Top News:
Clarissa Ward / CNN:
CNN Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward describes being held captive by a militia in North Darfur in Sudan for 48 hours — North Darfur, Sudan CNN — “La tasweer! La tasweer!” ("Don't film! Don't film!") the general shouted, his eyes flashing with anger, his jaw clenched as he stormed towards us.
Discussion:
New York Post, The Wrap, Politico, @clarissaward, @_hudsonc and Deadline
Kyle Wiggers / TechCrunch:
Google makes SynthID Text, which lets developers watermark and detect text generated by AI models, generally available — Google is making SynthID Text, its technology that lets developers watermark and detect text generated by generative AI models, generally available.
Alicja Ptak / Notes From Poland:
Poland launches an antitrust probe into Meta for limiting visibility of Facebook posts linking to Polish media; Meta cited legal doubts over a new copyright law — Poland's Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) has launched an investigation into Meta, the owner of Facebook …
Discussion:
@uokikgovpl
Jacky Wong / Wall Street Journal:
Jefferies says the anime market in North America has grown from $1.6B in 2018 to $4B in 2024, as once-niche anime is shaping up as Japan's next big export — As Japanese animation and comics go global, opportunities abound for investors — Move over, Marvel. The next blockbuster entertainment franchise might come from Japan.
Discussion:
Douglas Montgomery on LinkedIn and Semafor
Sara Fischer / Axios:
The NewsGuild of New York files an NLRB unfair labor practice charge against the NYT, claiming management violated rules by interrogating staff about strikes — - “While we respect the union's right to engage in protected actions, threatening a strike at this time feels both unnecessary …
Discussion:
@crguildny, @sarafischer, @bymikedavis, @anastasiakeeley and NewsGuild of New York
Bron Maher / Press Gazette:
Bloomberg Media says it added 200K subscriptions in the past four months, and launches a magazine-style Weekend Edition led by ex-Quartz EIC Katherine Bell — Bloomberg Media says it has added 200,000 subscriptions in the last four months as part of a growth plan that also saw it launch a new …
Dominic Ponsford / Press Gazette:
The UK's Reach plans to hire 60 new editorial staff, including “audience writers” and “general assignment journalists”, after cutting 700 staff in 2023 — Reach has said it is hiring 60 new editorial staff which will include “audience writers” and “general assignment journalists”.
Discussion:
HoldtheFrontPage
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Yahoo News partners with McAfee to utilize its deepfake image detection tech to identify pictures and photos that may have been generated or altered by AI — Yahoo News is bringing in a partner to help keep misinformation at bay. — The news-distribution giant, the holder …
Eduardo Suárez / Reuters Institute:
Q&A with Benjamin Toff, recently senior research fellow at the Reuters Institute, about how news avoidance could shape the US election and candidates' tactics — “News avoiders see journalists as part of a disconnected elite,” says Benjamin Toff, who led our Trust in News Project and authored a book on the subject
Discussion:
American Press Institute
Erich Schwartzel / Wall Street Journal:
Joseph Gordon-Levitt criticizes AI, calling Hollywood a “canary in the coal mine” for other industries, and says studios “own the IP and I don't own any of it” — Actor says AI companies use movies and TV to make money without fairly compensating actors; industry should ‘get ahead of that flood’
Mark Caro / Local News Initiative:
With aid from Journalism Funding Partners, a retired Chicago Tribune architecture critic funded his replacement, a biweekly architecture columnist at the outlet — After the Chicago Tribune didn't replace retiring architecture critic Blair Kamin, he funded his own successor
Discussion:
@troutgirl.bsky.social
Aisha Malik / TechCrunch:
TikTok brings its STEM feed to all users in the US, the UK, and Ireland by default to help find educational content, after launching the feed to under-18 users — TikTok announced on Wednesday that it's bringing its STEM feed to all users in the United States, United Kingdom, and Ireland by default.