Top News:
Maxwell Zeff / TechCrunch:
In a post, Perplexity criticizes media companies that have sued over AI, saying they wish AI tools didn't exist and prefer that corporations own reported facts — Perplexity shot back at media companies skeptical of AI's benefits in a blog post Thursday responding to News Corp's lawsuit filed against the startup earlier this week.
Discussion:
The Verge, The Hollywood Reporter, Pocket-lint, Digital Trends, TVNewsCheck and MEDIANAMA, more at Techmeme »
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David Folkenflik / NPR:
Recent moves at the Los Angeles Times and NBC News, and the lack of a Washington Post presidential endorsement, raise concerns that owners are appeasing Trump — Recent episodes involving major U.S. news organizations have stoked fears that outlets are preemptively self-censoring coverage …
Discussion:
@pattmlatimes, @maxwelltani, Blaze Media, Washington Times, @davidfolkenflik, @azi, @sbasspersonal, Daily Mail, HotAir, The Gateway Pundit, @bgrueskin, New York Times, The Wrap and Newser
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Sewell Chan / Columbia Journalism Review:
Mariel Garza, editorials editor of the Los Angeles Times, resigns after the outlet's owner blocked the editorial board's plans to endorse Harris for president
Mariel Garza, editorials editor of the Los Angeles Times, resigns after the outlet's owner blocked the editorial board's plans to endorse Harris for president
Discussion:
@drpatsoonshiong, Media Nation, @markhamill, The Gateway Pundit, Vanity Fair, Newsbusters, One America News Network, Matt Pearce, Blaze Media, Breitbart, @leonardpittsjr1, @leonardpittsjr1, BizPac Review, HuffPost, Raw Story, Washington Examiner, Townhall, Poynter, The Hollywood Reporter, The Wrap, New York Times, @elonmusk, @loisbeckett, @kateaurthur, @loisbeckett, Fox News, Twitchy, @latguild, Semafor, Associated Press, @saralibby, @deggans, @cagirl80, @williambibbiani, @gerrickkennedy, @kylebuis, @ragregg, @nickpowellchron, @davidfolkenflik, @mattdpearce, @lanana421, @jamesrbuk, @silvermanjacob, @maxapotter, @maxapotter, @lara_korte, @byrobinepley, @laura_nelson, @michaelzlin, @mrneuropolitan, @johnrmoffitt, @mediamorphis, @robrtgreene, @jnicholsonindc, @sewellchan, @sewellchan, @sewellchan, @sewellchan, @sewellchan, @sewellchan, @sdkstl, @matildabress, @newsjennifer, @byelsieramos, @sewellchan, Newser, @mac_ryan_@threads.net, @mac_ryan_@threads.net, Axios, The Hill, @jswatz_tx@threads.net, Status, The Guardian, UPI, Ken Peterson on LinkedIn, @ryanboswell@sfba.social, @mattsheffield@mastodon.social, Bloomberg, New York Post, SFGATE, The Independent, @ianrosewrites@scicomm.xyz, @dangillmor@mastodon.social, The Editor's Desk, CNN, Washington Times, @ChrisHolladay@mastodon.social, @barney@mas.to, @Basmitharts@weird.autos, @coachfinstock.bsky.social, @marisakabas.bsky.social, @Bellison22@mastodon.social, @WarnerCrocker@mastodon.social, @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social, The San Francisco Standard, Deadline, Adweek and r/Journalism
Mandy Dalugdug / Music Business Worldwide:
TikTok strikes a licensing deal with indie music distributor UnitedMasters, a member of Merlin; the current TikTok/Merlin licensing deal ends October 31 — TikTok has announced that it has struck a multi-year direct deal with prominent indie artist services and distribution platform UnitedMasters.
Discussion:
UnitedMasters, Social Media Today, Billboard, Digital Music News and Music Ally
James Powel / USA Today:
A poll of 1,000 likely US voters finds 72% had not seen Kamala Harris on a podcast and 77.5% had not seen a Trump podcast appearance — An exclusive USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll asked respondents whether they caught campaign appearances by Harris and Trump on podcasts.
Daniel Tilles / Notes From Poland:
A state-owned Polish radio station relaunches with AI “presenters” after firing its journalists; station head says layoffs were due to a lack of listeners — A Polish radio station has stirred controversy after relaunching one of its channels in a new version run almost completely …
Discussion:
Marcos Bravo C. on LinkedIn and Associated Press
Jody Godoy / Reuters:
IAB, cable trade group NCTA, and the Electronic Security Association sue to block the US FTC's “click to cancel” rule, alleging it oversteps the FTC's authority — An industry group representing cable and internet providers sued along with two others on Wednesday to block …
Discussion:
The Verge, MediaPost, USA Today, Politico, Variety, @fight@mastodon …, Engadget, Cord Cutters News, AV Club and Policyband
Andrea Navarro / Bloomberg:
Filing: Grupo Televisa SAB Executive Chairman Emilio Azcarraga steps down amid a US DOJ probe into the Mexican conglomerate's dealings in international soccer — - Grandson of broadcaster's founder stepping down immediately — Investigation ongoing, company says it's cooperating
Discussion:
The Desk and Financial Times
Bluesky:
Bluesky says it has 13M+ users, has raised a $15M Series A, and plans payment services to creators and a subscription for features like higher quality video — Bluesky now exceeds 13 million users, the AT Protocol developer ecosystem continues to grow, and we've shipped highly requested features like direct messages and video.
Discussion:
Gizmodo, jwz, The Verge, SiliconANGLE, Tubefilter, Amir Shevat on LinkedIn, Social Media Today, Engadget, @rose.bsky.team, @rose.bsky.team, @brendelbored.bsky.social, @danilo@hachyderm.io, @eramdam.me, @bsky.app, @timbray@cosocial.ca, @bnewbold@social.coop, @parismarx.bsky.social, @molly.wiki, @rose.bsky.team, @chrismessina@mastodon.xyz, @andy@social.seattle.wa.us, @coreypein.bsky.social, @pixel@desu.social, @triangulator.org, Decrypt, TechCrunch, @coachfinstock.bsky.social, @tante@tldr.nettime.org and @hikarisoph.bsky.social, more at Techmeme »
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Goodreads co-founder Otis Chandler launches Smashing, an app that aims to create community around articles, podcasts, and more, and has an AI Questions feature — Smashing, a new app curating the best of the web from Goodreads co-founder Otis Chandler, is now available to the public.
Discussion:
MediaPost and Andrew Moseman on LinkedIn, more at Techmeme »
Reuters:
Israel publishes documents it says it found in Gaza, which it claims prove that six Al Jazeera reporters in Gaza were also members of Hamas or Islamic Jihad — The Israeli military named on Wednesday six Palestinian Al Jazeera reporters in Gaza it said were also members of the Hamas …
Discussion:
Al Jazeera, New York Times, Canary, @speechboy71, Middle East Monitor, @arash_tehran, International Center …, UPI, Middle East Eye, New Jersey Online, The Times of Israel, Associated Press, The Times of Israel, New York Times, New York Post, Al Jazeera, Adweek, Washington Post, freebeacon.com, Algemeiner.com, National Union of Journalists …, Fox News, Jerusalem Post, Breitbart, RedState and The Wrap
Punchbowl News:
A group of Republican lawmakers led by senators Tom Cotton and Mitch McConnell ask for a probe into “systematic” leaks from the FTC and DOJ to Bloomberg News — In a letter dated Wednesday, the senators point to twelve instances since 2023 when Bloomberg broke stories …
Discussion:
Washington Times and Election Law Blog
David Bauder / Associated Press:
Medill's State of Local News report finds a net gain of 81 US digital news sites over the past year, 127 closed newspapers, ~2,000 lost newsroom jobs, and more — Newspapers in the United States closed at the rate of more than two per week during 2023, but a burst of activity among digital …