Medill's State of Local News report finds a net gain of 81 US digital news sites over the past year, 127 closed newspapers, ~2,000 lost newsroom jobs, and more (David Bauder/Associated Press)

Mediagazer: Medill's State of Local News report finds a net gain of 81 US digital news sites over the past year, 127 closed newspapers, ~2,000 lost newsroom jobs, and more (David Bauder/Associated Press)

Top News:

Columbia Journalism Review:

Mariel Garza, editorials editor of the Los Angeles Times, resigns after the outlet's owner blocked the editorial board's plans to endorse Harris for president— Mariel Garza, the editorials editor of the Los Angeles Times, resigned on Wednesday, after the newspaper's owner had blocked …
Discussion: The Wrap, New York Post, CNN, New York Times, Semafor, Associated Press, Bloomberg, SFGATE, @ryanboswell@sfba.social, @mattsheffield@mastodon.social, The Gateway Pundit, @saralibby, @deggans, @cagirl80, @williambibbiani, @gerrickkennedy, @kylebuis, @ragregg, @nickpowellchron, @davidfolkenflik, @mattdpearce, @lanana421, @jamesrbuk, The Independent, Washington Times, @silvermanjacob, The Editor's Desk, @ianrosewrites@scicomm.xyz, @dangillmor@mastodon.social, @maxapotter, @lara_korte, @byrobinepley, @drpatsoonshiong, @ChrisHolladay@mastodon.social, @barney@mas.to, @Basmitharts@weird.autos, The Hollywood Reporter, @byelsieramos, @newsjennifer, @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social, @matildabress, @michaelzlin, @mrneuropolitan, @sewellchan, @laura_nelson, @sewellchan, @jnicholsonindc, @Bellison22@mastodon.social, Newser, @johnrmoffitt, @mediamorphis, @sewellchan, @robrtgreene, @sewellchan, @WarnerCrocker@mastodon.social, @sdkstl, Deadline, Adweek, The San Francisco Standard, Blaze Media, Daily Mail, The Daily Caller, Breitbart, Townhall, RedState, Mediaite, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Fox News and Twitchy

Discussion:

Sharon Knolle /
The Wrap: LA Times Editorial Page Editor Resigns After Paper Skips Presidential Endorsement | Exclusive

David Propper /
New York Post: Los Angeles Times editorial boss resigns after billionaire owner Patrick Soon-Shiong scraps Harris endorsement

Liam Reilly /
CNN: Los Angeles Times editor resigns after newspaper owner blocked plans to endorse Harris

Katie Robertson /
New York Times: L. A. Times Editorial Chief Quits After Owner Blocks Harris Endorsement Associated Press: Los Angeles Times editor resigns after newspaper withholds presidential endorsement

Christopher Palmeri /
Bloomberg: LA Times Editorial Chief Quits After Harris Endorsement Quashed

Farley Elliott /
SFGATE: LA Times editor quits after billionaire owner blocked paper's presidential endorsement

Ryan Boswell /
@ryanboswell@sfba.social: And I was just starting to appreciate reporting from the LA Times more in the last few months. — The actual reporting team is still doing a decent job, but the owner has failed us all. — But it is important that word does get out that the editorial team did fully intend to endorse Harris, had they not been blocked. …

Matthew Sheffield /
@mattsheffield@mastodon.social: MAGA Media censorship strikes again: Los Angeles Times editorial page editor resigns after being blocked by paper's owner from publishing staff endorsement of Kamala Harris https://www.cjr.org/...

Jim Hᴏft /
The Gateway Pundit: Leftist LA Times Editorial Page Editor Resigns in Protest After Owner Blocks Endorsement of Kamala Harris

Sara Libby /
@saralibby: It's understandably difficult for members of the public to fully grasp the distinctions between the news side and the opinion side of a paper. But what's laid out here is NOT an editorial, and presumably the owner of a newspaper would know that. https://x.com/... @deggans: Such an analysis would neatly avoid questions about how Trump is conducting himself publicly, his promises to go after political opponents, his lies about not losing the 2020 election or immigrants eating pets, etc. Perhaps the owner should leave journalism to journalists...

Claudia P. Granados /
@cagirl80: So BOTH coastal papers of record— the @latimes & @nytimes decided to sit out the MOST impt election of our lifetime! Am guessing it's in their best economic interest to sit it out instead of doing their jobs. Noted. The press is important in democracies. This is #NoBueno

William Bibbiani /
@williambibbiani: So people are - rightfully - angry that he prevented the Los Angeles Times from making a presidential endorsement, and his defense is yes, he DID prevent the Los Angeles Times from making a presidential endorsement, because he doesn't know how newspapers work. Shameful.

Gerrick Kennedy /
@gerrickkennedy: LAT does a fantastic voters guide...this side by side policy comparison could have existed as a piece. Endorsements serve a particular purpose. Either way, your continued interference in newsroom decisions shows your staff that you don't trust their editorial judgment.

Kyle Buis /
@kylebuis: This is not how endorsements work, and really comes off as someone looking to protect his interests by blunting his staff's work. Very bad look by the LA Times owner.

Remington A. Gregg /
@ragregg: This isn't how editorials work. Coming up with this silliness *in this one instance* makes this interference even more laughable.

Nick Powell /
@nickpowellchron: What he's describing is not how any editorial board worth its salt operates when it comes to endorsements. Readers look to us to give authoritative opinions on candidates and their policies. Otherwise what the hell is the point of endorsing?

David Folkenflik /
@davidfolkenflik: LAT owner @DrPatSoonShiong says below he gave editorial board the charge of assessing both candidates not making an endorsement per se. Unlikely to soothe roiled waters inside LAT

Matt Pearce /
@mattdpearce: Endorsing or not is traditionally the owner's prerogative, but publicly dumping on the staff is classless. @lanana421: @DrPatSoonShiong @latimes With all due respect, that's not how endorsements work. The L.A. Times makes endorsements in election cycles for up and down- ballot candidates, ballot measures, propositions, etc. Just say you overruled your editorial board's endorsement of VP Harris in favor of tax cuts.

James Ball /
@jamesrbuk: Unlike Donald Trump, Kamala Harris has not been president. So this explanation doesn't even remotely make sense on its own terms. Except, of course, to the owner of this site, who's replied: “makes sense”.

Josh Marcus /
The Independent: LA Times editorials editor quits after billionaire owner reportedly blocked paper from endorsing Harris

Mallory Wilson /
Washington Times: L.A. Times, California's largest paper, decides to not endorse home-state Kamala Harris

Jacob Silverman /
@silvermanjacob: Of course Musk is appreciative that Soon-Shiong blocked the paper from endorsing Harris. [image]

Andybechtel /
The Editor's Desk: A passive approach to political endorsements

Ian Rose /
@ianrosewrites@scicomm.xyz: I know how hard the news business is, but the billionaire hobby model is not going to be the way out. The sooner we realize that, the better. — News-about-the-news can seem like very inside baseball, but I urge everyone to be aware of what is happening at the LA Times. — #uspol #news #journalism …

Dan Gillmor /
@dangillmor@mastodon.social: LA Times owner seems to be in league with Trump, vetoing a Harris endorsement and then letting the campaign use standard-issue lies to smear the paper for something it didn't do. — The editorial page editor quit in protest and she deserves our respect. … @maxapotter: “This is a point in time where you speak your conscience no matter what.” —@marielgarzaLAT What this editor did ain't easy. I submit that this is what walking the walk of journalistic integrity looks like. And she said it like a journalist — succinctly and truthfully.

@maxapotter:
“Owning a newspaper carries great public responsibility. In my view, media proprietors should hire leaders they trust and then let them exercise their judgment.” — @sewellchan reporting the story.

Lara Korte /
@lara_korte: Garza argues the non-endorsement has thrown the board's integrity into question. [image]

Robin Epley /
@byrobinepley: .@marielgarzaLAT is incredibly courageous and I admire her so deeply for making this decision. Our readers deserve to know without doubt that no one calls an editorial board's shots, not even our employers.

Dr. Pat Soon-Shiong /
@drpatsoonshiong: So many comments about the @latimes Editorial Board not providing a Presidential endorsement this year. Let me clarify how this decision came about. The Editorial Board was provided the opportunity to draft a factual analysis of all the POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE policies by EACH @ChrisHolladay@mastodon.social: @Mediagazer — LA Times really needs to rethink this hill they want to die on.

Barney /
@barney@mas.to: The Los Angeles Times' editorials editor has resigned, to protest the new pro-fascist owner's ban on presidential candidate endorsements. — #USPol #Journalism — https://www.cjr.org/... @Basmitharts@weird.autos: #USPol — Some quality Streisand effects — happening out in LA. — https://www.cjr.org/...

Katie Kilkenny /
The Hollywood Reporter: Los Angeles Times Editorial Page Editor Resigns Following Paper's Decision Not to Endorse Presidential Candidate

Elsie Ramos /
@byelsieramos: “I am resigning because I want to make it clear that I am not OK with us being silent,” ⁦@marielgarzaLAT⁩ https://www.cjr.org/...

Jennifer Schulze /
@newsjennifer: “It makes us look craven and hypocritical, maybe even a bit sexist and racist.” Fallout from the @latimes owner blocking planned endorsement of Harris⤵️ https://www.cjr.org/... [image]

Jeff Jarvis /
@jeffjarvis@mastodon.social: Thank you, Mariel Garza. — Los Angeles Times editorials editor resigns after owner blocks presidential endorsement https://www.cjr.org/...

Matilda Bress /
@matildabress: Thank you, Mariel & love to all the fantastic journalists at @latimes “I am resigning because I want to make it clear that I am not OK with us being silent,” Garza told me in a phone conversation. “In dangerous times, honest people need to stand up. This is how I'm standing up.”

Aaron McCall /
@mrneuropolitan: It is not popular - and I don't know if there is enough public trust for public funded media - but our current model that depends on ad clicks and billionaires is bad for our democracy.

Sewell Chan /
@sewellchan: @latimes Hours after @semafor reported on Tuesday that Soon-Shiong had blocked the endorsement, Trump's rapid-response team sent out an email calling the newspaper's decision “the latest blow” for Harris. https://www.semafor.com/...

Laura J. Nelson /
@laura_nelson: The non-endorsement undermines “every single endorsement we make, down to school board races,” Garza wrote. “People will justifiably wonder if each endorsement was a decision made by a group of journalists after extensive research and discussion, or through decree by the owner.”

Sewell Chan /
@sewellchan: This year, the @latimes' assessment would have carried more weight than other publications', because Harris is the first major-party nominee from California since Ronald Reagan.

Jonathan Nicholson /
@jnicholsonindc: The list of ex-LAT talent grows longer and more impressive. Sigh. @Bellison22@mastodon.social: LA Times editorials editor resigns after owner blocks endorsement — “The non-endorsement undermines the integrity of the editorial board & every single endorsement we make, down to school board races. People will justifiably wonder if each endorsement was a decision made by a group of journalists after extensive research and discussion, or through decree by the owner.” …

Jenn Gidman /
Newser: LA Times Is Missing One Big Endorsement

John Moffitt /
@johnrmoffitt: Today is when people will need to do brave things.

Dwayne Winseck /
@mediamorphis: The bad media mogul—and the kind that throttle editorial & journalistic freedom—is regaining force amidst the crisis of ad-funded news media. Coupled with authoritarian populist bullying by Trump, @PierrePoilievre, Orban, etc, , these are lethal blows to media freedom, 1/

Sewell Chan /
@sewellchan: My friend Mariel Garza just resigned as editorials editor of @latimes after the newspaper's owner blocked the editorial board's plan to endorse Kamala Harris for president. https://www.cjr.org/...

Robert Greene /
@robrtgreene: @marielgarzaLAT is a journalist of unimpeachable integrity.

Sewell Chan /
@sewellchan: On Oct. 11, Patrick Soon-Shiong, who bought @latimes in 2018, informed the editorial board that the Times would not be making an endorsement for president. The message was conveyed to Garza by Terry Tang, the paper's editor.

Sewell Chan /
@sewellchan: @latimes @semafor I was the newspaper's editorial page editor in 2020 and 2021, and presided over the board's endorsement of Joe Biden in 2020. Months earlier, before I took the job, Soon-Shiong had stopped the editorial board from making an endorsement in the Democratic presidential primary.

Sewell Chan /
@sewellchan: @marielgarzaLAT is an outstanding—and upstanding—journalist. During our collaboration our colleague @robrtgreene for editorial writing. Mariel's departure is a big loss for @latimes and for California journalism.

Sewell Chan /
@sewellchan: It's the owner's prerogative and right to decide whether (and whom) to endorse. But in both the 2020 D primary, and now, the decision not to make an endorsement needed to better communicated and explained.

Warner Crocker /
@WarnerCrocker@mastodon.social: Stand up move. — Los Angeles Times editorials editor resigns after owner blocks presidential endorsement — #politics #media #journalism — https://www.cjr.org/... [image]

Staci D Kramer /
@sdkstl: “I am resigning because I want to make it clear that I am not okay with us being silent. In dangerous times, honest people need to stand up. This is how I'm standing up.” - Mariel Garza

Ted Johnson /
Deadline: Los Angeles Times Editorials Editor Resigns Over Owner's Decision Not To Endorse In Presidential Race

Brad Pareso /
Adweek: LA Times' Billionaire Owner Blocks Paper's Planned Endorsement in Presidential Race The San Francisco Standard: L.A. Times opinion editor quits after billionaire owner kills endorsement Blaze Media: Los Angeles Times editorial board will not endorse Kamala Harris after decades of endorsing Democrats for president

Melissa Koenig /
Daily Mail: Historically Democrat newspaper refusing to endorse Kamala Harris

Nicole Silverio /
The Daily Caller: Los Angeles Times Reportedly Declines To Endorse Presidential Candidate For First Time In 20 Years

Wendell Husebø /
Breitbart: LA Times, Harris's Hometown Paper, Refuses to Endorse Her After Backing Biden, Hillary, Obama

Madeline Leesman /
Townhall: Kamala's Leftist Hometown Newspaper Will Not Endorse Her for President

Jennifer Van Laar /
RedState: WHOA! Kamala Harris Loses a Huge Home State Endorsement

Kipp Jones /
Mediaite: LA Times' Billionaire Owner Forbids Paper's Editorial Board from Making 2024 Endorsement, Report Claims

Paul Campos /
Lawyers, Guns & Money: The death of newsprint — This story . . . . . . reminded me of something I ran into recently … Fox News: Los Angeles Times won't endorse a presidential candidate for the first time since 2008: report

NPR:

A look at what Donald Trump says he will do to the media if elected, including jailing reporters, investigating TV networks, and taking their licenses away— Former President Donald Trump often basks in the glow of press attention. Just as often, he trashes the press and threatens journalists.

Discussion:

Kim Dozier /
@kimdozier: Trump “joked that the prospect of prison rape would loosen reporters' lips about their sources. “When this person realizes that he is going to be the bride of another prisoner shortly, he will say, 'I'd very much like to tell you exactly who that was,'” Trump told a Texas rally.

Steve Thompson PhD /
@SteveThompson@mastodon.social: “Jailed reporters, silenced networks: What Trump says he'd do to the media if elected” — https://www.npr.org/... “On the campaign trail and in interviews, Trump has suggested that if he regains the White House, he will exact vengeance on news outlets that anger him. …

David Folkenflik /
@davidfolkenflik: Trump threatens media with darker days if he wins the election - a fuller version of my story from Monday https://www.npr.org/...

Jill Geisler /
@jillgeisler: “,,, a new survey of hundreds of journalists who received safety training from the International Women's Media Foundation finds 36% say they have faced or been threatened with physical violence on the job — and they have felt especially threatened at Trump campaign rallies.”

Kathleen Culliton /
Raw Story: 'I hope you're dismembered': Report reveals why journalists fear covering Trump's events

David Kurtz /
Talking Points Memo: Two Generals Have Now Issued Dire Warnings That Trump Is A Fascist

Molly Jong-Fast /
@mollyjongfast: Yeah this is totally happening and his people will be thrilled but this is actually how democracy dies

Luke Zaleski /
@zaleskiluke: But I was told trump was gonna save free speech? 🤷🏻 ♂️ I signed a petition for a million dollars and paid to tweet this and everything 😂 and you're saying he's just a dictator who wants to destroy the press?

Associated Press:

Medill's State of Local News report finds a net gain of 81 US digital news sites over the past year, 127 closed newspapers, ~2,000 lost newsroom jobs, and more— Newspapers in the United States closed at the rate of more than two per week during 2023, but a burst of activity among digital …

Discussion:
Local News Initiative, Nieman Lab, Poynter and Columbia Journalism Review

Discussion:

Zach Metzger /
Local News Initiative: The State of Local News

Sophie Culpepper /
Nieman Lab: Medill's 2024 State of Local News report expands what it qualifies as local news — and asks readers to point out what it missed

Mediaite:

Nicole Shanahan, ex-wife of Google's Sergey Brin and a rising MAGA star, allegedly offered WaPo reporters writing a profile piece on her $500K to reveal sources— Nicole Shanahan has been “tapping a vast divorce settlement” from Google co-founder Sergey Brin to launch herself …

Discussion:

Grace Eliza Goodwin /
Business Insider: Nicole Shanahan offered to pay a reporter $500,000 to expose their sources: report

Ariel Zilber /
New York Post: Ex-RFK Jr. running mate Nicole Shanahan offered $500K to Washington Post reporter to reveal sources: report

Glenn Thrush /
@glennthrush: Jaw dropping

Jennifer Carole /
@jcarole: @lizzadwoskin @MollyJongFast Damn integrity. The plague of so many. Alas, I too would have demurred.

Bill Kuchman /
@billkuchman: “Half a million dollars to be a whistleblower.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... [image]

Maya Boddie /
Alternet.org: Trump allies' obsession with vice president's top aide is 'part of the Harris campaign's strategy': report

Dominick Mastrangelo /
The Hill: Nicole Shanahan offered $500K to Washington Post reporter to share sources, be a ‘whistleblower’

Peter Kafka /
@pkafka: Everyone says the business model for journalism is screwed. But there are plenty of opportunities to make money if you're willing to be creative and ethically flexible.

Jack Shafer /
@jackshafer: “Shanahan said she would ‘pay your friend’ — The Post reporter — ‘half a million dollars to be a whistleblower’ to expose people Shanahan claimed were spreading false information about her.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Elizabeth Dwoskin /
@lizzadwoskin: One of the stranger things that has happened to me in my journalistic career.

Gustaf Kilander /
The Independent: RFK Jr's billionaire running mate has rebranded herself as a MAGA-health guru

Ashley Parker /
@ashleyrparker: When we began reporting on Nicole Shanahan, she offered us $500,000 to be “whistleblowers” and share our sources. We declined — but kept reporting our profile. W @lizzadwoskin, @MerylKornfield + @aaronjschaffer: https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Nu Wexler /
@wexler: Definitely would NOT recommend this media relations tactic https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... [image]

Christopher Ingraham /
@_cingraham: Wow. Does kind of make you wonder about typical business practices in Silicon Valley and elsewhere.

Elizabeth Dwoskin /
@lizzadwoskin: The bribe offer is just the tip of the iceberg

Newcomer:

Eric Newcomer, founder of the Newcomer newsletter on startups and VCs, marks its four-year anniversary and says he expects $1M in profit on $2M in 2024 revenue— Newcomer is on track to generate more than $1 million in profit on more than $2 million in revenue this year.

Discussion:
@sqs, @ericnewcomer, @jamescham, @scottnover and @jaycodon

Discussion:

Quinn Slack /
@sqs: @EricNewcomer Congrats on the incredible revenue! I am a happy subscriber and love what you do. And as a founder whose revenue estimate you did reveal, I appreciate you not giving yourself special treatment. Seriously! :)

Eric Newcomer /
@ericnewcomer: at the AMO Summit @JayCoDon got me to give up my revenue figure so figured I might as well give the whole snapshot https://www.newcomer.co/...

Eric Newcomer /
@ericnewcomer: nerve-racking to reveal our financials but given we would publish someone else's if we got them, i thought it was only appropriate https://www.newcomer.co/...

James Cham /
@jamescham: A terrific look at what the new new media looks like — https://www.newcomer.co/...

Scott Nover /
@scottnover: “In 2023, Newcomer generated $712,000 in net income on $1.6 million in revenue.” Good stuff. https://www.newcomer.co/...

New York Times:

Suchir Balaji, who spent four years at OpenAI, says OpenAI's use of copyrighted data broke the law and failed to meet fair use criteria; he left in August 2024— Suchir Balaji spent nearly four years as an artificial intelligence researcher at OpenAI. Among other projects …

Discussion:

Annemarie Bridy /
@AnnemarieBridy@mastodon.social: This is silly. We'll know if OpenAI broke copyright law when the fair use issues in the pending cases are litigated. This is not the kind of thing that a disgruntled AI bro can be a whistleblower about. — Former OpenAI Researcher Says Company Broke Copyright Law - The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/...

Lucas Ropek /
Gizmodo: Former OpenAI Staffer Says the Company Is Breaking Copyright Law and Destroying the Internet

Kyle Wiggers /
TechCrunch: Longtime policy researcher Miles Brundage leaves OpenAI @jeffjarvis: This is terrible editorial conflict of internet at The Times. The story is based on a guy with a CS BA not a law degree defining fair use in league with The Times' suit against OpenAI. Awful. Former OpenAI Researcher Says the Company Broke Copyright Law https://www.nytimes.com/...

Henry Mulak /
Henry Mulak on LinkedIn: Just off a class on intellectual property rights in the era of Artificial Intelligence at Stanford Continuing Studies, there's this follow up. …

Matthew Schruers /
Matthew Schruers on LinkedIn: This NY Times article on OpenAI and copyright litigation is disappointing. The subject of AI copyright litigation calls for more coverage …

Mark Milstein /
Mark Milstein on LinkedIn: Former OpenAI Researcher Says the Company Broke Copyright Law — Suchir Balaji spent nearly four years as an artificial intelligence researcher at OpenAI. … @jwildeboer@social.wildeboer.net: #WhereIsMySurprisedFace „Former OpenAI Researcher Says the Company Broke Copyright Law" (gift link) https://www.nytimes.com/...

Alexis Morrell /
Alexis Morrell on LinkedIn: This is just going to keep getting more and more interesting — and complex! — “Former OpenAI Researcher Says the Company Broke Copyright Law …

Ben Grover /
Ben Grover on LinkedIn: Interesting article and questions to ponder: — The fact that ChatGPT claims that they are doing “fair use” by consuming material that has a copyright seems pretty tenuous to me. …

CNN:

CNN Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward describes being held captive by a militia in North Darfur in Sudan for 48 hours— North Darfur, Sudan CNN — “La tasweer! La tasweer!” ("Don't film! Don't film!") the general shouted, his eyes flashing with anger, his jaw clenched as he stormed towards us.

Discussion:

Mark Mwachiro /
Adweek: Ticker: CNN's Clarissa Ward Describes Being Detained in Sudan @Nonilex@masto.ai: A team of #CNN #journalists, including chief international correspondent #ClarissaWard, was recently #detained by a #militia for 48 hours while on a reporting trip in the #Darfur region of #Sudan. — Ward recounted her team's experience in a first-person essay for CNN on Wednesday. …

Alexandra Steigrad /
New York Post: CNN reporter Clarissa Ward, crew held captive as ‘spies’ by militia in Darfur

Kayla Cobb /
The Wrap: CNN's Clarissa Ward Describes ‘Clawing Sense of Panic’ in 48 Hours of Captivity in Darfur

Cameron Hudson /
@_hudsonc: Amazing story from @CNN chief foreign correspondent @clarissaward who was detained while reporting from North Darfur. A good reminder of why there is little on the ground coverage of #Sudan's conflict by international media. But these stories must get out. https://www.cnn.com/...

Clarissa Ward /
@clarissaward: Two weeks ago, our team was held captive by a militia in Darfur. As a journalist, one never wants to become the story. But I wanted to write this because in some ways our experience tells a bigger story of the complexities of the situation in Darfur and the challenges of getting

Eric Bazail-Eimil /
Politico: Top CNN reporter: I was captured by gun-toting militia in Darfur

Bill Weir /
@billweircnn@threads.net: I've long held tremendous respect for Clarissa Ward, but this is next-level. After being held at gunpoint for 2 days under a tree in Darfur by a militia with child soldiers, she only brings it up to add context to the story she went to cover—the single biggest humanitarian crisis of the day.

Saskia Dekkers /
@saskiadekkers: CNN's international correspondent Clarissa Ward details experience being held captive by a militia in North Darfur... 'The world doesn't see us:' What a militia chief said while holding me captive in Darfur https://www.cnn.com/...

Blake Wolf /
One America News Network: CNN Crew Shares ‘Harrowing Experience’ Of Militia Captivity While Covering Sudanese Civil War

Washington Post:

Documents show direct ties including payments between Russia's government and John Mark Dougan, an ex-deputy sheriff behind fake news sites targeting US voters— Russian documents reviewed by The Post expose the workings of a Moscow network that has become a potent source of fake news targeting American voters.

Discussion:

Nicholas Kristof /
@nickkristof: Trump voters might reflect on this point: When Russia's GRU is producing deepfake videos to interfere in the American election and bolster Trump, that probably means he's good for Putin but not for Americans: https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Simon Ateba /
@simonateba: BREAKING: The Washington Post just reported that John Mark Dougan (@RealBadVolf), a former U.S. Marine and Palm Beach County deputy, has been working with Russian intelligence to spread fake news and misinformation aimed at Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign, according to [image]

Catherine Belton /
@catherinebelton: An American who fled to Moscow is working directly with Russian military intelligence to pump out deepfakes and misinformation that targets Harris's campaign, according to documents obtained by a European intelligence service https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Shayan Sardarizadeh /
@shayan86: BBC Verify has extensively reported on an AI-powered influence operation run by Moscow-based former Florida cop John Mark Dougan. Now @washingtonpost says it's seen documents that show Dougan has been directly working with Russian military intelligence. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... [image]

David Gilbert /
Wired: Russian Propaganda Unit Appears to Be Behind Spread of False Tim Walz Sexual Abuse Claims @washingtonpost: The documents show that John Mark Dougan, who also served in the U.S. Marines and has long claimed to be working independently of the Russian government, was provided funding by an officer from the GRU, the country's military intelligence service. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

@washingtonpost:
Exclusive: Russian documents reviewed by The Post expose the workings of a Moscow network that has become a potent source of deepfakes and misinformation that targets Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... @Nonya_Bidniss@infosec.exchange: The URL got the word right but the story says “misinformation.” Folks. When it's the Russian government doing the lying, it's disinformation. When it's your drunk uncle and kooky stuff about colloidal silver or whatever, it's misinformation. Disinformation is intentional. …

E. Rosalie /
@erosalie.infoepi.com: The documents show that Dougan is also subsidized and directed by a Moscow institute founded by Alexander Dugin. One 2022 document shows that Dugin's Eurasia movement, which promotes his theories of a Russian empire, “actively cooperates with the Russian Defense Ministry.”

Mira Lazine /
LGBTQ Nation: Tim Walz is the victim of a disturbing deepfake campaign & Russia is likely behind it

The Hollywood Reporter:

Disney+, Max, Paramount+, and other streamers are striking deals with major grocery chains and apps like DoorDash to expand their user base and reduce churn— To build their customer base, Disney+, Max, and Paramount+ are cooking up deals with major grocery chains and apps like Doordash and Instacart.

Discussion:
@chairmanlay.bsky.social: Oh yeah if you have Doordash pass or whatever you have free Disney+ (or was it MAX? One of the two) [embedded post]

Karl Bode /
@karlbode.bsky.social: I'm telling you they're going to tether streaming to a huge assortment of weird promotions and services with the explicit goal of making it too much of a confusing hassle to quit [embedded post] @jazzpomegranate.bsky.social: *ghost of walt disney voice* — life can still be epcot! [embedded post]

Alex Weprin /
@alexweprin: For all the talk of streaming bundles, a surprising new bundle has emerged: Streaming services and... grocery delivery subscriptions. Peacock, Max, Disney+ and Paramount+ are all in the game now. Some chicken with your Peacock? Milk with your Mandalorian? https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ ...

Alex Weprin /
TVNewsCheck: Pad Thai, Spring Rolls And A Side Of Peacock? Why Streamers Are Teaming Up With Delivery Apps

Committee to Protect Journalists:

Interviews with journalists, advocates, and others in the country of Georgia on the stakes for independent media in upcoming elections, press reform, and more— On October 26, Georgia heads into what is widely viewed as its most critical election since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Discussion:
Reuters, Atlantic Council, New York Times and Civil Georgia

Discussion:

Eto Buziashvili /
Atlantic Council: Russia is directly and indirectly meddling in Georgia's upcoming election

Reuters:

A US grand jury indicts Venezuelan TV network owner Raul Gorrin Belisario in an alleged $1.2B scheme to launder funds from Venezuela's energy company PDVSA— The U.S. Justice Department said on Wednesday that a Venezuelan television news network owner was charged in an alleged $1.2 billion money laundering scheme.

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Associated Press, Al Jazeera, US Department of Justice and Anthony Salisbury on LinkedIn

Discussion:
US Department of Justice: Venezuelan Television News Network Owner Charged in Alleged $1.2B Money Laundering Scheme

Notes From Poland:

Poland launches an antitrust probe into Meta for limiting visibility of Facebook posts linking to Polish media; Meta cited legal doubts over a new copyright law— Poland's Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) has launched an investigation into Meta, the owner of Facebook …

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@uokikgovpl

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