The foundation backing Washington, DC's Fallen Journalist Memorial unveils concept designs and expects completion in 2028, funded entirely by private donations (Michael Brice-Saddler/Washington Post)

Mediagazer: The foundation backing Washington, DC's Fallen Journalist Memorial unveils concept designs and expects completion in 2028, funded entirely by private donations (Michael Brice-Saddler/Washington Post)

Top News:

The Verge:

Snapchat gets a redesign that pares down five tabs to three, including a new unified For You feed of full-screen videos from publishers and creators— Snapchat is undergoing its biggest redesign in years by simplifying from five to three tabs: one for messages and Stories with friends …
Discussion: The Hollywood Reporter, Axios, Tubefilter, Deadline, The Information, 9to5Mac, Bloomberg, Engadget, TechCrunch, 9to5Google, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Sara Fischer /
Axios: Snap debuts operating system for AR glasses

Dade Hayes /
Deadline: Snap Rolls Out New AR Glasses, Streamlined App Design And Other New Features At Sixth Annual Partner Summit

Ryan Christoffel /
9to5Mac: Snapchat is getting redesigned, plus new AI lens displays an old-aged you

Karissa Bell /
Engadget: Snap is redesigning Snapchat and adding new AI powers

Aisha Malik /
TechCrunch: Snapchat launches video comments and tools for creators seeking brand deals

Maxwell Zeff /
TechCrunch: Snapchat tests ‘simple’ version of the app without Snap Map or Stories tab

Abner Li /
9to5Google: Fitbit app redesigns Heart Rate stats page

RELATED:

TechCrunch:
Snap debuts a tool that lets select creators generate AI videos from text prompts and, soon, from image prompts, powered by Snap's own foundation video models

Discussion:
Business Insider and TVNewsCheck, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Shriya Bhattacharya /
Business Insider: Snapchat unveils new features to recruit more creators and land them paid brand deals

New York Times:

Sources: Air Mail, founded in 2019 by Graydon Carter, hires investment bank Raine Group to explore a sale; talks with Standard Investments are no longer active— The company, founded in 2019, is known for its weekend newsletter of deeply reported features, travel recommendations and shopping tips.

Discussion:
@mediaevan

Washington Post:

A look at the growth of fashion and shopping on Substack, including coverage of New York Fashion Week and Substack's plans for a Paris Fashion Week event— The newsletter platform has become a place to discuss, offer advice on and celebrate shopping — and make a lot of money doing so.

Discussion:
Marc Bridge on LinkedIn and Christina Loff on LinkedIn

Discussion:

Marc Bridge /
Marc Bridge on LinkedIn: So exciting to see fashion Substackers spotlighted by the The Washington Post for their role in NYFW (and a certain At Present event)! …

Current Affairs:

The Atlantic poses as a magazine of thoughtful ideas, but its writers get away with sloppy, unsupported arguments, and its errors are long-lasting and insidious— Regular Current Affairs readers know that I have a tendency to make grumbling remarks about a magazine called The Atlantic.

Discussion:
@marsinra: For years, I've struggled to articulate why I find the Atlantic so off-putting, but this article gets it: the pernicious disguise of racism under the banner of intellectualism (most recently exhibited with Palestine) & the embarrassing clickbaity packaging of serious topics.

Nathan J Robinson /
@nathanjrobinson: have received several critical responses to my article that are basically “Yes, you are right that @TheAtlantic sucks for exactly the reasons you say, but you should have picked these other terrible articles to criticize.” Sorry everyone, there were just too many to choose from!

Claire Potter /
@tenuredradical: As someone who recently published in The Atlantic, I obviously think it is a worthwhile platform. But I can't help admire the detail this guy goes into, and the willingness to justify his animus concretely. That said, I think similar criticisms could be made of all opinion

Briallen Hopper /
@briallenhopper: I loved the conversation Ta-Nehisi Coates created at the Atlantic (I'm thinking more of the blog than the cover stories, though both mattered); I relied on Ed Yong during the pandemic; & I just taught a great piece by Ross Perlin. But this takedown definitely brings the receipts!

Claire Potter /
@tenuredradical: @speechboy71 No, it doesn't: but still. Given how many people offer almost no evidence for their strident views, you have to hand it to someone who gives it his all. I think there is a bigger argument to be made about factual and opinion journalism, though.

Nathan J Robinson /
@nathanjrobinson: @ANSchmidtLebuhn @TheAtlantic yeah that's exactly it!

Michelle Celarier /
@mcelarier: A must read. Thanks to @NathanJRobinson for writing this.

Alexander N Schmidt-Lebuhn /
@anschmidtlebuhn: @NathanJRobinson @TheAtlantic Great read. Reminds me of certain realisations I had about Der Spiegel in my late teens, supposedly the most serious German magazine and my parents' main source of political thought when I grew up: Their editorial approach was entirely argumentation by selected anecdote.

Michael A. Cohen /
@speechboy71: @TenuredRadical Ugh, tangential nonsense. Deconstructing a handful of pieces (and doing do with a clear bias) doesn't make for a persuasive argument

Sheila Liming /
@seeshespeak: Okay but you forgot the part about how they also stiff writers after and don't pay after the article has gone to press [image]

Nathan J Robinson /
@nathanjrobinson: Have written an 11,000 word article on why I think @TheAtlantic is the worst magazine in America, including its regular publishing of terrible arguments, its sloppiness with basic facts, its lack of editing, and its promotion of horrible ideas: https://www.currentaffairs.org/ ... @rafat: This is the best headline in media critique ever written. Delicious and 🎯🎯🎯https:// www.currentaffairs.org/...

Miguel Afonso Caetano /
@remixtures@tldr.nettime.org: “So I want to explain exactly what it is that I think makes The Atlantic terrible and why I think we'd all be better off if it stopped publishing. My basic criticism is that while it presents itself as a magazine of ideas—which makes readers feel as if they are engaging intelligently with important issues …

The Guardian:

Guardian Media Group announces talks to sell The Observer, acquired in 1993, to Tortoise Media, which would invest £25M in The Observer over the next five years— Guardian Media Group announces it is in negotiations with Tortoise Media over world's oldest Sunday newspaper

Discussion:
Tortoise, @jamesrbuk, @charlesarthur, @hadleyfreeman, @jamesrbuk, @meiriontweets, @josiahmortimer, @robertlargan, @markkleinmansky, @psythor, @markkleinmansky, Douglas McCabe on LinkedIn, Bloomberg, New York Times, Axios, @martinsfp@threads.net, The Media Leader, Financial Times, London Evening Standard, Reuters, Sky News on YouTube, The Times, Irish Independent and Sky News

Discussion:

James Ball /
@jamesrbuk: The Scott Trust has a specific duty to protect the *Guardian* in perpetuity. It used to own Manchester Evening News, AutoTrader and others. Observer now the last one. It's an obvious potential source of tension when one title is by mandate raised above others.

Charles Arthur /
@charlesarthur: Two ways this could go: Tortoise buys Obs, struggles to make the paper version worth it, whole lot gets folded back into Guardian Media Group; or Tortoise buys Obs which sputters out as a physical product and the journalists work for Tortoise as a digital product.

Hadley Freeman /
@hadleyfreeman: Shocking. The Obs is an invaluable part of The Guardian brand - Nigel Slater, OFM, fantastic arts and political coverage.... This wd be such a loss to The G. Sending love to all Obs writers and editors who I'm sure are feeling extremely anxious now thru no fault of their own xxx

James Ball /
@jamesrbuk: Wow. The Obs is a very different paper from the Guardian, but has always suffered online from not having its own distinct identity. This could be a real opportunity for it - but is a fairly huge shift.

Meirion Jones /
@meiriontweets: If the @guardian is selling Observer to @tortoise does this bring forward decision to stop print edition of Guardian leaving 7-day online presence?

Josiah Mortimer /
@josiahmortimer: Speaking as an Observer subscriber (obvs), & someone who likes Tortoise, I am very intrigued to see how this works and what might change I imagine many of the Observer's current buyers are off the back of the (massive) Guardian news site, and Guardian/Obvs joint subs packages...

Robert Largan /
@robertlargan: Another takeover by a shell company.

Mark Kleinman /
@markkleinmansky: EXCLUSIVE: Guardian Media Group is in exclusive talks to sell The Observer, the world's oldest Sunday newspaper, to Tortoise Media, a news start-up founded five years ago, in a deal which would further reshape the British national newspaper market. Full story on @SkyNews soon.

James O'Malley /
@psythor: So... are they just not going to update the Guardian website on a Sunday?

Mark Kleinman /
@markkleinmansky: EXCLUSIVE: Staff on The Observer are being briefed now on talks to sell the 233 year-old Sunday newspaper to Tortoise Media, which was founded by former Times editor James Harding in 2019 and which is promising to invest £25m in the title over five years. https://news.sky.com/...

Douglas McCabe /
Douglas McCabe on LinkedIn: Tough company accounts for the Guardian, with challenges in the advertising market and in US expansion. …

Michael J. de la Merced /
New York Times: The Guardian in Talks to Sell U.K.'s Oldest Sunday Newspaper to Digital Start-Up

Sara Fischer /
Axios: The Guardian in talks to sell The Observer @martinsfp@threads.net: Whaaaaaaat?! This is wild. Guardian Media Group is in talks to sell The Observer, an institution among British newspapers, to news startup Tortoise Media.

Anna Wise /
London Evening Standard: Guardian Media Group in talks to sell Observer newspaper to Tortoise Media

Anna Wise /
Irish Independent: Guardian Media Group in talks to sell Observer newspaper to Tortoise Media

RELATED:

Press Gazette:
The Guardian reports revenue down 2.5% YoY to £257.8M for the year to March 31, 2024, ad revenue down 13% to £62.2M, and digital reader revenue up 8% to £88.2M

Discussion:
Charlotte Tobitt on LinkedIn and The Guardian

Discussion:

Charlotte Tobitt /
Charlotte Tobitt on LinkedIn: A marmalade dropper today: Guardian Media Group was not looking to sell The Observer but received an offer that was too significant to ignore from Tortoise Media. …

Washington Post:

The foundation backing Washington, DC's Fallen Journalist Memorial unveils concept designs and expects completion in 2028, funded entirely by private donations— The concept designs are for D.C.'s first public memorial to celebrate press freedom and honor the journalists who have been slain while doing their jobs.

Variety:

Five contestants in Beast Games sue MrBeast and Amazon, claiming unpaid wages, emotional distress, the production failed to prevent sexual harassment, and more— Lawsuit on behalf of five unnamed participants seeks class-action status — A class-action lawsuit against YouTube star MrBeast …

Discussion:
Deadline, Rolling Stone, Consequence, Superior Court, State of California and The Wrap

Discussion:

Dominic Patten /
Deadline: MrBeast & Amazon Hit With Sexual Harassment, Wages & Nevada Tax Credits Scamming Class Action Suit By Game Show Contestants

Tomás Mier /
Rolling Stone: MrBeast Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Sexual Harassment, Unpaid Wages on ‘Beast Games’ Reality Show

Jo Vito /
Consequence: MrBeast Facing Class Action Lawsuit Over Alleged Mistreatment of Contestants on Reality TV Show

Deadline:

Union members at Powerhouse Animation Studios in Austin ratify their first contract; the local union affiliated with the Animation Guild represents 129 workers— The Animation Guild now officially, successfully represents animation workers in a right-to-work state.

Discussion:
@deadline

The Guardian:

German nonprofit Media in Cooperation and Transition is providing sanctuary for exiled journalists exposing human rights abuses in their own countries— As attacks on the press rise, the House of Critical Voices offers sanctuary for media workers exposing abuses

Discussion:
Klaas Glenewinkel on LinkedIn

Bloomberg:

Pew survey: 17% of US adults say they regularly get news on TikTok in 2024, up from 14% in 2023 and 3% in 2020; 39% aged 18 to 29 do so, up from 32% a year ago— - Almost 40% of young adults regularly get news from the app — TikTok faces a ban in the US if parent company doesn't divest

Discussion:
Digital Music News, Pew Research Center, Adweek, Neowin and CBS News, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Ashley King /
Digital Music News: TikTok Made Its Case Against a Ban In Front of An Appeals Court Panel of Judges — And It Didn't Go Well Pew Research Center: More Americans - especially young adults - are regularly getting news on TikTok

Brad Pareso /
Adweek: Court Appears Skeptical of TikTok's Challenge to US Ban

John Callaham /
Neowin: TikTok and the US government battle in court today over TikTok's possible ban

Axios:

Microsoft: starting in late August, Russian cyber operatives focused on Harris' campaign, with disinfo including videos spread by a site posing as a news outlet— - One claimed to show a group of alleged Harris supporters attacking an assumed Trump rally attendee.

Discussion:

Maggie Miller /
Politico: Russian election interference efforts targeting Harris campaign, Microsoft finds @DemocracyMattersALot@mstdn.social: If Putin loves Trump, shouldn't you vote for HarrisWalz? — The Kremlin is stepping up its disinformation operations against Vice President Harris, Microsoft finds — https://www.axios.com/... #USPol #HarrisWalz2024 #KamalaBringsUsJoy #NeverAgainTrump #VoteBlue #TrumpWillLose2024 #NoRepublicansEverAgain

Eric Geller /
@ericgeller: From the report: “Storm-1516, adept at grabbing headlines with its outlandish fake videos and scandalous claims, and Storm-1679 will likely only escalate its targeting of the Harris-Walz campaign in the lead-up to Election Day.” https://cdn-dynmedia-1.microsoft.com/ ...

Joseph Menn /
Washington Post: Russians made video falsely accusing Harris of hit-and-run, Microsoft says

Kim Perales /
@KimPerales@toad.social: Russia is now throwing all of its disinformation resources behind ops designed to undermine the #HarrisWalz campaign. — Starting in Aug, Storm-1516, created & spread 2 fake videos online to discredit the campaign. …

Shannon Bond /
NPR: Microsoft says Russia's election interference efforts have pivoted to Harris and Walz

Ali Swenson /
Associated Press: Microsoft traces fake Kamala Harris hit-and-run video back to Russian troll farm

Sean Lyngaas /
KVIA-TV: Microsoft says Russian operatives are ramping up attacks on Harris campaign with fake videos

Christopher Bing /
Reuters: Fake Kamala hit-and-run story is the work of Russian propaganda group, Microsoft says

Sue Stone /
@knittingknots2@mstdn.social: Russia amplifies disinformation campaigns against Harris-Walz campaign, Microsoft warns — https://www.axios.com/... #HarrisWalz #Harris #KamalaHarris2024 #Harris2024 #HarrisWalz2024

Jake Bleiberg /
Bloomberg: Russian Influence Campaign Turned to Harris After Biden Exited Race, Microsoft Says

Morgan Chalfant /
Semafor: Kremlin-backed influence campaign aims to denigrate Harris, Microsoft finds

The Hollywood Reporter:

California Governor Gavin Newsom signs two bills restricting the use of AI replicas of performers, building on protections SAG-AFTRA sought in its 2023 strike— In a symbolic move, the governor visited the Los Angeles headquarters of performers' union SAG-AFTRA to greenlight the legislation …

Discussion:

Will Shanklin /
Engadget: California passes landmark law requiring actors' permission for AI likenesses

Marissasaldivar /
Governor of California: Governor Newsom signs bills to protect digital likeness of performers

Ashley King /
Digital Music News: AI Protection Bill Signed into Law by Governor Gavin Newsom — SAG-AFTRA Chalks Up Major Win

Maxwell Zeff /
TechCrunch: California's 5 new AI laws crack down on election deepfakes and actor clones

Sharon Knolle /
The Wrap: Gavin Newsom Signs AI Bills to Protect Actors' Digital Likeness

Brian Tatosky /
@virtualbri@mastodon.online: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ ... Good! — When we need a digidouble we 90% of he time have a specific need for specific shots, and plenty of times it's for the safety and comfort of the cast. …

Wendy Lee /
Los Angeles Times: Gov. Newsom signs AI-related bills regulating Hollywood actor replicas and deep fakes

Gene Maddaus /
Variety: Gov. Gavin Newsom Signs AI Bills Backed by SAG-AFTRA

Kylie Robison /
The Verge: California governor signs rules limiting AI actor clones

Ted Johnson /
Deadline: California Gov. Gavin Newsom Signs AI Bills That Give Performers Greater Protections & Control Over Their Likenesses, Limit Use Of Election Deepfakes — Update

Kanishka Singh /