A profile of French TV presenter Cyril Hanouna, who has played an important role in boosting billionaire Vincent Bolloré's Fox News-like media empire in France (Leila Abboud/Financial Times)

Mediagazer: A profile of French TV presenter Cyril Hanouna, who has played an important role in boosting billionaire Vincent Bolloré's Fox News-like media empire in France (Leila Abboud/Financial Times)

Top News:

Reuters:

Paramount Global and Skydance Media announce a merger of the two companies, ending months of chaotic talks; a memo says the deal is expected to close in H1 2025— Skydance Media and Paramount Global (PARA.O) agreed to merge, the companies announced late Sunday evening, opening a new chapter for one of Hollywood's oldest studios.
Discussion: The Media Leader, Bloomberg, The Hollywood Reporter, New York Times, CNN, Variety, Deadline, MediaPost, Mumbrella, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, B&T, IndieWire, The Daily Beast, Cord Cutters News, @richlightshed, Reuters, @lkimmasters@threads.net, @lucas_shaw, @loudmouthjulia, @mattnicholas, @andykleinman, @benmullin, The Hollywood Reporter, @lucas_shaw, @mattbelloni, CBS News, Los Angeles Times, Media Play News, The Information, Axios, @btmcclure, Sara Fischer on LinkedIn, Variety, @xpangler, @harrisharrisev9, The Wrap, New York Times, Business Insider, New York Post, r/MediaMergers, r/boxoffice, r/startrek and r/wallstreetbets

Discussion:

Ella Sagar /
The Media Leader: Paramount ends merger saga after agreeing ‘definitive’ Skydance agreement

Lucas Shaw /
Bloomberg: Source: Paramount board's special committee approves Skydance merger; the board is set to approve the deal today, with an announcement coming as soon as Monday

Matt Donnelly /
Variety: The Skydance Vision for a New Paramount: Cash Injection, ‘Stability’ for Creatives and Tech Savvy

Dade Hayes /
Deadline: Skydance Media Gets Board Committee Approval For Control Of Paramount Global After Lengthy Chase

Wayne Friedman /
MediaPost: Paramount Global, Skydance Media To Merge In $8B Deal

Jessica Toonkel /
Wall Street Journal: Paramount Global Agrees to Skydance Deal

Arvind Hickman /
B&T: Paramount Global And Skydance Agree To Merge

Brian Welk /
IndieWire: It's Official: Paramount and Skydance Are Merging

AJ McDougall /
The Daily Beast: Paramount Board OK's Merger Deal With Skydance After False Start: Report

Luke Bouma /
Cord Cutters News: The Sale of Paramount+ & Pluto TV to Skydance Gets Several Major Approvals to Move Forward @richlightshed: Most telling paragraph of the @Skydance merger with @paramountco release $PARA Speaks to “why” this deal won for Shari Redstone (beyond the 💰💰💰) “Importantly, the transaction preserves the over 100-year-old legacy of Paramount as one of Hollywood's most iconic production

Reuters:
Special committee of Paramount Global endorses plan to merge with Skydance Media, source says

Kim Masters /
@lkimmasters@threads.net: So we're on the cusp of a deal for Skydance to end up with Paramount. The Skydance guys really hung in there. David Ellison gets his dream: running a studio. (Beware what you wish for?) Jeff Shell gets back in the game after that little contretemps at NBC Universal. …

Lucas Shaw /
@lucas_shaw: The deal still needs to be formally signed. Considering everything that has happened in this negotiation... it's official when it's announced.

Julia Alexander /
@loudmouthjulia: If I'm to understand what just happened between Paramount and Skydance — the selling of one former mogul family's declining media empire to a wealthier new mogul family who got a strong boost from the patriarchal tech lord — then this guy is about to be CEO. [image]

Matt Nicholas /
@mattnicholas: Skydance officially bought NA & with that, full control of Paramount Global. I hope David Ellison keeps Paramount + and some of their core linear assets, but I know changes will come. Hoping for the best for all of my friends still working there per the upcoming layoffs 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽.

Andy Kleinman /
@andykleinman: I'm personally excited and intrigued about the Skydance and Paramount merger. The growing, disruptive studio absorbing the large (but shrinking) legacy studio. I like that combination much better than Amazon/MGM or WBD/Discovery. Let's see what they do.

Ben Mullin /
@benmullin: Shari Redstone emails Paramount employees: “My father was governed in all of his decisions by his belief that content was indeed king. That has never been more important than it is today...” [image]

Alex Weprin /
The Hollywood Reporter: New Paramount-Skydance Deal Nears Finish Line As Board Special Committee Signs Off

Lucas Shaw /
@lucas_shaw: Shari Redstone has agreed to sell her company to David Ellison. Paramount's special committee has agreed to merge with Ellison's Skydance. Neither one blessed this deal last month. What changed? https://www.bloomberg.com/...

Lucas Shaw /
@lucas_shaw: News: Paramount's board has approved a merger with Skydance. Link TK. A deal should be announced officially tomorrow.

Matthew Belloni /
@mattbelloni: Money wins! [image] Los Angeles Times: Paramount and Skydance agree to merge, marking a new chapter for the storied media company

Thomas K. Arnold /
Media Play News: Skydance, Paramount Global Agree on Deal; David Ellison, Jeff Shell to Lead ‘New Paramount’

Martin Peers /
The Information: Ellison's Skydance Gets Closer to Paramount Deal

Brandon T. McClure /
@btmcclure: Well... this is honestly the best case scenario for Paramount if they were so determined to sell. At least it wasn't to another giant media company. Small buying big is the better of two evils 🤷 ♂️

Sara Fischer /
Sara Fischer on LinkedIn: #Breaking: It's a done deal. Paramount's board has approved a deal to merge with Skydance Media. — The deal breathes new life …

Cynthia Littleton /
Variety: David Ellison Set as Chairman-CEO, Jeff Shell as President of Paramount; Shari Redstone to Sell Family Empire to Skydance Media in $8 Billion Deal

Todd Spangler /
@xpangler: Shari Redstone, Paramount Co-CEOs Tell Employees Skydance ‘Has a Clear Strategic Vision for the Future’ https://variety.com/... via @variety

Evan /
@harrisharrisev9: This is BEST case scenario and I'm so glad the deal got approved. From everything I've heard, yhe people at Skydance respect the legacy and work from Paramount Global and won't drastically change things moving forward.

Benjamin Mullin /
New York Times: Meet David Ellison, Paramount's Future Boss and Hollywood's Newest Mogul

Josh Kosman /
New York Post: Paramount investor Mario Gabelli ‘may not sell stock’ in proposed Skydance merger

RELATED:

Variety:

Memo: Shari Redstone says Skydance “have a clear strategic vision for the future”; Paramount co-CEOs say “it's business as usual” until the deal closes in 2025— Cheeks, McCarthy and Robbins say they will continue carrying out their restructuring plan, including layoffs and asset sales

Discussion:
Reuters, Deadline, IF Magazine and Media Play News

Discussion:

Anthony D'Alessandro /
Deadline: Shari Redstone Tells Staff That Skydance Has “Resources To Build On Paramount Global's Competitive Advantages”

Sean Slatter /
IF Magazine: Paramount Global to merge with Skydance Media

Erik Gruenwedel /
Media Play News: Paramount Agrees to Tentative Merger With Skydance Media

Sydney Morning Herald:

Memo: Nine's Pedestrian Group restructures as CEO departs, staff faces cuts, and licensing deals to publish Vice, Gizmodo, Kotaku, others in Australia get axed— The chief executive of Nine-owned Pedestrian Group, Matt Rowley, will leave the youth publisher as part of a major restructure …

Discussion:
@constababble, @screelman, @hack_packer, @a_choros, @lukehopewell, @bengrubb, B&T, @alexkidman@aus.social, Mumbrella and The Guardian

Discussion:

Lee Constable /
@constababble: So many youth-focus media outlets have gone by the wayside while youth are most likely to gain news from social media. Young people deserve quality information within the platforms and media landscapes where they spend their time. What's the solution? https://www.smh.com.au/...

Sarah Creelman /
@screelman: This makes me mad, sad and just so disappointed that traditional media business models are falling to pieces. We're poorer for not having a fourth estate to report on tech categories/experiences that are increasingly part of our everyday life😧 https://www.smh.com.au/...

George Dunford /
@hack_packer: Sorry to hear of job losses at ⁦⁦@pedestriandaily⁩. As well as putting great people out of work, it also means fewer media outlets for Australian audiences and less opportunities for writers and creatives. https://www.smh.com.au/...

Alex Choros /
@a_choros: Absolutely devastating news. Australia's tech media landscape is worse off without Gizmodo, Kotaku, and Lifehacker, and the talented writers behind them https://www.smh.com.au/...

Luke Hopewell /
@lukehopewell: Vale, Gizmodo Australia. Gave years of my life to make the best, most fun, informative and innovative place to read tech news. Go scoop up their people if you're hiring. https://www.smh.com.au/...

Ben Grubb /
@bengrubb: Gizmodo, Lifehacker and Kotaku will no longer be published in Australia as part of a major restructure and cost-cutting effort by Nine-owned Pedestrian Group Up to 40 jobs will go across the business https://www.smh.com.au/...

Arvind Hickman /
B&T: Matt Rowley Leaves Pedestrian As Nine Cuts Titles & Up To 40 Staff

Alex Kidman /
@alexkidman@aus.social: I have words to express my thoughts about what's happened to Giz AU, Kotaku AU and Lifehacker AU... and all of them are made up of four letters exactly. — https://www.smh.com.au/...

Nathan Jolly /
Mumbrella: Refinery29, Gizmodo staff among ‘dozens’ of Pedestrian employees made redundant

New York Times:

Biden aides provided questions for radio interviews on The Source on Philadelphia's WURD, on July 3, and The Earl Ingram Show on Wisconsin's WAUK, on July 4— The host of “The Source” on WURD in Philadelphia said officials provided her with a list of eight questions to choose from.

Discussion:
WURD Radio, ABC News, Fox News, Variety, @justinbaragona, Mediaite, @charlesarthur, @jonkarl, @jabeale, @victorblackwell, @alexthomp, @aghamilton29, New York Post, TMZ.com, Deadline, @ethank@threads.net, CNN, CBS News, Axios, The Wrap and ABC News

Discussion:

Olivia Rubin /
ABC News: 2nd local radio host says they were given questions ahead of Biden interview Fox News: Second local radio host admits to getting questions from Biden team ahead of interview with president

William Earl /
Variety: ‘Black Media Matters’: Philadelphia's WURD Parts Ways With Radio Host Involved in Biden Interview Questions Flap

Justin Baragona /
@justinbaragona: After it was revealed that her interview with Joe Biden featured questions drafted and fed to her by Biden aides, WURD Radio announced today that they've “mutually agreed to part ways” with host Andrea Lawful-Sanders. https://wurdradio.com/... [image]

Joe DePaolo /
Mediaite: Second Biden Interviewer Confirms He Too Was Given Questions in Advance By Biden's Team: 'Didn't Get a Chance' to Ask Everything ‘I Wanted’

Charles Arthur /
@charlesarthur: This is pitiful, on both sides. You dictate the questions? You accept the questions?

Jonathan Karl /
@jonkarl: This is malpractice. When you give the interviewer questions, it is no longer an interview. Why did the White House do this?

Jason Beale /
@jabeale: The radio host who interviewed Biden two days ago - Andrea Lawful-Sanders - just told @CNN that the White House sent her 8 questions in advance and she picked four of the 8 WH questions to ask Biden during the interview. @victorblackwell: A radio host who interviewed President Biden Wednesday tells me the White House sent her the questions before the interview. [video]

Alex Thompson /
@alexthomp: New: Biden's team drafted the questions for his 2 first post-debate interviews (both on Black radio). The WH was involved in drafting the q's, per person familiar WH Black media director wasn't part of the process Biden campaign denies WH's involvement. https://www.axios.com/... @aghamilton29: Holy smokes. The Biden camp has been pointing to the local radio interviews he did after the debate as evidence that he's fine, but the radio hosts who conducted those interviews told CNN this morning the questions were scripted and provided by the White House. [video]

Rich Calder /
New York Post: Biden campaign will no longer feed questions to media after being outed by radio host: source

Glenn Garner /
Deadline: Philadelphia Radio Host Resigns After Revealing Biden Team Gave Her Questions To Ask

Ethan Kaplan /
@ethank@threads.net: Quick: everyone who has ever worked with a publicist, hide your media briefs you've received or given. What in the ever fuck is going on with the beltway media right now?

Ethan Kaplan /
@ethank@threads.net: One guy's press shop pre-screens questions (as any press shop does, you think late night interviews are “spontaneous?"). The other candidate is a felon whose supporters staged a coup at his direction. Media: we gotcha Joe! Fucking clowns.

Stephanie Kaloi /
The Wrap: White House Gave Radio Hosts Questions to Ask Biden Ahead of Interviews | Video

Alexandra Hutzler /
ABC News: Biden gives a rare one-on-one interview to ABC News, pushing back against questions about his fitness, after about a month of heavy media focus on his age

RELATED:

The Philadelphia Inquirer:

WURD says Biden's interview, with questions provided by his aides, was conducted without management knowledge and is parting ways with Andrea Lawful-Sanders— The Philadelphia radio host who admitted to using questions prepared by President Joe Biden's campaign in one of his first postdebate interviews …

Discussion:
Inside Radio, @brianstelter, CNN, @brianstelter, Fox News, New York Times, New York Post, @alexthomp, Axios, Ashanti Maya Martin on LinkedIn, The Wrap and Mediaite

Discussion:

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: Host Andrea Lawful-Sanders “and WURD Radio have mutually agreed to part ways, effective immediately,” because Lawful-Sanders used “pre-determined questions provided by the White House,” the station says (statement via @AlexThomp) [image]

Eva Rothenberg /
CNN: Radio host who interviewed Biden leaves station after admitting campaign aides gave her pre-selected questions

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: “WURD Radio is not a mouthpiece for the Biden or any other Administration,” the station says. “Internally, we will commit to reviewing our policies, procedures, and practices to reinforce WURD's independence and trust with our listeners. But mainstream media should do its own

Fox News:
FLASHBACK: Biden has history of coordinating ‘scripted’ interviews, press conferences with media ahead of time

Simon J. Levien /
New York Times: Radio Host Resigns After Asking Biden Questions His Campaign Had Provided

Ryan King /
New York Post: Radio station cuts ties with host who revealed she only asked President Biden questions fed to her by campaign

Alex Thompson /
@alexthomp: Update: WURD, which had Biden's first interview post debate but used q's drafted by the Biden team, says they have parted ways w/ the host. Adds: “practice of de-legitimizing Black voices continues today. WURD Radio is not a mouthpiece for the Biden or any other Admin” [image]

Rebecca Falconer /
Axios: Radio host resigns after asking Biden questions sent by his campaign

Ashanti Maya Martin /
Ashanti Maya Martin on LinkedIn: WURD Radio had an exclusive interview with Joe Biden that aired last Thursday. It was his first post-debate interview. …

Stephanie Kaloi /
The Wrap: Black-Owned Station Parts Ways With Host Who Asked Biden Questions Provided by the Campaign

Ars Technica:

As Glaze, a free tool to help artists prevent AI from copying their style, sees an “explosion in demand”, researchers say its protections can be bypassed— Artists must wait weeks for Glaze defense against AI scraping amid TOS updates. — For many artists, it's a precarious time to post art online.

Discussion:

Debora Bae /
Debora Bae on LinkedIn: Last year, I had the incredible opportunity to join the ekip consortium as part of Nextatlas. Our role involves closely monitoring online conversations …

Maximilian Schreiner /
The Decoder: Glaze anti-AI image theft tool sees rush of artists following Meta's plans

Christopher Parsons, Ph.D /
Christopher Parsons, Ph.D on LinkedIn: Many creatives are concerned about how their art can be used as training data for generative AI technologies. …

Charles Wiltgen /
@charles.wiltgen@threads.net: I understand how non-technical folks are so dazzled by snake oil solutions like the massively-oversold and easily-defeated Glaze and Nightshade. It's a fun “f#@k Big AI” fantasy, but the only things that will make an actual difference are regulation and legal consequences.

Financial Times:

A profile of French TV presenter Cyril Hanouna, who has played an important role in boosting billionaire Vincent Bolloré's Fox News-like media empire in France— Cyril Hanouna is a key player in Vincent Bolloré's Fox News-like media empire — One way to understand …

Discussion:
Crikey

Discussion:

The Verge:

A look at Redbox's downward spiral since COVID-19, as pandemic-induced movie shortages and the declining number of DVD rental kiosks led to a big revenue drop— The bankruptcy of Redbox's parent company came after months of chaos, cash crunch, and corporate upheaval.

Discussion:
@peterhallhuman, @jnicholsonindc, Ai-Thanh Le on LinkedIn and Cord Cutters News

Discussion:

Peter Hall /
@peterhallhuman: Sad, but comprehensive, reporting on what happened to Redbox. https://www.theverge.com/...

Jonathan Nicholson /
@jnicholsonindc: Redbox may be a cringey symbol of a hopelessly bygone era in cities, but in small towns like my mom's — which has at least two — it's a legit biz, an alternative to cable, streaming or driving 40 minutes to a theater. If it dies, it should be mourned. https://www.theverge.com/...

Ai-Thanh Le /
Ai-Thanh Le on LinkedIn: Echoing Robert's sentiments. I and everyone around me were honored and truly lucky to be a part of redbox because of the leadership, culture and people first mentality. …

Bloomberg:

Discovery investors reach a $125M settlement over claims that company insiders reaped improper benefits worth $1B+ in its $43B merger with WarnerMedia— - Settlement involves payment by Advance/Newhouse partnerships — Merger created one of world's largest entertainment companies

Discussion:
Deadline

CNN:

A look at concerns about Saudi Arabia “sportswashing”, as the country hosts the Esports World Cup; Saudi Arabia's PIF owns some of the biggest gaming companies— In the heart of Saudi Arabia's capital, a seismic moment for esports is underway; one which has triggered both excitement and concern across the industry.

Discussion:
@slasher, @obiexyz, @jacobwolf, @myra__davis, @fishstix, @devrelcallum, @rlewisreports, @jacobwolf, @dszajnuk, @jimohagan, @fishstix, @rlewisreports, @invert_lol, @pengu, @bekahboo1290, @middlecottisme, @thechowderhead, @hoffasaurusx, @owcesports, @ewc_en, @ow_svb, @moneyfolder5, @mattomattik, @cointree_ow, @daesanghyeokie, @lsxyz9, @jimohagan, @lsxyz9, @teadvocated, @liquid112, @slasher, @liquidnazgul, ABC News (Australia) on YouTube, BBC, VG247, BBC News on YouTube, The Esports Advocate, CBC News and BBC

Discussion:

Rod Breslau /
@slasher: I spoke to CNN on the Saudi govt's growing control of esports with the launch of EWC. there's no going back now https://www.cnn.com/... [image] @obiexyz: hot take: the US also sportswashes its military all the time. The number of times Football & Baseball games have fighter jets fly above, all the military events. It's all propaganda just that American citizens are used to it https://www.cnn.com/...

Jacob Wolf /
@jacobwolf: SGDQ, a community event to benefit charity, has more viewers than the Esports World Cup, a Saudi state-backed tournament with the largest prize pool in esports history. I'm sure the Crown Prince is very happy with their investment 👍 [image] @myra__davis: LinkedIn is full of people who value a direct influx of unsustainable cash into their industry over building sustainable ecosystems not beholden to the Saudi Crown's blood money. The event is a soulless attempt at SA rebranding via (e)sportswashing and will be dead within 2 years

Ben Goldhaber /
@fishstix: It's a much needed lifeline for a sponsorship-dependent industry who has had gambling and crypto sponsors evaporate over the past half decade. Yeah, I'm extremely conflicted, but oil money is already all over the biggest sports in the world. Esports is not immune or special.

Callum UwUnderwood /
@devrelcallum: A non-games friend texted me about it, and I heard it on the BBC that “thousands of gamers are heading to Qatar” yet I'd seen barely any discussion on twitter, other than some folks apologising for working it [image]

Richard Lewis /
@rlewisreports: And everybody clapped. https://x.com/...

Jacob Wolf /
@jacobwolf: Anyone who thought EWC was going to do any better than other regular esports events — aka mid viewership with exception of the major calendar hallmarks of each game — is super dense. It's not the lack of money that's the industry's problem. It's the lack of interest.

David Szajnuk /
@dszajnuk: The fact that the most viewed stream was Twitter and not where gaming culture actually is should tell all You'll see “200K for the opening ceremony” mentioned a lot and the feeling of 2018 VC talk will come flooding back

James O'Hagan /
@jimohagan: This is textbook sportswashing. It is a cruel paradox, highlighting freedoms those who live in the shadows see but not experience. North Korean playbook in full effect here.

Ben Goldhaber /
@fishstix: The Esports World Cup has officially kicked off with a $60,000,000+ prize pool, most in esports history, and I've legitimately seen more “hype” and discussion about it on LinkedIn than X.

Richard Lewis /
@rlewisreports: @FishStix That's because that's who it's for, the esports grifter class who've found a reservoir of tainted money to keep their careers alive. @invert_lol: Generously, half the esports LinkedIn crowd is composed of snake oil salesmen and inauthentic entry points into the space. Any “hype” coming from that group is not surprising to me @pengu: The lack of streams for EWC have been very puzzling? Huge event, loads of big teams, and all it would take is 1 spectator and a co-streamer or community casters - so many upsets, yet no vods or hype to really share it =(

Bekah /
@bekahboo1290: I hope EWC doesn't make everyone forget that Saudi Arabia and their Crown Prince MBS murdered an American citizen and has some of the worst human rights abuses in the world. Don't let streamers try to make it sound glamorous. @middlecottisme: The whole purpose of sports washing is the sanitisation of the external view of Saudi Arabias government. Gestures like this further their aims by demonstrating that Saudi is a “safe” place for western members of the LGBT community to go and work. Emphasising that the Saudi @thechowderhead: Now, personally, if I was the Saudi government and I saw that my like 60+ million dollar event was having the brakes beaten off it in terms of viewership by fucking Mario Kart DS, I'd be slightly miffed. [image]

Michael Hassall /
@hoffasaurusx: I'd worry that this move could limit the potential of women and LGBT people to be employed in roles within esports organizations. Notionally, you'd be required to operate an a full office in the KSA and staff it. Or you could operate a kind of token office for the money. @owcesports: Masaa will not be attending EWC, stating he does not want to support the Saudi Arabian regime 🚫 [image] @ewc_en: His Royal Highness Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud greeting the South Korean representatives from @T1LoL and @GenG at the #EsportsWorldCup 2024. [image] @ow_svb: Esports went from taking from gambling/crypto to Saudi blood money & yet they've learned 0 lessons along the way If the only way esports can be viable is as pump & dump marketing gimmicks for scummy people to dupe some teens then... maybe not all games should try to be esports @moneyfolder5: no offense to the numerous people im going to offend but if the survival of OW esports hinges on saudi oil money, maybe it doesnt deserve to survive anyway @mattomattik: Esports World Cup created by Saudi Arabia's is rather interesting, Saudi Arabia has no place in esports today, or very little, because the market was too controlled by Europe/America/China, it's going on all weekend, and so far the production looks good, I get the impression @cointree_ow: Overwatch esports need Saudi oil money to survive this year so it can actually have a chance to attract more worldwide investment next year After that, you can do whatever you want without Saudi money getting in the way of morals This year might unironically be Overwatch's last [image]

Liz /
@daesanghyeokie: Hello, just want to say this. I know majority are boycotting EWC. Valid by the way. But I still want to say this and I hope you take this with an open mind. While we label this as an event “for funsies” for our LoL teams, I hope we also understand that these are pro games. + @lsxyz9: @MiddlecottIsMe It doesn't matter if it benefits them, it benefits lgbt of saudi arabia and others too. Why do you not care that it's a micro win just because it isn't big? You're not going to change their government, large change isn't going to happen, it will come via 1000 micro wins from all

James O'Hagan /
@jimohagan: Watching the #sportswashing play out in real time at the @EWC_EN in Riyadh, while Manahel al-Otaibi sits in al-Maraz prison less than 20 miles from the spectacle, is a cruel juxtaposition of fantasy and the reality of rights for the Saudi people. https://esportsadvocate.net/ ...

@lsxyz9:
Don't know how in any world I'm reading negative or ironic tweets or quote retweets on this. Change doesn't happen overnight. People can scoff that it doesn't mean anything but it does even if it's just a needle. Planck's principle will absolutely occur regardless, and actions @teadvocated: Double Dip: TEA has unearthed some early details on the @QiddiyaGaming Club Program, which encourages esports orgs to set up shop in the Kingdom. Orgs that are already a part of the @EWC_EN Club Support Program will likely be a part of this. ✍🏻 @jfudge https://esportsadvocate.net/ ... [image] @liquid112: In my last retweet, Victor explains the competitive and commercial considerations that influenced our choice to participate in this year's inaugural EWC. We have not come to this decision lightly, and the video details our concerns about human rights in Saudi Arabia, the

Rod Breslau /
@slasher: Team Liquid players and teams across all games have been permitted and will wear Pride jerseys while competing at EWC in Riyadh, team confirms.

Victor Goossens /
@liquidnazgul: On our participation in the Esports World Cup: [video] ABC News (Australia) on YouTube: Esports World Cup boss defends holding event in Saudi Arabia | The World

Andrew Rogers /
BBC: Esports World Cup boss defends holding event in Saudi Arabia

Connor Makar /
VG247: First F1, the World Cup, and golf - now esports: gaming's biggest ever sports-washing tournament starts today BBC News on YouTube: Esports World Cup: ‘Everyone is welcome - but adhere to Saudi culture’, says CEO | BBC News

James Fudge /
The Esports Advocate: Qiddiya City Club Program Details Unearthed

RELATED:

Bloomberg:
A look at the inaugural Esports World Cup, a multi-genre tournament in Riyadh funded by Saudi Arabia, featuring 1,500+ gamers and a record $60M+ prize pool

Discussion:
Insider Gaming, DAZN, The Sun, The UBJ, The Sun, VSPN Tournaments Limited, USA Today and VentureBeat

Discussion:

Grant Taylor-Hill /
Insider Gaming: The $60 Million Esports World Cup Is Now Live in Riyadh

Nyle Smith /
The Sun: Esports World Cup 2024 prize money: How much cash be won at huge gaming tournament?

Sourabh Singh /
The UBJ: With millions of dollars on the line, the Esports World Cup has begun: Timetable and methods for viewing.

Nyle Smith /
The Sun: Esports World Cup 2024: FULL schedule, stream, TV channel and results for first-ever Saudi gaming competition VSPN Tournaments Limited: Esports World Cup Enters Full Swing, Co-organizer VSPO Brings Immersive Coverage

Amaris Encinas /
USA Today: The Esports World Cup, with millions at stake, is underway: Schedule, how to watch

Jordan Fragen /
VentureBeat: These 27 brands are sponsoring the 2024 Esports World Cup

New York Times:

A reporter describes how college journalism classes helped him go from being in jail to becoming a NYT Local Investigations Fellow and Wisconsin Watch reporter— While serving a sentence for burglary, I enrolled in a college journalism class. When I interviewed my correctional officer, my world broadened.

Discussion:
Marc Lacey on LinkedIn, @ricfouad, @joshrmoore, @jmalewitz, @jordancoll21, @mariokoran and @keribla

Discussion:

Marc Lacey /
Marc Lacey on LinkedIn: “I never expected to become a real reporter. While the other students in my first journalism class could go out into the community to interview sources, my options were limited. …

Ric Fouad /
@ricfouad: A moving, thoughtful piece. When the NYT aligns itself with justice, good things happen. And to be clear, it often aligns with rank injustice.

Josh Moore /
@joshrmoore: Powerful story of how college journalism — while in jail — opened up the world for @MarioKoran. 👏

Jim Malewitz /
@jmalewitz: We're so privileged to work with Mario at @WisconsinWatch. His thoughtful work is delivering impact for some of the state's most vulnerable people. Read his powerful essay.

JordanColl /
@jordancoll21: Riveting reporting from the inside out! “My experiences inform who I talk to — and who talks to me — and how I approach my reporting. For better or worse, I am forever a member of this community. And that's the very spirit of local journalism.” Reporting by @MarioKoran @nytimes

Mario Koran /
@mariokoran: 14 years ago, I wrote my first news story from the library of a Wisconsin jail. For the past year, I've been writing about the state's prison system as a New York Times Local Investigations fellow. This is the story of how I went from jail to journalism. https://www.nytimes.com/...

Associated Press:

Former Marion County Record reporter Deb Gruver agrees to accept $235,000 to settle part of her lawsuit over a police raid on the Kansas paper in August 2023— A former reporter for a weekly Kansas newspaper has agreed to accept $235,000 to settle part of her federal lawsuit over a police raid …

Discussion:
Deadline, New York Times, @apjdhanna and

Discussion:

Bruce Haring /
Deadline: Police Raid On Kansas Newspaper Offices Leads To Reporter's $235K Settlement

Emmett Lindner /
New York Times: $235,000 Settlement Is Reached in Police Raid of a Kansas Newspaper

John Hanna /
@apjdhanna: Gruver's lawsuit is among five federal lawsuits filed over the raid. One was filed by a fellow Record reporter, one by the paper's office manager, one by the paper and its publisher, and the fifth by a city council member whose home also was raided. #ksleg

New York Times:

How xenophobic content on Chinese social media, directed towards Japan, the US, Jews, and others, became the subject of a debate and spreads despite censorship— Violent attacks on foreigners have prompted a debate about extreme nationalism online in a country that heavily censors information the government bans.

Discussion:

Li Yuan /
@liyuan6: China has the world's most sophisticated censorship system.Yet its internet is laden with hate speech toward Japanese,Americans,etc. Now violent attacks on foreigners have prompted a debate whether online xenophobia is teaching real-world hate. My latest https://www.nytimes.com/... @scs_disputes: “In the past, if CCTV made a significant error in its reporting, you could mock it, right? But now, even if they blatantly lie, there's nothing you can do about it.” Misinformation incl state-sanctioned xenophobia thrives in Xi's ‘Thought Unity’ world. https://www.nytimes.com/...

@scs_disputes:
When information - on everything - is routinely weaponised, censored and rewritten by the single-party state, what is allowed to be read, seen and discussed is itself a state message. @LiYuan6 [image]

Alfons López Tena /
@alfonslopeztena: China's dictatorship has the world's most sophisticated system to censor the internet when it wants to. Yet the Chinese internet is laden with hate speech toward Japanese, Americans, Jews, and Africans, and violent attacks on foreigners are spreading https://www.nytimes.com/...

David Mulroney /
@david_mulroney: Is Xenophobia on Chinese Social Media Teaching Real-World Hate? https://www.nytimes.com/... “If the backbone of a society is completely submerged by the tide of nationalism, the future fate of the country is predictable”

Kenneth Roth /
@kenroth: “To stop the Chinese public from talking about Xi Jinping, a social media platform censored 564 names that users had come up with to refer to him....A regulator gave a video platform a database of more than 35,000 terms about Mr. Xi that it wanted policed.” https://www.nytimes.com/...

Michael D Pendleton /
Michael D Pendleton on LinkedIn: “Xenophobic online content like the schoolyard video is the subject of debate in China right now. Last week, a Chinese man stabbed a Japanese mother and her son in eastern China. …

Dr. Nils Seibert /
Dr. Nils Seibert on LinkedIn: „Yet the Chinese internet is laden with hate speech toward Japanese, Americans, Jews and Africans, as well as Chinese who are critical of the government. …

Gabriele Iuvinale /