Mediagazer: Microsoft Azure threatened to block microblogging site Gab.ai if two posts from a neo-Nazi were not removed within 48 hours; the author then removed the posts (Ali Breland/The Hill)

7:55 PM ET, August 9, 2018

Top News:

Richard Allan / Facebook:

VP of policy details Facebook's limits to free speech: physically or financially endangering people, intimidating via hateful words, tricking people for profit — Hard Questions is a series from Facebook that addresses the impact of our products on society.

Discussion: TechCrunch, @max_read, @mekosoff, @jfruh, @cwarzel and Fortune, more at Techmeme »

Max Fisher / New York Times:

After treating Facebook-fueled violence as occurring only in developing countries, the company now finds wealthier places aren't immune from hate speech issues — To Americans, Facebook's Alex Jones problem might seem novel, even unprecedented. — When does speech become unsafe? When can it be limited?

Discussion: Nieman Lab, @sharonwaxman, @amelia_acker, @splcenter, @max_fisher, @rasmus_kleis, @jjvincent, @raeuberhose, @samarajiva, @rajit_h, @ericeweir, @kellyriess and New York Times, more at Techmeme »

BuzzFeed News:
Apple says Infowars podcast violated company's hate speech guidelines but implies its app doesn't violate App Store guidelines

Discussion: New York Times, The Hill, Fast Company, @lizwahl, @pcunliffejones, infowars.com, @davewiner, TechCrunch, Business Insider, Fortune, @dpfunke, New York Times and 9to5Mac

Kara Swisher / New York Times:

Twitter needs a code of values requiring it to make tough calls on high-profile and malevolent figures like Alex Jones — The platform won't ban the dangerous liar Alex Jones because he “hasn't violated our rules.” Then what's the point of these rules? — This week, Alex Jones …

Discussion: Quartz, @shannonvallor, Marketing Land, @b52malmet, @page88, @miasteinberg, Beyond Search, The Conversation, infowars.com, Hollywood Reporter and Contemptor, more at Techmeme »

Oliver Darcy / CNNMoney:

Analysis of Infowars Twitter content shows videos that led to YouTube and other bans were still live, while other tweets showed more Twitter rules violations — Why Facebook,YouTube and Apple are removing InfoWars content — Twitter's vice president for trust and safety, Del Harvey …

Discussion: Fast Company, Mediaite, @oliverdarcy, Poynter, @nprinskeep, @noahshachtman, @sdkstl, @slpng_giants, @aliasvaughn, @noahshachtman, @eriqgardner, @oliverdarcy, infowars.com, The Verge, The Wrap and The Daily Caller, more at Techmeme »

Axios:
Sources: Jack Dorsey to continue media tour with interviews with NBC's Lester Holt next week and CNN's Brian Stelter next Sunday to discuss Alex Jones

Discussion: @hunterwalk, The Daily Caller and The Hill

Charles Riley / CNNMoney:

Tribune calls off its $3.9B merger with Sinclair, sues Sinclair for breach of contract, seeking $1B in damages — Trump angry with FCC chair over Sinclair deal — The Sinclair Broadcast Group acquisition of Tribune Media is dead. — Tribune said in a statement Thursday that it has terminated …

Tribune Media Investor Relations:
Tribune Q2 results: revenue rose 4% YoY to $489.4M, net income rose to $84.4M, up from a net loss of $30.4M in Q2 2017

Discussion: Gothamist, Associated Press, Fortune, New York Times, Techdirt and NPR

Greg Roumeliotis / Reuters:

Sources: Donerail Group, led by former Starboard Value LP executive Will Wyatt, is in advanced talks to acquire Tronc — (Reuters) - Donerail Group, an investment firm led by former activist hedge fund Starboard Value LP executive Will Wyatt, is in talks to acquire Tronc Inc (TRNC.O) …

Discussion: @lynnemarek, @gerryfsmith and Chicago Tribune

Wallace Witkowski / MarketWatch:

Tronc reports Q2 revenue of $253M, up 3.9% YoY and net loss of $15.1M — Tronc Inc. TRNC, +1.92% shares slipped in the extended session Thursday following a run-up fueled by reports of a possible buyout after the media company reported quarterly results. Tronc shares slipped 0.5% after hours …

Discussion: Reuters, Business Insider, MarketWatch and @lynnemarek

Elizabeth Spiers / Washington Post:

The former EIC of NY Observer says Jared Kushner's demand that an IT worker delete several stories fits with the Trump family's hostility to journalism — I was editor in chief of the New York Observer when he allegedly had stories removed from the digital archive in secret.

Discussion: @netaustin, @davidpriess and @espiers

Chaim Gartenberg / The Verge:

Samsung and Spotify partner to build Spotify's services into smartphones, Bixby, and other Samsung devices — Samsung has announced that it's entering a long-term partnership with Spotify, including support for the just-announced Galaxy Home smart speaker.

Discussion: newsroom.spotify.com, RAIN News, Engadget, CNBC, Variety and @spotify, more at Techmeme »

Christine Schmidt / Nieman Lab:

The Wall Street Journal has revamped its newsletters, whittling from 126 to about 40, trimming length, adding subscription requests, and improving interactivity — “The newsletter itself in your inbox is simply not enough. What is it like to speak to the editor if you reply?

Discussion: @fpmarconi, @rwhelanwsj, @anotherhelen, @steverubel and @whatthebit

Shan Wang / Nieman Lab:

Interview with Karin Pettersson, Schibsted's director of public policy, on her new role and the publication's relationship with Google and Facebook — “We can't say that Facebook is destroying democracy, but then have our newspapers collaborate with them very, very closely …

Discussion: @ab_karin, @niemanlab, @georgdiez1, @jayrosen_nyu and @rasmus_kleis

Lukas I. Alpert / Wall Street Journal:

News Corp beats estimates with revenue of $2.69B, a 29% increase YoY, reports net loss of $372M attributable to shareholders, in part due to Foxtel transaction — Write-off related to Australian TV deal contributes to net loss — The consolidation of Australian television assets helped …

Discussion: Sydney Morning Herald, Reuters and News Corp

Archived Page Info:

This is a snapshot of Mediagazer at 7:55 PM ET, August 9, 2018.

View the current page or another snapshot:

Who's Hiring in Media?

Energy & Commodities Editor, Tokyo — Bloomberg

Politics Reporter, TX — Texas Tribune

Consumer Brands Reporter, GA — AJC

Deputy Editor - Health Care, VA — Politico

Product Editor, CA — CalMatters

Indigenous Affairs Editor, Sydney — Guardian US

China Markets Correspondent, Shanghai — Reuters

Bangor Reporter, ME — Bangor Daily News

Commerce Editor - Health, Remote US — Yahoo

Sports Editor, MI — Detroit News

Deputy Politics Editor, CA — Sacramento Bee

Alphaville Reporter, London — FT

See Also:

Mediagazer: site main

Mediagazer River: reverse chronological Mediagazer

Mediagazer Mobile: for phones

Mediagazer Leaderboard: Mediagazer's top sources

Subscribe:

Mediagazer RSS feed

Mediagazer on X

Mediagazer on Mastodon

More News:

Dave McNary / Variety:
Lionsgate tops estimates in Q2 with a loss of $7.9M on revenue of $932.7M, announces agreements to launch Starzplay channels in France, Italy, and Spain

Discussion: The Wrap, The Wrap, Deadline and Hollywood Reporter

Erik Wemple / Washington Post:
Sources: 60 Minutes producer Michael Radutzky screamed at colleagues, threw objects, twisted colleague's arm as executive producer Jeff Fager tolerated conduct

Discussion: @postopinions

Ali Breland / The Hill:
Microsoft Azure threatened to block microblogging site Gab.ai if two posts from a neo-Nazi were not removed within 48 hours; the author then removed the posts

Discussion: @johnpaczkowski, @mmasnick, Fortune, Engadget and The Daily Caller, more at Techmeme »

Lincoln Pigman / New York Times:
Authorities in Belarus detained at least 18 journalists, accusing them of illegally obtaining information from a state news agency; six have been released

Discussion: Washington Post, @article19europe, @europeangreens, @pressfreedom, @pressfreedom, @solidaritycntr, @franksesno, @pressfreedom, Associated Press, Radio Free Europe/Radio …, The Irish Times, Reuters, Politico and Committee to Protect …

Ken Bensinger / BuzzFeed News:
Shareholders sue Televisa, alleging the media giant used a subsidiary to pay FIFA bribes to win broadcast rights to the World Cup in 2018, 2022, 2026, and 2030

Discussion: @kenbensinger and @kenbensinger

Jacob Kastrenakes / The Verge:
Anchor announces Listener Support, a Patreon-style service that lets listeners pledge $0.99, $4.99, or $9.99 a month to podcasters

Discussion: VentureBeat, 9to5Mac, Anchor and TechCrunch, more at Techmeme », Thanks:@steverubel

Earlier Picks:

Arjun Panchadar / Reuters:
Viacom Q3 earnings: revenue fell 4% YoY from $3.36B to $3.24B, net income fell 25% YoY to $511M, media network revenue decreased 2% YoY to $2.5B

Discussion: The Wrap, Variety, Billboard and Press Release

Tom Lasseter / Reuters:
How Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo of Myanmar landed in jail and what it signals for Myanmar's press freedom

Casey Newton / The Verge:
CEO says Pandora plans to launch its podcast genome project, a personalization feature announced in January and similar to its music recommendations, this year

Discussion: Engadget, more at Techmeme »

Jon Levine / The Wrap:
Adam Weinstein resigns as acting EIC of military-focused site Task & Purpose after a clash about a headline on a VA story, says he was told to be less liberal

Discussion: New York Daily News, Washington Post, @dedwardbeck, @alexandermccoy4, @peterlucier, @zachiscol, Slate, @derekgannoncm6, @adamweinstein, @adamweinstein, @adamweinstein and @adamweinstein

Jason Guerrasio / Business Insider:
The Oscars reduces annual four-hour telecast to three to make it more “globally accessible” and introduces category for “popular” films, in bid to boost ratings

Discussion: The Ringer, Variety, TVWeek.com and @aherman2006

From Techmeme:

Meta:
Meta launches Llama 4 Maverick with 400B parameters and Scout with 109B parameters and a 10M context window, and previews Behemoth with 2T total parameters

Emilia David / VentureBeat:
Anthropic's Alignment Science team: “legibility” or “faithfulness” of reasoning models' Chain-of-Thought can't be trusted and models may actively hide reasoning

Tom Warren / The Verge:
Microsoft unveils a demo of Quake II generated using its Muse AI model, with limited playability in a browser, as part of the company's Copilot for Gaming push

Sister Sites:

Techmeme
Top news and commentary for technology's leaders, from all around the web

memeorandum
What US political commentators are discussing online right now

WeSmirch
The top celebrity news from all around the web on a single page