Top News:


Nicole Shanahan, ex-wife of Google's Sergey Brin and a rising MAGA star, allegedly offered WaPo reporters writing a profile piece on her $500K to reveal sources — Nicole Shanahan has been “tapping a vast divorce settlement” from Google co-founder Sergey Brin to launch herself …
Discussion:
Washington Post, The Hill, @glennthrush, @lizzadwoskin, @lizzadwoskin, @jcarole, @ashleyrparker, @billkuchman, @wexler, @pkafka, @_cingraham and @jackshafer, more at Techmeme »


Eric Newcomer, founder of the Newcomer newsletter on startups and VCs, marks its four-year anniversary and says he expects $1M in profit on $2M in 2024 revenue — Newcomer is on track to generate more than $1 million in profit on more than $2 million in revenue this year.
Discussion:
@sqs and @ericnewcomer


CNN Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward describes being held captive by a militia in North Darfur in Sudan for 48 hours — North Darfur, Sudan CNN — “La tasweer! La tasweer!” ("Don't film! Don't film!") the general shouted, his eyes flashing with anger, his jaw clenched as he stormed towards us.
Discussion:
New York Post, The Wrap, @saskiadekkers, Politico, @_hudsonc, @clarissaward and Deadline


Poland launches an antitrust probe into Meta for limiting visibility of Facebook posts linking to Polish media; Meta cited legal doubts over a new copyright law — Poland's Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) has launched an investigation into Meta, the owner of Facebook …
Discussion:
@uokikgovpl


Bloomberg Media says it added 200K subscriptions in the past four months, and launches a magazine-style Weekend Edition led by ex-Quartz EIC Katherine Bell — Bloomberg Media says it has added 200,000 subscriptions in the last four months as part of a growth plan that also saw it launch a new …


Jefferies says the anime market in North America has grown from $1.6B in 2018 to $4B in 2024, as once-niche anime is shaping up as Japan's next big export — As Japanese animation and comics go global, opportunities abound for investors — Move over, Marvel. The next blockbuster entertainment franchise might come from Japan.
Discussion:
Douglas Montgomery on LinkedIn and Semafor


Google makes SynthID Text, which lets developers watermark and detect text generated by AI models, generally available — Google is making SynthID Text, its technology that lets developers watermark and detect text generated by generative AI models, generally available.
Discussion:
MIT Technology Review and Digital Trends, more at Techmeme »


Yahoo News partners with McAfee to utilize its deepfake image detection tech to identify pictures and photos that may have been generated or altered by AI — Yahoo News is bringing in a partner to help keep misinformation at bay. — The news-distribution giant, the holder …


The NewsGuild of New York files an NLRB unfair labor practice charge against the NYT, claiming management violated rules by interrogating staff about strikes — - “While we respect the union's right to engage in protected actions, threatening a strike at this time feels both unnecessary …
Discussion:
@crguildny, @sarafischer, @bymikedavis, @anastasiakeeley and NewsGuild of New York


The UK's Reach plans to hire 60 new editorial staff, including “audience writers” and “general assignment journalists”, after cutting 700 staff in 2023 — Reach has said it is hiring 60 new editorial staff which will include “audience writers” and “general assignment journalists”.
Discussion:
HoldtheFrontPage


Q&A with Benjamin Toff, recently senior research fellow at the Reuters Institute, about how news avoidance could shape the US election and candidates' tactics — “News avoiders see journalists as part of a disconnected elite,” says Benjamin Toff, who led our Trust in News Project and authored a book on the subject
Discussion:
Nieman Lab and American Press Institute


TikTok brings its STEM feed to all users in the US, the UK, and Ireland by default to help find educational content, after launching the feed to under-18 users — TikTok announced on Wednesday that it's bringing its STEM feed to all users in the United States, United Kingdom, and Ireland by default.
Discussion:
MediaPost, more at Techmeme »