Top News:
Karissa Bell / Engadget:
Twitter Blue rolls out to the US for $2.99/month and NZ for $4.49/month with Scroll's ad-free articles across 300+ publishers and Nuzzel-like “top articles” — Twitter is expanding its premium subscription service to more users. Twitter Blue, which unlocks additional features …
Discussion:
@twitterblue, New York Times, Twitter, Nieman Lab, The Wrap, Axios, TechCrunch, @arctictony, @arctictony, @twitterblue, The Verge, CNET, @oranicuhh, @quinnypig, @shiraovide, @tuckerkristen, @ericzuck, @wongmjane, @jack, @scottmstedman, @idiplomacy, @arctictony, @devindra, @karissabe, @_jackriley, @film_girl, @caseynewton, @mahwashajaz_, @mims, @nicksallon and @caseynewton, more at Techmeme »
Greg Kumparak / TechCrunch:
Unity to acquire Peter Jackson's visual effects company Weta Digital, including 275+ engineers, for $1.625B; Weta Digital's FTX artists will form a new entity — Unity has just announced its intent to acquire Weta Digital, the legendary visual effects company co-founded by Peter Jackson, for a massive $1.625 billion.
Discussion:
Variety, The Wrap, Protocol, @loudmouthjulia, Hollywood Reporter, @xpangler, @parismarx, @grg, @briannorgard, @toadsanime, @mikeseymour and @devincf
Bloomberg:
Netflix for iOS is rolling out Kids Clips, a TikTok-like feature that shows new daily short videos from its children's library — - Company to test ‘Kids Clips’ on iOS in U.S., other countries — Feature is similar to ‘Fast Laughs’ comedy offering for adults
Discussion:
ScreenRant, @lucas_shaw, Gizmodo, @peninsulaqatar, Engadget, @sarthakgh, Insider, The Verge, @markgurman, New York Post, 9to5Mac, @lanceulanoff, TechCrunch and Waivly, more at Techmeme »
Maria Verza / Associated Press:
Mexican prosecutors say they've arrested a businessman on charges of using Pegasus spyware to spy on a journalist — MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican prosecutors said Monday they have arrested a businessman on charges he used the Pegasus spyware to spy on a journalist.
Erik Wemple / Washington Post:
Indictment of Steele dossier source doubles as a critique of Rachel Maddow and media outlets like WSJ, whose initial scoop cited a single anonymous source — MSNBC host Rachel Maddow in December 2017 aired a special report on the Trump-Russia dossier compiled by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele.
Discussion:
Mediaite, @erikwemple, @erikwemple, @kenvogel, @wsj, @davidfolkenflik, @barrymeier, @nickconfessore, New York Post, @dangillmor and Ineptocracy Chronicles
Sara Fischer / Axios:
OpenWeb, formerly Spot.IM, used by 1,000+ publishers to manage comments and user interactions, raises a $150M Series E with NYT investing, valuing it at $1.1B — OpenWeb, a platform used by publishers to manage comments and user interactions, has raised $150 million in a series E financing round …
Discussion:
@openwebhq, @jeffjarvis, @arctictony, @noahchestnut, @nadavshoval and @nandoodles, more at Techmeme »
Hanaa' Tameez / Nieman Lab:
Interview with Vox's new EIC Swati Sharma about revamping its editorial strategy to redefine “Voxxy” as the publication eliminates its Identities section — Last month, Vox.com eliminated its Identities section, which covered a range of topics, including criminal justice, race, religion, gender, and drugs.
Discussion:
@rasmus_kleis, @pressgazette, @voxmedia and @niemanlab
Jennifer Schuessler / New York Times:
PEN America: 11 proposed state bills this year restricting the teaching of critical race theory explicitly ban lessons based on The New York Times' 1619 Project — A report by PEN America, which surveys more than 50 bills proposed across the country, appeals to a principle that has lost its luster for many on the left and right.
Discussion:
PEN America, Mediaite, @summerelopez, @naacp_ldf, @wagesofwins, @penamerica, @nytimes, @penamerica, @nhannahjones, @jzfriedman, Popular Information, @penamerica, The Hill and The Flashpoint
Tom McGeveran / Ohio Local News Initiative:
Ohio Local News Initiative raises $5.8M and announces that its first local nonprofit newsroom will open in 2022 in Cleveland with an expected staff of 25 — Independent newsroom in Cleveland to launch in 2022, producing daily, high-quality, community-oriented journalism as part of a new statewide network of newsrooms across Ohio
Discussion:
Nieman Lab, The Hill, What's New, @henryjgomez, @jayrosen_nyu, @jcstearns, Daily Herald and @jasonalcorn
Andrew Fedorov / Off the Record:
Hearst adjusts its freelancer payment policy to net zero payouts, meaning it will now pay everyone immediately instead of waiting 30 days or more — After a Twitter kerfuffle sparked by author Roxane Gay, the magazine publisher will no longer ask writers to pay a fee for the privilege of prompt payments
Discussion:
@offtherecordnyc, @rgay, @hunterw, @evaholland, @joshtpm and @gabrielsnyder
Monica Eng / Axios:
Illinois educators start developing the first mandated high school media literacy class in the US, after the state passed a law requiring it — This summer Illinois became the first state to require one unit of media literacy for all high school students.
Discussion:
The Rural Blog
Alexandra Bruell / Wall Street Journal:
DoubleVerify, which helps digital advertisers ensure brand safety and detect fraud, will buy OpenSlate for $150M to expand services on social video platforms — Deal expands DoubleVerify's brand-safety and ad-verification services on social-video platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, TikTok
Discussion:
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