Top News:
Jon Brodkin / Ars Technica:
Experts say a Florida bill that would make some bloggers register with the state is unconstitutional; DeSantis spurred other bills to weaken defamation defenses — Rules for bloggers who write about elected officials raise First Amendment concern. — A proposed law in Florida …
Discussion:
WFLA-TV, NBC News, FIRE, Columbia Journalism Review, Insider, @vabvox, The Daily Beast, National Review, Florida Politics, Orlando Sentinel, @arstechnica, Mediaite, RedState, Newser, @walshfreedom, @arrington, @scalzi, @feministajones, @walterkirn, @harikunzru, @knightcolumbia, @martinishark, @ronfilipkowski, @juddlegum, New York Post, Pitt's Newsletter, @steve_vladeck, Fox News, @kysportsradio, @juliedicaro, Free Press, Substack, New Republic, Deadline, Earthbound Valkyrie, The Hill, The Wrap, Curmudgucation, The Daily and Boing Boing
Jane C. Timm / NBC News:
End Citizens United PAC files a complaint with the FEC arguing that Rupert Murdoch broke the law by showing Biden's ads and debate strategy to Jared Kushner — A progressive group wants the Federal Election Commission to investigate Fox Corp. and former President Donald Trump's 2020 campaign for breaking campaign finance laws.
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Jeremy Barr / Washington Post:
Dominion-Fox lawsuit filings show at least four journalists faced internal backlash in 2020 for calling out election lies; Lachlan Murdoch prompted one scolding — “News guys have to be careful,” Lachlan Murdoch warned after on-air journalists cast doubt on Trump conspiracy theories, internal documents show.
Bloomberg:
Filings: Rupert Murdoch claims he delegates “everything” at Fox News to CEO Suzanne Scott as hosts claim no one at Fox Corp. gave election coverage instructions — Back in 2021, Fox Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch was described by President Joe Biden as the “the most dangerous man in the world …
Discussion:
CNN, Financial Times, Politico, Mediaite, @jayrosen_nyu, FTVLive, Deadline, Vicky Ward Investigates, Media Matters for America and The Guardian
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
Filing: Paramount Global plans to pay $122.5M to settle shareholder lawsuits arising from the 2019 Viacom-CBS merger, pending court approval — Shareholders brought the suit in 2019, alleging that CBS overpaid for Viacom, at the urging of Shari Redstone.
Discussion:
Variety, Deadline, The Wrap, Los Angeles Times and Bloomberg
Jef Feeley / Bloomberg:
John Malone and ex-colleagues on Charter's board agree to an $87.5M settlement of claims that Malone unfairly benefited from the 2016 Time Warner Cable purchase — John Malone and his former colleagues on Charter Communications Inc.'s board agreed to a $87.5 million settlement of claims …
Discussion:
The Wrap, The Hollywood Reporter, @blaw and Too Much TV Newsletter
Mia Sato / The Verge:
Sources: CNET lays off around a dozen people, or ~10% of its staff, including several longtime employees, after revelations the outlet used AI to write articles — Just weeks after news broke that tech site CNET was quietly using artificial intelligence to produce articles …
Discussion:
Variety, The Wrap, Insider, @gloria_sin, @edzitron, @xoxogossipgita, @qwongsj, @rachelmetz, @bigmeaninternet, Futurism, @greene_dm, @cpautoscribe, @scalzi, @vikkie, @scottnover, @zemotion, @jessicalessin, @sdw, @klawls, @chrishayner, @chrishayner, @bcmerchant, @jaredbkeller, @stevenewing, @karlbode, @karlbode, @karlbode, @jake_k, @paleofuture, @miarsato, @miarsato, @miarsato and Talking Biz News
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David Wildstein / New Jersey Globe:
Two US senators and 11 US House members write to Star-Ledger and NJ Advance Media executives, protesting their decision to close their Washington, DC bureau — Lawmakers: ‘"Our constituents rely on this coverage to be informed participants in our democracy’
Gideon Lichfield / Wired:
Wired publishes its generative AI rules, saying the outlet won't publish text written or edited by AI but may use AI for headlines, social media, or story ideas — Some publications are already using text and image generators. Here's how WIRED will—and won't—use the technology.
Discussion:
@emilybell, @waltmossberg, @ndiakopoulos, @mtrc, @martinstabe, @pkedrosky, @mediaevan, @rifish, @nickstatt, @laurengoode and @glichfield
Lane Brown / Vulture:
A look at the projection issues ruining movie theaters, where the use of aging digital projectors and worn-out light bulbs contribute to poor picture quality — Multiplexes are failing at their most basic function: delivering a bright, sharp image. — Michelle Pfeiffer and Jonathan Majors look like crap.
Alex Sherman / CNBC:
Sources: ESPN in talks with sports leagues and media partners about offering a live sports guide with direct links, possibly in exchange for a subscription cut — - ESPN has talked with major sports leagues and media partners about launching a feature that would link users directly …
Discussion:
@sherman4949, @chrisnickinson, MediaPost, The Streamable, Observer, Broadband TV News, @sarthakgh, @sallyjenkinswa1, @sallyjenkinswa1, @ourand_sbj, @bachscore, @dalter, @rltsports, @andy_staples, @jacobfeldman4, @pkafka, @tim_bays, @sherman4949, @great_katzby, @keitholbermann, @mediumbuying, @sportstvratings, @sherman4949, Awful Announcing and Barrett Media
Alex Kantrowitz / Big Technology:
Meta, Twitter, and Snapchat's subscription fees and features are aimed at professional creators filling social feeds because regular users post too infrequently — Monthly fees for Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat are not for ordinary users. They're for the professionals who've taken over the feeds.
Discussion:
Slate and Insider Intelligence
Billboard:
UMG CEO Lucian Grainge says the company is working with Deezer on a “new model” for paying artists streaming royalties, similar to its earlier Tidal partnership — The partnership, which follows a similar collaboration with TIDAL, was announced by UMG CEO Lucian Grainge on an earnings call.
Discussion:
Complete Music Update, @dada_drummer and Digital Music News
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Elizabeth Dilts Marshall / Billboard:
Universal Music Group reports 2022 revenue up 22% YoY to €10.34B, subscriptions and streaming revenue up 19% to €5.32B, and operating profit up 15% to €$1.6B
Universal Music Group reports 2022 revenue up 22% YoY to €10.34B, subscriptions and streaming revenue up 19% to €5.32B, and operating profit up 15% to €$1.6B
Discussion:
Digital Music News, tools.eurolandir.com, Music Business Worldwide, Variety, Reuters and The Hollywood Reporter