Top News:


Trump's claim that the NYT used “phony sources” in story on off-record briefing with WH official sparks debate about describing his false claims as “lies” — The weekend began with a series of tweets from the president, and, like so many times before, several of them contained factually incorrect information.
Discussion:
Toronto Star, @connieschultz, Mediaite, ABC News and CNNMoney
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Trump says NYT used “phony sources” in story citing a White House official and is challenged by reporters who were part of the off-the-record briefing — President Trump's ongoing feud with the media is hardly news, but over the weekend it turned out that there were still new ways …
Discussion:
Poynter, American Press Institute, Mediaite, @maggienyt, Washington Post, @mikiebarb, @yashar, @michaelrwarren, @jbenton, @jonathanvswan, @yashar, @davidfolkenflik, @realdonaldtrump, @jbenton, New York Times, @jayrosen_nyu, @sethmpk, @davidaxelrod, @subverzo, @jamesfallows, @joyannreid, @peterbakernyt, @maggienyt, @maggienyt, @laurenduca, @jamilsmith, @gruber, @malcolmnance, @lizgarbus, Washington Post, Talking Points Memo, The Hill, Mediaite, Contemptor, Slate, Mother Jones, Snopes.com, New York Magazine and CNNMoney


Morgan Freeman's lawyer writes to CNN President Jeff Zucker, demanding a retraction of the network's story about the actor sexually harassing women — YOUTUBE — The actor has since issued two statements in response to the claims. — Morgan Freeman's lawyer has asked CNN to retract …
Discussion:
New York Times, @michaelroston, @anhaiphung, @sopandeb, @morninggloria and Morning Consult
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TV producer Tyra Martin, a woman named by CNN as one of Morgan Freeman's accusers, says the network misrepresented her comments — One of the women who came forward against actor Morgan Freeman is pushing back against CNN's explosive report that he had sexually harassed up to eight women.
Discussion:
@essence, @drboycewatkins1 and TMZ.com


Sources describe tensions between Shari Redstone and Les Moonves amid a possible CBS-Viacom merger that has led to litigation over voting control — Shari Redstone and Les Moonves are locked in a legal battle triggered by disagreement over a potential merger of Viacom and the broadcasting powerhouse
Discussion:
@keachhagey and Editor & Publisher
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Shari Redstone says National Amusements had already advised Viacom it no longer supported a merger with CBS, before CBS moved to strip her of voting power — Shari Redstone said on Tuesday that she and her family's company, National Amusements Inc., “no longer supported” …
Discussion:
Adweek and Broadcasting & Cable


Female journalists reporting or commenting on Tesla say they face online abuse, including death and rape threats, from supporters of Elon Musk — Female journalists who cover Elon Musk have the same personal rule: Mention his name on Twitter at your peril.
Discussion:
@joshuatopolsky, @djlavoie, @shonaghosh, @rachelfeltman, @vabvox, @alexvtunzelmann, @fxshaw, @joshuatopolsky, @neilhimself, @noahshachtman and CNNMoney
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Elon Musk complained about media credibility, then tweeted a link to a story attacking coverage of his company from a news site affiliated with sex cult NXIVM
Discussion:
Vanity Fair, @mantzarlis, @_toddstone, @williams_paige, @dabeard, Recode, Associated Press, The A.V. Club, Frank Report and Fortune


Sources on TMZ founder Harvey Levin and Trump's friendship, Levin's work to discredit women accusing Trump of assault, and TMZ staff alarm at pro-Trump coverage — When the Access Hollywood tape of Donald Trump emerged in the home stretch of the 2016 election, it should have been a gift from the tabloid gods for TMZ.
Discussion:
@justinjm1, @andrewkirell, Mediaite, @amy_siskind, @maxwelltani and @maxwelltani


Tronc is buying Virginia's largest paper, Norfolk's The Virginian-Pilot, in an all-cash deal for $34M, becoming the latest conglomerate to buy a local paper — Newspaper conglomerate Tronc, which owns a plethora of local American newspapers like The Los Angeles Times and The Chicago Tribune …


A look at how Stig Abell, former editor of UK tabloid The Sun, revamped The Times Literary Supplement, increasing sales 30% YoY for the last two years — The Times Literary Supplement was founded in 1902. Its editor, Stig Abell, was hired to usher it into a new era.


Two journalists, Mike McCormick and Aaron Smeltzer, have been killed while on assignment in North Carolina after a tree fell and crushed their news van — 2 journalists killed while covering Alberto — WYFF, the NBC-affiliated station in Greenville, South Carolina, is mourning the loss …
Discussion:
TVSpy, @mayorknoxwhite, @wews, @lindseygrahamsc, @halliejackson, @sallymacfox26, CBS New York and The Desk


iQiyi debuts its first on-demand physical movie theater in China, with mini-theaters seating two to 10, that users can rent by the hour to watch iQiyi's content — The company plans to build physical cinemas in major cities across China. — Beijing-based streaming-video giant iQiyi …
Discussion:
Fortune