At ESPN's media day, executives said ESPN plans to lean heavily into sports betting, streaming, and social media, including by supporting influencers (Axios)

Mediagazer: At ESPN's media day, executives said ESPN plans to lean heavily into sports betting, streaming, and social media, including by supporting influencers (Axios)

Top News:

Hong Kong Free Press:

A Hong Kong court finds two former editor-in-chiefs of defunct outlet Stand News guilty of sedition, the first such conviction of journalists there since 1997— Two former chief editors of defunct outlet Stand News have been found guilty of sedition, marking the first such conviction …
Discussion: Reuters, Committee to Protect …, CBS News, @klustout, @tomgrundy, The Guardian, Newser, @xinqisu, @tripperhead, Agence France-Presse, @tomgrundy, @shibanimahtani, CNN, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, @pete_radcliff, @tomgrundy, @thomasvlinge, @galileocheng, @behlihyi, @tmclaughlin3, Al Jazeera, @rasmus_kleis, @tomgrundy, Hong Kong Free Press HKFP, BBC, Reporters Without Borders, @1br0wn and Fox News

Discussion:
Committee to Protect Journalists: CPJ condemns Hong Kong's conviction of 2 Stand News editors for sedition

Kristie Lu Stout /
@klustout: “Journalists do not have to be loyal to anyone, support anyone or be enemies of anyone. If we really have someone to be loyal to, it will be the public &only the public because we believe in freedom of the press&freedom of speech” -Stand News ex-editor Patrick Lam/ht @hkchrislau

Tom Grundy /
@tomgrundy: 1/ 🚨BREAKING: Two former chief editors of defunct outlet Stand News have been found guilty of sedition, marking the first such conviction of journalists in Hong Kong since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. In full: https://hongkongfp.com/... [image]

Helen Davidson /
The Guardian: Two Stand News journalists in Hong Kong found guilty of sedition @xinqisu: Chung Pui-kuen, Stand News founding editor who was just found guilty of sedition, leaves court. [video]

Aaron Busch /
@tripperhead: 🇭🇰👨 ⚖️ List of articles found to have sedition intentions in the Stand News trial. List via @HKFP [image]

Tom Grundy /
@tomgrundy: Prosecutors said Stand sought to incite hatred against the gov't through 17 website articles. Included interviews w/activists, op-eds by democrats like Nathan Law, a feature about protests & a hard news piece about an activist winning a rights prize. 11 were found ‘seditious.’

Shibani Mahtani /
@shibanimahtani: Stand News' editors were defending the entire profession of journalism in Hong Kong when they pled not guilty. They pushed back against charges that op-eds, features and articles were anything other than normal journalism. Their guilty verdict will have profound implications.

Chris Lau /
CNN: Hong Kong journalists found guilty of sedition in case critics say highlights decline in press freedom

Austin Ramzy /
Wall Street Journal: Hong Kong Editors Convicted of Sedition in Landmark Press-Freedom Verdict

Pete Radcliff /
@pete_radcliff: The heroic editors of Hong Kong's Stand News found guilty of sedition. Journalists and activists for democracy across the world need to stand in solidarity with them.

Tom Grundy /
@tomgrundy: 1/ A critical, years-long trial has concluded, with Stand News journalists facing jail over 11 “seditious” articles — a top story across the world. An interesting time to check on local news homepages: [image]

Thomas van Linge /
@thomasvlinge: Another low in #HongKong. Back in 2019 Stand News was one of the best outlets to follow for minute-to-minute coverage of the mass protests. Now its chief editors are being send to prison for doing a great job.

Galileo Cheng /
@galileocheng: Judge Kwok Wai-kin argues Stand News was a media “supporting and promoting Hong Kong localism and autonomy...a tool of smearing and criticizing the Central and Hong Kong Government” 11 out of 17 articles were found seditious https://legalref.judiciary.hk/ ...

Beh Lih Yi /
@behlihyi: Journalism is not seditious. Let's be clear: all they are guilty of is doing journalism. This oppressive ruling shows #HongKong is descending further into authoritarianism #StandWithStandNews

Timothy McLaughlin /
@tmclaughlin3: “...our biggest opponent is the regime...” Chung Pui-Kuen, former chief editor of Stand News who was convicted today of sedition in Hong Kong, gave an unfortunately prescient response to an academic when asked about the media environment in Hong Kong in 2019. [image]

Rasmus Kleis Nielsen /
@rasmus_kleis: “Stand News was among the last openly pro-democratic publications until its closure in December 2021, which saw seven arrested.” Now, editors Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam have been found guilty of “sedition”. #journalismisnotacrime https://www.bbc.com/...

Tom Grundy /
@tomgrundy: 2/ Stand News' ex-editor-in-chief Chung Pui-kuen, 54, appeared in front of judge Kwok Wai-kin on Thur to hear the long-awaited verdict. The outlet's ex-acting editor-in-chief Patrick Lam, 36, was not present for the hearing due to a health issue, HKFP learned. [image]

Hillary Leung /
Hong Kong Free Press HKFP: Guilty verdict in Stand News sedition trial shows ‘necessity’ of editors' arrests, national security police say

Nick Marsh /
BBC: HK journalists found guilty in landmark sedition case Reporters Without Borders: Hong Kong: RSF condemns the guilty verdict for Stand News editors-in-chief

Ian Brown /
@1br0wn: Starmer is busy cosying up to Xi, so sadly doubt we'll see any significant pushback from 🇬🇧 (and how can the few remaining British judges not now resign from 🇭🇰 Court of Final Appeal?)

RELATED:
Reuters:

A profile of Stand News, a nonprofit founded in 2014 that was Hong Kong's leading online media outlet before coverage of protests in 2019 led to its closure— After Hong Kong police raided Stand News and arrested two editors, its staff decided that to avoid more arrests they had to shut …

Discussion:
Semafor, Reuters, New York Times, Al Jazeera and Hong Kong Free Press HKFP

Discussion:

Marta Biino /
Semafor: Hong Kong court convicts two editors of sedition, underscoring fears for press freedom

Axios:

At ESPN's media day, executives said ESPN plans to lean heavily into sports betting, streaming, and social media, including by supporting influencers— - Its biggest priority is a forthcoming streaming service that will include all of its TV networks and its current streaming service ESPN+ …

Discussion:
The Streamable, @schneidremarks.bsky.social, @hobdat.bsky.social, @colewagoner.bsky.social, @dubleahy.bsky.social, @russbengtson.bsky.social, @publichealth.bsky.social, @apocalypticanow.bsky.social, Timothy B Baysinger on LinkedIn, Sara Fischer on LinkedIn, Advanced Television, @sarafischer, Front Office Sports and Deadline

Discussion:

David Satin /
The Streamable: Fans Open to Sports on Streaming, But Platforms Have to Make Things Easier @schneidremarks.bsky.social: When I was 13 years old, I got invited to a private chat room to talk with Stuart Scott, highlights were published in ESPN Magazine. I wanted to be a sports journalist, and this was the highlight of my young life. — Stuart Scott is dead, ESPN Magazine is dead, and “sports journalism” is casino ads. …

G.T. /
@hobdat.bsky.social: it's wild to see them come out and just say that they think sports betting is more important than journalism [embedded post]

Cole Wagoner /
@colewagoner.bsky.social: This fucking sucks guys [embedded post]

Dub Leahy /
@dubleahy.bsky.social: Probably smart financially, but I cannot pass on this faster. [embedded post]

Russ Bengtson /
@russbengtson.bsky.social: getting real close to simply bailing on sports entirely (although honestly all I really care about anymore are cycling grand tours/one day events and getting mad at the mets/arsenal) [embedded post]

Sean /
@publichealth.bsky.social: i recently uninstalled their app because it's all about betting now. an app that everyone's kids can and often do install [embedded post] @apocalypticanow.bsky.social: centering entertainment on gambling is as bad as making smoking seem cool. Fuck these people. [embedded post]

Timothy B Baysinger /
Timothy B Baysinger on LinkedIn: ESPN is preparing for life after cable by transitioning from a TV news network into a sports lifestyle brand. …

Sara Fischer /
Sara Fischer on LinkedIn: Visited ESPN at its HQ in Bristol, CT yesterday and the experience was wild — I've been to ESPN media days before. This was very different. …

Colin Mann /
Advanced Television: Survey: Fans open to more streamed sports

Sara Fischer /
@sarafischer: .@ESPN media day was wild —Polished execs touted big digital moves —Then ESPN hosts defended @PatMcAfeeShow as he ripped the media to our faces (fascinating, transparent exchange) —Bottom line: ESPN no longer precious about its brand. Focus is survival https://www.axios.com/...

Dade Hayes /
Deadline: ESPN Launches ‘Where To Watch’ Digital Feature To Guide Viewers To Games Across The Dial

RELATED:

Variety:
ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro says the company has suggested to sports leagues that it could help distribute games to specific markets via its streaming products

Discussion:

Roger Palmer /
What's On Disney Plus: ESPN “Flagship” Looking To Include Local Sports

Eric Fisher /
Front Office Sports: ESPN's Pitaro: RSN Turmoil Is Chance to Expand Local Game Coverage Associated Press: Your own personalized “SportsCenter”? ESPN working on that for an upcoming streaming service

Jacob Feldman /
Sportico: AI SportsCenter, Local In-Market Games Could Boost New ESPN App

Timothy Burke /
@bubbaprog.ilovecitr.us: >Pitaro said the company would be able to “geotarget” subscribers to its streaming services & make games available to people in specific markets. — you mean that thing the leagues already do with their own streaming products, two of which use the exact same MLBAM/BAMTEC platform that ESPN does? [embedded post]

David Satin /
The Streamable: ESPN Aims to Add Local Rights as ‘Flagship’ Streamer Prepares for 2025 Launch

Kayla Cobb /
The Wrap: ESPN Launches ‘Where to Watch’ on ESPN App and Website to Find Games Anywhere

Erik Gruenwedel /
Media Play News: Hub: Sports Fans Open to Live-Streaming Events, Games

Caitlin Huston /
The Hollywood Reporter: ESPN Launches New ‘Where to Watch’ Feature Online

The Verge:
ESPN launches a Where to Watch feature on its website and app, which aims to be a universal guide for streaming sports with data from 250+ streaming services

Discussion:

Brendan Brady /
@bradybrendan1: ESPN's plans were reported 1.5 years ago. What took so long? A 7-person team at https://www.livesportsontv.com/ does this ESPN wanted a cut of subscription fees, but launching with just NESN and Monumental Sports as “link” partners suggests those talks didn't go well

Sara Fischer /
@sarafischer: NEW: @ESPN launching a “Where to watch” feature on the ESPN App and https://espn.com/ — Feels sort of like a response to Apple's new sports app — Shows fans where to watch a game (on their network or elsewhere) — Lets them personalize by teams, leagues, etc [image] @tvgrimreaper: Complete nonsense. ESPN & ESPN+ & all other Disney channels (don't forget ABC!) affiliate fees are >=$20/mo. And are almost 100% gross margin. No way you recoup that with a $25-30/mo retail price for DTC ESPN.

Sar Haribhakti /
@sarthakgh: ESPN has done for sports content what many have long wanted for general streaming content A hub that gives on click access to content regardless of which service it is on: https://www.theverge.com/...

Los Angeles Dodgers /
ESPN: U.S. Open Cup

Kenny Smith /
@kennysmith.bsky.social: From the same company that won't allow their writers to create hyperlinks to other sites in their sports copy ... [embedded post]

Matthew Keys /
The Desk: ESPN moves forward with aggregate sports discovery feature

Ryan Christoffel /
9to5Mac: Apple TV tried being a sports hub, but now ESPN's launching a competitor

David Satin /
The Streamable: ESPN Is Trying to Make It Easier to Find Out Where Games Are Streaming

Dominick Mastrangelo /
The Hill: ESPN launching first-of-its-kind ‘Where to Watch’ feature in app

Roger Palmer /
What's On Disney Plus: ESPN Launches New “Where To Watch” Feature

Brian Steinberg /
TVNewsCheck: ESPN Will Vie For Local Sports Rights

Washington Post:

Reuters denies Russia's claim that slain security adviser Ryan Evans was a UK spy and calls Russia's claim that Western agencies control Reuters “ludicrous”— Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman connected the killing of security adviser Ryan Evans to foreign mercenaries aiding Ukrainian troops.

Discussion:
Talking Biz News, Reuters, @siobhan_ogrady, @jefffisch and @macwbishop

Discussion:

Chris Roush /
Talking Biz News: Reuters denies claim that killed staffer was spy

Elizabeth Piper /
Reuters: Ryan Evans, killed in Ukraine, played a vital role for Reuters

Siobhán O'Grady /
@siobhan_ogrady: A beautiful tribute to Ryan that captured him perfectly “I knew Ryan would be the person who would keep them safe in a war zone & still have time to feed the local dogs & make sure the team had enough sweets in the car and a decent playlist.” https://www.reuters.com/... @jefffisch: I swear. If Russia killed the Pope in an errant bombing, they'd claim he was an Italian spy before admitting fault. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Columbia Journalism Review:

Mathew Ingram, chief digital writer for Columbia Journalism Review and formerly a senior writer for Fortune and GigaOm, is leaving after nearly seven years— Before we go any further, I should note that this is my last newsletter for CJR, as I am moving on from my job as the magazine's chief digital writer.

Discussion:

Chris Roush /
Talking Biz News: Ingram departing Columbia Journalism Review

Jon Allsop /
@jon_allsop: I'm very sad that @mathewi is leaving CJR! He's always been a generous colleague and an incisive writer at the intersection of media and tech. Read his final reflections on his work for us here: https://www.cjr.org/... Columbia Journalism Review on LinkedIn: So long, and thanks for all the fish: Mathew Ingram looks back on some of the changes he has seen in his seven years as CJR's chief digital writer https://lnkd.in/gHMQFGmH

Mathew Ingram /
@mathewi: @Jon_Allsop Thanks Jon — I have probably seemed more incisive thanks to your editing! 😀

New York Times:

Michael Lacey, co-founder of the classified ad site Backpage, gets five years in prison and a $3M fine for money laundering; two other executives get 10 years— Michael Lacey, 76, co-founded the website that became known for its ads for prostitution. He was convicted on a money laundering charge …

Discussion:
Arizona Republic, US Department of Justice and Associated Press

Discussion:

Richard Ruelas /
Arizona Republic: Former Phoenix New Times editor sentenced to prison in Backpage trial that centered on prostitution

New York Times:

Experts say Pavel Durov's arrest is likely an outlier, as the legal bar is high in the US and Europe to prosecute tech executives for content on their platforms— The indictment of Pavel Durov, Telegram's founder, as part of an investigation into illicit activities on the messaging app set off worries …

Discussion:

Saqib Shah /
London Evening Standard: Tech titans defy calls for stricter social media moderation amid global controversies

Daniela Andrade /
Daniela Andrade on LinkedIn: Can Tech Executives Be Held Responsible for What Happens on Their Platforms? — “The arrest of Pavel Durov, Telegram's founder …

Joshua Foust /
@joshuafoust@appdot.net: This is a great instance of where the Section 230 discourse in the US looks utterly puerile and disconnected from the reality of what has been unleashed on society. Like when SCOTUS ruled YouTube has a solemn constitutional right to algorithmically promote ISIS snuff videos. …

Jeff Jarvis /
@jeffjarvis@mastodon.social: At the dawn of print, the technologists—printers— were held responsible for what came off their presses, then booksellers. Finally authors were responsible, which Foucault says was the birth of the author. I think we will go through a similar sequence with the net & AI: …

Morgan Meaker /
Wired: Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Charged Over Alleged Criminal Activity on the App

Gaspard Sebag /
Bloomberg: Telegram CEO Charged in France for Crimes Committed on His App

Lucas Ropek /
Gizmodo: Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Released From Prison

Wired:

Facebook, Instagram, Craigslist, Tumblr, the NYT, the FT, The Atlantic, Vox Media, USA Today, Condé Nast, and more block Apple's Applebot-Extended AI crawler— This summer, Apple gave websites more control over whether the company could train its AI models on their data.

Discussion:
AppleInsider and 9to5Mac, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

William Gallagher /
AppleInsider: Big-name publishers are refusing to let Apple Intelligence train on data

Wall Street Journal:

A profile of Disney Experiences Chair Josh D'Amaro, who turned the unit into Disney's main profit engine and is in contention to succeed Bob Iger— Josh D'Amaro, head of the entertainment giant's theme-park division, is in contention to succeed Bob Iger — ANAHEIM, Calif. …

The Hollywood Reporter:

Anti-piracy group ACE says it worked with Hanoi police to shutter Hanoi-based Fmovies and its affiliates, “the largest pirate streaming operation in the world”— The Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment, whose members include Netflix and Walt Disney Studios …

Discussion:
The Wrap, Advanced Television, Variety, Los Angeles Times and Deadline, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Natalie Korach /
The Wrap: World's Largest Piracy Operator Fmovies Shut Down by Authorities in Vietnam

Samantha Masunaga /
Los Angeles Times: Antipiracy coalition and Vietnamese police shut down major pirate streaming business

Ted Johnson /
Deadline: Global Industry Group ACE Announces Shutdown Of Fmovies, Deemed “World's Largest Piracy Ring”

CNN:

A jury in Las Vegas finds former Nevada politician Robert Telles guilty of fatally stabbing Las Vegas Review Journal reporter Jeff German in September 2022— A jury has sentenced Robert Telles, a former Nevada politician found guilty of fatally stabbing a Las Vegas investigative reporter …

Discussion:
Washington Post, Las Vegas Review-Journal, Reporters Without Borders, @spj_tweets, @mrandyngo, Poynter, Raw Story, The Hill, @alexleff, @pressfreedom, @hadas_gold, Al Jazeera, Reuters, Associated Press, New York Times, Metro.co.uk, Rolling Stone, Boing Boing, @day_of_lemay@threads.net, CBS News, New York Daily News, Axios, Newser, Voice of America, NPR, ABC7, Committee to Protect … and Fox News

Discussion:

Praveena Somasundaram /
Washington Post: Ex-county official convicted of murdering Las Vegas reporter

Katelyn Newberg /
Las Vegas Review-Journal: Jury finds Robert Telles guilty in murder of RJ reporter Jeff German — WATCH LIVE @spj_tweets: Today, justice was served as Robert Telles was found guilty of Las Vegas reporter Jeff German's murder. Jeff's dedication to seeking the truth and love for Vegas will not be forgotten. SPJ sends our support to his friends, family and colleagues. https://www.cnn.com/... @mrandyngo: Update Aug. 28, 2024: Robert Telles, a Democrat official in Nevada who lost a primary in 2022, has been convicted of killing reporter Jeff German. Telles was a gun control advocate and stabbed the journalist to death. At the time, leftists on social media falsely speculated that [image]

Lauren Sforza /
The Hill: Ex-Nevada politician Robert Telles convicted of investigative journalist's murder

Alex Leff /
@alexleff: Two years ago, Las Vegas was shocked by the stabbing of one of its best-known journalists, Jeff German. German's investigative reporting had dug into the world of a local official at the time. That ex-official has been found guilty of murdering German. https://www.npr.org/... @pressfreedom: “While Wednesday's ruling will not bring #JeffGerman back to his family, friends, and colleagues, the conviction sends an important message that the killing of journalists will not be tolerated,” CPJ's @kajtweets said. Read more: https://cpj.org/...

Hadas Gold /
@hadas_gold: Robert Telles, a former Clark County Public Administrator, was found guilty Wednesday of murdering Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German, who had reported extensively on Telles. https://www.reviewjournal.com/ ...

Isabelle Taft /
New York Times: Former Las Vegas Official Convicted in Journalist's Murder

Jessica Kwong /
Metro.co.uk: Politician shakes head as he's found guilty of killing journalist over unflattering stories

Jon Blistein /
Rolling Stone: Former Nevada Politician Convicted of Murdering Investigative Journalist Jeff German

Johnathan Lemay /
@day_of_lemay@threads.net: It's very easy to hate on the media and journalists these days, and I have my fair share of issues with them as well. But, we shouldn't forget how vital a job it is to hold power to account, or how dangerous it can become https://abcnews.go.com/...

David Matthews /
New York Daily News: Ex-politician Robert Telles found guilty in murder of Las Vegas reporter Jeff German

Ken Ritter /
ABC7: Jury finds ex-politician guilty of murder in 2022 killing of Las Vegas investigative reporter

Committee to Protect Journalists:
CPJ welcomes conviction in killing of Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German

New York Times:

Russia bars 14 WSJ employees, including EIC Emma Tucker, five NYT journalists, four WaPo journalists, and dozens of other Americans from entering the country— The list of barred journalists includes the top editor of The Wall Street Journal. Dozens of other Americans are also forbidden to enter Russia …

Discussion:
@katie_robertson, TVNewsCheck, CNN, Voice of America, The Hill, Associated Press, Talking Biz News and Reuters

Discussion:

Katie Robertson /
@katie_robertson: Russia barred more than a dozen @WSJ journalists from entering the country, as well as journalists from NYT and WaPo “The Putin regime is farcically consistent in its all-out assault on free press and truth. This laughable list of targets is no exception,” a WSJ spox said

Katie Robertson /
TVNewsCheck: Russia Bars Numerous U.S. Journalists From The Country

Liam Scott /
Voice of America: Russian media ‘in survival mode,’ says recently freed American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva

Sarah Fortinsky /