Top News:
Gene Maddaus / Variety:
SAG-AFTRA and the major studios suspend talks, as the AMPTP says that the gap between the two sides is “too great”; SAG-AFTRA accuses studios of “bully tactics” — In a statement to members after midnight, the union accused the studios of engaging in “bully tactics …
Discussion:
Screen Rant, TVLine, Reuters, Next TV, New York Times, Deadline, Rolling Stone, Engadget, IGN, @sagaftra, What's On Disney Plus, CNN, @vanthebrand, @slack2thefuture, @filmupdates, @sagaftra, @mattbelloni, Insider, IndieWire, ABC7, Deadline, @danhindmarch, The Wrap, @itsmecarolamptp, @carolinerenard_, @elainelow, Los Angeles Times, Reuters and The Hollywood Reporter
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Cynthia Littleton / Variety:
A look at factors that prolonged the WGA strike, like different priorities for streaming services and studios, and how dialog may prevent another standoff later — Why did it take five months? — That's the vexing question that entertainment industry insiders are wrestling with even as they cheer …
Discussion:
Associated Press, @tvmojoe, @edlantz and @richlightshed
Kathy Jones / Committee to Protect Journalists:
In the first five days of the Israel-Hamas war, at least seven journalists have been killed, two are missing, and two have been injured — The Israel-Gaza conflict has taken a severe toll on journalists since Hamas launched its unprecedented attack against Israel on October 7 and Israel declared war …
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Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Automattic expands ActivityPub support to WordPress.com hosted sites, letting blog owners reach 13.3M users across the fediverse, including Mastodon's 1.8M MAUs — Earlier this year, WordPress.com owner Automattic acquired a plugin that allowed WordPress blogs to be followed in the fediverse …
Gabe Bullard / Nieman Reports:
Internal memo: NPR lost a negligible amount of traffic in the six months since leaving X, after the service labeled the outlet “US state-affiliated media” — The numbers confirm what many of us have long suspected — that Twitter wasn't worth the effort, at least in terms of traffic
Discussion:
The Wrap, One Man & His Blog, American Press Institute, Digiday, @aulia@threads.net, @travelfishery@threads.net, @mosseri@threads.net, @dangoodin@infosec.exchange, @travelfishery@threads.net, @sergiomarbel, @dangillmor@mastodon.social, @kalihays.bsky.social, @tchambers@indieweb.social, @Zeb_Larson@zirk.us, @Johannab@wandering.shop, @paul@oldfriends.live, @randfish@mastodon.social, @thesiswhisperer@aus.social, @emmalbriant@mastodon.online, @claesdevreese@mastodon.social, The Times of Israel and Los Angeles Times, more at Techmeme »
Lauren Forristal / TechCrunch:
Block acquires Hifi, which launched in 2020 as a financial rights organization for artists and recently rolled out Cash Flow to pay artists a bi-monthly salary — Block, the Jack Dorsey-founded fintech company previously known as Square, has acquired Hifi, a music-focused fintech startup.
Discussion:
Music Ally and Billboard
Lauren Forristal / TechCrunch:
Fave, an app and marketplace for superfans to connect and get perks from brands and artists, raised $2M in an ongoing round from WMG, Sony Music, and others — Fave, the app for superfans to connect with like-minded music lovers and obsess over their favorite artists, secured $2 million in an ongoing round …
Morgan Sung / TechCrunch:
Twitch rolls out a long-requested anti-harassment feature that automatically blocks a streamer's banned users from watching their streams — Twitch streamers can finally block banned users from watching their streams, thanks to a recent update to the platform's anti-harassment features.
The Verge:
In an October 11 meeting, New York Public Radio's CEO said NYPR would be shifting to a “broadcast to podcast” strategy, cutting almost all podcast-only titles — On Wednesday afternoon, staffers at WNYC's podcast division sat down for an all-hands meeting looking for answers.
Discussion:
@askhalid and @joelleeman
Bloomberg:
How Google Chrome's Discover feed on Android serves up misleading propaganda to Russian audiences; a source says Russian-languages services are a lower priority — Mobile users in Russia are being served pro-war propaganda from sources Google has blocked elsewhere.
Aisha Malik / TechCrunch:
TikTok updates its $6M Effect Creator Rewards fund to add lower eligibility rules, a revamped payout model, and a lower threshold to start collecting rewards — TikTok is updating its Effect Creator Rewards program with lower eligibility requirements, a revamped payout model …
Discussion:
Engadget, TikTok Effect House, Mashable SEA and The Verge, more at Techmeme »
Paul Sandle / Reuters:
The UK CMA launches an investigation into whether the BBC, ITV, Hat Trick, Tiger Aspect, and others broke competition law when buying services from freelancers — Britain's antitrust regulator said it suspected that television production companies including the BBC, ITV (ITV.L) …
Discussion:
GOV.UK, Deadline, The Guardian, @lewis_crofts and Advanced Television
Bron Maher / Press Gazette:
An interview with Deborah Turness, who joined as BBC News' first CEO in 2022, on investing in fact-checking brand Verify, BBC Studios, BBC.com plans, and more — BBC News chief executive Deborah Turness has promised more investment in fact-checking and transparency brand BBC Verify …
Discussion:
Jennie Baird on LinkedIn and Jen Brown on LinkedIn
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