Top News:
Joe Pompeo / Vanity Fair:
Profile of veteran Black journalist Kevin Merida who became the executive editor of LA Times in June and says he wants to “redefine what a modern newspaper is” — The new executive editor of the L.A. Times rode a stellar career to helm California's paper of record.
Discussion:
Mediaite, @mlcalderone, @joepompeo, @adriana_lacy, @kainazamaria and @hughhewitt
The New York Times Company:
NYT names a new interdepartmental team to help leadership build audience trust, working closely with the newsroom's Standards department — A new cross-functional team will help the company's leadership establish a vision for how our report can continue to evolve to convey our values and ensure accuracy.
Rick Porter / The Hollywood Reporter:
ViacomCBS launches BET Studios, offering Black creatives an equity stake to produce content for outlets within and outside the media conglomerate — The three producers will be equity partners in the venture, which Aisha Summers Burke has been tapped to lead.
Discussion:
The Wrap, Variety, Deadline and Realscreen
Kerry Flynn / CNN:
Clubhouse hires Nina Gregory, senior editor for NPR's Arts Desk, as its first head of news and media publishers — New York (CNN Business)Live audio app Clubhouse boomed during the early months of the pandemic as people craved social connections and entertainment while spending most of their time isolated and inside.
Discussion:
The Wrap, TechCrunch, Variety, @deggans, @mayawatson, @niketa, @kerrymflynn, @jenny8lee, @tomgara, Hollywood Reporter, @christenlien, @kerrymflynn, @kerrymflynn, @kerrymflynn, @justinebateman, @jowyang and AllAccess.com
Corrie Driebusch / Wall Street Journal:
SmartNews, a news aggregation app that shows users articles on the same topic with labels on their political bent, raises $230M at a ~$2B valuation — Tokyo-based news-discovery company is valued at $2 billion in its latest funding round — SmartNews Inc. has raised $230 million …
Discussion:
Axios, TechCrunch, SmartNews, Inc. and @anthony, more at Techmeme »
Brian Welk / The Wrap:
National Association of Broadcasters cancels next month's convention in Las Vegas amid a COVID-19 surge and says it hopes to hold the next event in April 2022 — The National Association of Broadcasters, or NAB, has canceled its 2021 NAB Show that was scheduled for Las Vegas next month amid …
Discussion:
Variety, insideradio.com, Radio & Television …, @keycodemedia, Light Reading, Deadline, nexttv.com, Broadband TV News, Realscreen and Hollywood Reporter
Emma Kelly / Metro.co.uk:
BBC confirms that ex-HuffPost UK EIC Jess Brammar has been appointed to a new role overseeing the BBC's domestic and international news channels — Jess Brammar has been hired by the BBC, following controversy about her potential role at the corporation. — BBC chairman Richard Sharp confirmed today …
Discussion:
The Guardian, BBC, Press Gazette, @lisaocarroll, @robmanuel, @nmsonline, @jessbrammar and Guido Fawkes
The Guardian:
Police investigating the 2019 killing of journalist Lyra McKee have arrested four men in the Derry area — Police Service of Northern Ireland says the men have been detained under the Terrorism Act — Detectives investigating the killing of the journalist Lyra McKee have arrested four men.
Discussion:
BBC, @poppymcp, UPI, RTÉ, @peteradamsmith, Metro.co.uk, PinkNews, The Irish Times, Sky News, @hagan_utv, @psnidcsdistrict, @matthewhughes, Daily Mail, Reuters and HoldtheFrontPage
Matt Donnelly / Variety:
Sources: LeBron James' SpringHill is in advanced talks for an investment from Fenway Sports Group, RedBird Capital, and Nike, valuing it around $650M-$700M — While the NBA legend and his longtime business partner Maverick Carter have expressly told potential suitors they are not looking …
Discussion:
Sportico, The Information, The Wrap and Hollywood Reporter
Rick Edmonds / Poynter:
A look at National Trust for Local News, which plans to sell local news bonds and build a $300M fund to help local news outlets — Rather than grants, the trust dispenses venture capital and advice, with a goal of growing local support to serve small-town news deserts.
Discussion:
@poynter, @alanmillernlp, @lindashapley, American Press Institute, @poynter and Editor and Publisher
A.J. Katz / TVNewser:
E.W. Scripps will relaunch national news network Newsy on Oct. 1, broadcasting over the air and OTT and led by Kate O'Brian, formerly of ABC News and Al Jazeera — The E.W. Scripps Company is relaunching its national news network Newsy as a 24/7 news outlet that will broadcast over-the-air and OTT.
Discussion:
@ajkatztv and @alexmillernews
Josh Gerstein / Politico:
Appeals court rejects Devin Nunes' defamation suit over a 2018 Esquire article, but says he may have been libeled when a reporter tweeted out the story in 2019 — A federal appeals court has rejected Rep. Devin Nunes' defamation suit over a magazine story about his relatives in Iowa …
Discussion:
@medialawprof, Law & Crime, @erikwemple, @erikwemple, @ericnewcomer, @ericnewcomer, @ericnewcomer, @ericnewcomer, @puxxled, @erikwemple, @erikwemple, @erikwemple, @lawsuitsdevin, @senkevincramer, @5dollarfeminist, @imillhiser, @oliverdarcy, @abeaujon, @eriqgardner, @natsecgeek and @aricohn