Top News:
Reuters:
Some analysts say a WBD and Paramount merger would likely leave the companies “worse off”: billions deeper in debt and saddled with dying traditional TV assets — Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O) and Paramount Global (PARA.O) are likely to be “worse off” together as a merger …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Adweek, Variety, Daring Fireball, Deadline, KEYT-TV, Vanity Fair, @bruienne@infosec.exchange, Fast Company, Insider Intelligence, Broadband TV News, CNBC, The Verge, Barrett Media, TVLine, TrekMovie.com, Sports Media Watch, The A.V. Club, ComingSoon.net, ScreenRant and The Desk
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Benjamin Mullin / New York Times:
A look at the financial pressures on National Amusements and Paramount, as Shari Redstone weighs a sale of her family's controlling stake in National Amusements — She fought to keep control of her family's media empire. Now she's considering an exit as financial pressures mount.
Discussion:
Variety, @benmullin, Awful Announcing, Financial Times, TrekMovie.com and New York Post
Arlene Getz / Committee to Protect Journalists:
At least 68 journalists have been killed in the first 10 weeks of the Israel-Hamas war, more than have ever been killed in a single country over an entire year — More journalists have been killed in the first 10 weeks of the Israel-Gaza war than have ever been killed in a single country over an entire year, according to CPJ data.
Discussion:
Committee to Protect …, The Indian Express, Mohamed Mandour on LinkedIn, Voice of America, Reuters, @brianstelter, Sarika Bansal on LinkedIn, Committee to Protect …, @pressfreedom, The Guardian, Peter Rinko on LinkedIn, Dr. Otilia Rocha Vieira on LinkedIn, Ayman Fahmy on LinkedIn and BBC
Richard Lawler / The Verge:
Substack co-founder Hamish McKenzie doubles down on not moderating Nazi content, after 200+ authors criticize the company for “platforming and monetizing Nazis” — More than 200 Substack authors asked the platform to explain why it's “platforming and monetizing Nazis,” …
Discussion:
Substack, The Popehat Report, @renee.diresta@threads.net, @timothyjchambers@threads.net, Reason, @hankgreen@threads.net, @ricmac@threads.net, @reckless1280@threads.net, @davezatz, @marisakabas.bsky.social, @jessdkant.bsky.social, @jessdkant.bsky.social, @gartenberg, @aaronrosspowell@threads.net, Writing Exchange, @ernie.tedium.co, @darylbaxter@mastodon.social, @leavittalone.bsky.social, @sethcotlar.bsky.social, @sethcotlar.bsky.social, @GossiTheDog@cyberplace.social, @quillmatiq@threads.net, @kevinnewburn.bsky.social, @bextraordinary.bsky.social, @wfnycraig@threads.net, @tchambers@indieweb.social, @dougiec3@libretooth.gr, @sepinwall.bsky.social, @drskyskull.bsky.social, Substack, @glecharles@zirk.us, @foglandia@threads.net, @matt@matthewbogart.com, @paul@oldfriends.live, @runwithskizzers.bsky.social, @daveleebbg@threads.net, @grantmcconnaughey@threads.net, Substack, @A_C_McGregor@topspicy.social, @cmfederico.bsky.social, @jessdkant.bsky.social, @gerryconway, @adamserwer.bsky.social, @overholt@glammr.us, @melissagiragrant.com, @idoubtit@mstdn.social, @jkottke@threads.net and @sethcotlar.bsky.social, more at Techmeme »
Andrew Beaujon / Washingtonian:
The Washington Post Guild says “the company seems to have exceeded its buyout goal”, and it's unclear whether the Guild and management can reach a deal in 2023 — Managers “are attempting to bribe some colleagues to stay,” the Washington Post Guild told members Tuesday.
Discussion:
CNN, New York Post, Talking Biz News and Poynter
Trei Brundrett / American Journalism Project:
A look at the American Journalism Project's Product & AI Studio, launched with OpenAI in summer 2023 to explore how to apply emerging tech in local journalism — This summer, the American Journalism Project launched our new Product & AI Studio, a new program to explore the smart application …
Discussion:
@journalismproj and @openai
Reuters:
Analysis: ABBA Voyage, the London show performed by 3D avatars of the band created using motion capture, made £322.6M in revenue in the 12 months since May 2022 — Thank you for the music, London's authorities might say, after Swedish pop group ABBA's digital concert residency raked …
Discussion:
Digital Music News
Winston Cho / The Hollywood Reporter:
A jury awards VFX company Rearden ~$600K after finding Disney knew it could be infringing on copyright by using MOVA Contour software on Beauty and the Beast — The $600,000 award signals that jurors didn't attribute much of the film's success to use of Rearden's MOVA Contour.
Discussion:
The Wrap, Reuters, Courthouse News Service and Plagiarism Today
Robinhood Newsroom:
Robinhood's Sherwood Media acquires UK-based Chartr Limited, a “data-driven media company and newsletter publisher”, to complement Sherwood's Snacks newsletter — Sherwood Media, LLC has added U.K.-based Chartr Limited, a data-driven media company and newsletter publisher …
Christopher Dring / GamesIndustry.biz:
Sony reaches an “updated licensing agreement” with Warner Bros. Discovery to keep over 1,300 Discovery TV shows on PlayStation “for at least the next 30 months” — There's a new licensing agreement between Warner Bros and Sony — News by Christopher Dring Head of Games B2B
Discussion:
The Verge, Neowin, @cawlins_corner, @nick_marseil, @mjarbo and Cord Cutters News
Bron Maher / Press Gazette:
Slow news outlet Tortoise Media reports a £4.6M loss before taxes in 2022, up 45% YoY, revenue up 15% YoY to £6.24M, and 73 employees — The company said the loss represented the costs of investing in the business. — “Slow news” outlet Tortoise Media made a £4.6m loss …
Emily Schmall / New York Times:
A look at Indian women journalists fighting to be heard, trying to overcome family resistance, harassment, and the Modi government's increasing legal threats — Journalists have been targeted for harassment, and some women are only allowed to speak to the press if they have a male chaperone.
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Business Insider:
Ozy Media sues Ben Smith, Semafor, and BuzzFeed, alleging Smith used the failed BuzzFeed-Ozy merger to sabotage Ozy and steal its business model for Semafor — - A dishy lawsuit from Ozy accuses Ben Smith of killing the company only to steal its business model for Semafor.
Discussion:
Dr. Nehemiah J. Mabry on LinkedIn, Variety, The Wrap, New York Post, @jeremymbarr, @bgrueskin, @bmorrissey, @jayshams and Reuters