An Italian court orders a journalist to pay PM Giorgia Meloni €5K for mocking her height; in 2023, journalist Roberto Saviano was fined €1K for insulting Meloni (Reuters)

Mediagazer: An Italian court orders a journalist to pay PM Giorgia Meloni €5K for mocking her height; in 2023, journalist Roberto Saviano was fined €1K for insulting Meloni (Reuters)

Top News:

Financial Times:

Sources: WBD weighs splitting off its streaming and studio businesses from its legacy TV networks including CNN, leaving most of its debt with the TV networks— Group behind CNN and HBO has discussed options including spin-off of its streaming service and movie studio
Discussion: The Media Leader, The Desk, Deadline, Yahoo Finance, @edgecliffe, The Wrap, @aysrick and The Hollywood Reporter

Discussion:

Matthew Keys /
The Desk: WBD considers splitting streaming, legacy TV businesses

Anthony D'Alessandro /
Deadline: Warner Bros Discovery Mulling Split To Boost Stock Price @edgecliffe: Big @FT scoop from @HeeterMaria @AntoineGara @sindap @JFK_America @grimes_ce - Warner Bros Discovery has discussed the idea of splitting its streaming and movie studio business from its TV networks to boost its stock $WBD https://www.ft.com/...

Ross A. Lincoln /
The Wrap: Warner Bros Discovery Weighs Splitting Studio, Streaming Into Standalone as Stock Sags | Report

Rick Ellis /
@aysrick: I have no doubt that Zaslav would *like* to spin off the linear networks and most of the debt. But aside from the fact that it's not likely he'll find someone willing to take on that financial suicide mission, it doesn't solve his streaming problems. In fact, it makes them worse

New York Times:

Sources: the WNBA's media rights deals mirror the NBA's, and the league is set to get at least $2.2B over 11 years or $200M/year, up from the current ~$50M/year— The WNBA's next national media rights package has come into shape. The league is set to receive roughly $2.2 billion …

Discussion:

Bridget Reilly /
New York Post: Inside the WNBA's new game-changing deal — and what could happen next

Ross A. Lincoln /
TVNewsCheck: Warner Bros Discovery Weighs Splitting Studio, Streaming Into Standalone as Stock Sags

Kurt Badenhausen /
Sportico: WNBA Players Union Questions New $2.2 Billion Media Deal

Kenny Smith /
@kennysmith.bsky.social: $200 million a year, plus some other deals pending. Now you can pay the players and have equal footing and ... [embedded post]

Chelsee Washington /
Chelsee Washington on LinkedIn: Just released: The WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) has just landed a massive $2.2B, 11 year media rights deal with Disney, NBC and Amazon (The Athletic). …

Daniel Frankel /
Next TV: WNBA More Than Quadruples Its Current National TV Contract With 11-Year, $2.2 Billion Deal

Ahmad Austin Jr /
Mediaite: WNBA Set to Receive a Staggering $2.2 Billion in New Media Rights Deal: Report

Nick Cottongim /
Black America Web: New WNBA Media Rights Deal Is Worth Quadruple The Amount Of The Previous Deal

Mike D. Sykes /
USA Today: The 2024 MLB All-Star game wasn't that interesting but Paul Skenes sure was

Jon Lewis /
Sports Media Watch: WNBA said to be in line for as much as $260m per year in new NBA deal

RELATED:
Associated Press: The NBA's Board of Governors approves the league's next media rights deals with Disney, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video; WBD could still match one of the deals

Discussion:

Tom Friend /
Sports Business Journal: WBD officially intends to match Amazon's NBA media rights deal

New York Times:
NBA will turn to ‘consideration of expansion’ after media rights deal complete, Adam Silver says

Raymond McCain /
Cord Cutters News: Report: TNT Isn't Out of NBA Yet, WBD Officially Intends to Keep Games & Match Amazon's Media Rights

Jill Goldsmith /
Deadline: Warner Bros. Discovery Intends To Match Amazon's NBA Rights Deal

Alex Sherman /
@sherman4949: Adam Silver says he doesn't have a sense yet of how difficult getting the media rights deal finalized will be if Warner Bros Discovery matches and/or sues. “We'll see.”

Mike Vorkunov /
@mikevorkunov: Adam Silver says the NBA's new media deals were discussed at today's Board of Governors meeting. “We did approve this stage of media proposals,” Silver said, but cautioned that the process is not done and there's some things he can't say now.

Jill Goldsmith /
TVNewsCheck: Warner Bros. Discovery Intends To Match Amazon's NBA Rights Deal

Anthony Crupi /
Sportico: TNT on the Clock as NBA Board of Governors Approves Media Deals

Steve Aschburner /
NBA.com: Commissioner Adam Silver breaks down state of NBA at Summer League in Las Vegas

Matthew Keys /
The Desk: NBA Board approves telecast deal with ESPN, Prime Video, NBC

Ben Axelrod /
Awful Announcing: Warner Bros. Discovery will reportedly attempt to match Amazon's NBA package

Hong Kong Free Press:

Hong Kong-based reporter Selina Cheng says she was fired by The Wall Street Journal for taking up the position of chair of the Hong Kong Journalist Association— American newspaper The Wall Street Journal has fired Hong Kong-based reporter Selina Cheng weeks she was elected chair …

Discussion:
Washington Post, @selina_cheng, National Union of Journalists …, Eric Wishart on LinkedIn, The Atlantic, Al Jazeera, @laurengoode, @jonamorem, @jfsteinfeld, @missanabeem, @maryhui, @lewispants, @semaforben, @lilahass, @compliancememe, @tulikabose_, @moorehn, @sharp_writing, @nate_dicamillo, @mike_hixenbaugh, @dancow, @wesleylowery, @johnsimpsonnews, @selina_cheng, @_karenhao, Associated Press, @usa_baozilover, @feliciasonmez, @debbychan_hk, @tomgrundy, Semafor, Sheila Coronel on LinkedIn, @jenvalentino_nyt@threads.net, The Guardian, Reuters, Dr. Eric Yan-ho Lai on LinkedIn and Talking Biz News

Discussion:

Shibani Mahtani /
Washington Post: Wall Street Journal fires Hong Kong reporter who headed embattled press club

Selina Cheng /
@selina_cheng: Today I was fired from the Wall Street Journal. This is my statement: [image] National Union of Journalists (NUJ): NUJ describes the Wall Street Journal's sacking of Hong Kong Journalists' Association chair as “shocking”

Eric Wishart /
Eric Wishart on LinkedIn: The Wall Street Journal has fired Selina Cheng, the newly elected chair of the Hong Kong Journalists Association.

Timothy McLaughlin /
The Atlantic: When the Press Turns Its Back on Press Freedom

Lauren Goode /
@laurengoode: “The right for reporters to work without fear must be protected not just by the law, but more crucially, by ourselves: reporters, editors, and publishers.” https://x.com/...

Jonathan Moremi /
@jonamorem: This is utterly shocking, @WSJ! Bad enough that the #UK and the rest of the world don't care that #China is violating all contracts in #HongKong. But to provide cover for that and attack your own journalists is beyond despicable. Full solidarity with the colleague(s). #EpicFail

Jemimah Steinfeld /
@jfsteinfeld: “It is obvious to me that the fear and unease the press in Hong Kong have been facing for years now has equally affected the Journal's management, even though they're far away on different continents”

Annalisa Merelli /
@missanabeem: Solidarity with @selina_cheng and journalists standing for press freedom everywhere, especially where it's most threatened (including by their employers).

Mary Hui /
@maryhui: Thank you, @selina_cheng, for your unwavering work in defending & expanding the space for press freedom in Hong Kong. As she says: “The right for reporters to work w/o fear must be protected not just by the law, but more crucially, by ourselves: reporters, editors, & publishers”

Lewis Raven Wallace /
@lewispants: This is a truly absurd, painful, and telling example of the inconsistent standard created by claims of “objectivity” in mainstream press. What is uncontroversial in the U.S. (fighting for press freedom) is not permissible for a journalist in Hong Kong. Bananas.

Ben Smith /
@semaforben: Huge media story out of Hong Kong, where news organizations (not just WSJ) have been backing away from journalist organizations

Lila Hassan /
@lilahass: Disturbing that @WSJ holds press freedom to double standards, and in the process endanger reporters and itself. It campaigns for Evan in Russia, with its whole staff, but not in Hong Kong. Selina is right. Press freedom isn't controversial anywhere, it's essential everywhere.

Matt Kelly /
@compliancememe: Seems a bit nuts that @WSJ is (rightly) fighting for press freedom for Evan Gershkovich, but firing another reporter for same because it might ruffle Beijing's feathers.

Tulika Bose /
@tulikabose_: Devastated to continue to see attacks on female journalists of color in mainstream news outlets. This is unethical and wrong — advocating for press freedom does not make you biased if you're not white

Heidi N. Moore /
@moorehn: The WSJ firing reporters for joining a union for press freedom. Incredible. Particularly disgraceful of the paper to do this as WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich is imprisoned in Russia.

Andy Sharp /
@sharp_writing: Unprecedented (at least in my knowledge) for a reporter to hold a press conference after being fired. I think we all need to hear the @WSJ 's side of this story.

Nate DiCamillo /
@nate_dicamillo: This looks like the @WSJ is willing to bend the knee to the CCP which is extremely disturbing

Mike Hixenbaugh /
@mike_hixenbaugh: “The editor said employees of the Journal should not be seen as advocating for press freedom.”

Dan Nguyen /
@dancow: “The editor said employees of the Journal should not be seen as advocating for press freedom” 🤯

Wesley /
@wesleylowery: today brings us a new greatest hits in “the appearance of objectivity” cannon: newspaper that is currently running an international press freedom campaign - directly involving its reporters and editors - fires a reporter for being elected to run a press freedom group.

John Simpson /
@johnsimpsonnews: The Wall Street Journal @WSJ has sacked @selina_cheng, who is chair of the Hong Kong Journalists' Association. The HK authorities don't like the HKJA. You'd hope a big Western news organisation would stand up to Chinese pressure and defend its own. Not, it seems, in this case.

Selina Cheng /
@selina_cheng: Below is HKJA's statement: [image]

Karen Hao /
@_karenhao: The @WSJ today fired my former colleague for STANDING UP for press freedom. Words cannot describe how twisted & abhorrent this is, at a time when journalists around the world are being intimidated, detained & killed into silence. In awe of Selina's bravery, strength & leadership.

Kanis Leung /
Associated Press: The head of Hong Kong's leading journalist group says she lost WSJ job after refusing to drop role @usa_baozilover: If you think China is an evil totalitarian dictatorship then you were knowingly endangering your journalist colleagues

Felicia Sonmez /
@feliciasonmez: “The right for reporters to work without fear must be protected not just by the law, but more crucially, by ourselves: reporters, editors, and publishers.”

Debby Chan /
@debbychan_hk: Wall Street Journal has pressured a reporter not to stand for the HK Journalist Association's election. It then dismissed her after she was elected as the union's chair.

Tom Grundy /
@tomgrundy: JUST IN: The Wall Street Journal have fired the head of the embattled #HongKong journalists association, @HKJA_Official says - 24 days after she took the position. Press con at 5.30pm. @wsj. Stay tuned to @HKFP.

Diego Mendoza /
Semafor: Wall Street Journal fires reporter who led Hong Kong Journalist Association

Sheila Coronel /
Sheila Coronel on LinkedIn: This is how press freedom dies—in seemingly minor accommodations and compromises that add up over time. …

Jennifer Valentino-DeVries /
@jenvalentino_nyt …: This just makes me sad. From her statement: “The editor said employees of the Journal should not be seen as advocating for press freedom in a place like Hong Kong.” https://www.nytimes.com/...

Amy Hawkins /
The Guardian: Wall Street Journal fires new chair of Hong Kong Journalists Association

Dr. Eric Yan-ho Lai /
Dr. Eric Yan-ho Lai on LinkedIn: This is clearly a breach of local labour law and Basic Law in Hong Kong and international law, including the ILO Conventions. …

Deadline:

Emmy nominations numbers: Netflix took the top spot with 107; FX had 93, HBO/Max 91, Apple TV+ 72, ABC and CBS 38 each, Prime Video 37, Hulu 26, and Disney+ 19— The revolving door of Emmy nominations leader continues to swing. — Netflix has taken top spot with the most Emmy nominations …

Discussion:
Variety, BGR, Adweek, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, GoldDerby, Variety, AppleInsider, Variety, The Ringer, Los Angeles Times, SWAMY WORLD, Media Play News, Associated Press, Next TV, The Wrap, 9to5Mac and ComingSoon.net

Discussion:

Clayton Davis /
Variety: Lily Gladstone and Kali Reis Make Emmys History as First Indigenous Women Nominated for Acting

Jacob Siegal /
BGR: All 35 Netflix shows, movies, and specials nominated for Emmys

Saleah Blancaflor /
Adweek: The Bear Isn't Just a Comedy; It's the Most Dominant Comedy Ever After Emmy Nominations

Mikey O'Connell /
The Hollywood Reporter: Dana Walden on Disney's Emmy Noms, ‘Shogun’ Future and Giving Kimmel a Hosting Break Variety: Emmy Nominations 2024: ‘Shogun’ Leads All Shows With 25 Nods, ‘The Bear’ Close Behind With 23

Matthew Stewart /
GoldDerby: 2024 Emmy nominations: ‘Shogun,’ ‘The Bear,’ ‘Only Murders’ score more than a score each

Aramide Tinubu /
Variety: Apple and FX's Diverse Storytelling Leads to Historic Emmy Nominations Success

William Gallagher /
AppleInsider: Apple TV+ shows get 72 nominations for the 76th Emmy Awards

Cynthia Littleton /
Variety: Emmy Nominations 2024 Scorecard: Netflix on Top, FX Makes History and Apple TV+ Packs a Punch

Miles Surrey /
The Ringer: The Winners and Losers of the 2024 Emmy Nominations

Mary McNamara /
Los Angeles Times: Finally, FX gets the Emmy recognition it deserves SWAMY WORLD: Emmy nominees 2024: ‘Shogun’ and ‘The Bear’ clinch nominations in overwhelming race for FX

Erik Gruenwedel /
Media Play News: Streamers Score Big on 76th Emmy Awards Nominations, Led by Hulu's ‘Shōgun,’ ‘The Bear’

R. Thomas Umstead /
Next TV: FX Series ‘The Bear,’ ‘Shōgun’ Dominate Emmy Nominations

Lucas Manfredi /
The Wrap: Emmy Nominations by Network: Netflix Leads With 107 Total Nods

Ryan Christoffel /
9to5Mac: Apple TV+ scores Emmy nominations in every major 2024 category

Brandon Schreur /
ComingSoon.net: 2024 Emmy Nominations Announced for Upcoming Awards Ceremony

Reuters:

An Italian court orders a journalist to pay PM Giorgia Meloni €5K for mocking her height; in 2023, journalist Roberto Saviano was fined €1K for insulting Meloni— A Milan court has ordered a journalist to pay Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni damages of 5,000 euros ($5,465) …

Variety:

WPP's GroupM names Brian Lesser, a veteran Madison Avenue operative who has worked in senior media investment roles on both sides of the table, as global CEO— Brian Lesser, a veteran Madison Avenue operative who has worked in senior media-investment roles on both sides of the table …

Discussion:
Radio Ink, Mumbrella, Digiday, The Information, MediaPost, Adweek, AdExchanger, The Media Leader, Next TV and Ad Age

Discussion:

Rosie Drew /
Mumbrella: GroupM announces new global CEO

Sahil Patel /
The Information: Ad Giant GroupM Names New Global CEO

Steve McClellan /
MediaPost: Lesser Returns, Replaces Juhl As GroupM Global CEO

Allison Schiff /
AdExchanger: Brian Lesser Is The New Global CEO Of GroupM

Jon Lafayette /
Next TV: Brian Lesser Returns To GroupM as Global CEO

The Verge:

Spotify launches an AI DJ that speaks Spanish in beta for Premium users in markets where its English-language DJ is available, alongside Spain and Latin America— The new Spanish-language voice has been provided by Spotify's senior music editor, Olivia “Livi” Quiroz Roa …

Discussion:
@glenngabe, Axios, Digital Trends, Engadget, Music Business Worldwide, Spotify and TechCrunch, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Glenn Gabe /
@glenngabe: Livi -> Spotify launches a new voice and language for its AI DJ “The new Spanish-language voice has been provided by Spotify's senior music editor, Olivia “Livi” Quiroz Roa, with users able to switch between hearing Livi or Xavier “X” Jernigan.” https://www.theverge.com/...

Sachin Bahal /
Digital Trends: Spotify's AI DJ now speaks Spanish

Danny Gallagher /
Engadget: Spotify's AI music DJ can now speak Spanish

Mandy Dalugdug /
Music Business Worldwide: Meet ‘Livi,’ the new Spanish-speaking voice of Spotify's AI DJ

Sarah Perez /
TechCrunch: Spotify adds a Spanish-speaking AI DJ, ‘Livi’

Werd I/O:

The news media seems to be trapped in a place where technical innovation is nonexistent, perhaps due to the risks of experimentation or due to top-down culture— If you're waiting for permission to build something, or if you want to see how well something has worked for your peers …

Discussion:

Tyler Dukes /
@mtdukes@threads.net: Oh.

Nilay Patel /
@reckless1280@threads.net: Absolutely underrated here is that any change to web design often results in a steep Google referral penalty, a negative incentive that's frozen most publishers in amber

Anuj Ahooja /
@quillmatiq@threads.net: This has been racing through my mind for the last few months, especially after seeing publishers sign deals with AI companies. It feels like yet another cycle of tech companies being the product managers for publishers when there's so many tools for publishers to finally detach.

Ben Werdmüller /
@ben.werdmuller@threads.net: This is also innovation, and has been working really well 👇

Financial Times:

Publicis reports H1 2024 revenue up 7.7% YoY to €7.7B and raises revenue growth guidance from 4%-5% to 5%-6% for 2024, as US tech clients' ad spending picks up— Paris-based advertising agency nudges up annual forecast on recovery in marketing budgets

Discussion:
Adweek, The Drum, Publicis Groupe, Bloomberg, Reuters, Publicis Groupe, Wall Street Journal, Publicis Groupe and MediaPost

Discussion:

Jameson Fleming /
Adweek: Arthur Sadoun Explains Why Publicis Groupe Raised Its 2024 Guidance

Cameron Clarke /
The Drum: Publicis boss Arthur Sadoun on beating growth expectations despite global volatility

Francois De Beaupuy /
Bloomberg: Publicis Raises Annual Revenue Outlook on US, China Growth

Leo Marchandon /
Reuters: Advertising firm Publicis ups guidance after Q2 beat Publicis Groupe: First Half 2024 Results — • H1 2024 net revenue organic growth of +5.4%; +7.4% on a like-for-like revenue basis

Adrià Calatayud /
Wall Street Journal: Publicis Raises Guidance After Revenue Growth Beats Expectations

Steve McClellan /
MediaPost: Omnicom Reports 5.2% Growth For The Second Quarter

Bloomberg:

The US SEC sues former DWAC CEO Patrick Orlando for allegedly misleading investors about his company's plans for a SPAC merger with Trump's social media company— - Patrick Orlando eyed Trump Media before IPO, SEC claim — SEC settled with DWAC for $18 million over similar issue

Discussion:
Raw Story, @hugolowell and Reuters

Discussion:

Daniel Hampton /
Raw Story: Alleged fraud in Trump Media deal leads to ex-CEO being charged by authorities

Hugo Lowell /
@hugolowell: NEW — Patrick Orlando, the former chief executive of the SPAC that took Trump Media public, has been charged with securities fraud over the deal [image]

On my Om:

The Apple News deal with Taboola is shocking and off-brand, calling into question Apple's commitment to good customer experience, including privacy— I've been a happy Apple One customer. It made perfect sense signing up for the package considering I was paying for Apple TV+, Apple Music and iCloud storage.

Discussion:
Ad Age, Media Voices, @joejanecek, @playon.bsky.social, Spyglass, @om, @ainemacdermot.bsky.social, @ckrewson, AppleInsider, @ianb@mastodon.well.com, @simondowens@threads.net, @thomholwerda@exquisite.social, @benedictevans@threads.net, @joesteel@duck.haus, Jay Friedman on LinkedIn, @franksting@theblower.au, One Man & His Blog, Simon Owens's Media Newsletter, The Drum, The Verge, MediaPost, 9to5Mac, Reuters and Axios

Discussion:
Media Voices: Thursday 18th July: Will Apple News finally generate meaningful revenue for publishers?

Joe Janecek /
@joejanecek: @om Bad move by Tim Apple @om: @joejanecek Amen to that. This is such short-term thinking and devaluing customer experience for the sake of what won't even amount to a tenth of a penny per person. It is the problem when bonus-culture takes over a company.

Chris Krewson /
@ckrewson: This. I can't think of anything more inimical to Apple's carefully curated brand than ads showing people how shocked they should be by how much Jan from the Brady Bunch has changed or whatever crap is in the chum box

William Gallagher /
AppleInsider: Apple News ads may get much worse with new Taboola deal

Ian Betteridge /
@ianb@mastodon.well.com: Quote of the day from Om — https://om.co/... [image]

Simon Owens /
@simondowens@threads.net: Apple News has always undermonetized its large user base, mostly because Apple's always been hesitant to build out ad products. This Taboola partnership may supercharge its advertising sales and result in better revenue sharing for publishers. https://www.axios.com/... @thomholwerda@exquisite.social: Speaking of Apple and sleaze, Apple struck a deal with Taboola, the ad company responsible for those bullshit clickbait ad boxes with fantastical, untrue, sleazy headlines. Taboola is going to run ads in Apple News on your iPhone. — Apple PR spokesperson @gruber has written extensively about how much he despises Taboola. …

Benedict Evans /
@benedictevans@threads.net: Taboola is the herpes of the internet - this seems a very strange decision from Apple. https://www.axios.com/...

Joe Rosensteel /
@joesteel@duck.haus: Apple News customers complaining about low quality ads in Apple News has finally moved the needle at Apple ... towards even worse ads. — A+ job, ad bros. High-fives all around. Bonuses for everyone. — https://www.axios.com/...

Jay Friedman /
Jay Friedman on LinkedIn: This feels like the equivalent of Louis Vuitton partnering with Goodwill to operate its retail outlets. What am I missing? — https://lnkd.in/...

Windy Frank /
@franksting@theblower.au: I already don't read Apple News, so this doesn't affect me directly, but what the every loving fuck is wrong with the business people at #Apple that they think partnering with whatever shit name they call Outbrain these days is a good idea? https://om.co/...

Adam Tinworth /
One Man & His Blog: Bad News: Apple ❤️ Taboola

Simon Owens /
Simon Owens's Media Newsletter: Will Apple News finally generate meaningful revenue for publishers?

Kendra Barnett /
The Drum: Taboola shares surge as the adtech firm, known for clickbait, secures Apple ads deal

Laurie Sullivan /
MediaPost: Apple Strikes Deal With Taboola To Power Native Advertising

Ryan Christoffel /
9to5Mac: Apple taps infamous Taboola as new ad seller for Apple News and Stocks

The Guardian:

Source: PE firm CVC Capital Partners is considering a bid for the Telegraph, ahead of a deadline for the first round of auction of the newspaper group this week— Potential bid by CVC Capital Partners believed to be structured to back newspaper group's management team

Discussion:
Telegraph

Discussion:

Christopher Williams /