The Cannes Lions ad festival adds humor as an award category, highlighting the importance of a "human connection" in ads, as AI struggles to create funny ads (Daniel Thomas/Financial Times)

Mediagazer: The Cannes Lions ad festival adds humor as an award category, highlighting the importance of a “human connection” in ads, as AI struggles to create funny ads (Daniel Thomas/Financial Times)

Top News:

Washington Post:

Sources reveal alleged ties of incoming WaPo editor Robert Winnett to a PI who worked for The Sunday Times, from deceptively obtained material to legal help— Unpublished book drafts and other documents raise questions about Robert Winnett's journalistic record just months before he is to assume a top newsroom role.
Discussion: The Wrap, Mediaite, Media Nation, The Guardian, @davidfolkenflik, @jamesrbuk, New York Times, Poynter, @brianstelter, @isaacstanbecker, @laurahelmuth@mastodon.social, @hshaban, @bartongellman, @jessicashortall@threads.net, @sulliview, @stevepfarrer, @sulliview, @karaswisher, @clancyny.bsky.social, @brianstelter, @wynkenhimself.bsky.social, @clancyny.bsky.social, @bgrueskin, @martyschladen, @michaelroston, @joygarnett@threads.net, @agoldmund, @brianstelter, @markjacobnews@threads.net, @davidfolkenflik, @drewharwell@threads.net, The Daily Beast, @sulliview and @jeffjarvis@threads.net

Discussion:

Natalie Korach /
The Wrap: Washington Post Self-Reports on Its Incoming Top Editor's Involvement With Admitted Information ‘Thief’

David Gilmour /
Mediaite: Scathing Washington Post Exposé Alleges Incoming Editor Used ‘Thief’ To Aid Reporting

Dan Kennedy /
Media Nation: Subscription woes, public media challenges and the Post's staff bites back

David Folkenflik /
@davidfolkenflik: Update: Former WashPost Senior Managing Editor Cameron Barr is now overseeing the paper's coverage of the controversies besetting publisher Will Lewis and his pick as its next editor, Rob Winnett.

James Ball /
@jamesrbuk: There does seem to be a slight undertone to some coverage on Will Lewis that British journalism operates to markedly lower standards than that of the US. That's an oversimplification at best and just snobbery at worst. (1/2)

James Ball /
@jamesrbuk: Phone hacking was a huge scandal *in the UK*, exposed by UK journalists. The UK Editors' Code is stronger than US equivalents in some areas, albeit weaker in others. Conflating scandals with normal practice is elitist and, crucially, inaccurate. (2/2)

Tom Jones /
Poynter: Washington Post publisher Will Lewis was more involved in a phone-hacking scandal than previously known

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: The Post team also followed up on the NYT's Saturday reporting about embattled Post publisher/CEO Will Lewis and - incredibly - “Lewis declined to comment through a Post spokesperson in response to a list of detailed questions.”

Isaac Stanley-Becker /
@isaacstanbecker: Incoming Washington Post editor Robert Winnett tied to self-described ‘thief’ who claimed role in his reporting Gift link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Laura Helmuth /
@laurahelmuth@mastodon.social: The new Washington Post publisher said the old buddy he just hired “will restore an even greater degree of investigative rigor to our organization.” — This story is the Post saying: Oh yeah? I got yer investigative rigor right here https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Hamza Shaban /
@hshaban: Reporters at the Washington Post investigate the connections between the Washington Post's new leadership and a self-described “thief” who was paid to obtain confidential information to help British journalists with their stories. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Barton Gellman /
@bartongellman: This is gutsy and essential for the WP newsroom— accountability journalism about its own CEO and incoming executive editor. It is disheartening that neither one of them will respond —at all — to allegations of grossly unethical behavior.

Jessica Shortall /
@jessicashortall@threads.net: This has got to be one of the most exhilarating and terrifying things to push “publish” on https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Margaret Sullivan /
@sulliview: Did anybody bother to vet the new publisher and soon-to-be editor of @washingtonpost or were their British accents enough?

Steve Pfarrer /
@stevepfarrer: And another development: The incoming executive editor of the Washington Post, another Brit, allegedly used material in his reporting pinched by a guy who stole this material from wealthy Brits. What a great new leadership team for the WaPo! https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Margaret Sullivan /
@sulliview: The vetting is underway now. Here's a @npr's @davidfolkenflik https://www.npr.org/...

Kara Swisher /
@karaswisher: Good on the @washingtonpost for covering this shabby excuse for reporting. For much of it (Nazi limos?), the public is, as someone notes, interested, but it is decidedly not in the public interest: https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Eileen Clancy /
@clancyny.bsky.social: Incredibly bad! — They're talking the omertà of British journalism! No thanks! — “Winnett ... reassured Ford [the thief] that the “remarkable omerta” of British journalism would ensure his clandestine efforts would never come to light.” — The reporters are just being relentless though. …

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: For the time being Robert Winnett is still a deputy editor of the Telegraph in London. He is supposed to take charge at the Post this fall. And The Post's reporting team says he “did not respond to a detailed list of questions.”

Sarah Werner /
@wynkenhimself.bsky.social: Fucking terrifying what they're trying to make happen at WaPo with these guys! I have doubts Bezos will back down but wow I hate it

Eileen Clancy /
@clancyny.bsky.social: Incoming Post Editor Tied to Self-Described ‘Thief’ Who Claimed Role in His Reporting — Not CEO William Lewis! Robert Winnett, incoming top editor of the Washington Post. Didn't respond to questions! — Washington Post staff out for blood! 4 bylines! — Gift link: …

Bill Grueskin /
@bgrueskin: Did Jeff Bezos really pay $250 million so he could have Robert Winnett — an editor with the dodgiest of journalistic ethics — running the Washington Post newsroom? Bezos (and you) should read this @davidfolkenflik piece on the growing crisis at the Post. https://www.npr.org/... [image]

Marty Schladen /
@martyschladen: What a shiteshow. WaPo scoops alleged unethical practices of its own incoming editor. What in the world is Bezos thinking? Incoming Post editor tied to self-described ‘thief’ who claimed role in his reporting https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Michael Roston /
@michaelroston: Good luck to whomever Winnett appoints his deputy like I wonder how often that person will be like “ok you've gotta leave the meeting now we're going to have a chat about a story we can't discuss with you” https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Joy Amina Garnett /
@joygarnett@threads.net: “At The Post and other major American news organizations, the use of deceptive tactics in pursuit of news stories violates core ethics policies. In Britain, “blagging” — using misrepresentation to dupe others into revealing confidential information — has been a known feature of a certain brand of tabloid journalism, especially before a public reckoning over press ethics began in 2011.” @agoldmund: My favorite shit in the world is when a new big hire is made at a newspaper, and the staff is like “sorry it's a matter of journalistic integrity that we have to report on what a nasty freak you are.” The times would do it more if it had any spine. https://archive.is/XA7MA

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: So, just to be clear, the Post's newsroom conducted a piercing investigation into potentially unethical press practices, and the publisher of the Post won't answer the newsroom's questions. Neither will the incoming executive editor. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Mark Jacob /
@markjacobnews@threads.net: Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos has a stark choice. He can either keep unethical UK journalists Will Lewis and Robert Winnett or he can keep the integrity of one of America's most important newspapers. Let's hope he makes the right choice. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

David Folkenflik /
@davidfolkenflik: This weekend marks trifecta for Will Lewis: NYT, NPR and now WaPo A four-reporter WP team drills deep on myriad links between Lewis's choice for WP editor, Rob Winnett, and investigator John Ford, a prince of dark arts of Fleet Street - an impressive tale https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Drew Harwell /
@drewharwell@threads.net: Helluva story from some of our newsroom's best https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Dan Ladden-Hall /
The Daily Beast: Furious Trump Seizes Chance to Join Washington Post Pile On

Margaret Sullivan /
@sulliview: @NPR ... I guess all this sleaze was no big deal in the ‘faster-paced’ UK press — except, oh yeah, Murdoch had to cough up more than a billion dollars and close down a newspaper!

Jeff Jarvis /
@jeffjarvis@threads.net: Post journos wasting time investigating their own when they should be investigating fascists at the door. My unsolicited advice to Bezos: Fire Lewis' Gang of Four for cause. Rehire Kevin Merida as editor and tech-savvy Craig Forman as CEO. Clean house. Start over. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

RELATED:
New York Times:

A former colleague and records indicate WaPo's Will Lewis and Robert Winnett used fraudulently obtained records in Sunday Times articles in the early 2000s— Years before becoming the Post's publisher, Will Lewis assigned an article based on stolen phone records, a former reporter said.

Discussion:
NPR, Media Nation, Axios, Poynter, The Daily Beast, Politico, @brianstelter, @karaswisher, @benmullin, @lauralesliewral, @wajahatali, @karaswisher@threads.net, @davidfolkenflik, @fixmedianow, Vanity Fair, @michaeljelston@threads.net, @mlhewlett, @brianstelter@threads.net, @karaswisher, @joegandelman, @binvestigates, @digiphile, @jeffjarvis, @peterjukes, @dankennedy_nu@threads.net, CNN, @davidfolkenflik, @martinsfp@threads.net, @mediaevan, @edmundlee@threads.net, @farhip, @jamesrbuk, @jbarro, @smyth_jeannette, @froomkin, @brianstelter, @jbenton, @kelsoscorner, @jackshafer, @brianmmunoz, @djrothkopf, @nbj914, @katrinanation, @kairyssdal, @benmullin, @barbaraslavin1, @wolfe321, @mikiebarb, @freddydeknatel, @silvermanjacob, @dangillmor@mastodon.social, @profdaly@threads.net, @cdarwin@c.im, @dankennedy_nu@journa.host, @stevesilberman.bsky.social, The Wrap, @Guinnessy@mastodon.world, @newsguyusa@threads.net, @gbbranstetter.bsky.social, @markharris.bsky.social and @fusoya.bsky.social

Discussion:

David Folkenflik /
NPR: New ‘Washington Post’ chiefs can't shake their past in London

Dan Kennedy /
Media Nation: The Will Lewis scandal at The Washington Post is spinning out of control

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: Another Wash Post tidbit: Will Lewis was going to fly to France for this week's Cannes Lions ad festival, but he's no longer attending, for obvious reasons

Kara Swisher /
@karaswisher: This seems small but it is a splashy advertising opportunity — as someone said to me: “Time is now to focus forward. But as long as Will is in charge they can forget that for now. (A BRANDING campaign?) So: stasis/entropy/fear-and-loathing. Just what you need to avoid.”

Ben Mullin /
@benmullin: tidbit: The Washington Post has canceled a splashy dinner it was planning to host at La Colombe d'Or. Lots of talk about this on the Croisette — this was supposed to be Will Lewis' reintroduction to the ad community as CEO of The Post @lauralesliewral: Must-read thread. Not renewing my subscription till @JeffBezos cleans up this mess.

Wajahat Ali /
@wajahatali: How has this dude not been fired or resigned?

Kara Swisher /
@karaswisher@threads.net: Reality check to all — nothing will happen to Lewis as long as Bezos supports him. And so far he is and prolly will. Remember the golden rule: He who has the gold makes the rules. (New ‘Washington Post’ chiefs can't shake their past in London : NPR) https://www.npr.org/...

David Folkenflik /
@davidfolkenflik: New: The ‘Washington Post’ newsroom is on edge as the past record of new publisher Will Lewis and top editor Rob Winnett in U.K. raise red flags Lewis first pressured the Post's editor not to cover the ghosts of his past *before starting the job* 🧵 https://www.npr.org/...

David Folkenflik /
@davidfolkenflik: Will Lewis' past is continuing to haunt his present viability as publisher & CEO of the Washington Post. The NYT and NPR are reporting instances where Lewis - and his pick as the Post's new editor Rob Willett - have acted unethically by US standards. Coming up at 9.20a on NPR @fixmedianow: @davidfolkenflik We're still waiting on clarification from Sir Lewis of what makes @davidfolkenflik an “activist” not a journalist. Calling Folkenflik an “activist” is unacceptable and a major red flag of Lewis's persistent “Murdoch world-view” and last straw for us. https://x.com/...

Katie Herchenroeder /
Vanity Fair: Washington Post Publisher Will Lewis and Incoming Executive Editor Robert Winnett Used Stolen Records While Reporting in Britain: NYT

Michael J Elston /
@michaeljelston@threads.net: Consumer Alert: The new Washington Post CEO and its incoming editor are Brits who—in their previous work in London—used fraud, stolen records & a checkbook to practice their “journalism.” So reports the New York Times.

Michael Hewlett /
@mlhewlett: Note: John Wick — a real-life security consultant and not the fictional hit man played by Keanu Reeves — makes an appearance near the end of this story: Washington Post Publisher and Incoming Editor Are Said to Have Used Stolen Records in Britain https://www.nytimes.com/...

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter@threads.net: Senior Washington Post staffers are getting together tonight for a party to celebrate Sally Buzbee. The party was arranged by Patty Stonesifer after Will Lewis swiftly replaced Buzbee two weeks ago. Last night's NYT story has staffers wondering if Lewis will be replaced next...

Kara Swisher /
@karaswisher: Reality check to all — nothing will happen to Lewis as long as Bezos supports him. And so far he is and prolly will. Remember the golden rule: He who has the gold makes the rules. (New ‘Washington Post’ chiefs can't shake their past in London : NPR) https://www.npr.org/...

Joe Gandelman /
@joegandelman: The biggest scandal will be if this guy REMAINS the Washington Post publisher. A definitive step down from norms from the Washington Post: https://www.nytimes.com/... @binvestigates: “All senior editors and most reporters at The Sunday Times knew that I obtained illegal phone billing data and bank account transactions, almost every week, for stories,” Mr. Ford said in a 2018 interview with the British news site @BInvestigates https://www.nytimes.com/...

Alex Howard /
@digiphile: @davidfolkenflik ... The @NYTimes reported the @WashingtonPost CEO engaged in conduct that would be unethical in US news media outlets: https://www.nytimes.com/... “at this point, there's no question that [Lewis] has lost the majority if not all of the newsroom.”-@playbookdc https://www.politico.com/... @jeffjarvis: Post journos wasting time investigating their own when they should be investigating fascists at the door. My unsolicited advice to Bezos: Fire Lewis' Gang of Four for cause. Rehire @meridak as editor and tech-savvy @cforman as CEO. Clean house. Start over. Incoming Post editor

Peter Jukes /
@peterjukes: To my US journalist colleagues. There is already a lot of stuff in the public domain about @washingtonpost's Will Lewis and appointee Robert Winnett. And more imminent I suspect This from @Bynickdavies ‘Flate Earth News’ and @BInvestigates https://bylineinvestigates.com/ ... [image]

Dan Kennedy /
@dankennedy_nu@threads.net: New at Media Nation: The Will Lewis scandal at The Washington Post is spinning out of control. Will Sally Buzbee be back? JournalismThreads https://dankennedy.net/...

Eva Rothenberg /
CNN: Washington Post CEO Will Lewis' status ‘increasingly untenable’ as newsgathering controversies mount

David Folkenflik /
@davidfolkenflik: CEO Lewis pressured exec editor Sally Buzbee and me not to cover allegations that arose in British court proceedings against Murdoch's UK papers. Will pressed Busbee not to publish in March and May. The Post touched on it in March and did a deep piece in May.

David Folkenflik /
@davidfolkenflik: In the immediate aftermath, weeks before he started in the job, Lewis told Buzbee the paper should not follow up on my story, saying it was not worthy of coverage. The Post did not turn to it for months until there were fresh developments in court. @martinsfp@threads.net: There are some UK journalists who would do a great job of leading a US newspaper. But there are plenty it's probably best keeping away from. “The publisher and incoming editor of The Washington Post used fraudulently obtained phone and company records in newspaper articles as journalists in London …

Evan DeSimone /
@mediaevan: Of all the Murdoch-world scandals it's amazing how phone hacking remains the only one to consistently taint anyone who got near it.

Ed Lee /
@edmundlee@threads.net: For those of you who work at @washingtonpost it's worth understanding how your new bosses once operated — and godspeed: https://www.nytimes.com/...

Paul Farhi /
@farhip: Footnote to this story, which jeopardizes the jobs of the current publisher and future editor of the ⁦@washingtonpost⁩: it was co-written by a former Post reporter (Jo Becker) with research provided by a former Post researcher (Julie Tate). https://www.nytimes.com/...

James Ball /
@jamesrbuk: @jbarro @semaforben This is working off memory of these stories when they came out but I believe he was a contractor brought on occasionally, not a salaried staff member. So it depends how often he was working.

Josh Barro /
@jbarro: I think this is another case of British salaries being comically low, but it's hard to tell because American news outlets don't have a comparable job category for “guy who obtains phone and financial records through highly skilled fraud” https://www.nytimes.com/... [image]

Jeannette Smyth /
@smyth_jeannette: He's straight up lying now about his checkbook journalism. #WaPo #SirWillLewis https://www.nytimes.com/... [image]

Dan Froomkin /
@froomkin: Dirty rotten scoundrels. Will Lewis and Rob Winnett must go. https://www.nytimes.com/...

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: The NYT has an on the record source: “The publisher and incoming editor of The Washington Post used fraudulently obtained phone and company records in newspaper articles as journalists in London” https://www.nytimes.com/...

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: As a Post reporter said to me earlier this week: “We're gone from a financial crisis to a culture and ethics crisis — while we're still in a financial crisis.”

Joshua Benton /
@jbenton: I suspect this goose is cooked. The norms of U.K. journalism are foreign enough to the U.S. eye that things like this will keep drip, drip, dripping out. https://www.nytimes.com/... @kelsoscorner: Props to @nytimes⁩ for keeping heat on ⁦@washingtonpost⁩ leadership and owner Bezos — trust has to start at the top and not thru “hacking”. https://www.nytimes.com/...

Jack Shafer /
@jackshafer: It's going to be another heavy week for Will Lewis. https://www.nytimes.com/...

Brian Munoz /
@brianmmunoz: Yikes, this was not a great move from the @washingtonpost's publisher and incoming top editor. https://www.nytimes.com/...

David Rothkopf /
@djrothkopf: They must resign or be fired. Keeping them will profoundly and lastingly damage the crediblity of the Post and it's ownership: Washington Post Publisher and Incoming Editor Are Said to Have Used Stolen Records in Britain https://www.nytimes.com/...

Nick Jackson /
@nbj914: “His ambition outran his ethics.” https://www.nytimes.com/... @katrinanation: “BLAGGING-gate”? Washington Post Publisher and Incoming Editor Are Said to Have Used Stolen Records in Britain https://www.nytimes.com/...

Kai Ryssdal /
@kairyssdal: No one. Should be. Surprised to hear this. Again, this one's on @JeffBezos

Ben Mullin /
@benmullin: Scoop from @ScheckNYTimes and @Jo_Becker: “The publisher and incoming editor of The Washington Post used fraudulently obtained phone and company records in newspaper articles as journalists in London” https://www.nytimes.com/...

Barbara Slavin /
@barbaraslavin1: @BenMullin ... The last thing American journalism needs is Fleet St sleaze.

Lauren Wolfe /
@wolfe321: NYT is coming for WaPo [image]

Michael Barbaro /
@mikiebarb: Some very damning revelations about the people who just took over The Washington Post. https://www.nytimes.com/... @freddydeknatel: Maybe don't hire British editors implicated in phone hacking to run your newspaper. https://www.nytimes.com/...

Jacob Silverman /
@silvermanjacob: WaPo needs to get rid of this guy asap and dispense with that ridiculous three silo company reorganization https://www.nytimes.com/...

Dan Gillmor /
@dangillmor@mastodon.social: The WashPost's CEO was involved in some corrupt stuff when he was working for Rupert Murdoch. — Good digging by the NY Times. https://www.nytimes.com/... @profdaly@threads.net: This is a sad and sorry episode in the life of a great American newspaper. Time for Bezos to do the right thing.

Chuck Darwin /
@cdarwin@c.im: The publisher and the incoming editor of The Washington Post — used fraudulently obtained phone and company records in newspaper articles, — according to a former colleague, the published account of a private investigator and an analysis of newspaper archives. …

Dan Kennedy /
@dankennedy_nu@journa.host: If Sally Buzbee was involved in getting any of this scandalous information about Will Lewis and Robert Winnett out into the open, I salute her. And if she wasn't, I salute her anyway. #journalism — https://www.nytimes.com/...

Steve Silberman /
@stevesilberman.bsky.social: Will Lewis, the incoming publisher and editor deployed to enshittify the Washington Post on the verge of the most fraught election in US history, is a liar and fraud who should be exiled from journalism. [gift link] www.nytimes.com/2024/06/15/w...

JD Knapp /
The Wrap: Washington Post CEO and Exec Editor Used Stolen Phone Records While at Sunday Times, Former Colleagues Say

Paul Guinnessy /
@Guinnessy@mastodon.world: So there was a joke against #LizTruss when she was UK Prime Minister, that her reign wouldn't last as long as a #lettuce in a refrigerator (it did not). Starting to think we should be doing the same for Will Lewis at this point. #media — https://www.nytimes.com/...

Steven L Herman /
@newsguyusa@threads.net: NY Times - The publisher and incoming editor of The Washington Post used fraudulently obtained phone and company records in newspaper articles as journalists in London, according to a former colleague, the published account of a private investigator and an analysis of newspaper archives. https://www.nytimes.com/...

Gillian Branstetter /
@gbbranstetter.bsky.social: Wow I had assumed he fired the managing editor working on this story and tried to pressure a separate outlet away from covering this story because he's entirely innocent [embedded post]

Mark Harris /
@markharris.bsky.social: This is now a test of whether Jeff Bezos would rather destroy one of the country's only remaining national newspapers or correct a mistake. www.nytimes.com/2024/06/15/w...

FuSoYa /
@fusoya.bsky.social: “Together, Mr. Lewis and Mr. Winnett will lead one of the most important news organizations in the United States, one that has a deep history of...holding the powerful accountable...journalists inside and outside The Post have asked whether the new leaders share their ethical foundation.” 🎁 link:

Reuters:

Survey: 52% of US and 63% of UK respondents say they would be uneasy with news produced mostly using AI; 59% worry about false news content online, up 3% YoY— Global concerns about the use of AI in news production and misinformation are growing, a report published by the Reuters Institute …

Discussion:
BBC, Reuters Institute, Michael Bruton on LinkedIn, Claes de Vreese on LinkedIn, National Union of Journalists …, Press Gazette, @risj_oxford, Journalism.co.uk, Reuters Institute, @risj_oxford, Reuters Institute, @risj_oxford, Reuters Institute, @risj_oxford, Reuters Institute, @risj_oxford, Reuters Institute, @risj_oxford, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Noor Nanji /
BBC: More people turning away from news, report says

Michael Bruton /
Michael Bruton on LinkedIn: The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism just published the 2024 Digital News Report. — For anyone with an interest in communication, it is a really important read. …

Claes de Vreese /
Claes de Vreese on LinkedIn: It's 🎁 time: the new Digital News Report (2024) is out. An international ‘smorgasbord’ of news consumption patterns …

Clara Aberneithie /
Press Gazette: Trust in news up slightly in UK but remains lower than global average @risj_oxford: Three headlines: 📱Video platforms are becoming a more important news source 🤖 Most people feel uncomfortable about news made with AI, even with human oversight 💰News subscriptions stall, with a significant % of subscribers paying less than full price https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac .uk/ ...

@risj_oxford:
1️⃣ We find a further decline in the use of Facebook for news. It's gone from 42% to 26% since 2016 in the 12 markets we've tracked in the last 10 years Our data shows a growing reliance on a range of alternatives including messaging apps and video networks. See the chart below [image]

Nic Newman /
Reuters Institute: What do we know about the rise of alternative voices and news influencers in social and video networks?

@risj_oxford:
7️⃣ We find little growth in news subscriptions, with 17% saying they paid for news online. Norway🇳🇴 (40%) and Sweden🇸🇪 (31%) have the highest %, and Japan🇯🇵 (9%) and the UK🇬🇧 (8%) the lowest In many countries we find evidence of heavy discounting. Here's the data for the US [image]

@risj_oxford:
3️⃣ Video is becoming a more important source of online news, especially for the young Short videos are accessed by 66% of our global sample, with longer formats attracting around half (51%). Most people consume news video on online platforms (72%) and not on news sites (22%) [image]

Dr Craig T. Robertson /
Reuters Institute: How much do people pay for online news? And what might encourage more people to pay? Reuters Institute: Methodology — This study has been commissioned by the Reuters Institute for the Study …

@risj_oxford:
2️⃣ These top line figures hide big geographical differences: -Many still use Facebook for news in 🇵🇭Philippines 🇨🇴Colombia and 🇲🇾Malaysia -TikTok is huge (and growing rapidly) in 🇹🇭Thailand, 🇰🇪Kenya, 🇮🇩Indonesia and other markets of the Global South [image]

@risj_oxford:
8️⃣ 55% of those that are not currently subscribing say that they would pay nothing for online news, with most of the rest prepared to offer just a few dollars per month, when pressed Across markets, 2% of non-payers say that they would pay full price. Figures by market below [image]

Dr Amy Ross Arguedas /
Reuters Institute: Public attitudes towards the use of AI in journalism

@risj_oxford:
6️⃣ As publishers embrace the use of AI, we find widespread public suspicion about how it might be used, especially for ‘hard’ news stories As the chart shows, respondents in the US are much more comfortable about different uses of AI than those in Europe [image]

@risj_oxford:
9️⃣ Trust in the news (40%) has remained stable over the last year, but is still four points lower than it was at the height of COVID-19. Finland🇫🇮 (69%) remains the country with the highest levels of trust, while Greece🇬🇷 and Hungary🇭🇺 (23%) have the lowest levels [image]

Dr Richard Fletcher /
Reuters Institute: More than ‘just the facts’: How news audiences think about ‘user needs’

@risj_oxford:
4️⃣ The report documents the rise of a new generation of news creators 🇫🇷 A good example is @HugoTravers, who produces explainer videos on TikTok and YouTube and was cited by respondents more often than French legacy publishers @lemondefr or @Le_Figaro. See the tables below [image]

@risj_oxford:
5️⃣ Concern about online misinformation has risen by 3 points in the last year with 59% saying they are worried about it. The figure is much higher in: 🇿🇦South Africa (81%) and the 🇺🇸US (72%) In terms of platforms, concern is highest for TikTok and X. Figures in the chart below [image]

@risj_oxford:
🔟 High standards, a transparent approach, lack of bias, and fairness in terms of media representation are the 4 primary factors that influence trust The top responses are strongly linked and are consistent across countries, ages, and political viewpoints [image]

@risj_oxford:
Our Digital News Report 2024 is out! 📊 47 markets 🌏 95,000 respondents ✍️ Authored by @nicnewman @richrdfletcher Craig T. Robertson @amyross87 @rasmus_kleis & our partners 📱Explore now https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac .uk/ ... 🧵Findings in thread #DNR24 [image]

RELATED:

Press Gazette:

Reuters Institute: the share of people who say they sometimes or often actively avoid the news reached 39%, up 10 percentage points from 2017— The proportion of people selectively avoiding the news is now ten percentage points higher than it was seven years ago, reaching a new high of 39% across 20 key markets.

Discussion:
WAN-IFRA

Discussion:

Bloomberg:

Pixar's Inside Out 2 grosses $155M in the US and Canada, 2024's biggest opening weekend, and $295M globally, the biggest in history for an animated film— - Animated sequel tops ‘Dune: Part Two’ for 2024's highest bow — Opening is boon for theaters and for Disney's rebounding Pixar

Discussion:

Rebecca Rubin /
Variety: ‘Inside Out 2’ Shatters Box Office Expectations With $155 Million, Biggest Debut Since ‘Barbie’

Sabrina Quagliozzi /
The Media Leader: Inside Out 2 scores big, bringing Joy to Box Office

Wayne Friedman /
MediaPost: ‘Inside Out 2’ Goes Outside The Box With Massive $155M Opening

Lachlan McLeod /
Lachlan McLeod on LinkedIn: It's an incredible feeling to be part of a team that really put in the absolute maximum, maximum effort on a film release (& then another 10%) and have it pay off in such deserved success. …

Eva Rothenberg /
CNN: ‘Inside Out 2’ jolts a sleepy summer box office

Lucas Shaw /
@lucas_shaw: Between inside Out 2, Deadpool and Moana, Disney could have the three biggest movies of the year.

Samuel Deats /
@samueldeats: I'm having whiplash going from folks talking about theaters being dead or whatever two weeks ago after something didn't do well to “biggest animated film opening of all time”

Andrew W. /
Andrew W. on LinkedIn: Massive opening weekend for Inside Out 2. Fantastic news! I hope it won't be seen as a validation of ‘Sequels over Originals’ strategy; that would be a mistake. …

Scott Gustin /
@scottgustin: NEW: INSIDE OUT 2 made an estimated $155 million at the domestic box office this weekend, blowing past projections and securing the second-biggest animated box office opening ever behind INCREDIBLES 2. The global box office for Inside Out 2 sits at $295 million. [image]

Scott Gustin /
@scottgustin: Here's the new top 5 opening weekends all-time for an animated film: 1. Incredibles 2 ($182 million) 2. Inside Out 2 ($155 million) 3. The Super Mario Bros. Movie ($146 million) 4. Finding Dory ($135 million) 5. Frozen II ($130 million) @screentime: ‘INSIDE OUT 2’ debuts to a $295M world box office opening ▪️ $155M Domestic ▪️ Biggest opening of 2024 ▪️ Second biggest animated opening of ever behind Incredibles 2 ($182.7M) ▪️ $140M International ▪️ Biggest animated International opening ever surpassing Frozen 2 ($135M) [image]

Brennan Klein /
Screen Rant: Weekend Box Office: Inside Out 2 Smashes Records With Dazzling Post-Barbie Debut [Full Chart Update]

Jeremy Fuster /
The Wrap: ‘Inside Out 2’ Sets Global Animated Box Office Record With $295 Million Opening

Hannah Shaw-Williams /
SlashFilm: Inside Out 2 Saves The Summer With 2024's Biggest Box Office Debut So Far

Semafor:

Sources: the Washington Post is in talks with legendary admaker David Droga to commission a new marketing campaign to redefine its image— The Scoop — The Washington Post is shopping for a new brand. — The Post is in talks to bring aboard the legendary admaker David Droga to commission …

Discussion:
@karaswisher, @semaforben, @jackshafer and @ericuman

Discussion:

Kara Swisher /
@karaswisher: Um. Timing? Maybe “Democracy dies in the full light of day”? https://www.semafor.com/...

Ben Smith /
@semaforben: Also! The Washington Post is in talks with the admaker David Droga about a rebrand https://www.semafor.com/...

Jack Shafer /
@jackshafer: The death of “Democracy Dies in Darkness” at the Washington Post? @Semaforben on the case. https://www.semafor.com/...

Reuters:

Naver-owned online comics platform Webtoon aims to raise up to $315M in a US IPO, offering shares for $18 to $21 each and targeting an up to $2.67B valuation— Online comics platform Webtoon Entertainment said on Monday it is targeting a valuation of up to $2.67 billion in its initial public offering in the United States.

Discussion:
Bloomberg, more at Techmeme »

The Hollywood Reporter:

Tegna names Mike Steib as its new CEO, succeeding Dave Lougee, who has been CEO for the past seven years; Steib is currently the CEO of Artsy— He succeeds Dave Lougee, who is retiring after 7 years atop the broadcast company. — The local TV station giant TEGNA has a new CEO.

Discussion:
Variety, Radio & Television …, Deadline, NewscastStudio and TVNewsCheck

Discussion:

Todd Spangler /
Variety: Tegna Hires NBCU, Google Alum Mike Steib as CEO

Dade Hayes /
Deadline: Large Local TV Station Owner Tegna Says NBCUniversal And Google Alum Michael Steib Will Succeed Dave Lougee As CEO This Summer

Michael P. Hill /
NewscastStudio: Tegna names Michael Steib new CEO

Mark Miller /
TVNewsCheck: Tegna Names Michael Steib To Succeed CEO David Lougee

Financial Times:

The Cannes Lions ad festival adds humor as an award category, highlighting the importance of a “human connection” in ads, as AI struggles to create funny ads— New humour category highlights ‘human connection’ in a sector beset by a crisis in creativity

Discussion:

Liza Foreman /
The Wrap: Cannes Lions Launches With Focus on Sports, Streaming, AI

Variety:

NBCU partners with Group Black, a collective focused on Black-owned and Black-produced media, to launch multicultural content hub E!+ on Peacock— NBCUniversal is tapping an outside company to help it bring a broader array of viewers and advertisers under its media tent.

AdExchanger:

Mozilla acquires Anonym, a privacy-focused ad measurement startup launched by Meta executives in 2022, and will run Anonym as a separate business unit— Two years after leaving Meta to launch their own privacy-focused ad measurement startup in 2022, Graham Mudd and Brad Smallwood have sold their company to Mozilla.

Discussion:
The Mozilla Blog

Discussion:

The Verge:

TikTok expands its Symphony ad suite, adding AI dubbing and custom or stock Digital Avatars based on paid actors or created to resemble specific creators— TikTok is introducing some new generative AI tools that aim to help organizations and content creators grow their global audiences …

Discussion:
The Media Leader, Ad Age, TechCrunch, The Drum and TechCrunch, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Sabrina Quagliozzi /
The Media Leader: TikTok debuts AI avatars and translation tools to bolster global marketing

Garett Sloane /
Ad Age: TikTok AI avatar ads—how brands and creators can use the new twinning feature

Kendra Barnett /
The Drum: TikTok debuts humanlike AI-generated avatars & language dubbing for brands & creators

Aisha Malik /