Mediagazer: As the Israel-Hamas war escalates, a look at the hacktivism on both sides, including outside hackers defacing and DDoSing government websites and media outlets (Wired)

3:10 PM ET, October 10, 2023

Top News:

Casey Newton / Platformer:

As X fails to moderate Israel-Hamas misinformation, Meta has an opportunity to make real-time news a pillar of Threads and give the app an existential purpose — Three months into its existence, the app's purpose may be coming into focus — if Meta will embrace it

Discussion: Wired, The Information, Jimmy Xing on LinkedIn, The Guardian, CNN, CNBC, @chrischirp@fediscience.org, @anneapplebaum, @mattbinder@threads.net, @bruno_j_navarro …, @carnage4life@mas.to, Bloomberg, @caseynewton@mastodon.social, @onthemedia, @freedom_official_p …, @buccocapital@threads.net, @jason_whitman@threads.net, @carnage4life@threads.net, @tchambers@indieweb.social, @mattbinder@threads.net, @timothyjchambers@threads.net, @therealhoarse@threads.net, Morning Brew, @oliverdarcy@threads.net, @knittingknots2@mstdn.social, @jakemgrumbach, @crumbler@threads.net, @ianbetteridge@writing …, @nxthompson, Media Matters for America, Semafor, @reporterzoe@threads.net, @oneunderscore__, @penamerica, @alex.stamos@threads.net, @davidfrenchjag@threads.net, 9to5Mac, @ianbremmer@threads.net, @Newmy@writing.exchange, @mimsical@mastodon.social, MediaPost, Variety, @chrismessina@mastodon.xyz, CBS News and Politico, more at Techmeme »

Katy Migiro / Committee to Protect Journalists:

Three Palestinian journalists have been killed while reporting on the Israel-Hamas war, another was injured, and two Palestinian photographers are missing — The Committee to Protect Journalists said on Monday that it was deeply disturbed by reports that at least six journalists were among …

Wired:

As the Israel-Hamas war escalates, a look at the hacktivism on both sides, including outside hackers defacing and DDoSing government websites and media outlets — Since the conflict escalated, hackers have targeted dozens of government websites and media outlets with defacements and DDoS attacks …

Discussion: Insider, BBC, Washington Post, Fox News, TechCrunch, CBS News and Bloomberg, more at Techmeme »

Wall Street Journal:

Sources: activist investor Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund, now one of Disney's largest investors with a $2.5B+ stake, is planning a fresh push for Disney board seats — Activist's Trian Fund Management has accumulated a holding valued at more than $2.5 billion — Nelson Peltz is planning a fresh push for board seats at

Thomas Buckley / Bloomberg:

Sources in Bob Iger's inner circle and at Disney describe him as overwhelmed and exhausted by the challenges at Disney, compounded by the Hollywood strikes — Disney's legendary CEO came out of retirement to save the company—right in time for its 100th birthday. Nothing has gone his way.

Discussion: The Wrap, Wall Street Journal, The Messenger, New York Post, KNSD-TV and The Information

Ben Mullin / @benmullin:

Memo: The Washington Post is offering “voluntary separation” packages in the next few weeks, aiming to reduce its workforce by ~240 people across the company — Inbox: Washington Post is reducing its workforce by approximately 240 positions [image]

Discussion: @oliverdarcy@threads.net

Associated Press:

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich loses his appeal against his arrest in Russia, meaning he will stay in jail at least until November 30 — A Wall Street Journal reporter who was detained in Russia on espionage charges lost his appeal against his arrest Tuesday …

Discussion: Fox News, Talking Biz News, Associated Press, New York Daily News, The Hill, Wall Street Journal and Voice of America

Deadline:

The WGA ratifies its new three-year AMPTP contract, following 8,435 “yes” votes and 90 “no” votes, after ending the guild's 148-day strike on September 27 — (Updated with SAG-AFTRA statement) Writers have officially approved their deal with the studios.

Dominic Ponsford / Press Gazette:

Sources: four senior sports journalists, including Rob Draper, have been fired from the Mail on Sunday, which no longer has a dedicated sports editor — European Football Writer of the Year Rob Draper and BJA winner Nick Harris look set to leave. — Four senior journalists look set …

Stuart Dredge / Music Ally:

London-based Audoo, whose Audio Meter identifies music played in public venues to improve royalty payments, raised $5M, taking its total funding to $22M — Can you feel the love tonight (well, this morning) for British startup Audoo? It has raised a new $5m funding round led by Sir Elton John …

Discussion: Digital Music News and Music Business Worldwide

Wayne Friedman / MediaPost:

Paramount Global announces a partnership with cross-platform audience measurement company iSpot.tv — Deepening more alternative-currency agreements among major TV network-based media companies, Paramount Global has struck a deal with iSpot.tv to “measure and transact” …

Discussion: Adweek and Radio & Television …

Angela Fu / Poynter:

On Amazon's Prime Big Deals Day, 40+ unionized staff at Reviewed, Gannett's product reviews site, stage a one-day strike after failing to get bargaining dates — Shopping holidays, like Amazon's Prime Days and Black Friday, are the product review site's biggest revenue drivers

Discussion: @nyguild, @reviewedunion, @reviewedunion and The NewsGuild

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BreAnna Bell / Variety:
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Discussion: The Wrap, Radio & Television … and The Hollywood Reporter

Todd Spangler / Variety:
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Etan Vlessing / The Hollywood Reporter:
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Discussion: The Wrap and Reuters

Ivan Mehta / TechCrunch:
X changes its public interest policy: newsworthy posts by “high-profile accounts” that break its rules can remain and are no longer limited to elected officials

Discussion: Associated Press, more at Techmeme »

Barry Schwartz / Search Engine Land:
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Jake Kanter / Deadline:
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Discussion: @tvgrimreaper and Variety

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Discussion: @raju

Winston Cho / Hollywood Reporter:
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Discussion: Wall Street Journal, New York Post, @jbflint, The Wrap, Adweek, Yahoo News and The Messenger

Earlier Picks:

Jim Edwards / Press Gazette:
A look at LinkedIn's newsroom, which has 250 editors and writers across 30 countries and 17 languages, as the platform doubles down on news as others pull back

Discussion: Media Makers Meet, @pressgazette, @pressgazette and @ksandler1

Duncan Miriri / Reuters:
Netflix plans to end its free mobile tier in Kenya, which offered 25% of its shows and movies, after two years on November 1, and rolls out a ~$6/month ad tier

Discussion: @carolndosi, @sinemafocuske, @nyakundi_ke, Techspace Africa, NTV Kenya, @venturesafrica and Cord Cutters News

Amit Gurbaxani / Music Ally:
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Discussion: CMU, @saikrishnaveni8, @magnifyindia1, @theajayrajverma, @swtaener, @musically, @tsuvik, @aroondeep, Moneycontrol and TechCrunch

Washington Post:
Investigation: earlier in 2023, Vietnam tried to plant Predator spyware on the phones of US Congress members, CNN journalists, and US policy experts via X posts

Discussion: The Register, CNN, @duandang, @donnchac, @amnestytech, @amnestytech, @jsrailton, @jsrailton, @rondeibert, @ericgeller, @jsrailton, The Hill, @DataDrivenMD@fedified.com, @sambowne@infosec.exchange and The Messenger

Max Tani / Semafor:
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Natalie Weiner / The Verge:
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Discussion: @jwelte, @Sibilant@kind.social, @dupuisj, @mulderbatflip, @natalieweiner, @burn_amb and @libationlegacy@mastodon …

Tim McDonnell / Semafor:
Advertisers face growing pressure to cut their emissions; Scope3: digital ads create ~7.2M tons of CO2 annually, equivalent to 1.4M US homes' electricity usage

Discussion: @semaforben, @msbeverlybryan, @briandevine and @semafor

Richard J. Tofel / Second Rough Draft:
Q&A with Independence Public Media Foundation President Molly de Aguiar on the frequent disconnect between local media funders and national funders, and more

From Techmeme:

Bloomberg:
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Bluesky is booming partly because it isn't hindered by bad adtech, AI slop, throttled links, and largely hostile user experiences, unlike some of its big rivals

CNN:
Two Baltic Sea internet cables, connecting Lithuania with Sweden and Finland with Germany, were suddenly disrupted, sparking concerns of Russian sabotage

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