A look at efforts to revive the community newspaper The Black Lens in Spokane, WA, as a printed monthly distributed by the Spokesman-Review for now (Andrew Buncombe/The Guardian)

Mediagazer: A look at efforts to revive the community newspaper The Black Lens in Spokane, WA, as a printed monthly distributed by the Spokesman-Review for now (Andrew Buncombe/The Guardian)

Top News:

Washington Post:

The Washington Post says it knew about the upside-down US flag at Justice Alito's house in 2021 but did not report it as it didn't seem related to politics— In January 2021, Martha-Ann Alito said the flag, a symbol embraced by election deniers, was raised outside her home in response to a neighborhood dispute.
Discussion: @elienyc, The Hill, @gwynnion.bsky.social, @jaywillis, @bgrueskin, @phostetlerart.bsky.social, @mickeleh@threads.net, @mikiebarb, @spocko@mastodon.online, @carlquintanilla, @wendycortiz.bsky.social, @ckupf.bsky.social, Why Evolution Is True, @chuckgraef@threads.net, @mhageraus@threads.net, @jeffjarvis@threads.net, WSVN-TV, @markjacobnews@threads.net, @muellershewrote, @davidrlurie, @mstbrooks.bsky.social, @ravishinginplaid@threads.net, @ahmed.baba_@threads.net, @mikekeating.bsky.social, @JamesWNeal@mstdn.social, @jerrymberger, @bespacific@newsie.social, @mossbergwalt@threads.net, @Greengordon@spore.social, Mediaite, @keitholbermann, @4thstringer.bsky.social, @jackmjenkins, @brianstelter, @mirandayaver@threads.net, @newsjennifer, @beardedstoner.bsky.social, @paulconstant.com, @unmanageable22, Fox News, @nycsouthpaw@threads.net, @tiny.baby, @tokyosreckoning.bsky.social, @ronhogan.bsky.social, @markjacobnews@threads.net, @perednialynne@threads.net, @mickeleh@threads.net, @reevesjw, @kcivey@mastodon.social, @KimPerales@toad.social, @joshuafoust@appdot.net, Media Nation, New York Times and PolitiFact

Discussion:

Elie Mystal /
@elienyc: The WaPo for real used a Saturday-of-Memorial-Day-Weekend newsdump to explain why they've been covering up for Alito for *three years.* They think people are this stupid. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... @gwynnion.bsky.social: The NYT and WaPo could cease to exist tomorrow and nothing of value would be lost. [embedded post]

Jay Willis /
@jaywillis: When I say legacy Supreme Court journalism is broken, this is what I mean. Credulous and embarrassing. “It was not clear then that the argument was rooted in politics,” brother what would you say your “job” is https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... [image]

Bill Grueskin /
@bgrueskin: The Washpost knew about the Alito flag as early as Biden's Inauguration Day in 2021, and even got a statement from him. But WP editors chose not to publish a word about it until the NYT beat them on their own story, a few days ago. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... [image]

Paul Hostetler /
@phostetlerart.bsky.social: I'll be honest: I don't think reporting this 3 years ago would have changed anything that's happened since. [embedded post]

Michael Markman /
@mickeleh@threads.net: A reporter for the goddam Washington Post knew about the Alito flag THREE YEARS AGO. (This post is a signal of my distress.) https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Michael Barbaro /
@mikiebarb: A fascinating journalistic admission from WaPo. They knew about Alito flag but didn't report on it. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... @spocko@mastodon.online: The Washington Post knew about Alito distress flag in January 2021, interviewed Martha-Ann Alito about it, and didn't think there was a story worth publishing. — And they decided to sit on this information since the New York Times story dropped on May 16. — #Alito #AlitoFlags — Gift link. …

Carl Quintanilla /
@carlquintanilla: “.. The Post decided not to report on the episode at the time because the flag-raising appeared to be the work of Martha-Ann Alito, rather than the justice, and connected to a dispute with her neighbors, a @washingtonpost spokeswoman said ..” https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... [image]

Wendy C. Ortiz /
@wendycortiz.bsky.social: 🙄🙄🙄 [embedded post] @ckupf.bsky.social: “Democracy Dies in Darkness” says paper that keeps relevant information related to said democracy in darkness. [embedded post]

Chuck Graef /
@chuckgraef@threads.net: So the Washington Post decided to take at face value the pathetic “dog ate my homework” excuse Alito offered for flying a “Stop The Steal” flag at his home after January 6, while apparently neglecting to ask whether that excuse were almost worse …

Mark /
@mhageraus@threads.net: I'm usually someone who steps in to defend the MSM, but this is fairly egregious from the @washingtonpost I mean, to have the spokeswoman say, “this didn't appear to be related to politics.” Really? In the DC metro area and a SC justice? This was a reporter protecting his SC sources — even though he was confronted by a shrieking Mrs Alito. …

Jeff Jarvis /
@jeffjarvis@threads.net: Good Lord. The Washington Post blew this, choosing not to report on the Alitos' (plural) flag at the time, dredging it up now, masking the failure amid background paragraphs. Democracy dies in terrible, irresponsible, credulous, complicit news judgment. Shame. …

Rubén Rosario /
WSVN-TV: Washington Post: Justice Samuel Alito's wife said upside-down American flag was ‘an international signal of distress’ in 2021

Mark Jacob /
@markjacobnews@threads.net: The Washington Post admits that it has known about the upside-down American flag at Alito's house for THREE YEARS but decided not to publish the fact. WaPo claims it was unclear if the flag display was related to politics. Stunning. And lame. (Gift link) https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... @muellershewrote: NEW: The Washington Post sat on this story for over three years. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... [image] @davidrlurie: The Post's belatedly disclosed decision to drop this story is inexplicable. The scene outside the Alito house recounted in this story is so bizarre that it should have led to more reporting, not dropping the story. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Tracy Brooks /
@mstbrooks.bsky.social: I freakin hate it here [embedded post]

Brittany /
@ravishinginplaid@threads.net: I saw a handful of large accounts defending the Washington Post when the Alito flag story “broke.” Most to the effect of “they didn't hold the story!” Welp, turns out the Washington Post DID hold the story. For THREE YEARS. And if you were one of these larger accounts, defending them...it's time to eat some major crow.

Ahmed Baba /
@ahmed.baba_@threads.net: The Washington Post admits they had the Alito flag story in January 2021, but decided not to publish it. We can only wonder how much of an impact this would have had if it was published during the immediate aftermath of January 6. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

JamesWNeal /
@JamesWNeal@mstdn.social: (Epic #Journalism Fail) “The Post decided not to report on the episode at the time because the flag-raising appeared to be the work of Martha-Ann Alito, rather than the justice, and connected to a dispute with her neighbors, a Post spokeswoman said. It was not clear then that the argument was rooted in politics, the spokeswoman said.” … @jerrymberger: How did ⁦@WashPost⁩ fail to recognize this wasn't simply a political dispute with a neighbor with an admission she recognized the symbolism? Martha-Ann Alito told The Post in 2021 that flag was ‘signal of distress’ - The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... @bespacific@newsie.social: Law Dork - https://www.lawdork.com/... - In a series of paragraphs that are up there as being among the most shocking I have read in my journalistic career, #WashingtonPost acknowledged on Saturday they hid #Alito article for 3 yrs and dropped it in the middle this holiday week …

Walt Mossberg /
@mossbergwalt@threads.net: This is journalistic malfeasance, plain and simple. They could have reported it and still included all the caveats and alternate explanations. Episodes like this are crucial to report as soon as they are confirmed. That's because we are not just in a normal argument between two parties who both support and defend our democracy but have different policies. … @Greengordon@spore.social: @Mediagazer — Example #23943 why the MSM cannot be considered a reliable source, and why they are in the bag for Trump and the Republicans. Just pathetically awful ‘journalism.’ — “The Post decided not to report on the episode at the time because the flag-raising appeared to be the work of Martha-Ann Alito …

Jennifer Bowers Bahney /
Mediaite: New: Wapo Reporter Got in Screaming Confrontation with Alito's Wife Over Flag - But Didn't Report It

Keith Olbermann /
@keitholbermann: Breaking: @washingtonpost admits it covered up Alito Flag story in real time in January 2021 Look, if Mrs Alito has anger management or psychological or some other problems, that's not an excuse to suppress the news #DemocracyDiesInCoverUps https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... [image] @4thstringer.bsky.social: I feel like we had just last week a “the Washington Post is hemorrhaging money as people cancel their subscriptions” story. Weird. Can't imagine why. [embedded post]

Jack Jenkins /
@jackmjenkins: Oh wow: Looks like the Washington Post has known about Alito's upside-down U.S. flag for *years* — and even had on-the-record comments from his wife, Martha-Ann Alito — but decided not to publish. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... [image]

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: “The Post decided not to report on the episode at the time because the flag-raising appeared to be the work of Martha-Ann Alito, rather than the justice, and connected to a dispute with her neighbors, a Post spokeswoman said.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Miranda Yaver /
@mirandayaver@threads.net: I know nothing matters anymore, but I'm fucking livid that The Washington Post sat on the Alito insurrectionist flag issue for three years. So about that “democracy dies in darkness” line...

Jennifer Schulze /
@newsjennifer: A massive journalism fail by the @washingtonpost to hide the Alito flag story. Everyone involved should hang their heads in shame. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... [image]

Bearded Stoner /
@beardedstoner.bsky.social: “Yea we heard about some yahoos breaking into that DC hotel, but didn't seem like a big deal.” [embedded post]

Paul Constant /
@paulconstant.com: To truly impartial and objective journalists, it's only politics if a Democrat does it. [embedded post]

Bent /
@unmanageable22: The @washingtonpost is my favorite outlet. I read it like a religion daily. This is the most dispiriting, disturbing thing I've read in the Post over the past 10 years. That it was a group decision makes it so much worse. What a fucking travesty. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... Fox News: Conservatives scoff at attempt to take colonial-era flag and connect Justice Alito to ‘MAGA battle flag’ @nycsouthpaw@threads.net: Mrs. Alito flew her freak flag in the face of a WaPo supreme court reporter, and the paper decided it wasn't a story. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... @tokyosreckoning.bsky.social: You gotta be kidding me — Endless deference to a broken institution [embedded post]

Ron Hogan /
@ronhogan.bsky.social: Genuine question: Are the editors of the Washington Post stupid? [embedded post]

Mark Jacob /
@markjacobnews@threads.net: The Washington Post ran many stories about Clarence Thomas' refusal to recuse in Jan. 6 cases despite his wife's coup involvement. But WaPo knew there was a problem with Alito in a similar vein but kept it secret.

Lynne Perednia /
@perednialynne@threads.net: The Washington Post sat on the Alito story for three years after his wife screamed at the reporter. I don't think I'll ever get over the paper that once was Katherine Graham and Ben Bradlee doing this.

Michael Markman /
@mickeleh@threads.net: Democracy dies in a newspaper that fails to understand current politics. Here's why WaPo says they ignored the Alito flag story in 2021 “The Post decided not to report on the episode at the time because the flag-raising appeared to be the work of Martha-Ann Alito, rather than the justice, and connected to a dispute with her neighbors, a Post spokeswoman said. …

John Reeves /
@reevesjw: It's incredible to me how gullible our media can be sometimes. “We're just flying the Stop-the-Steal flag after the insurrection attempt cuz one of our neighbors was mean to us. It's really nothing more than that!” “No worries, Mr and Mrs Alito!” https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... [image]

Keith Ivey /
@kcivey@mastodon.social: “The Post decided not to report on the episode at the time because the flag-raising appeared to be the work of Martha-Ann Alito, rather than the justice, and connected to a dispute with her neighbors, a Post spokeswoman said.” …

Kim Perales /
@KimPerales@toad.social: The Washington Post knew about Alito's flying of the upside down🇺🇸flag in Jan 2021, but squelched the story. The reporter who interviewed his wife said it signaled a sign of distress,& the flag had already been taken down when the reporter interviewed her. …

Joshua Foust /
@joshuafoust@appdot.net: The Washington Post asking us to believe a seasoned reporter with 17 years of experience didn't think a Supreme Court justice flying an upside down flag was “political” is so corrupt and insulting it is deal-breaking for the entire paper. Utterly cratered ethics, total source capture. It's just embarrassing. …

Michael Ponsor /
New York Times: A Federal Judge Wonders: How Could Alito Have Been So Foolish?

Louis Jacobson /
PolitiFact: Was it legal to fly the flag upside down at Samuel Alito's house?

RELATED:

Law Dork:

The Washington Post's decision not to report on the Alito flag story multiple times since 2021, even as SCOTUS ethics stories came out, raises many questions— Last week, many of us learned from The New York Times that an upside-down American flag had been temporarily raised over the Alito household in the days after January 6, 2021.

Discussion:
@lawdorknews: NEW LAW DORK: Washington Post bombshell: Washington Post buried Alito flag story for three years. This raises many questions, several relating to the fact that the Post, at least passively, made the decision not to reveal this news many times since 2021. https://www.lawdork.com/... @jallepap: In 2017 @washingtonpost adopted the phrase “democracy dies in darkness” In 2019, WaPo ran a Super Bowl ad to this effect If this is your brand, then you ought to understand how disappointing it is to see tangible proof that you sat on a story for 3+ years @chrisgeidner: I cannot get over how many times in recent years the Washington Post had to decide *not* to share that they knew the Alito household flew an upside-down flag in the immediate aftermath of Jan 6 before reporting it today. https://www.lawdork.com/... @wdlindsy@toad.social: As Chris Geidner reports, Washington Post knew three years ago about Alito's wife flying the insurrectionist flag of white Christian nationalism, and buried the story. — “As Alito provided an essential fifth vote hollowing out the Fourteenth Amendment's bar to insurrectionists' holding office, the Post sat silent.” …

Robert Gumpert /
@robertgumpert: Guess they didn't think it was either a conflict or news Washington Post bombshell: Washington Post buried Alito flag story for three years, by @chrisgeidner https://www.lawdork.com/... @mad_democracy: Strong and valid criticism of WaPo's SCOTUS coverage. @chrisgeidner is right. WaPo suppressed the Alito story — fundamentally a political story, about supporting Trump — while Alito was the 5th vote for the majority in the Trump 14thA/Colorado ballot case. That's Bad News.

Joshua Holland /
@JoshuaHolland@mastodon.social: I've heard somewhere that democracy dies in darkness. — “In a series of paragraphs that are up there as being among the most shocking I have read in my journalistic career, the Post acknowledged on Saturday — dropped in the middle of the holiday weekend, more than a week after the Times's report …

Kelcie Moseley-Morris /
@kelciemmorris: This makes the reporting Maggie Haberman saved for her book look quaint

Dan Gillmor /
@dangillmor@mastodon.social: It boggles my mind that the Washington Post knew about the insurrectionist flag at the residence of a Supreme Court “Justice” at the time it was flown — but didn't tell the public what it knew until years later, the NY Times did report it. — Journalistic malpractice is putting it mildly. …

Jennifer Rubin /
Washington Post: What more need Alito do before Durbin gets off the stick?

Isaac Schorr /
Mediaite: The New York Times' Slimy, Conspiratorial Hit Job on Justice Alito Is an Indictment of Itself

Dahlia Lithwick /
Slate: Jamie Raskin Explains What America Could Do to Fix the Court

The Guardian:

A look at efforts to revive the community newspaper The Black Lens in Spokane, WA, as a printed monthly distributed by the Spokesman-Review for now— The Spokane community revived the paper to capture the nuance of the Black community - beyond the ‘feel-good stories’

Discussion:
@andrewbuncombe and

Discussion:

Andrew Buncombe /
@andrewbuncombe: A rare good news story about media: ‘Black newspaper in Washington state gets a second life’: Super chuffed to have this in @Guardian Thanks @IAmJustinMadden + @elinegordts @blacklensnews https://www.theguardian.com/ ...

Rest of World:

A test of 11 WhatsApp-based fact-checking “tip lines” during elections in India finds long delays and inconsistencies in responses— Rest of World tested 11 leading WhatsApp-based chatbots that promise to help Indian voters identify misinformation.

Discussion:
@phadketai, @restofworld and @russellbrandom, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Mithila Phadke /
@phadketai: gm. @restofworld sent 15 pieces of misinformation, including AI-generated videos, to WhatsApp “tip lines” designed to identify fake news in India. They failed the tests https://restofworld.org/... @restofworld: Nearly a billion Indians are expected to vote in the ongoing elections, where misinformation is a big threat. Fact-checkers, journalists, and social media companies have launched bots on WhatsApp to verify news, but in practice these bots fail the test https://restofworld.org/...

Russell Brandom /
@russellbrandom: It's not great https://restofworld.org/...

Washington Post:

National Geographic pulled the documentary Retrograde from all its platforms after the Taliban killed an Afghan mine-clearer the 2022 film prominently featured— National Geographic has pulled the Emmy-winning film “Retrograde” from its streaming platforms after criticism from veterans and inquiries from The Washington Post.

Discussion:
Telegraph, @honosuteyo, @roigfranzia, @ryp__, @sawyerdane, @hopeseck, @nickkristof and Michael M on LinkedIn

Discussion:

Raoul Simons /
Telegraph: Afghan mine-clearer killed by Taliban after it sees him in Emmy-winning film

Colin /
@honosuteyo: no film, let alone a single scene, could merit the violent death of the person you're filming. the irresponsibility describef in this article is horrifying https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Manuel Roig-Franzia /
@roigfranzia: After questions from @washingtonpost, Hulu, National Geographic & Disney erase the Emmy-winning film, “Retrograde,” from all platforms. Some congressmen & vets call the film a “Taliban target list.” w/ @HopeSeck https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Robert Young Pelton /
@ryp__: When documentaries kill. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Dane Sawyer /
@sawyerdane: I am really conflicted with the ethics of the Retrograde film, but support the decision to blur the subject's faces. I don't think filmmakers have the right to prove how dire a situation is by putting their subjects lives' in further danger. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Hope Hodge Seck /
@hopeseck: After his release from Taliban custody, the interpreter said the man told him: “They showed me Retrograde Movie and said you have worked with foreign forces and also worked in the movie. ... They found me through Retrograde Movie.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Nicholas Kristof /
@nickkristof: This tragedy should remind all of us journalists that our obligation is not only to get the story, but above all to do so in a way that keeps our sources safe: https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

The Hollywood Reporter:

Payroll provider Cast & Crew says California is disputing the common Hollywood practice of paying workers through loan-out companies instead of directly— The California state department charged with disbursing unemployment benefits has disputed the practice of paying compensation …

Discussion:
@sagaftranews, Variety and Deadline

Discussion:
@sagaftranews: SAG-AFTRA is aware of recent communication issued by the California Employment Development Department regarding loan out corporations. We are in contact with Cast & Crew and the other entertainment unions about this matter. 1/2 https://www.sagaftra.org/...

Cynthia Littleton /
Variety: Industry Insiders May Face Tax Bills as California Reportedly Tightens Payroll Rules on Loan Out Corporations

Katie Campione /
Deadline: Loan Out Corporations Could End, IATSE Tells Members

Variety:

Sony India head NP Singh plans to step down, after a merger with Zee collapsed in January, citing age and personal reasons; Singh has been at SPNI for 25 years— NP Singh, the well-respected head of Sony's entertainment businesses in India, is to step down. — The announcement was made on Friday local time.

Discussion:
Deadline

Discussion:

Chattanooga Times Free Press:

Carpenter Media acquires 10 newspapers in Alabama and Georgia and a Georgia printing facility from Community Newspaper Holdings— The Carpenter Media Group announced Thursday it has acquired the Dalton Daily Citizen in North Georgia as part of an acquisition of 10 newspapers and a Valdosta …

Discussion:
Editor and Publisher and Media Nation

Wall Street Journal:

A look at Sony's entertainment unit, which accounted for ~60% of Sony revenue in FY 2023, up from 30% a decade ago, ahead of a potential Paramount deal— Company aims to make better use of intellectual property across gaming, films and more — Sony is well known for gadgets …

Discussion:
The Wrap, The Streamable, Reuters and Deadline

Discussion:

David Satin /
The Streamable: Sony ‘Rethinking’ Paramount Bid as List of Suitors for the Company Dwindles

Mrinmay Dey /
Reuters: Sony and Apollo move ahead with Paramount bid process but reticent about earlier plan, NYT reports

Northwest Asian Weekly:

The publisher of Seattle's Northwest Asian Weekly sells the outlet to four local partners, seven months after donating the Seattle Chinese Post to a nonprofit— After decades of nurturing one of the most influential Asian American community media publications in the Pacific Northwest …

Discussion:

Jeffrey Roh /
Jeffrey Roh on LinkedIn: We are absolutely thrilled and humbled to announce that we are fortunate to be a part of a new ownership group for Northwest Asian Weekly …

Tim Wang /
Tim Wang on LinkedIn: First and foremost, my gratitude goes to Assunta Ng, who has dedicated her life to being a voice of the Asian American community with the Northwest Asian Weekly. … @nwasianweekly: After four decades, #Seattle publisher Assunta Ng is selling @nwasianweekly and passing the torch to a group of local partners. Stay tuned for the next chapter of https://nwasianweekly.com/ ! https://nwasianweekly.com/... . @seattletimes @aaja [image]

Sam Cho /
Sam Cho on LinkedIn: Earlier today, it was announced that founder and long time editor Assunta Ng of the Northwest Asian Weekly sold the news publication to a new group of owners. …

Press Gazette:

UK passes the Media Bill, repealing the not-yet-enacted Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act, which required publishers to pay all court costs, win or lose— The Media Bill has been passed removing the threat of state-backed press regulation and modernising broadcasting regulations for the streaming age.

Discussion:
Press Gazette and Game Developer

Discussion:

Dominic Ponsford /
Press Gazette: A bill strengthening the CMA, UK's competition watchdog, heads toward approval; the CMA could push tech giants to pay publishers for news linked on their sites

Committee to Protect Journalists:

Q&A with Gaza journalist Shrouq Al Aila, on the difficulty of her outlet Ain Media's work given a dearth of equipment and the cost of internet, and more— Gaza journalists Shrouq Al Aila and Roshdi Sarraj were on a work trip in Saudi Arabia last fall when their home became a war zone.

Discussion: