Top News:
Will Lewis repeatedly offered an exclusive interview about WaPo's future, in exchange for dropping a story on claims he helped cover up UK phone hacking scandal — The Washington Post has written twice this spring about allegations that have cropped up in British court proceedings involving its new publisher and CEO, Will Lewis.
RELATED:
Sources: Washington Post CEO Will Lewis criticized Sally Buzbee's judgment in publishing a May 2024 article about a UK phone-hacking lawsuit that involved him — Will Lewis, the chief executive of The Washington Post, objected to coverage of a legal development involving him in a phone hacking case.
Discussion:
SFGATE, Media Nation, @drewmagary, Talking Points Memo, @harrymccracken, @sulliview, @peterjukes, @karaswisher@threads.net, @tvhilton, @emilybell, @nick_field90, @rcmacleod, @eisingerj, @janecoaston, @pkafka, @fredvultee, @farhip, @paulvieira, @eisingerj, @silvermanjacob, @farnazfassihi, @nick_field90, @benmullin, @edmundlee, @kevinmdraper, @katie_robertson, @davidbeard@threads.net, @geisler_jill@threads.net, @davidbeard@threads.net, @jswatz_tx@threads.net, The Wrap, @kennysmith@mstdn.social, Digiday, @edmundlee@threads.net, @mattdpearce@threads.net, Puck, @dangillmor@mastodon.social, @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social, @ChrisBoese@newsie.social and @rogerford.org
The WSJ article on Biden's mental acuity relies largely on comments from Republican sources and Kevin McCarthy, who praised Biden's performance a year prior — The Wall Street Journal owes its readers — and the public — better. — The business broadsheet published and hyped …
Discussion:
Poynter, @kbode@threads.net, Mediaite, @hadas_gold, @andykaczynski@threads.net, Talking Biz News, @johnjharwood, @bgrueskin, @karlbode.bsky.social, Axios, @radiofreetom, @tomricks1, @jrothfeder, @jonfavs, @tvmojoe, Fox News, Media Matters for America, The Independent, Raw Story, New Republic, HuffPost, NewsNation, The Daily Beast, who13.com and Deadline
A look at the now-shuttered news site BNN Breaking, which former staff say mostly published AI-generated content; Microsoft had licensed BNN content for MSN.com — The news was featured on MSN.com: “Prominent Irish broadcaster faces trial over alleged sexual misconduct.”
Discussion:
@structstories and The Desk, more at Techmeme »
SiriusXM will launch Mediaite's Press Club, a weekly show on events and people in media and politics, on June 8, hosted by Mediaite Editor Aidan McLaughlin — Several upstarts are trying to take advantage of it. — SiriusXM will launch “Mediaite's Press Club,” a new weekly hour-long show …
Discussion:
Mediaite, @bristei and @aidnmclaughlin
Cara, an artist-run, anti-AI social platform, grew from 40K to 650K users in the past week, as some Instagram artists leave over plans to train AI on user data — ‘Building a product is a bit like making art,’ said founder Jingna Zhang — Artists have finally had enough with Meta's predatory AI policies …
Amazon acquires Indian video streaming service MX Player's key assets from Times Internet, a source says valuing MX at <$100M, below its $500M valuation in 2019 — Amazon has agreed to acquire key assets of Indian video streaming service MX Player from the local media powerhouse Times Internet …
Rachel Smolkin, SVP of global news for CNN Digital, is leaving to become president and CEO of Oregon Public Broadcasting — today announced that Rachel Smolkin has been chosen as the next president and chief executive officer, bringing a veteran journalist focused on changing audience needs to lead the organization.
Discussion:
The Wrap, Inside Radio, CNN, @madhulikasikka, Deadline and @benmullin
Twitch announces a program that lets DJs use copyrighted music in their streams by paying a fee; Twitch signed deals with UMG, WMG, Sony Music, and indie labels — Livestreaming platform Twitch announced a new program aimed at DJs today that will allow creators to use copyrighted music in their streams by paying a fee.
Discussion:
TechCrunch, Engadget, Music Business Worldwide, Music Ally and Twitch, more at Techmeme »
Climate Nexus, a communications firm that incubated The Water Hub and gave updates during UN climate meetings, is closing June 21; The Water Hub will continue — Last week, Zack Colman of Politico reported that Climate Nexus, a climate communications firm that's been a stalwart …
Discussion:
@raylongdc, @michael_shank, @timmcdonnell, @mollytaft, @mollytaft, @shravya_ and Climate
Regional UK news startup Mill Media, which offers online newsletters, plans to launch in London, as the Evening Standard scales back, and open a Glasgow office — Regional UK news start-up says there is an opportunity after years of savage cutbacks in local media industry
Discussion:
Mill Media and City A.M.
Sources: Costco plans to stop selling books regularly at US stores year-round from January 2025, and will instead sell them during the holiday shopping period — The decision, which will be implemented in January 2025, could significantly impact publishers.