Top News:


NYT says it has added 669K new digital subscribers in Q2 and its digital revenue, at $185.5M, exceeded print revenue, at $175.4M, for the first time — The pandemic squeezed advertising for the web as well as print, but subscription growth was the best ever for a quarter.
Discussion:
Nieman Lab, CNBC, The Wrap, Poynter, @niemanlab, @scribeguy, @cliffordlevy, @dsamuelsohn, @jimwaterson, @ericcrawford, Axios, @palewire, @jessekblum, @sarafischer, @pilhofer, @niemanlab, @emilybell, @jason_a_w, @juliehdavis, @jbenton, AdExchanger, @marcatracy, @mattzeitlin, @kerrymflynn, @palafo, @jodikantor, @jimhansondc, @edmundlee, @yeselson and bookforum.com
RELATED:


NYT reports Q2 net income of $23.7M, down 6% YoY, revenue of $403.8M, down 7.5% YoY, with ad revenues down 43.9%, and has a total of 6.5M subscribers — NEW YORK—(BUSINESS WIRE)—The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT) announced today second-quarter 2020 diluted earnings per share …
Discussion:
@gerryfsmith, CNN, The Hill, @mattyglesias, @mattietk, @them_l_g, @bgrueskin, @kerrymflynn, @andybcampbell, @justin_b_smith, @kerrymflynn, @dicktofel, @kncukier, @thestalwart, @boydhilton, @gerryfsmith, @yousefmunayyer, @brandonetc, @sarthakgh and @aexm


Pete Hamill, the celebrated reporter who worked as a columnist and the top editor of The New York Post and The Daily News, and authored many books, dies at 85 — He was, among other things, a celebrated reporter, columnist and the top editor of The New York Post and The Daily News and the author of numerous books.
Discussion:
New York Daily News, @danbarrynyt, New York Post, MediaPost, abc7NY, @joelmsiegel, Hollywood Reporter, @cliffordlevy, @howardkurtz, @om, @lisa_olson1, @aodespair, @mikebarnicle, @senschumer, @edokeefe, @nytimesbooks, @devlinbarrett, @nycspeakercojo, @ejdionne, Rolling Stone, @sydbrownstone, @sarahhepola, @vurnt22, @dgisserious, @clauirizarry, @rachelking, @tonymess, @coreykilgannon, @nytmedia, @stengel, @davidlat, @stanleycohenlaw, @craigtimes, @thestevenweber, The Wrap, The Hill and Gothamist


Study of 2,000 journalists' Twitter use: Beltway journalism may be “even more insular than previously thought” with journalists talking too much to each other — CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Journalists in Washington, D.C., have long been accused of living in a “Beltway bubble,” …
Discussion:
@katerinareports, @katiebowill, @loganclarkhall, @chuckrossdc, @amlwhere, Washingtonian, @davejorgenson, @mattwolfab, @jbflint, @natsfert, @noahcrothman, @pkafka and @jamiejbartlett


Roku beats analyst estimates with Q2 revenue of $356.1M, up 42% YoY, and says it has 43M active streaming accounts with streaming hours rising 65% YoY — Roku, helped again by stay-at-home streaming during the coronavirus pandemic, topped Wall Street earnings estimates for the second quarter …
Discussion:
Roku, The Streamable, Light Reading, CNBC, @xpangler, @loudmouthjulia, @megancgraham and Hollywood Reporter, more at Techmeme »


TikTok tightens policies against manipulated content, expands fact-checking partnerships, and is working with DHS's Countering Foreign Influence Task Force — TikTok announced new rules for its users on Wednesday to curb misinformation and manipulation ahead of the 2020 election.


Facebook launches Instagram Reels, its TikTok competitor that lets users create and publish 15-second videos, in 50+ countries, including the US, UK, and Japan — Instagram Reels, the company's significant effort in challenging TikTok on short-form creative content, is launching globally, starting today.
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, Axios, The Verge, Wall Street Journal, Android Police, Vox, Mumbrella, Transmission, Engadget, MacRumors, @karaswisher and MediaPost, more at Techmeme »


Discovery reports Q2 earnings of $271M, down 71% YoY, on revenue of $2.54B, down 12% YoY; US ad revenues were down 14% and distribution revenues were down 2% — Discovery said it planned to unveil a new direct-to-consumer streaming service even as its said its second-quarter net income fell 71% …
Discussion:
@bristei, The Wrap, @xpangler, @thr, Hollywood Reporter, The Streamable and Multichannel News
RELATED:

Tribune Publishing reports Q2 net income of $1.6M on revenue of $183.1M, which is down 26.9% YoY; ad revenue fell 48.1% YoY and digital-only subs rose 39.7% YoY — Exceeded previous guidance for 2nd Quarter Revenues and 2nd Quarter Adjusted EBITDA — Digital content revenues and subscribers increased 40% year-over-year
Discussion:
@byjonharris and @byjonharris


Study finds 700 more “pink slime” sites, partisan outlets masquerading as local news orgs, have been activated ahead of US election, up from 450 in Dec. 2019 — The run-up to the 2020 November elections in the US has produced new networks of shadowy, politically backed …
Discussion:
American Press Institute, @andrewliptak, @mrdenmore, @jtmstream, @alenamaschke, @rap30, @spj_tweets, @emilybell, @jessamahone and @mikeorren


Biden campaign announces what it says is the largest TV ad buy ever by a presidential candidate, with $220M for TV ads in 15 states and $60M for digital ads — Pretty soon it'll be hard to escape Joe Biden on your television. Or your radio. Or your phone.
Discussion:
Discourse Blog, @jeffjarvis, @rolandsmartin, @danodonnellshow, The Independent, @michaeljgwin, @tducklo and @davidlarter


The death of independent media in Hungary exposes how EU lacks the political will and the legal tools to help preserve a vibrant free press in member states — Viktor Orbán's opponents want Brussels to use competition law in the media sector, but it's a long shot.
Discussion:
@kenroth, @politicoeurope and Politico


Disney says it plans to launch a general entertainment streaming platform internationally in 2021 under its Star brand, would include content from ABC, FX, more — The big question now is what it means for Hulu — Disney plans to launch a new general entertainment streaming platform overseas …
Discussion:
IGN, @theericgoldman and @loudmouthjulia
RELATED:


Disney says Disney+ grew to 57.5M subs as of June 27, up from 54.5M three months ago
Discussion:
Variety, PYMNTS.com, TechCrunch, Engadget, @vijayshekhar, @sherman4949 and Engadget

Disney's Mulan, originally to be released in March but delayed due to COVID-19, will be released on Disney+ on Sept. 4 as a premium on-demand offering for $30
Discussion:
The Wrap, The Streamable, @gerryconway, @blessedsouthpaw, @otherehm, @wonderwaffle93, @reneritchie, @alexandraerin, @eugenedaniels2, @scalzi, @cynical_cj, @jimwaterson, @gameonysus, @constar24, @paultassi, @thekenyeung, @schaffrillas, @curtmega, @briantong, @cynical_cj, @itsandyyybitch, @loudmouthjulia, @loudmouthjulia, @loudmouthjulia, The Wrap, Vox, Adweek and The Week