As NYT's tech staff guild, which has never secured a contract, threatens to strike, NYT says those staffers average ~$190K/year, $40K more than NYT journalists (Max Tani/Semafor)

Mediagazer: As NYT's tech staff guild, which has never secured a contract, threatens to strike, NYT says those staffers average ~$190K/year, $40K more than NYT journalists (Max Tani/Semafor)

Top News:

Financial Times:

Sources: Mathias Döpfner and KKR near a deal to split up Axel Springer, valuing the company at €13.5B; KKR would get control of the €10B+ classifieds business— Agreement to be discussed next week could cement Mathias Döpfner's control over media outlets Politico and Bild
Discussion: @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social, @hrreisen, Bloomberg and Reuters

Discussion:

Jeff Jarvis /
@jeffjarvis@mastodon.social: It's bizarro Schibsted. The Scandinavian company just executed a similar split to leave the news in the hands of a foundation. This split leaves Springer's news in the hands of the miniMurdoch, Döpfner. — I also wonder whether this sets up Döpfner to buy the MurdochJournal if that family feud ends up in a split. … @hrreisen: “A deal would enable #Döpfner, who has served as CEO since 2002, to cement his control over the company's media outlets.” Will Döpfner turn #Bild and #Welt even wilder? https://www.ft.com/...

Susanne Barton /
Bloomberg: Axel Springer, KKR Near Deal on €13.5 Billion Breakup, FT Says

Semafor:

As NYT's tech staff guild, which has never secured a contract, threatens to strike, NYT says those staffers average ~$190K/year, $40K more than NYT journalists— The News — Leaders at The New York Times are concerned that protracted contract negotiations with the paper's unionized tech employees …

Discussion:
Washington Times, Stuart Falk on LinkedIn, @nytguildtech and @benharnett.bsky.social

Discussion:

Vaughn Cockayne /
Washington Times: New York Times tech workers union votes to authorize strike

Stuart Falk /
Stuart Falk on LinkedIn: The New York Times Tech Guild union is being totally irresponsible in voting to authorize a strike in the middle of the election campaign … @nytguildtech: TICK TOCK: Management came to bargaining yesterday with the same counters and disrespect we've seen before. This week, we voted by 95% to authorize a strike. There's a limit to our patience, @nytimes and Election Day is just a few weeks away. [image]

The Guardian:

The Jewish Chronicle removes a series of sensational articles relating to the Gaza war after claims that they were fabricated by freelance journalist Elon Perry— Newspaper's due diligence is under scrutiny amid growing misgivings over its ownership and the role of its editor

Discussion:

Matthew Weaver /
The Guardian: Columnists quit Jewish Chronicle over Gaza stories based on ‘fabrications’

Jonathan Freedland /
@freedland: I have today told the editor of the Jewish Chronicle that I can no longer continue my relationship with the paper. Here is my letter to him [image]

Rachel Fink /
Haaretz: Columnists Quit Jewish Chronicle as Troubled Paper Severs Ties With ‘Journalist’ Over Debunked Hamas Story

Danielle Bett /
@daniellebett: A principled & brave stance from @Freedland This isn't just a single mistake, but part of a larger series of issues. The refusal to be transparent coupled by the apparent use of Netanyahu propaganda has brought shame on this paper that an apology won't fix.

Jay Rayner /
@jayrayner1: I have watched with dismay the collapse in integrity and standards of the Jewish Chronicle. It's been a disaster for the Jewish community. As he explains, @Freedland has been pushing behind the scenes for change. Rightly, he's had enough. I applaud his decision.

Caroline Frost /
Deadline: Four Prominent Columnists Quit Jewish Chronicle Over Gaza Stories Based On “Fabrications”

Helen Lewis /
@helenlewis: This story about the Jewish Chronicle is genuinely shocking, and now I see two journalists I admire hugely — @Freedland and @HadleyFreeman — have resigned. https://www.theguardian.com/ ...

Jack Sommers /
@jack_sommers: I still admire ex colleagues at the Jewish Chronicle - and my words might sound sour grapes given I was made redundant as part of the takeover. But the Elon Perry affair is spectacularly awful and can't be explained away with short statements about maintaining standards

Dimi Reider /
@reider: The Sunday Times publishes the most extensive interview with Elon Perry since the Jewish Chronicle implosion. It's a gem. [image]

Matt Hodgkinson /
@mattjhodgkinson@scicomm.xyz: “The world's oldest Jewish newspaper, the Jewish Chronicle, has removed a series of sensational articles relating to the Gaza war after claims that the material was fabricated by a “freelance journalist” who had also misrepresented his résumé.” — https://www.theguardian.com/ ... …

Charlotte McLaughlin /
London Evening Standard: David Baddiel has ‘no plans’ to write for Jewish Chronicle amid fabrication row

CNBC:

Disney and DirecTV reach an agreement that will bring Disney's ESPN and other channels back to the pay-tv provider's customers after a roughly two week blackout— DirecTV and Disney have reached a deal that will bring Disney's ESPN and other channels back to the pay-tv provider's customers after a roughly two week blackout.

Discussion:
ESPN Press Room U.S., New York Times, Los Angeles Times, @matthewkeyslive, @ourand_puck, WXIA-TV, @sarafischer, @benmullin, @rafat, The Desk, IndieWire, Streaming Better, Sportico, CNN, Axios, The Verge, Variety, Deadline, 6abc, The Hollywood Reporter and CBS News

Discussion:

Katina Arnold /
ESPN Press Room U.S.: DIRECTV and The Walt Disney Company Reach Agreement in Principle for Distribution of Disney's Linear Networks and Direct-to-Consumer Services

Benjamin Mullin /
New York Times: Satellite TV Is in Trouble. DirecTV's Dispute With Disney Shows Why.

Andrew J. Campa /
Los Angeles Times: The mouse returns to satellite: DirecTV and Disney strike a deal to end blackout

Matthew Keys /
@matthewkeyslive: DirecTV won't say whether its tentative deal with Disney includes an agreement that DirecTV will no longer describe Disney's bundling arrangements as anticompetitive. Executives had previously criticized that proposal. https://thedesk.net/... $DIS $T

Matthew Keys /
@matthewkeyslive: The deal is done. ABC and ESPN have returned to DirecTV and U-Verse.

John Ourand /
@ourand_puck: Official DirecTV-Disney release just went out. Disney nets will be back up on the service for the first kickoff today.

John Ourand /
@ourand_puck: Importantly: DirecTV will distribute ESPN flagship direct-to-consumer service when it launches “at no additional cost to DirecTV customers.”

John Ourand /
@ourand_puck: Deal points listed in the release: * ABC, ESPN networks, Disney channels, Freeform, FX networks and NatGeo channels will return to DirecTV. * DirecTV will offer “multiple” skinny bundles: sports, entertainment, kids & family, plus Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+.

Michael Liedtke /
WXIA-TV: DirectTV reaches new Disney deal after a nearly 2-week blackout

Sara Fischer /
@sarafischer: NEW: Disney, DirecTV reach in-principle deal to end TV blackout day before @abc slated to host Emmys — Deal gives DirecTV customers access to Disney's streaming services — DirecTV gets rights to distribute Disney's upcoming ESPN DTC service Flagship https://www.axios.com/...

Ben Mullin /
@benmullin: News: Disney and DirecTV have reached a deal. Our long national nightmare is over

Matthew Keys /
The Desk: Tentative deal brings Disney-owned ABC, ESPN back to DirecTV

Harrison Richlin /
IndieWire: DirecTV and Disney Reach Carriage Agreement Just a Day Ahead of the Emmy Awards

Anthony Crupi /
Sportico: DirecTV, Disney Reach Carriage Deal, End 2-Week Blackout

Sara Fischer /
Axios: Disney, DirecTV reach deal to end TV blackout

Todd Spangler /
Variety: Disney, DirecTV Reach Deal Ending Two-Week Blackout of ESPN, ABC; Agreement Encompasses New Streaming Options

Dade Hayes /
Deadline: Disney And DirecTV Reach Carriage Deal, Restoring ABC, ESPN And Other Channels In Time For College Football & Emmys The Hollywood Reporter: Disney and DirecTV Ink New Carriage Deal in Principle, Ending Blackout of ABC and ESPN

Kerry Breen /
CBS News: DirecTV, Disney reach agreement, restoring channels

RELATED:

Bloomberg:

Sources: DirecTV is in talks with Dish for a merger, which could create the largest pay-TV provider in the US with about 20M subscribers— - On-again, off-again efforts date back more than two decades — DirecTV-Dish merger would create largest US pay-TV distributor

Discussion:

Anirban Sen /
Reuters: US satellite-TV providers DirecTV and Dish are in talks to merge again, source says

Brian Oliger /
@brianoliger: Nothing but rearranging the deck chairs on a sinking ship, hoping against hope it'll delay the inevitable. Linear OTA TV is dying, cable is dying faster, and satellite is dying fastest of all. DTV and Dish both know this and are hoping to squeeze every buck before they die.

Luke Bouma /
Cord Cutters News: DIRECTV & Dish Merging May Be the Only Way They Can Avoid Shutting Down

Benjamin Mullin /
New York Times: Disney and DirecTV Reach Deal, Ending ESPN Blackout

Michelle F. Davis /
@michellef_davis: friday night scoop: AT&T and TPG are in talks to combine their DirecTV service with Dish, sources say, in a long-talked-about deal that could create the largest pay-TV provider in the US. $SATS $T $TPG they say deals always come back around... https://www.bloomberg.com/... @bsdtectr.bsky.social: Dish is still around? — Didn't they talk about doing this some years ago? Didn't. [embedded post]

9to5Google:

Google TV rolls out Freeplay as a new home for its free, ad-supported TV channels, which grew to 150, up from 80 in early 2023— After adding a few more new channels recently, Google TV has started rolling out “Freeplay” as a new home for its free, ad-supported TV channels.

Discussion:
Cord Cutters News, Neowin, Android Police, Gizchina.com, SamMobile, Android Authority, TechRadar, The Verge and BGR

Discussion:

Luke Bouma /
Cord Cutters News: Google TV Expands Free Content Reach, Integrates The Roku Channel into Recommendations

Sagar Naresh Bhavsar /
Neowin: The free, ad supported ‘Fast’ TV channels on your Google TV are now called ‘Freeplay’

Karandeep Singh Oberoi /
Android Police: Google TV's FAST channels finally have a proper name

Abid Ahsan Shanto /
Gizchina.com: Google TV Expands Free Channel Offerings with FreePlay

Abid Iqbal Shaik /
SamMobile: Samsung TV Plus competitor from Google is now called Google TV Freeplay

Mark Wilson /
TechRadar: Google TV hits new mark of 150 free channels as the TV Streamer prepares for lift-off

Jacob Siegal /
BGR: Google TV Freeplay now offers over 150 live TV channels for free

Financial Times:

A look at GB News, whose losses exceed £100M, as it tried to foment an “anti-woke” crusade and stretched UK impartiality rules during a tumultuous summer— How Britain's insurgent right-wing broadcaster scrambled to cover a tumultuous summer

Wired:

An interview with Maya Cade, founder of the Black Film Archive, on the Internet Archive lawsuit, Hollywood's business model, Black media's future, and more— “It's as if television, media, and filmmaking are becoming manifest destiny in the wrong ways,” says Maya Cade, founder of the Black Film Archive.

Discussion:
@mayascade and @nonlinearnotes

Discussion:

Maya Cade /
@mayascade: for @nonlinearnotes's interview column in @WIRED we *really* get into digital archiving, hollywood, and the future. 🌀 thank you jason for your time, care, and depth! a sincere joy. read here: https://www.wired.com/... [image]

Simon Willison's Weblog:

A leaked onboarding document gives a detailed look into the strategies and culture of MrBeast's operation, focusing on YouTube virality over production quality— It's a snapshot of what it takes to run a massive scale viral YouTube operation in the 2020s, as well as a detailed description …

Discussion:
@mattround@crispsandwi.ch, @gregisenberg, @patio11, @jacobrintamaki, @simonw, @sebmellen, @matthewclifford, @simonw, @thepatwalls, @girdley and @nearlydaniel

Discussion:

Matt Round /
@mattround@crispsandwi.ch: If you've worked on a lot of stuff like viral/marketing content then there won't really be many surprises/insights in the Mr Beast doc, but it's an interesting summary https://simonwillison.net/...

Greg Isenberg /
@gregisenberg: page 2 i find it fascinating that this “rulebook” for a billion dollar empire is written so casually. he even calls out there will be grammar issues. you feel like he is writing to you. Pretty powerful way to begin. more companies should do this. founder mode? here we go. [image]

Patrick McKenzie /
@patio11: The Mr. Beast memo doing the rounds is fascinating in a lot of ways, even as someone who has never watched any of his work. In startup-land I think one of the most useful takeaways is “What in here would we consider and then definitely not do?”

Jacob Rintamaki /
@jacobrintamaki: The alpha in this is overwhelming. Frankly might need to nail it to the Dwarkesh office wall and highlight everything. (Well, some of it is kind of toxic in a bad way but most of it just sounds like an Elon company.) Particularly this section [image]

Simon Willison /
@simonw: My fave little tip from the document: > Since we are on the topic of communication, written communication also does not constitute communication unless they confirm they read it.

Sebastian Mellen /
@sebmellen: @thepatwalls “You can't track the “wow factor” but I can describe it. Anything that no other youtuber can do.” True for any business, just replace “youtuber”. Great doc.

Matt Clifford /
@matthewclifford: Great write up of a fascinating document: “So, if you read this book and pass a quiz I'll give you $1,000"* *for avoidance of doubt, *I'm* not making this offer...

Simon Willison /
@simonw: This is a legitimately fascinating leaked document, it appears to be the onboarding guide for new employees of the MrBeast YouTube production company It's 36 pages long so I published my own notes on it here https://simonwillison.net/...

Pat Walls /
@thepatwalls: I know MrBeast kinda got canceled for this document, but it's an amazing read and insight into why he is so successful. MUST READ for anyone creating content, on any platform. [image]

Michael Girdley /
@girdley: From the Mr Beast “how to work here” guide. Interesting how this mindset towards consultants is radically different than how Gen X/Boomers see them. [image]

Daniel /
@nearlydaniel: The mindset of “you must push energy and attention into the project until it is fully past the finish line” is such a critical lesson. It's kinda nuanced and hard to teach, and easy to think you're doing it even when you're not (guilty of this) but deeply ingraining it in [image]

Bloomberg:

Disney+ to gain four channels in 2024: Real Life, Throwbacks, Hallowstream, which is seasonal, and Hits and Heroes, action stories from Marvel, Stars Wars, more— Dana Walden shares Disney's playbook to build the second global — and profitable — streaming service.

Discussion:
@lucas_shaw

Discussion:

Lucas Shaw /
@lucas_shaw: For this week's newsletter, I spoke with Disney's Dana Walden about dominating the Emmys, going dark on Charter and DirecTV and catching up with Netflix in streaming. Some newsy nuggets, including 4 new channels coming to Disney+ later this year. https://www.bloomberg.com/...

Politico:

The US State Department says Russia's RT is operating a military procurement network to supply Russian forces and is growing global covert influence operations— The state-backed media outlet has been sending weapons to Russian units, including sniper rifles and suppressors, body armor …

Discussion:
CNN: Biden administration expected to unveil new evidence of RT's key role in Russian intelligence operations globally @rt_com: Blinken: ‘RT possesses cyber capabilities’ Cyber capabilities in question: MEMES Follow us to enjoy the full range of our capabilities! [video]

Peter Jukes /
@peterjukes: 👀A key finding from the new US intelligence is that, for more than a year, the Russian government has quietly embedded an intelligence-gathering unit within RT that is focused on influence operations globally 👀 https://www.cnn.com/... @tatatfender: Biden admin is to announce a major effort to blunt the global influence of RT & expose russian state media network's key role in the Kremlin's global intel & influence ops https://www.cnn.com/...

Joseph Gedeon /
@jgedeon1: RT has evolved from a Kremlin-linked outlet to secretly supplying Russian forces in Ukraine with weapons - including sniper rifles, body armor, and drones - using a crowdfunding platform + now has a cyber apparatus, according to the State Department https://www.politico.com/...

Dave Troy /
@davetroy: Folks really need to understand that the Russian state uses any tools available to project power into the West, and the rest of the world.

Julia Davis /
@juliadavisnews: The State Department will reveal declassified US intelligence findings that suggest RT is fully integrated into Russia's intelligence operations around the world. https://www.cnn.com/...

Zach Edwards /
@thezedwards: There are over 1k accountIDs in the RT ads.txt file — and while ~300 of these have already seen their corresponding sellers.json records removed, dozens of major ad tech brands still partner with RT and are sending them money that supports these intelligence operations. 🛑🛑🛑💸

Julia Davis /
@juliadavisnews: For more than a year, the Russian government has quietly embedded an intelligence-gathering unit within RT that is focused on influence operations globally. The activity goes beyond propaganda and covert influence operations. https://x.com/...

Rob Fardon /
@robfardon: No one interested in this issue could be surprised by this in general, but (i), this will help spread awareness, and, (ii), the details always matter

Nina Lloyd /
London Evening Standard: UK joins US in accusing Russian state media of ‘covert’ interference @erosalie@infosec.exchange: Biden administration unveils new evidence of RT's key role in Russian intelligence operations globally. Declassified US intel shows RT is integrated into Russia's global spy operations. — https://www.cnn.com/... 1/6 @rvps2001@mastodon.social: 🇺🇲 🇷🇺 The Biden administration is expected on Friday to announce a major effort to blunt the global influence of RT and expose what it says is the Russian state media network's key role in the Kremlin's global intelligence and influence operations. — https://www.cnn.com/... …

RELATED:
Associated Press: The US State Department announces new sanctions on Russian state media and their leaders, including RT parent TV-Novosti and a related group, Rossiya Segodnya

Discussion:

Catherine Belton /
Washington Post: U.S. says Russian state media outlet runs intelligence operations @sputnikint: Margarita Simonyan responded to new US sanctions against RT, saying she hasn't lived in vain. The US State department complained that “one of the reasons Ukraine doesn't have as much support in other countries is because of RT,” said the editor-in-chief of Rossiya Segodnya, [image]

Matthew Keys /
The Desk: State Department imposes more sanctions tied to Russia's RT

Caitlin Doornbos /
New York Post: Russian propaganda outlet RT behind crowdfunding campaign for Moscow's troops in Ukraine: State Department

Chuck Darwin /
@cdarwin@c.im: The U.S. State Department announced new #sanctions on #Russian #state #media Friday, — accusing a Kremlin news outlet of working hand-in-hand with the Russian military and running #fundraising campaigns to pay for sniper rifles, body armor and other equipment for soldiers fighting in Ukraine. … @markmetz@sfba.social: “RT has also created websites posing as legitimate news sites to spread disinformation and propaganda in Europe, Africa and elsewhere, officials said. They say the outlet has also expanded its use of cyber operations with a new unit with ties to Russian intelligence.” — https://apnews.com/...

Jason Weisberger /
Boing Boing: Anticipated intelligence report on RTs influence campaigns

Bloomberg:

Sources: Netflix is in talks with BuzzFeed to stream Hot Ones, to add to its live lineup; Sean Evans would host several live episodes specifically for Netflix— - Streaming company holds talks with show owner BuzzFeed — Program would add to lineup of live fare, including NFL, WWE

Discussion:
TechCrunch, TV Insider, Forbes, Variety, @daveleebbg@threads.net, AV Club, The Wrap, The Hollywood Reporter, TVNewsCheck and The Verge

Discussion:

Ethan Shanfeld /
Variety: Netflix in Talks to Air ‘Hot Ones’ Live Shows

William Hughes /
AV Club: Netflix reportedly wants to get a bite of Hot Ones

Ethan Shanfeld /
TVNewsCheck: Netflix In Talks To Air ‘Hot Ones’ Live Shows

Jay Peters /
The Verge: Netflix wants to stream live episodes of Hot Ones

Nieman Lab:

Q&A with Ken Doctor, the news industry analyst who founded Lookout, on its Santa Cruz newsroom in California, expansion into Oregon, revenue streams, and more— After finding success — and a Pulitzer Prize — in Santa Cruz, Lookout aims to replicate its model in Oregon.

Discussion:
American Press Institute

Discussion: