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Filing: Newsmax paid $40M in 2024 to settle the Smartmatic defamation lawsuit over false claims that the voting machine company helped rig the 2020 US election — Newsmax Media has agreed to pay $40 million to settle allegations it defamed Smartmatic by reporting false claims …
Discussion:
Mediaite, The Guardian, CNN, The Hill, The Independent, NBC News, Deadline, The Indian Express, @mickwest, @jeremymbarr, Newser, Axios, Lawyer Monthly, @rosselderwrites, @jayshams, The Verge, The Wrap, CNBC, TVNewsCheck and @mikescarcella.bsky.social


Streamers court YouTubers for new shows or spinoffs; sources: Amazon made $100M+ in profit on Beast Games and Netflix held talks with Dude Perfect for a series — Disney, Peacock and others pursue YouTube stars for new shows; Amazon's ‘Beast Games’ boasts profit and gears up for more seasons
Discussion:
@jtoonkel


John Feinstein, a Washington Post sportswriter who wrote more than 40 books including A Season on the Brink, about basketball coach Bob Knight, has died at 69 — He had a long affiliation with The Washington Post and wrote books including “A Season on the Brink,” about Indiana University men's basketball coach Bob Knight.
Discussion:
Awful Announcing, Barrett Media, Compliance Podcast Network, Poynter, New York Times, UPI, Fox News, Associated Press, TMZ.com, Deadline, Washington Monthly, KSDK-TV, @knoxrob1.bsky.social, The Hollywood Reporter, @tommytomlinson.bsky.social, @lukerussert.bsky.social, @sallyjenx.bsky.social, Awful Announcing, New York Post, @sethemerson.bsky.social, @bfquinn.bsky.social, @petegain.es, @lukedecock.bsky.social, @norlander.bsky.social, @jadande.bsky.social, New York Daily News, PBS NewsHour and r/Journalism

Kari Lake, who joined the USAGM in February, says she is canceling the agency's contracts with news services including AP, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse — A senior advisor to President Donald Trump said Thursday she was moving to cancel long-established contracts between three international …
Discussion:
The Desk, @maynereport, @buynevich, TVNewsCheck and @karilake


Dazn announces a multi-year deal to stream LIV Golf in Japan, Canada, and several European countries, alongside the LIV Golf+ service — LIV Golf's broadcast reach will extend to Japan, Canada and much of Europe thanks to a multiyear partnership with London-based sports entertainment platform DAZN …


Reuters journalist Raphael Satter sues the Indian government for revoking his Overseas Citizen status, after he wrote about hack-for-hire company Appin in 2023 — Raphael Satter had his OCI card taken away after publishing a story critical of an Indian businessman


Four female BBC News presenters settle a dispute with the BBC over claims they lost their roles in 2023 due to sex and age discrimination — Four female news presenters have agreed a settlement in a dispute with the BBC over claims including sex and age discrimination.
Discussion:
RTÉ, Daily Mail, The Sun, Mirror, Deadline, @jake_kanter and Kent Online


Reddit will allow users to hide ads from their feeds from an advertiser account for “at least a year”; some users report seeing a daily limit for hiding ads — Reddit has shown a growing commitment to promoting ads on its platform, especially since going public a year ago.
Discussion:
Hindustan Times, Haaretz and r/RedditSafety, more at Techmeme »


China announces new rules requiring companies to label AI-generated material, either explicitly or via metadata, starting September 1 — China joined the EU and US in rolling out new regulation to control disinformation by requiring labeling of synthetic content online.


A look at the success of Chinese animated movie Ne Zha 2, grossing $2B+ globally, and its impact on the Chinese film industry and Hollywood's future in China — Chinese blockbuster Ne Zha 2 recently became the first non-Hollywood movie to cross $2B worldwide, and in so doing joins …
Discussion:
@deadline and @thedragonfeeder


WGA begins talks with CBS News for a new union contract, focusing on AI and using the recently ratified contract at ABC News as a foundation for bargaining — Artificial intelligence is taking center stage in yet another set of union negotiations as the Writers Guild of America began talks …


CNBC is expanding its CNBC Sport brand by adding a weekly TV series, live events, and launching a series of long-form CNBC Sport-branded productions — CNBC Sport, launched by reporter Alex Sherman, will add a weekly TV series and launch a series of long-form docs (starting with a Steph Curry special) in the coming weeks.
Discussion:
Talking Biz News, @sherman4949.cnbc.com and @2xaught7.bsky.social


In its proposal for White House's AI Action Plan, OpenAI calls for a strategy that preserves “American AI models' ability to learn from copyrighted material” — After President Trump, in one of his initial actions upon returning to the White House, revoked the country's …
Discussion:
@stevesi, @rnaudbertrand, Music Ally, @dorialexander, @natfriedman, @shakeelhashim, @andrewcurran_, @kortizart, @chombabupe, @kywhitney, @stevesi, @ednewtonrex, @pankraru.bsky.social, @chup.blakereid.org, @dalonso@mas.to, @kint.bsky.social, @edzitron.com, Ars Technica, The Wrap, TechCrunch, @kdkorte@fosstodon.org, Fortune, OpenAI, TechCrunch, Benzinga and Bloomberg, more at Techmeme »
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