Mail Online, The Independent, Daily Mirror, and Daily Express roll out "consent or pay" walls charging users £1.99 to £4 per month for cookie-less access (Bron Maher/Press Gazette)

Mediagazer: Mail Online, The Independent, Daily Mirror, and Daily Express roll out “consent or pay” walls charging users £1.99 to £4 per month for cookie-less access (Bron Maher/Press Gazette)

Top News:

The Guardian:

A bankruptcy judge throws out The Gateway Pundit's case, saying the company is solvent; the outlet faces significant defamation cases over false election claims— Bankruptcy judge dismisses case filed by Gateway Pundit, which faces defamation cases over false election claims
Discussion: Washington Post, Reuters, @Green_Footballs …, Law & Crime, CNN and @cdarwin@c.im

Discussion:

Sarah Ellison /
Washington Post: Judge throws out Gateway Pundit's bankruptcy claim

Dietrich Knauth /
Reuters: Far-right Gateway Pundit kicked out of bankruptcy, exposing it to lawsuits

Charles Johnson /
@Green_Footballs@mastodon.social: “A federal judge in Florida threw out a bankruptcy case filed by the Gateway Pundit, ruling that the site, known for spreading conspiracy theories, sought bankruptcy protection in “bad faith” to avoid potential damages in multiple defamation suits.” — https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Colin Kalmbacher /
Law & Crime: ‘A bad faith filing’: The Gateway Pundit has bankruptcy case dismissed in harsh opinion detailing ‘eye-catching’ assets, opening company up to multiple defamation lawsuits

Marshall Cohen /
CNN: Far-right Gateway Pundit sought bankruptcy protection in ‘bad faith’ to avoid 2020 defamation suits, judge rules

Wall Street Journal:

OpenAI says it partnered with publishers including WSJ and The Atlantic to build its search engine SearchGPT; publishers can manage how their content appears— Built with input from publishers, SearchGPT will summarize real-time information on websites — OpenAI is launching a test version …

Discussion:
Press Gazette, The Verge, TVNewsCheck, RTÉ, Financial Times, The Wrap, Arun Arunachalam on LinkedIn, The Cyber Express, New York Times, The Guardian, Gizmodo, The Drum, Tech Xplore, CNBC, Deadline, The Register, The Media Leader, Engadget, New York Post, Search Engine Land, Quartz, Neowin, VentureBeat, CNN, BGR, @chris@threads.net, The Information, TechCrunch, 9to5Mac, Bloomberg, 9to5Google, Semafor, Cointelegraph and iPhone in Canada Blog, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Kylie Robison /
The Verge: OpenAI is releasing a prototype of its search engine to rival Google, Perplexity

Deepa Seetharaman /
TVNewsCheck: OpenAI Is Launching Search Engine, Taking Direct Aim At Google

JD Knapp /
The Wrap: OpenAI Testing Google Competitor SearchGPT

Arun Arunachalam /
Arun Arunachalam on LinkedIn: 🚀 Proud Moment: Our Team's Role in the SearchGPT Launch! 🚀 — I'm thrilled to share that our engineering team …

Mihir Bagwe /
The Cyber Express: OpenAI's SearchGPT: A Game Changer or Pandora's Box for Cybersecurity Pros?

Nick Robins-Early /
The Guardian: OpenAI tests new search engine called SearchGPT amid AI arms race

Kyle Barr /
Gizmodo: OpenAI Hopes to Take on Google With SearchGPT

Bruce Haring /
Deadline: OpenAI Launches SearchGPT, Potential Google Challenger

Matthew Connatser /
The Register: OpenAI unveils AI search engine SearchGPT - not that you're allowed to use it yet

Sabrina Quagliozzi /
The Media Leader: OpenAI unveils SearchGPT, its AI-powered search engine, vying for Google's crown

Pranav Dixit /
Engadget: OpenAI unveils SearchGPT, an AI-powered search engine

Thomas Barrabi /
New York Post: OpenAI tests ‘SearchGPT’ prototype as direct challenge to Google search engine

Danny Goodwin /
Search Engine Land: OpenAI starts testing SearchGPT prototype, here's what it looks like

Britney Nguyen /
Quartz: OpenAI's rival to Google search is here

Clare Duffy /
CNN: OpenAI is testing an artificial intelligence search engine

José Adorno /
BGR: OpenAI challenges Google with AI search engine SearchGPT

Chris Messina /
@chris@threads.net: OpenAI just rolled out a “search prototype” that's ultimately competitive with Microsoft AND Google... AND @perplexity.ai! The difference is that OpenAI signed a bunch of content deals and will privilege those who chose to partner rather than sue... Nice move @nxthompson — getting ahead of the @nytimes!

Stephanie Palazzolo /
The Information: OpenAI Announces AI-Powered Search Engine, SearchGPT

Kyle Wiggers /
TechCrunch: With Google in its sights, OpenAI unveils SearchGPT

Ryan Christoffel /
9to5Mac: SearchGPT, the long anticipated OpenAI search engine, launches today with waitlist

Shirin Ghaffary /
Bloomberg: OpenAI Tests New AI Search Features in Direct Challenge to Google

Claire Cameron /
Semafor: OpenAI announces SearchGPT in direct challenge to Google

Turner Wright /
Cointelegraph: ChatGPT launches AI-powered search engine prototype

Austin Blake /
iPhone in Canada Blog: OpenAI SearchGPT Waitlist: AI Comes to Search

Flipboard adds feeds for 60+ US-based local and regional publications to the fediverse, including Texas Monthly, Honolulu Civil Beat, and CalMatters— BYCARL SULLIVAN — Has local news ever been more important? Journalists who live in the communities they serve don't just keep residents informed …

Discussion:

Annie Snodgrass Dennett /
Annie Snodgrass Dennett on LinkedIn: I am excited to share that the Flipboard team has federated 64 local news publications! Local news is as important as ever but feeling pressure from many fronts. … @mastodonmigration@mastodon.online: Ok, this is pretty huge! — Open social media pioneer @Flipboard is bringing local news to the Fediverse! — Read all about it! — https://about.flipboard.com/ ... Great job Flipboard!

Tim Chambers /
@timothyjchambers@threads.net: The incredibly important open social web work by @flipboard continues, and once @threads fully supports the Fediverse all of these accounts will be available here too. fediverse threads https://about.flipboard.com/ ...

Carl Sullivan /
Carl Sullivan on LinkedIn: Local news is so incredibly important for our communities and our democracy. Sadly, many local media organizations have gone out of business or been forced to cut staff. … @Andres4NY@social.ridetrans.it: @chris @mike @SunSentinel @Gothamist @AustinMonitor Nice! I'd been following a scraping bot for Gothamist, but it only syncs once/day.

Kevin Gamin /
@kevingamin@twit.social: @mike Just added the Cleveland.com feed. Thank you for providing this service!

Chris Alemany /
@chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca: @mike @SunSentinel @Gothamist @AustinMonitor this is so important! Congrats.

Mike McCue /
@mike@flipboard.social: Hello fediverse. Today we federated 63 awesome local publications like @SunSentinel, @Gothamist and @AustinMonitor. — Local news is critical to the communities we live in and so we're excited and grateful to help bring some of the best local publications to the fediverse. — You can learn more here: … @FlipboardMagazines@flipboard.social: If you live in the Northeast, join us in welcoming these local news outlets to the fediverse! Follow these accounts to stay up on local news and happenings in your area. — Gothamist, @Gothamist — Hidden City Philadelphia, @HiddenCityPhila — Investigative Post, @Investigati39q0 … @Flipboard@flipboard.social: Local news matters, now more than ever. So a few weeks ago, we asked you for your thoughts on federating local papers in the USA — where you're located, and the specific publications you'd like to see. You responded, with ideas, suggestions, and an education on American geography. …

The Drum:

Publicis Groupe announces it will acquire Influential, the world's largest influencer agency by measure of revenue; Influential has a network of 3.5M+ creators— News of the acquisition comes just one week after the holding company posted impressive Q2 results.

Discussion:
Ad Age, Publicis Finance Services, @kerrymflynn, @martyswant, Digiday, The Media Leader, PRWeek, Adweek and MediaPost

Discussion:
Publicis Finance Services: Publicis Groupe to acquire Influential, creating world's leading influencer marketing solution

Kerry Flynn /
@kerrymflynn: 💰 @PublicisGroupe to buy @influential Latest in consolidation of influencer agencies by holding companies, as @emayhawk and I just wrote: https://www.axios.com/... - @stagwell: Leaders - @WPP: @VillageMkting, @obviouslysocial, @TheGoatAgency - @brandtechgroup: @collectivelyInc

Marty Swant /
@martyswant: Publicis Groupe is getting deeper into the creator economy by acquiring @Influential_Co to integrate the startup with consumer data from Epsilon The plan is to offer a creator network, ID-based content and cross-channel media to better match creator content with right audiences.

Antoinette Siu /
Digiday: Publicis intends to acquire Influential as it expands influencer marketing offerings

Sabrina Quagliozzi /
The Media Leader: Publicis Groupe to create global influencer powerhouse with Influential acquisition

Brandon Doerrer /
PRWeek: Publicis Groupe to acquire creator marketing agency Influential

404 Media:

Source and doc: Runway scraped thousands of videos from YouTube creators and brands, including Disney and VICE News, to train its Gen-3 AI video generation tool— A leaked internal document shows Runway's celebrated Gen-3 AI video generator collected thousands of YouTube videos and pirated movies for training data.

Discussion:

Martin Peers /
The Information: Google's Shrinking Ad-Tech Business @noellemitchell@mstdn.social: AI Video Generator Runway Trained on Thousands of YouTube Videos Without Permission — “...404 Media tried generating videos and images on Runway using prompts that contained keywords and content based on the spreadsheet, and were able to generate videos in the same styles as the creators listed in the sheets.” …

Carl Franzen /
VentureBeat: Runway faces backlash after report of copying AI video training data from YouTube

Will Shanklin /
Engadget: AI video startup Runway reportedly trained on ‘thousands’ of YouTube videos without permission

Samantha Cole /
Samantha Cole on LinkedIn: A leaked document obtained by 404 Media shows Runway employees embarked on a mission to compiled tens of thousands of YouTube videos and channels …

Jason Koebler /
Jason Koebler on LinkedIn: New: We obtained a gigantic spreadsheet of videos used to train the AI video generator Runway without permission. …

Anurag Singh /
Dexerto: AI video generator slammed after scraping 1700 MKBHD YouTube videos without consent

Dduane /
Diane Duane: AI Video Generator Runway Trained on Thousands of YouTube Videos Without Permission …

Mediaite:

The AP removed a fact check debunking the claim that JD Vance admitted he had sex with a couch; AP said the post didn't go through its standard editing process— The Associated Press removed its fact-check debunking the claim that former President Donald Trump's running mate Senator JD Vance …

Discussion:
HuffPost, The Verge, USA Today, @bfriedmandc, @lyndonbajohnson, @mattgertz, @horbinski, @bgrueskin, @farhip, @ericmgarcia, @mattsheffield, @underthedesknews@threads.net, @mikeisaac, @nycsouthpaw, @dwade, @ranimolla, @timmarchman, @kfile, @timmarchman, @QueerSatanic@kolektiva.social, @davidmgilmour, New York Post, Rolling Stone, @leo@60228.dev, @paleofuture.bsky.social, @illumi.meme, @ryansingel@writing.exchange, @akivamcohen.bsky.social, New Republic, @Haste@mastodon.social, Defector, @lolennui.bsky.social, Associated Press, Gizmodo, @swordsjew.bsky.social, @carlbergstrom.com, The one and only Goblin Queen and Boing Boing

Discussion:

Ed Mazza /
HuffPost: Stephen Colbert Reveals ‘Disturbing Twist’ In JD Vance ‘Sex With A Couch’ Story

Mia Sato /
The Verge: The Associated Press removes a fact-check claiming JD Vance has not had sex with a couch

Blake Schuster /
USA Today: JD Vance couch memes and the Associated Press fact check, explained

Brandon Friedman /
@bfriedmandc: Greatest example ever of “if you're explaining, you're losing” [image]

Lyndon Baines Johnson /
@lyndonbajohnson: An important element of the story was that the SOB was believably a pig fucker.

Matthew Gertz /
@mattgertz: So does this mean he DID have sex with the couch? https://apnews.com/... [image] @horbinski: Boris Johnson took notes on this story (he was almost certainly the source of the rumors about Cameron). Also hey, did you hear what they're saying JD Vance did to a couch?

Bill Grueskin /
@bgrueskin: Editor: “Headline looks good. I'm just gonna change ‘with’ to ‘on.’” Reporter: “NOOOOO!” https://apnews.com/... [image]

Paul Farhi /
@farhip: Possibly the weirdest headline about a major-party candidate the @ap has ever run: https://apnews.com/... [image]

Eric Michael Garcia /
@ericmgarcia: Back in the day, Lyndon Johnson allegedly tried to spread a rumor an opponent had carnal knowledge with a pig. His aide said “Christ, Lyndon,” said the aide, “we can't just call the guy a pig-f**ker. It isn't true.” Johnson says “but I want to make the son-of-a-bitch deny it.”

Matthew Sheffield /
@mattsheffield: If the left and right media ecosystems were remotely similar, multiple socialist Alex Jones types would've already breathlessly pretended that the JD Vance couch gag was real. Instead, it's just an inside joke about a guy everyone knows is an angry weirdo.

V Spehar /
@underthedesknews@threads.net: It doesn't matter if it's not true. I will never be able to see this man sit on furniture and not giggle.

Rat King /
@mikeisaac: imagining the enterprising disinformation reporter pitching this to their editor https://apnews.com/... [image] @nycsouthpaw: This article's headline doesn't meet the ordinarily high standards of the Associated Press. The most anyone can say at this point is he didn't put it in his memoir, NOT that he never put it in the sofa. https://apnews.com/...

Dan Wade /
@dwade: I don't really care what JD Vance did it didn't do. I just hope it was a committed relationship with furniture and not one nightstand.

Tim Marchman /
@timmarchman: I've asked the Associated Press whether this is a retraction or a technical glitch, because for some users on some devices, the article appears to still be live, and because if it's been retracted, there should be an editor's note.

Andy Kaczynski /
@kfile: AP fact-checked what was a joke from left-wing Twitter - but the link for this is dead now and I can no longer find the story on the AP website. What is going on? https://apnews.com/... [image]

Tim Marchman /
@timmarchman: Looks like it was retracted; AP spokesperson says “The story, which did not go out on the wire to our customers, didn't go through our standard editing process. We are looking into how that happened.” @QueerSatanic@kolektiva.social: There's something truly beautiful about J.D. Vance saying something like, “I like Mountain Dew, so I'm sure the biased media will call me a racist now,” only for that media to hit him with that complete knuckleball of “Actually, J.D. Vance did NOT have sex with a couch” — https://web.archive.org/... …

David Gilmour /
@davidmgilmour: After AP took down the article, a spokesperson told @Mediaite: “The story, which did not go out on the wire to our customers, didn't go through our standard editing process. We are looking into how that happened.”

Nikki McCann Ramirez /
Rolling Stone: So ... What's With This Rumor That J.D. Vance Had Sex With a Couch? @leo@60228.dev: the AP ran the headline “No, JD Vance did not have sex with a couch” and then retracted it https://apnews.com/... [images]

Matt Novak /
@paleofuture.bsky.social: The funny thing is that I filed this yesterday afternoon before the AP story and so much happened that I didn't have the opportunity to update in time before it ran. [embedded post]

Ryan Singel /
@ryansingel@writing.exchange: @Mediagazer So he did?

AkivaMCohen /
@akivamcohen.bsky.social: Reason: It's nobody's business how old the couch was [embedded post] @Haste@mastodon.social: According to this publication, the AP explained that the article had “bypassed their usual editing process”, and they took it down themselves. — https://www.mediaite.com/...

Kelsey McKinney /
Defector: A List Of Words That Do NOT Appear In ‘Hillbilly Elegy,’ So Stop Asking!!

Melissa Goldin /
Associated Press: No, JD Vance did not have sex with a couch

Matt Novak /
Gizmodo: Why People Are Saying JD Vance Has Sex With Couches

Talia Lavin /
@swordsjew.bsky.social: when you're doing great and definitely didn't fuck a couch [image]

Carl T. Bergstrom /
@carlbergstrom.com: Goddamn if he isn't getting trolled by *Amtrak*. [image]

Maeamian /
The one and only Goblin Queen: No, JD Vance did not have sex with a couch — It's important that everyone understand …

Jason Weisberger /
Boing Boing: JD Vance is not a couch f*cker

Bloomberg:

A look at Joe Rogan's comedy club in Austin, called The Mothership, and the network of comedians and podcast hosts he has supported and attracted to the city— The world's most controversial podcaster opened a comedy club there, snatched the stand-up title from Los Angeles and shook up an entire industry.

Discussion:
Mediaite

Discussion:

Press Gazette:

Mail Online, The Independent, Daily Mirror, and Daily Express roll out “consent or pay” walls charging users £1.99 to £4 per month for cookie-less access— Mail Online, The Independent and the websites of the Daily Mirror and Daily Express have begun requiring readers …

Discussion:
Media Voices

Bloomberg:

Russia says it will throttle YouTube download speeds on computers by 70% by the end of next week, as “a consequence of the anti-Russian policy of the host”— - Download speeds to be slowed by 70% by the end of next week — YouTube one of last US social media sites available in Russia

Discussion:
Reuters and Politico, more at Techmeme »

Washington Post:

A look at the flood of “fancam” videos and memes about Kamala Harris on short-form video platforms, echoing “meme armies” that have supported Donald Trump— A grassroots network of TikTok creators, energized by the new likely Democratic nominee …

Discussion:

Alex Kantrowitz /
@kantrowitz: Yeah, that ban isn't happening

Jamie Cohen, PhD /
Jamie Cohen, PhD on LinkedIn: The problem with “Dark Brandon” is that it was structured on top of problematic memes. The memes helping Harris are the opposite, built organically, and foster a joy-based vibe. …

Drew Harwell /
@drewharwell: New: We talked to the fancam TikTokers who built Kamala Harris a giant viral messaging machine overnight. They're teenagers and political novices; one runs an account about Jersey Shore. But they've mobilized in a way unseen since the Obama days https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... @jeffjarvis: It would be in Democrats' interest — not to mention that of free speech — to forestall or end plans for a TikTok ban. An online army rises, this time on Kamala Harris's side https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Rafal Hill /
@rafalhill: The online army consists mostly of young people who know how to use the social media. Kamala Harris speaks to young people. This is refreshing and gives me so much hope. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Kamala Harris /
@kamalaharris: See you on TikTok. https://tiktok.com/... [video]

Todd Spangler /
Variety: Kamala Harris Joins TikTok

Rachel Van Dongen /
@rachelvand: Yunker says memes “a language” for her Gen ... 'We're so used to just feeling like there's nothing we can do...This is the 1st time in a long time where we've thought maybe, maybe, fingers crossed, things cld start turning around." https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Simon Owens /
Simon Owens on LinkedIn: It can be easy to mock “meme armies,” but individual social media users have more collective reach than the entire mainstream media …

Andrew Unterberger /
Billboard: The Kamala Bump: Presidential Candidate Spurs Gains for Beyoncé, Charli XCX & Chappell Roan

The Marshall Project:

The Marshall Project launches Investigate This!, an effort to share data and tools with local newsrooms to support strong, original stories on criminal justice— Our toolkits will offer data, storytelling and engagement resources to empower more criminal justice reporting in local communities

Associated Press:

SAG-AFTRA announces a strike starting Friday against major video game companies, including EA, after talks for a new contract broke down over AI protections— Hollywood's video game performers voted to go on strike Thursday, throwing part of the entertainment industry into another work stoppage …

Discussion:
Reuters, The Verge, Associated Press, Dexerto, Jodie Hudson on LinkedIn, @stephentotilo, Wired, Cointelegraph, Media Play News, NPR, Forbes, NBC News, Gizmodo, ComingSoon.net, New York Times, Sarah Parvini on LinkedIn, Digital Trends, VentureBeat, Fox News, The Wrap, Los Angeles Times, SAG-AFTRA, Deadline, Rolling Stone, Engadget and Dot Esports, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Danielle Broadway /
Reuters: Hollywood's videogame performers to strike over AI, pay concerns

Ash Parrish /
The Verge: Video game performers to go on strike

Sarah Parvini /
Associated Press: Hollywood video game performers are going on strike because they worry studios could train AI to copy them

Jodie Hudson /
Jodie Hudson on LinkedIn: Video game performers could have looked at the IATSE contract and said, “Well studios won't give us AI protections, let's just sign the contract and hope for the best.” …

Stephen Totilo /
@stephentotilo: BREAKING: SAG-AFTRA video game voice/performance actors are going on strike at midnight tonight. Basically over AI “We're not going to consent to a contract that allows companies to abuse A.I. to the detriment of our members. Enough is enough.” - AG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher [image]

Megan Farokhmanesh /
Wired: Video Game Performers Are Going on Strike Over AI

Brayden Lindrea /
Cointelegraph: Hollywood video game performers go on strike, citing AI ‘abuse’

Erik Gruenwedel /
Media Play News: SAG-AFTRA Calls on Video Game Voice Actors to Go on Strike Regarding A.I. Issues

Clare Lombardo /
NPR: Video game performers call strike against gaming companies

Kalhan Rosenblatt /
NBC News: Video game performers announce strike, citing artificial intelligence concerns

James Whitbrook /
Gizmodo: Video Game Actors Are Going on Strike

Brandon Schreur /
ComingSoon.net: SAG-AFTRA Going on Strike Against Video Game Companies Over AI Issues

Sarah Parvini /
Sarah Parvini on LinkedIn: Hollywood's video game performers are going on strike, throwing part of the entertainment industry into another work stoppage after talks …

Tomas Franzese /
Digital Trends: Video game actors are going on strike over AI protections

Dean Takahashi /
VentureBeat: SAG-AFTRA talent union calls for strike against game companies over AI

Jeremy Fuster /
The Wrap: SAG-AFTRA Video Game Performers Go on Strike After Contract Talks Stall on AI

Christi Carras /
Los Angeles Times: Video game actors are going on strike after contract talks fail over AI terms Deadline: SAG-AFTRA Calls Strike Against Major Video Game Companies After Nearly 2 Years Of Contract Talks

Kalia Richardson /
Rolling Stone: SAG-AFTRA Video Game Performers Announce Strike

Anna Washenko /
Engadget: Video game performers will strike over AI concerns

Grant St. Clair /