WP Engine is violating WordPress' trademarks. Moreover, they have been doing so for years.
Discussion:
TechCrunch, Fast Company, @photomatt@mastodon.social and Automattic
RELATED:
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
Discussion:
Tedium, @viewfromthebox, @bowefrankema, WordPress News, @bgardner, @pressable, @automattic, @tmeister, @rmccue, @wpdavidv, @bgardner, @thedannorris, @shendison, @joshmanders, @williamsba, @patchstackapp, @fjzeit, @mrlanphear, @timbouchard, @stshank, @tomfrankly, @danielcid, @itsdavemartin, @dcurtis, @vinnysgreen, @t3dotgg, @slexaxton, @tealou, @benjmay, @thespacedmonkey, @seldo, @ozskier, @taraclaeys, @photomatt, @deviorobert, @photomatt, @davidtaggart, @photomatt, @photomatt, @photomatt, @carlhancock, @photomatt, @mgeheren, @bgardner, @jbenton, @raymmar_, @keithdevon, @wordpress, MarTech, Dave Martin, TechRadar, Search Engine Journal, WP Engine's Status Page, @runakog@threads.net, @dvk@toot.re, TechCrunch, @Kye@tech.lgbt, @Jayhoffmann@mastodon.social, @bretcarmichael@mastodon …, @jalefkowit@vmst.io and @chris@mastodon …, more at Techmeme »
Accounting Specialist Editor, Remote US — 
Senior Correspondent - Wealth, NY — 
Asia Credit Reporter, Seoul — 
Senior Editor, DC — 
Sr. Social Media Specialist, NC — 
Associate Editor - Aviation, TN — 
Assistant Editor - Digital, NC — 
Video Producer - YouTube, NY — 
Senior Managing Ed. - Daily Desk — 
Content Managing Editor — 
Editor, MA — 
Team Editor - Breaking News, ON — 
Senior Reporter & Event Host, NY/CA — 
Associate Editor, Remote — 
Retail Reporter, MN — 
Senior Data Editor, DC — 
Managing Ed. - Berks County, PA — 
News Editor - UK, Remote — 
Staff Writer, TX — 
Multimedia Journalist, PA — 
Service Journalism Editor, CA — 
Content Director, Remote — 
Sports Reporter, ME — 
Los Angeles Issues Reporter, CA — 
Reporter - Middle East — 
Executive Editor, OR — 
California Playbook Writer, CA — 
Senior Media Editor — 
National Investigative Reporter, NY — 
Lexington County Reporter, SC — 
Reporter - Offshore Wind — 
General Assignment Reporter, FL — 
Staff Reporter, CA — 
Data Editor, NY — 
