Mediagazer: Spotify emails the European Commission to say Apple is holding up an iPhone app update that adds pricing information and links to its subscription options (Emma Roth/The Verge)

Top News:

The TikTok bill likely will spur a battle over the First Amendment and national security if it becomes law; TikTok's CEO vows to use the company's legal rights — The forced-sale measure has reinvigorated a debate over speech, national security and government power.

Discussion: New York Times, Engadget, NPR, Techdirt, New York Magazine, @taylorlorenz@mastodon.social, @tiktokpolicy, Media Nation, BGR, Observer, Los Angeles Times, Gizmodo, @drewharwell@mastodon.social, Electronic Frontier Foundation, New York Post, 9to5Mac and Music Ally, more at Techmeme »

Taylor Lorenz / Washington Post:

Small-business owners and activists who rely on TikTok say the US House measure forcing a sale or ban would damage their livelihoods and harm their communities — Small-business owners, community advocates and educators spoke out Wednesday after the House overwhelmingly approved a measure to ban the popular app

Discussion: @taylorlorenz, @taylorlorenz, Daniel Smith, MBA on LinkedIn, @dlberes, @taylorlorenz, Essence, @attorneynora, @dlberes, Free Press, NewsNation, @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social and MediaPost, more at Techmeme »

David Folkenflik / NPR:

The family of slain Ukrainian journalist Oleksandra Kuvshynova files a wrongful death suit against Fox News, saying Fox didn't adequately protect the team — On the second anniversary of a young journalist's killing in Ukraine, her family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Fox News …

Discussion: Columbia Journalism Review, CNN and Fox News

Alexandra Alter / New York Times:

American Library Association report says book challenges reached a record high on 4,240 in 2023, up from 2,571 in 2022 — Book challenges around the country reached the highest levels ever recorded by a library organization. — After several years of rising book bans …

Discussion: News and Press Center, The Hollywood Reporter, UPI, Publishers Weekly and Axios

Benjamin Mullin / New York Times:

Sports Illustrated's operators told staff the magazine would end its print edition after May; the message runs counter to owner Authentic Brands' earlier stance — Its operators made a newsroom announcement, but the outcome is uncertain since the owner has signaled it wants the magazine to endure.

Discussion: Awful Announcing, Front Office Sports, New York Post, Barrett Media and Awful Announcing

Financial Times:

Sources: RedBird IMI is learning toward selling the Telegraph Media Group or it may bring in US investors to replace Abu Dhabi's cash — Venture between US-based RedBird and Abu Dhabi's IMI is aiming to recoup £600mn investment — RedBird IMI is leaning towards a full sale …

Discussion: Mediaite and The Wrap

Varun Vyas / Reuters:

Disney's Star India starts arbitration proceedings against Zee Entertainment for alleged non-compliance with the terms of a cricket broadcasting agreement — Walt Disney (DIS.N)-owned Star India has started arbitration proceedings against Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEE.NS) …

Discussion: The Economic Times

Emma Roth / The Verge:

Spotify emails the European Commission to say Apple is holding up an iPhone app update that adds pricing information and links to its subscription options — In an email to the European Commission obtained by The Verge, Spotify writes that Apple has “neither acknowledged nor responded …

Discussion: Music Ally, CMU, iMore, Digital Music News, @carnage4life@mas.to, 9to5Mac and AppleInsider, more at Techmeme »

Steven Monacelli / Nieman Lab:

Advantage Informatics, which has a contract with Gannett to provide “advertorial content”, has deep ties to “pink slime” sites from Brian Timpone's Metric Media — An executive from a company associated with Metric Media was hired to teach journalism, but the story doesn't end there.

Discussion: @stevanzetti, @stevanzetti, @emilybell, @jmhaigh, @stevanzetti, @stevanzetti, @stevanzetti, @stevanzetti, @stevanzetti and Ashir Badami on LinkedIn

Wired:

Interviews with 60+ people, including current and ex-Reddit employees and moderators, document Reddit's history, attempts to imitate Clubhouse and Twitch, more — An army of more than 60,000 unpaid moderators has unprecedented power over Reddit. The company's future hinges on whether they can coexist with Wall Street's expectations.

Discussion: @katiedrumm, @peard33, Paresh Dave on LinkedIn and Columbia Journalism Review, more at Techmeme »

Chris Roush / Talking Biz News:

Memo: The Wall Street Journal names Elena Cherney as senior editor, leading the Standards and Ethics team and championing press freedom and free speech — Wall Street Journal editor in chief Emma Tucker sent out the following on Thursday: — Dear all, — I am delighted to announce …

Discussion: @katie_robertson

Nick Vivarelli / Variety:

An Iranian court clears Oscar-winning director Asghar Farhadi of accusations of plagiarism from a former student for his 2021 film A Hero — Two-time Oscar-winning director Asghar Farhadi has been fully cleared by an Iranian court of allegations of plagiarism pertaining to his film “A Hero” …

Discussion: The Hollywood Reporter, Agence France-Presse, Radio Free Europe/Radio …, The Hindu and The Wrap