Mediagazer: In court docs, celebs and public figures targeted by a web of reputation-smearing sites blame a publicist, a digital fixer, and a well-known Hollywood lawyer (Gary Baum/The Hollywood Reporter)

Dominic Ponsford / Press Gazette:

In written evidence to the Prince Harry privacy trial, ex-Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre says allegations of phone hacking are “grave and sometimes preposterous” — Ex-Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre has described allegations of phone hacking, tapping and illegal newsgathering levelled …

Discussion: The Guardian, Dominic Ponsford on LinkedIn, The Guardian, Financial Times and Reuters

Michael Savage / The Guardian:

In written testimony, a private investigator says Mail titles remained his “best customers” for two years after his 2005 conviction for disclosing private info — Steve Whittamore says Mail and Mail on Sunday remained his best customers for two years after conviction in 2005

Pew Research Center:

Survey: 80% of Americans say being informed about the news is essential to voting, but only 8% say people in the US have a responsibility to pay for news — In an era when many say the news finds them, there is no consensus about the importance of following the news

Discussion: Nieman Lab, @dbpublisher.bsky.social, @pewresearch.org and European Federation …

Andy Sheehan / CBS News:

Local efforts to keep the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette operating appear to have stalled; one potential buyer blames owner Block's unwillingness to speak with buyers — Add CBS News on Google — In less than three months, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is scheduled to go out of business.

Discussion: @jayrosen.bsky.social and @cpotterpgh.bsky.social

The Hollywood Reporter:

Cable TV networks canceling daytime talk show staples The Kelly Clarkson Show and Sherri show how they are now struggling to compete with video podcasts — Sky-high production costs and waning audiences are pushing hosts off the dial. Video podcasts may be the final blow to the format.

Gary Baum / The Hollywood Reporter:

In court docs, celebs and public figures targeted by a web of reputation-smearing sites blame a publicist, a digital fixer, and a well-known Hollywood lawyer — A shadowy network of anonymous slander sites is attacking players in high-profile entertainment scandals — from Blake vs. Baldoni …

Alice Brooker / Press Gazette:

An interview with Dave Jorgenson, who launched WaPo's TikTok channel in 2019, about taking WaPo's video audience with him, launching long-form content, and more — The Washington Post's former face of Tiktok has said his decision to launch his own company was because video was not …

Discussion: @niemanlab.org

Wall Street Journal:

The Office producer Ben Silverman's Propagate Content raised $50M from Ares Management at a $200M valuation, up 33% from 2023, as part of a creator-economy push — Before they were stars on Hulu, the women of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” were best known from #MomTok, a community of mostly millennial Utah-based mothers on TikTok.

Discussion: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, The Wrap and Deadline

Caitlin Huston / The Hollywood Reporter:

Fox-owned podcasting company Red Seat Ventures acquires subscription monetization company Supercast, as it ramps up its podcasting efforts — The Fox-owned podcasting company bought monetization company Supercast. — Red Seat Ventures has acquired another company as it ramps up its podcasting efforts.

Discussion: Podnews, Simon Owens's Media Newsletter, Barrett Media, The Wrap and Bloomberg

Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:

TikTok launches an opt-in Local Feed in the app's US version, including content related to travel, news, events, shopping, and dining near the user's location — TikTok on Wednesday announced the launch of a new “Local Feed” in the U.S. version of the app, which displays content related to travel …

Discussion: MediaPost, Engadget, 9to5Mac and The Verge, more at Techmeme »

Alexandra Steigrad / New York Post:

Sources: 11 CBS Evening News employees, or about 25% of the staffers eligible for buyouts, have chosen the option ahead of impending layoffs — About a quarter of “CBS Evening News” staffers eligible for buyouts have chosen the option ahead of impending layoffs under editor in chief Bari Weiss, The Post has learned.

Discussion: NewsMax.com, Breitbart, TV Insider and Zeteo

K.J. Yossman / Variety:

Sky and Disney sign a multiyear deal to offer Disney+ to Sky customers in the UK and Ireland at no extra cost, and Sky will bundle HBO Max, Netflix, and Hayu — Sky and Disney have inked a multi-year distribution deal that will see the broadcaster offer Disney+ to Sky customers in the U.K …

Lillian Rizzo / CNBC:

Paramount sweetens its WBD bid with a “ticking fee” worth ~$650M/quarter if the deal isn't closed by year-end and offers to fund WBD's $2.8B Netflix breakup fee — Paramount Skydance said Tuesday it has sweetened its offer for Warner Bros. Discovery, adding a so-called “ticking fee” …