Affiliate links are no longer an easy revenue source for news publishers, as Google downranks product recommendations from non-specialized outlets (Thomas Baekdal/Baekdal)

Mediagazer: Affiliate links are no longer an easy revenue source for news publishers, as Google downranks product recommendations from non-specialized outlets (Thomas Baekdal/Baekdal)

Top News:

New York Post:

A former News Corp executive testifies in Google's ad antitrust trial that News Corp weighed switching from Google ad tools in 2017 but would have lost $9M— News Corp considered switching away from Google's advertising products in 2017 - but decided against it after determining it would cost …
Discussion: AdExchanger, Reuters, Adweek, Mumbrella, The Verge, Yahoo Finance, MediaPost, New York Daily News, Digiday, New York Times, Reuters and The Media Leader

Discussion:

Allison Schiff /
AdExchanger: The DOJ vs. Google, Day Two: Tales From The Underbelly Of Ad Tech

Jody Godoy /
Reuters: News Corp would have lost $9 million in 2017 by ditching Google ads, ex-exec testifies

Lauren Feiner /
The Verge: US v. Google redux: all the news from the ad tech trial

Alexis Keenan /
Yahoo Finance: Clash of the titans: Google and US attorneys kick off ad tech trial with clash over defining the market

Seb Joseph /
Digiday: From power play to courtroom drama: a timeline of tumultuous turns to Google's ad tech trial

Jody Godoy /
Reuters: In the first day of the antitrust trial focused on ads, US prosecutors allege Google abused its size to dominate the sector through acquisitions and more

Sabrina Quagliozzi /
The Media Leader: Google's antitrust trial over online advertising begins today

Axios:

The New York Times Tech Guild, which represents 600+ employees, votes to authorize a strike after over two years of stalled contract talks with NYT management— - The Wirecutter union held a five-day walkout over the Black Friday holiday weekend in 2021 and struck a deal with management days later.

Discussion:
Adweek, @nytguildtech, Sara Fischer on LinkedIn and @beep@follow.ethanmarcotte.com, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Brad Pareso /
Adweek: NYT Tech Workers Union Votes to Authorize Strike @nytguildtech: THERE IS NO DEBATE: We have approved a strike, with just weeks until Election Day. Read more here: https://www.nyguild.org/... [image]

Sara Fischer /
Sara Fischer on LinkedIn: NEW: The New York Times tech workers union has voted to authorize a strike in protest of stalled contract negotiations with The Times' management, sources confirmed to Axios. …

Ethan Marcotte /
@beep@follow.ethanmarcotte.com: Per https://bsky.app/... , 95% of the votes were “yes.” This strike authorization didn't squeak by; this is what happens when management's failed for *years* to properly sit at the negotiating table. — This is also how you bring them *back* to the table.

Axios:

Veteran journalist Peter Kafka is reviving his old Recode Media podcast under a new name, Channels, starting September 11 with the Vox Media podcast network— - He also worked out an arrangement with Vox Media CEO Jim Bankoff where he'll own the podcast, giving him freedom and flexibility.

Discussion:
TVNewsCheck, Vox Media, @pkafka, @jakesherman, @cgates123, @sarafischer, @pkafka, @mossbergwalt@threads.net, Nieman Lab, @pkafka@threads.net, MediaPost and Talking Biz News

Discussion:

Katie Campione /
TVNewsCheck: 49ers-Jets Boasts Solid Audience For ABC & ESPN Despite Disney-DirectTV Dispute Vox Media: Veteran Journalist Peter Kafka Relaunches His Acclaimed Weekly Media and Technology Podcast in Partnership with Vox Media

Peter Kafka /
@pkafka: And if you were previously subscribed to Recode Media you *should* have gotten my trailer in your feed this morning. But never hurts to check. Thanks to everyone at @voxmediapods for getting this thing up and running. Glad to be back.

Jake Sherman /
@jakesherman: I think @pkafka does a great podcast. So this is cool.

Christopher Gates /
@cgates123: Congrats @pkafka on the restructuring and launch! I have seen Vox utilize this structure more and more. It is smart. Give creators ownership and help them with production, distribution and advertising. As a maker of shows, ownership is 🗝️ https://www.axios.com/...

Sara Fischer /
@sarafischer: Big news for media biz: @pkafka bringing his infamous pod back to @voxmedia, rebranding it “Channels” -He'll remain w @BusinessInsider -Will still be a weekly intv show -Peter will own the show. Vox Media is production, distribution and sales partner https://www.axios.com/...

Peter Kafka /
@pkafka: Professional news: I have two jobs! Very excited to start chatting again. Sara has the backstory below. You can get tomorrow's show - an interview with the New Yorker's David Remnick - and every one after that, for free, by heading here https://link.chtbl.com/kafka

Walt Mossberg /
@mossbergwalt@threads.net: Just checked on Apple Podcasts. Channels is automatically there in the feed previously occupied by Recode Media. Can't wait!

Joshua Benton /
Nieman Lab: The old Recode Media podcast is returning to a familiar home

Peter Kafka /
@pkafka@threads.net: I'm putting on my podcast pants again, starting tomorrow: Channels will be a long-form interview show dropping every Weds. First guest: David Remnick, the New Yorker's longtime editor. — Subscribe now (for free!) on the app of your choice: https://link.chtbl.com/kafka 1/2

Ray Schultz /
MediaPost: Vox To Start Multimedia Podcast Franchise

Chris Roush /
Talking Biz News: Kafka revives podcast for Vox Media

Financial Times:

GB News and UnHerd owner Paul Marshall acquires The Spectator for £100M and plans to expand the magazine overseas; Spectator chair Andrew Neil resigns— Acquisition bolsters hedge fund boss's position as one of UK's most influential right-leaning media barons

Discussion:
Associated Press, Adweek, @frasernelson, @afneil, @arusbridger, @semaforben, @rowandean, @ian_fraser, @peterjukes, @semaforben, @colinbraziertv, @nfmusic, @montie, @aphclarkson, @danwootton, @peterjukes, @aphclarkson, @jamesrbuk, @sangitamyska, @peterjukes, @jdportes, @mattwridley, @peterjukes, @notthatbigian, @lefoudubaron, @twlldun, New York Times, @danielthomasldn, Spectator, The Guardian, BBC, Press Gazette, New Statesman, Irish News, The Independent, The Spectator Australia, White \u0026 Case, Irish News, Bloomberg, Telegraph, Sky News, The Times, The i Paper, Bloomberg, London Evening Standard, Reuters and Guido Fawkes

Discussion:

Sylvia Hui /
Associated Press: Hedge fund investor buys UK political magazine The Spectator for $131 million

Brad Pareso /
Adweek: UK Hedge Fund Tycoon Buys The Spectator Magazine

Fraser Nelson /
@frasernelson: Congratulations to Sir Paul Marshall, new owner of The Spectator. The price, £100m, is a huge vote of confidence in The Spectator, its writers and (most of all) its potential. After a long auction, the next chapter in our 196-year history can finally begin https://www.spectator.co.uk/ ...

Andrew Neil /
@afneil: My Farewell to The Spectator 1/2 It is with great sadness that I write to tell you I am resigning as Chairman of The Spectator, with immediate effect. I made it clear many months ago that I would step down when a new owner took over. That time has now come. It has been my

Andrew Neil /
@afneil: My Farewell to The Spectator 2/2 My greatest regret is that I have not been able to find you a new home guaranteed to nurture the unique chemistry of The Spectator, which makes it so special and successful. I'm sorry about that but the matter was taken out of my hands. We

Alan Rusbridger /
@arusbridger: GBNews founder Paul Marshall has bought the Spectator. Read the extraordinary story of how he uses his money within the @churchofengland https://x.com/...

Ben Smith /
@semaforben: Extraordinary farewell from a legendary figure who the would-be US/Gulf buyers made a huge mistake in taking for granted. Also, this Ben Shapiro interview really holds up: https://www.youtube.com/...

Rowan Dean /
@rowandean: Andrew Neil's sad but superb letter of resignation from The Spectator. Andrew is a legend of the media whose mentorship will be greatly missed but The Spectator Australia and Flat White readers can rest assured that the magazine and the website will continue in the magnificent

Ian Fraser /
@ian_fraser: Reminder of the hateful “likes” of hedge fund manager Paul Marshall, who has just snapped up The Spectator for £100m. Marshall is piecing together a right-wing media empire which already includes GB News and Unherd. @arusbridger https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ ...

Peter Jukes /
@peterjukes: Siri. Give me an example of how cheaply you can buy the British intelligentsia

Ben Smith /
@semaforben: A domestic owner with populist right politics, after the government blocked foreign ownership ....

Colin Brazier /
@colinbraziertv: Fantastic news. The @spectator remains one of the most important voices in Britain's public square. It will continue to provide a shop window for some of the writers - Moore, Liddle, Murray - who consistently diagnose our nation's ills with wisdom, waspish humour and courage.

Neil Fisher /
@nfmusic: “The digital temptations that can lure publications to their grave ('Look at the clicks! Drop the opera review!') are dangerous-they come dripping in what looks like supportive data. You can end up not just being edited by algorithm but stripping a publication of nuance and soul”

Tim Montgomerie /
@montie: The biggest congratulations should go to @FraserNelson. At a time when print journalism is fighting for its life, Fraser and @afneil have turned The Spectator into a hugely profitable and influential magazine and because of its innovative digital products - it has its biggest

Alexander Clarkson /
@aphclarkson: Owner of GBNews and Unherd expands his right wing media empire. T here is a risk here for a Conservative Party that has increasingly abandoned a traditional Tory ethos that Marshall's particular obsessions drag it further away from the broad mainstream of British society

Dan Wootton /
@danwootton: Last year Sir Paul Marshall arrived at The Spectator's summer party only to discover his name had been taken off the guest list. He had to turn around and leave. Today he's just paid £100 million to buy The Spectator. His first decision may well be to sack its chairman Andrew [image]

Peter Jukes /
@peterjukes: Oof. Sharp passing shot at Marshall “No doubt the new proprietor will bring assets to the table, perhaps even bigger budgets. However you can have all the resources in the world but if you don't understand what really makes The Spectator tick then they will be as naught.”

Alexander Clarkson /
@aphclarkson: Andrew Neil ends up like the National Review editors and commentators in the US who were steamrollered by ideological forces they were instrumental in unleashing

James Ball /
@jamesrbuk: Warm post from Fraser paying tribute to the Spectator's outgoing chairman Andrew Neil and its old owners. But to a general audience the observations on business model and valuation might be more interesting - no to clicks and programmatic ads, yes to value through loyalty...

Sangita Myska /
@sangitamyska: Andrew Neil 🧵 takes a pot shot at Paul Marshall, the Spectator's new owner and biggest shareholder at GB News, implying he will not grasp that an Editor must be free of interference from the proprietor & external influences for it to be a credible news/current affairs outlet.

Peter Jukes /
@peterjukes: For all my many many criticisms of @afneil he at least had the decency to walk away from Paul Marshall's GB News. Is this a case of ‘better the devil you know’. Will we actually miss him?

Jonathan Portes /
@jdportes: Reminder of a few of @afneil's “highlights” as Chairman of the Spectator -Taki's endorsement of what *Neil himself* described as an “openly Nazi” party Murray's call for ethnic cleansing in Gaza Liddle's toxic racism.. Puff pieces for Zemmour, the AfD and Thierry Baudet..

Matt Ridley /
@mattwridley: A great journalist who made a journal greater.

Peter Jukes /
@peterjukes: Shocking insight into former Speccie owners - the Barclays “Suddenly and without warning we were placed in receivership because our then proprietors had used us as collateral for massive debts unrelated to us (without ever telling us). They then failed to pay these debts”

Ian Acheson /
@notthatbigian: I am proud to have played a v small role as a contributor to the best current affairs magazine in the country, brilliantly led & populated by writers I am frequently in awe of. We need intelligent thought diversity more than ever and I know @spectator will continue to deliver. @lefoudubaron: A grateful farewell to @afneil - an iconic journalist and friend for 25 years. Andrew nurtured @spectator with integrity and flair. He was an example and inspiration. He didn't interfere, but he set a tone of independence, authority and ethics. I've been privileged to

Godspeed You Black Tamperer /
@twlldun: Oh this is bad news. The spectator might end up publishing all sorts. Mad cranks, racists, climate change deniers, people who praise the Wehrmacht... Hold on. I'm just hearing something from my producer

Daniel Thomas /
@danielthomasldn: The Spectator has only its 15th owner in its 200 year history after hedge fund tycoon Paul Marshall completed his acqusition today for £100m. The FT reveals the plans for the storied title sold at a whopping price https://www.ft.com/... via @ft

Fraser Nelson /
Spectator: The Spectator's new owner - and new era

Bron Maher /
Press Gazette: Paul Marshall pledges to fix ‘underinvestment’ in Spectator as sale goes through

Alison Phillips /
New Statesman: Is Paul Marshall challenging Rupert Murdoch's media empire?

Alex Croft /
The Independent: Andrew Neil steps down as Spectator chair after £100m sale to GB News investor finalised White \u0026 Case: White & Case advises Sir Paul Marshall and Old Queen Street Ventures Limited on acquisition of The Spectator magazine

James Warrington /
Telegraph: GB News owner Paul Marshall completes £100m deal for The Spectator

Sarah Taaffe-Maguire /
Sky News: Spectator magazine finally sold to GB News investor Sir Paul Marshall

Helen Cahill /
The Times: Paul Marshall buys Spectator for £100m

Henry Saker-Clark /
London Evening Standard: GB News backer Sir Paul Marshall buys The Spectator magazine for £100m

Paul Sandle /
Reuters: Britain's Paul Marshall buys The Spectator magazine

Baekdal:

Affiliate links are no longer an easy revenue source for news publishers, as Google downranks product recommendations from non-specialized outlets— This is an archived version of a Baekdal/Basic newsletter (it's free). It is sent out about once per week and features the latest articles …

Axios:

The Los Angeles Local News Initiative, which plans a nonprofit news org to support local newsrooms in LA, raised $15M from media leaders and philanthropists— - The research included input from 900 L.A. residents about gaps in community coverage, said Monica Lozano, the Initiative's board chair …

Discussion:

Brad Pareso /
Adweek: LA Local News Initiative Launches

Radhika Jones /
Vanity Fair: Radhika Jones on Melinda French Gates's Philanthropic Shift

Max Resnik /
Max Resnik on LinkedIn: California here we come! Los Angeles will be joining the Documenters Network City Bureau this fall. …

Michael Ouimette /
Michael Ouimette on LinkedIn: Announcement day! Grounded in the amazing work of boyleheightsbeat, LAist , and CalMatters, we're bringing ~40 new local news jobs to LA. Check …

Feven Merid /
Columbia Journalism Review: L.A. Local News Initiative launches @journalismproj: The L.A. Local News Initiative, announced today, is a $15M effort to grow & support #localnews in the region. The initiative will operate & support local newsrooms covering neighborhood, regional & state levels in service of LA communities. https://www.theajp.org/...

Sara Fischer /
@sarafischer: NEW: BIG LOCAL PLAY — Media leaders, philanthropists raise $15M for local news initiative in L.A. — Big names involved, including @meridak @evanspiegel — Funders & board working w @JournalismProj to fund new newsrooms and support existing More on @axios https://www.axios.com/...

Kevin Merida /
Kevin Merida on LinkedIn: A big, ambitious effort to advance local news in L.A. launches with $15m raised. This new nonprofit organization is spearheaded by philanthropists …

TechCrunch:

A group of Democratic senators asks the FTC and DOJ to probe whether AI tools that summarize online content like news may amount to anticompetitive practices— A group of Democratic senators is urging the FTC and Justice Department to investigate whether AI tools that summarize …

Discussion:
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, Axios, @leftcoastbabe, @shadowhaxor, Raptive and @bishplsok

Discussion:
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar: Klobuchar, Colleagues Urge Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission to Investigate Generative AI Products for Potential Antitrust Violations

Janice Hough /
@leftcoastbabe: As much as MSM media is failing us, we really need local journalism. Senator Amy Klobuchar is working to do something about that. https://www.axios.com/...

Keith Mitchell /
@shadowhaxor: @TechCrunch YES! This needs to happen. Google is ripping off people's content, using it in its search engine without providing any traffic to their sites. Screw Google. Raptive: Statement from Marc McCollum, Chief Innovation Officer at Raptive, on Senator Amy Klobuchar's Letter Addressing AI's Impact on Content Creators

Michael Bishop /
@bishplsok: https://techcrunch.com/... 1. Tying search indexing to AI summarization opt-in is blatantly anticompetitive when you have monopoly control of search 2. @aripap picked literally the best time to start writing about G antitrust, lol 3. Pub rev share maybe finally on the table!

New York Times:

How Linsey Davis and David Muir firmly pursued real-time fact-checking to build guardrails around Trump in the ABC News debate between Trump and Harris— Calmly and firmly, Linsey Davis and David Muir pursued the kind of real-time fact-checking missing from many previous debates.

Discussion:
CNN, Media Matters for America, HuffPost, @acyn, TIME, @davidfolkenflik, The Daily Beast, The Cut, NPR, Poynter, @benjysarlin, The Hill, @mehdirhasan, Columbia Journalism Review, @billackman, The Federalist, @dicktofel, @howardkurtz, @brianstelter, @jvlast@threads.net, @nhannahjones, @dylanbyers, @kyleclark9news@threads.net, @acwardblueridge@threads.net, @joolesplumm, @jmflatham, @juliachanb, @abughazalehkat, @mistergeezy, @yashar, @cmclymer, Politico, UPI, Forbes, Newser, Barrett Media, Fox News, Vogue, ABC7, The Guardian, Deadline, Advocate, Mediaite, Los Angeles Times, Status and New Republic

Discussion:

Ariel Edwards-Levy /
CNN: CNN Flash Poll: Majority of debate watchers say Harris outperformed Trump onstage

Kamala Harris /
Media Matters for America: Newsmax guest says white men “will be at the back of the line” under a Kamala Harris presidency @acyn: CNN Fact Check of the debate: This was a staggeringly dishonest debate performance from former President Trump. Just lie after lie on subject after subject by my preliminary count, he made at least 33 false claims [video]

David Folkenflik /
@davidfolkenflik: The ABC duo is factchecking, pretty much just Trump so far, but it's focused, crisp and brief, so it doesn't feel as though it's interfering.

Andrea González-Ramírez /
The Cut: Thank You to ABC News' Fact-Checkers

Brittney Melton /
NPR: Fact-checking the Trump-Harris debate. And, food delivery could help the environment

Tom Jones /
Poynter: Looking back at Tuesday night's presidential debate, including ABC News' solid performance

Benjy Sarlin /
@benjysarlin: Trump has a reputation for only complaining about media bias when it's really important and not on an hourly basis for 40 years so I'm sure the American people are going to be especially eager to hear several days of him laying out his case here

Mehdi Hasan /
@mehdirhasan: Totally normal response to losing a debate. Not authoritarian or dictatorial at all. Btw, this is the free speech champion that Musk keeps hailing.

Jon Allsop /
Columbia Journalism Review: The refs worked — Late last week, during an event that was loosely described as a …

Bill Ackman /
@billackman: Why do the moderators only fact check @realDonaldTrump and not @KamalaHarris?

Eddie Scarry /
The Federalist: ABC's Democrat Moderators Interfered To Help Kamala, And She Still Struggled To Debate

Richard Tofel /
@dicktofel: The job of the moderators is to help the American people get a better, more informed look at the candidates. Muir and Davis did that, both when they fact-checked Trump and when they let Trump drone on. @howardkurtz: Trump often took Harris' bait, and she performed well. But it really was 3 on 1 as ABC repeatedly asked Trump tougher questions with more follow ups and corrections, Kamala not so much https://www.foxnews.com/...

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: Trump is on the phone with “Fox & Friends.” Here is his first answer about the debate. He says three times that it was “3 on 1” but says “I thought I did a great job.” [video]

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: Live on Fox, Trump insults the two Fox anchors who have been pitched as debate moderators - Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum - and says “I wouldn't want to have” them. He says he would want Sean Hannity, Jesse Watters or Laura Ingraham to host instead. (An obvious non-starter.) [video]

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: Trump suggests Disney's FCC licenses should be revoked due to the debate: “I think ABC took a big hit last night. To be honest, they are a news organization - they have to be licensed to do it - they ought to take away their license for the way they did that.”

Jonathan V. Last /
@jvlast@threads.net: Over at the old place the anti-antis are losing their minds over how unfair the ABC moderators are. Which is, you know, tells you something.

Ida Bae Wells /
@nhannahjones: Shout out to the @ABC moderators for fact-checking in real time. This is how you do it.

Dylan Byers /
@dylanbyers: Incredibly commendable job by @DavidMuir, @LinseyDavis and the @ABCPolitics team tonight. 👏 @kyleclark9news@threads.net: I'm impressed with Linsey Davis and David Muir's calm, composed, and concise fact-checking.

AC Ward /
@acwardblueridge@threads.net: High praise from an excellent fact-checker during a political debate. @jmflatham: Dana Bash and Jake Tapper arguing you can't fact check and run a smooth debate, @abc David Muir and linsey Davis just curb stomped their @CNN credibility

Julia B. Chan /
@juliachanb: ABC's David Muir and Linsey Davis are doing a good job as moderators so far. Fact-checking statements and lies.

Kat Abu /
@abughazalehkat: btw David Muir and Linsey Davis are the most effective debate moderators we've seen since 2015 and any future debates should follow their example

Greg /
@mistergeezy: Jake Tapper and Dana Bash can learn a lot from David Muir and Linsey Davis. Well done! [image]

Yashar Ali /
@yashar: Sean Davis, the CEO of Federalist, believes that ABC should lose its broadcast license and that David Muir, Linsey Davis, and various ABC News executives should be indicted on federal criminal charges. [image]

Charlotte Clymer /
@cmclymer: Shout-out to Linsey Davis and David Muir of ABC News for actually doing their damn jobs as moderators. Much appreciated from a grateful voting public. UPI: In debate, Trump rants, cites conspiracy theories as Harris pushes back, touts her vision for future

Siladitya Ray /
Forbes: 'They're Eating The Dogs' And ‘Worst’ Inflation: Key Fact-Checks From The Presidential Debate

Kate Seamons /
Newser: How the Real-Time Debate Fact-Checking Went Down

Garrett Searight /
Barrett Media: Grading Performance of David Muir and Linsey Davis During ABC News Presidential Debate Fox News: ABC Presidential Debate: Moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis fact-check Trump 5 times, 0 for Harris

Emma Specter /
Vogue: A Star of Tuesday's Presidential Debate? ABC's Linsey Davis

Riley Hoffman /
ABC7: READ: Harris-Trump presidential debate transcript

Gabrielle Canon /
The Guardian: ABC News hosts of Harris-Trump debate praised for keeping candidates on-topic Deadline: The Debate As It Happened: Donald Trump Gets The Last Word In A Debate That Had Him On Defense

Ryan Adamczeski /
Advocate: Who is moderating the tonight's presidential debate? Meet anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis

Sarah Rumpf /
Mediaite: ABC's Linsey Davis Fact-Checks Trump's Wild Debate Claims Democrats Support Letting Doctors ‘Execute the Baby’

Stephen Battaglio /
Los Angeles Times: Meet the Harris-Trump debate moderators: ABC News' David Muir and Linsey Davis

Oliver Darcy /
Status: ABC's Authority — David Muir and Lindsey Davis firmly corrected Donald Trump and declined …

Adweek:

Amazon says it is testing sponsored ads in chats with Rufus, its AI-powered shopping assistant, in the US— But ad buyers are cautious about the placements — Amazon is starting to plug ads into generative AI. — Sponsored ads—Amazon's core search ad format—could start appearing …

Discussion:
The Drum, Adam Epstein on LinkedIn and Jeremy Dodge on LinkedIn

Discussion:

Laure Malergue /
The Drum: How generative AI paves the way for more contextualized and personalized DOOH campaigns

Adam Epstein /
Adam Epstein on LinkedIn: It will be fascinating to see the outcome of Amazon bringing ads to Rufus. — Sponsored Ads (primarily search) are Amazon's cash cow, accounting for 80% of all Ad revenue. …

Asheville Watchdog:

An interview with former Washington Post Editor Martin Baron on Jeff Bezos' purchase of the outlet, Trump's election in 2016, and his memoir, Collision of Power— Asheville Watchdog hosted a special free public event on Thursday, Sept. 5. Watchdog political reporter Tom Fiedler interviewed …

Discussion:
r/Journalism

The Verge:

ESPN's AI-generated articles recapping women's soccer games are bland and basic, failing to note key moments like one player's final game and emotional farewell— This weekend, ESPN began publishing AI-generated recaps of women's soccer games, with more sports to come.

Discussion:

Iain Hepburn /
@blandpseudonym.bsky.social: This is the kind of crap I fear seeping into the system over here. Lower leagues and women's football - deemed necessary to cover but of lesser value by news leadership - relying on match reports basically generated out of editorial Lego blocks. [embedded post] @itnewsbot@schleuss.online: ESPN is now using AI to recap women's soccer and people have feelings - Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge — This weekend, ESP... - https://www.theverge.com/...

Luis Paez-Pumar /
Defector: ESPN Masks Cynical AI Pivot As Benevolent Coverage Of “Underserved” Sports

Parker Molloy /
The Present Age: ESPN's AI Fumble: How Robot Recaps Missed Alex Morgan's Final Match

MediaPost:

A federal judge blocks Utah from enforcing the Minor Protection in Social Media Act, set to take effect on October 1, saying the law likely violates the 1A— A federal judge has blocked Utah from enforcing a new law that would have restricted social media platforms' ability to serve content to minors under 18.

Discussion:
Utah Political Watch, @keir_lamont, Bloomberg Law and KSL-TV, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Keir Lamont /
@keir_lamont: Credit to the Utah District Court for actually reading the Surgeon General's Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health. Which is far more nuanced than the arguments it is typically invoked to support. https://storage.courtlistener.com/ ... [image]

Hanna Seariac /
KSL-TV: Judge blocks Utah social media law

Status:

As part of a News Media Alliance lobbying effort, 100+ news executives are visiting Washington, DC, on September 11 to warn lawmakers about AI's impact on media— More than 100 news executives will descend on Capitol Hill to warn lawmakers about the threats A.I. poses to the industry.

Discussion:
@newsalliance, Washington Post and CNN

Discussion:
@newsalliance: “With so many news companies striking deals with AI firms, Coffey is prepared to defend the news industry's position that those deals, without regulatory pressure, will never reflect the true market value of her members' content.” via @axios https://www.axios.com/...

The Guardian:

Pact: UK TV production sector revenue fell by £392M to £3.61B in 2023; the amount spent on commissioning programs by UK broadcasters fell from £1.99B to £1.78B— Revenue plunges as cash-strapped broadcasters spend less on commissioning amid ad slump and shift to streaming

Discussion:
Broadband TV News, Pact, Deadline, C21Media, Broadcast and Daily Mail

Discussion:

Julian Clover /
Broadband TV News: Fall in revenues for independent producers

Max Goldbart /
Deadline: UK Broadcasting Chiefs Branded “Callous” & “Cloth-Eared” By Pact Boss For Publicly Proclaiming Death Of Mid-Budget Shows

Neil Batey /