Q&A with filmmaker Errol Morris on his 1988 The Thin Blue Line documentary, generative AI, disinformation, reenactment, his new Separated documentary, and more (Andrew Deck/Nieman Lab)

Mediagazer: Q&A with filmmaker Errol Morris on his 1988 The Thin Blue Line documentary, generative AI, disinformation, reenactment, his new Separated documentary, and more (Andrew Deck/Nieman Lab)

Top News:

Wall Street Journal:

Memo: Mark Thompson says CNN is cutting about 100 jobs, plans to launch its first CNN.com subscription product later in 2024, but offers few details, and more— CEO Mark Thompson said it was “a logical possibility” that CNN might pursue a subscription bundle similar to what the New York Times offers.
Discussion: Associated Press, Nieman Lab, CNN, The Verge, Variety, Deadline, The Media Mix, Breitbart, Brian Steinberg on LinkedIn, Talking Biz News, @mattdpearce, Mediaite, @rasmus_kleis, @heysamantha, @sfiegerman, @kevincollier, The Wrap, @iyengarish, @pressgazette, @alexweprin, @bristei, @brianstelter, @bristei, Jeremy Moore on LinkedIn, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, The Media Leader, The Information, New York Post, Reuters, The Hollywood Reporter, Cord Cutters News and MediaPost

Discussion:

Joshua Benton /
Nieman Lab: Are you willing to pay for CNN.com? Prepare to be asked before year's end

Oliver Darcy /
CNN: CNN chief Mark Thompson announces sweeping overhaul of news network, cuts 100 jobs

Andrew Liszewski /
The Verge: CNN announces more layoffs as it preps for a future beyond cable TV

Brian Steinberg /
Variety: CNN Plans Launch of Digital Subscription Product by End of 2024 Amid Newsroom Layoffs

Ted Johnson /
Deadline: CNN To Reduce Staff By About 100 As CEO Unveils New Details Of “One Newsroom” Strategy; Layoffs Include Media Critic Brian Lowry — Update

Claire Atkinson /
The Media Mix: CNN Memo outlines new strategy and 100 job losses.

Brian Steinberg /
Brian Steinberg on LinkedIn: This story about CNN has it all: — *100 job cuts? ✅ — *New digital ideas? ✅ — *Pages of prose from CEO? ✅ …

Chris Roush /
Talking Biz News: CNN senior tech writer Kelly among the layoffs

Diana Falzone /
Mediaite: CNN Staff in a State of ‘Resignation’ as CEO Announces Revamp of Network, Job Cuts

Rasmus Kleis Nielsen /
@rasmus_kleis: CNN is “nowhere near ready for the future” CEO Mark Thompson told colleagues. Dose of cold realism in an industry that often manages to continue business-as-usual serving aging, shrinking audiences and dwindling number of advertisers while rhetorically insisting they are digital

Samantha Murphy Kelly /
@heysamantha: I was among the CNN reporters laid off today as part of the company's restructuring. I loved CNN and I'm so proud of the work we did. If you're looking for a tech reporter to cover AI, social media, trends, Big Tech, gadgets, tech anything, please send a message! I'd love to chat

Seth Fiegerman /
@sfiegerman: Breaking my year-plus streak of not tweeting to say Sam is absolutely incredible and any newsroom would be lucky to have her. Trust me: I've worked with her longer than anyone.

Kevin Collier /
@kevincollier: This damn industry [image]

Sharon Knolle /
The Wrap: Veteran Media Critic Brian Lowry Among CNN's 100 Layoffs

Rishi Iyengar /
@iyengarish: Adding my voice to the literal dozens of people who have already said what a brilliant journalist, colleague, friend, and human being Sam is. Any publication would be lucky to have her. @pressgazette: CNN chief executive Mark Thompson has told staff that the organisation is cutting around 100 jobs, equivalent to approximately 3% of its total workforce https://pressgazette.co.uk/...

Alex Weprin /
@alexweprin: Major changes coming to CNN. A subscription product launching this year, with others to follow. A total reorg of its newsrooms. “strategic” push into AI. And layoffs, with about 100 staff to be cut today. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ ...

Brian Steinberg /
@bristei: CNN will cut 100 jobs as it seeks to move more readily into digital, and will launch a subscription product via its website by the end of the year https://variety.com/...

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: “CNN said it is cutting about 100 jobs and will launch its first CNN·com subscription product later this year as it looks to lessen its dependence on its cable-TV channel.” https://www.wsj.com/...

Brian Steinberg /
@bristei: This story about CNN has it all: *100 job cuts? ✅ *New digital ideas? ✅ *Pages of prose from CEO? ✅ ^A vague sense primetime needs help? ✅ https://variety.com/...

Jeremy Moore /
Jeremy Moore on LinkedIn: This doesn't seem to be a recipe for success. Beyond the damage to the professionals who will be laid off, the overarching narrative seems …

Stephen Battaglio /
Los Angeles Times: CNN to cut 100 jobs as it prepares to launch digital subscription products

John Koblin /
New York Times: CNN Cuts 100 Jobs, and Announces Plan for Digital Subscription Product

Sabrina Quagliozzi /
The Media Leader: CNN to cut 100 jobs and launch digital subscription product

Taylor Herzlich /
New York Post: CNN CEO Mark Thompson to lay off 100 employees as he discloses fresh turnaround plans

Alex Weprin /
The Hollywood Reporter: CNN to Lay Off 100 Staffers as It Preps Major Revamp of Digital Efforts

Luke Bouma /
Cord Cutters News: CNN Will Layoff About 100 Employees & Launch a Free Streaming Channel Plus a Digital Subscription Service This Year

Ray Schultz /
MediaPost: CNN Will Debut Subscription Products This Year: Report

RELATED:

Variety:

Brian Lowry, the veteran Hollywood reporter, critic, and a contributor to CNN's Reliable Sources newsletter, is set to leave in the new round of CNN job cuts— The news outlet is cutting approximately 100 jobs as it works to boost its digital business.

Discussion:
@blowryontv, @tvmojoe, The Wrap, Talking Biz News and CNN

Discussion:

Brian Lowry /
@blowryontv: First time for everything. To quote the late great Norman Lear's memoir title, “Even This I Get to Experience.” @tvmojoe: This is such a dumb move ahead of a subscription product launch. Stuff like Reliable Sources and insight from Lowry and others on the showbiz team is what will get me/others to pay extra for CNN.

Sharon Knolle /
The Wrap: Veteran Media Critic Brian Lowry Among CNN's 100 Layoffs

Chris Roush /
Talking Biz News: CNN entertainment writer Lowry is departing

The Media Mix:
Sources: CNN lays off the team producing its Opinion section, with an end date of August 9; a source says Senior Editor Sheena McKenzie is among those leaving

Discussion:
Axios, @bsdtectr.bsky.social and @newspolitics

Discussion:

Sara Fischer /
Axios: CNN boss lays out plans for digital future, layoffs to come @bsdtectr.bsky.social: Didn't even know CNN had an Opinion section. Online only deal? — They should let Begala, Jennings, Van Jones, Sellers, et al go. [embedded post]

Jon Nicosia /
@newspolitics: @claireatki “The CNN team working on the news network's Opinion output was let go today. The contributors and editors were gathered and informed that they would be terminated with an end date of August 9, according to people there. The move is part of a wider cost cutting measure announced

New York Times:

Sources: the NBA finalizes contracts with new partners NBC and Amazon Prime Video, while maintaining ABC/ESPN for the NBA Finals; TNT could still match— The NBA and network executives finalized contracts that will make NBC and Amazon Prime Video new partners, while maintaining ABC/ESPN …

Discussion:

Brian Steinberg /
Variety: NBA Finalizes Deals With NBC, Amazon, ESPN, Setting Up Possible Warner Showdown

Eric Fisher /
Front Office Sports: 'Where's truTV?' March Madness Channel Is Now TNT Sports' New Star

Alex Schiffer /
Front Office Sports: NBA Agrees to $76 Billion in Media-Rights Deals, but TNT Still Looms

Anthony Crupi /
Sportico: NBA Rights Contracts Hit Adam Silver's Desk With All Eyes on TNT

Ahmad Austin Jr /
Mediaite: NBA Finalizes Lucrative Media Deals With ESPN, Amazon, and NBC — TNT Could Still Try to Match Offers

Dave Greene /
Barrett Media: ESPN, NBC and Amazon's NBA Media Rights Package is a Big Win for Sports

Mike D. Sykes /
USA Today: The NBA's new broadcast deals are reportedly agreed to, which means the end for NBA on TNT may finally be here

Lucas Manfredi /
The Wrap: NBA Finalizes 11-Year, $76 Billion TV Contracts With NBC, Amazon and ESPN

Stephen Battaglio /
Los Angeles Times: NBA on the verge of a deal with Amazon, NBC and ESPN, potentially leaving TNT on the bench

David Satin /
The Streamable: NBA Finally Finalizes TV Deals with ESPN, Prime Video, NBC; TNT Expected to Try to Match Amazon Offer

Alex Weprin /
The Hollywood Reporter: NBA Finalizes TV Deals With Disney, NBC and Amazon ... But TNT's Future Is Unclear

Brendon Kleen /
Awful Announcing: Everything you need to know about the NBA's new broadcast rights package

CNN:

A US jury finds Archegos Capital Management's Bill Hwang guilty of fraud for artificially inflating stocks of companies including ViacomCBS and Discovery— Bill Hwang, founder of Archegos Capital Management, was found guilty of fraud Wednesday by a Manhattan federal court after the 2021 collapse …

Discussion:
Bloomberg, New York Times, Financial Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Deadline and Associated Press

Discussion:

Ava Benny-Morrison /
Bloomberg: Bill Hwang's Fate Is Now in Jury's Hands After Archegos Trial

Matthew Goldstein /
New York Times: Jury Finds Archegos Founder Bill Hwang Guilty of Fraud and Racketeering

Winston Cho /
The Hollywood Reporter: Archegos Founder, Charged With Manipulating ViacomCBS Stock, Found Guilty of Fraud

William Earl /
Variety: Archegos Founder Bill Hwang Found Guilty in Fraud and Racketeering Case Involving ViacomCBS Stock

Bruce Haring /
Deadline: Bill Hwang, Wall St. Investor In Major Media Stocks, Guilty Of Fraud And Market Manipulation

Associated Press:

Russia's government declares The Moscow Times an “undesirable organization”, meaning any Russian who cooperates with the outlet could get five years in prison— The Russian prosecutor general's office on Wednesday declared The Moscow Times, an online newspaper popular among …

Discussion:
Agence France-Presse, The Moscow Times, @bbcstever, @paige_reynolds_, @kevinrothrock, @samberkhead, @bbcstever, @macktubs, @niktwick, @hejsascha, @moscowtimes, @evahartog, @tomashirstecon, @andrew__roth, Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio …, Reuters and The Daily Beast

Discussion:

Steve Rosenberg /
@bbcstever: Russia's Prosecutor General's office has designated independent news site The Moscow Times an “undesirable organisation,” in effect banning its activities in Russia & criminalising engagement with it.

Paige Reynolds /
@paige_reynolds_: Absolutely WILD but also totally expected. Cut my teeth here as a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, just-arrived-in-Moscow-and-could- barely-speak-Russian 20-year-old !! Respect for anyone still out there fighting the good fight 💪

Kevin Rothrock /
@kevinrothrock: Welcome to the club, boys and girls.

Samantha Berkhead /
@samberkhead: Russia has criminalized The Moscow Times' reporting — an unsurprising move, given our commitment to telling the world the truth about what is happening in Russia. Our mission is more important than ever. We refuse to give in to the Kremlin's pressure.

Steve Rosenberg /
@bbcstever: The Moscow Times has been a feature of life here, first in paper form, then online, pretty much as long as I can remember. I arrived in Moscow in August 1991. Moscow Times first came out in March 1992. In 2022 its headquarters were moved to Amsterdam.

Mack Tubridy /
@macktubs: I understand the urge for people to congratulate us on this designation, but the reality is that being labeled “undesirable” makes it a lot harder for us to do our work and endangers our staff. It's not a “good” thing. So, if you have a rich uncle, ask him to donate money to MT.

Nikolaus von Twickel /
@niktwick: For me this means that three out of my five employers since 2007 are now “undesirable” for the Russian regime. @moscowtimes: ⚡⚡ Russia has named The Moscow Times an “undesirable” organization, Russian news agencies report. The label bans MT from operating in Russia and puts anyone affiliated with it at risk of criminal prosecution.

Eva Hartog /
@evahartog: Unbelievable and predictable at the same time. This is Russia, criminalising an underfunded small group of journalists committed to fair coverage of the country 👇🏼

Tomas Hirst /
@tomashirstecon: An inability to accept a free press is a sign of weakness and fragility of a nation, not a display of strength. Russia's backslide into paranoid authoritarianism has no real winners, and an ever growing list of of self-inflicted losses.

Tomas Hirst /
@tomashirstecon: Seemed inevitable but still extremely sad. MT was my first employer and was a fantastic place to work - full of brilliant journos passionate about Russia.

Andrew Roth /
@andrew__roth: This was a training ground for so many excellent journalists. Unsurprising given Russia's war in Ukraine but this headline still made me pause for thought. @MoscowTimes provided stellar coverage for so many years and will continue to do so, “undesirable” or not @derksauer Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Moscow Times Says ‘Undesirable’ Label Another Effort By Russia To Suppress Independent Reporting

Christopher Gavin /
The Daily Beast: Russia Bans The Moscow Times But the Newspaper's Staff Won't Back Down

TMZ.com:

George Stephanopoulos replies to a pedestrian on Biden, saying “I don't think he can serve four more years”; ABC says “George expressed his own point of view”— GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS BIDEN CAN'T SERVE 4 MORE YEARS … 6:28 PM PT — George Stephanopoulos tells TMZ …

Discussion:
@dylanbyers, New York Times, New York Post, Raw Story, Slate, @abbydphillip, @redsteeze, @collinrugg, @tmz, @todarorichard, @waylon_wc, @themainnetwork, The Daily Beast, Los Angeles Times, The Hill, NBC News, New Jersey Online, CBS News, The Guardian, Fox News, Newser, CNN, New Republic, HuffPost, Washington Post, The Wrap, Variety, Deadline, Mediaite and The Hollywood Reporter

Discussion:

Dylan Byers /
@dylanbyers: NEW @PuckNews: ABC's George Stephanopoulos, who recently interviewed Biden and was today caught in TMZ video saying he doesn't think Biden “can serve four more years,” tells me, via spokesperson: “Earlier today I responded to a question from a passerby. I shouldn't have.” In a

Michael M. Grynbaum /
New York Times: In TMZ Video, George Stephanopoulos Says Biden Can't Serve Another Term

Victor Nava /
New York Post: ABC News exec was ‘furious’ after George Stephanopoulos said Biden can't serve another White House term: report

Sarah K. Burris /
Raw Story: ‘What makes him qualified?’ George Clooney trashed after demanding Biden quits

Scott Nover /
Slate: George Stephanopoulos' Only Mistake

Abby D. Phillip /
@abbydphillip: .@brianstelter reacts to GMA anchor George Stephanopoulos' remarks that he doesn't think Biden can serve four more years. [video]

Stephen L. Miller /
@redsteeze: The Biden campaign chose to do scripted radio interviews that resulted in a black female host losing her job. The Biden campaign chose George Stephanopoulos as the go to interviewer, and he staid he thinks Biden can't serve another term. The campaign made these choices, just as

Collin Rugg /
@collinrugg: BREAKING: ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos caught on video saying he doesn't think Biden can serve another 4 years after his interview. Stephanopoulos was intercepted in midtown Manhattan in footage released by TMZ. Reporter: “Do you think Biden should step down? You've [video] @tmz: #GeorgeStephanopoulos just made a STUNNING comment: he told someone on the streets of #NewYork that he doesn't think President #JoeBiden can serve another term! https://www.tmz.com/... [video] @todarorichard: George just interviewed Biden to try to boost his ratings. After the interview, he was asked if he thinks Biden can make it four more years, and he said he doesn't think so. It is time to “take the keys away” from Biden and bring in a better option. https://www.tmz.com/...

Waylon Cunningham /
@waylon_wc: Now that's a good man-on-the-street interview https://www.tmz.com/... @themainnetwork: Anyone thinking this wasn't done on purpose doesn't get politics. This guy is too strategic to just randomly say this - George Stephanopoulos Says Biden Can't Serve Another 4 Years https://www.tmz.com/...

Eboni Boykin-Patterson /
The Daily Beast: Michael Douglas Is ‘Deeply, Deeply Concerned’ About Joe Biden

Christi Carras /
Los Angeles Times: In video shared by TMZ, George Stephanopoulos says Biden can't ‘serve four more years’

Phil Helsel /
NBC News: ABC's George Stephanopoulos appears to say of Biden: 'I don't think he can serve four more years'

Matt Arco /
New Jersey Online: Prominent TV journalist caught making off-the-cuff remark about Biden

Kaia Hubbard /
CBS News: Though Biden says he's staying in presidential race, top Democrats express doubts Fox News: ABC distances itself from Stephanopoulos' claim Biden can't serve second term: ‘Not the position’ of network

Jenn Gidman /
Newser: Stephanopoulos Caught Spilling His Inner Thoughts on Biden

Oliver Darcy /
CNN: George Stephanopoulos gets blunt after Biden interview: 'I don't think he can serve four more years'

Lee Moran /
HuffPost: George Stephanopoulos Caught On Camera Doubting Joe Biden, Just Days After Interview

Andrew Jeong /
Washington Post: George Stephanopoulos caught on camera expressing doubts about Biden

Tess Patton /
The Wrap: After Biden Interview, ABC's George Stephanopoulos Says 'I Don't Think He Can Serve 4 More Years' | Video

Brian Steinberg /
Variety: George Stephanopoulos Says He 'Shouldn't Have' Commented on President Joe Biden's Ability to Serve Second Term

Ted Johnson /
Deadline: George Stephanopoulos Captured On Video Saying He Doesn't Think Joe Biden Can Serve Another Four Years

Charlie Nash /
Mediaite: 'I Don't Think He Can Serve Four More Years': George Stephanopoulos Says Biden Not Up to the Task After Interviewing Him

Lowpass:

A US court grants Redbox owner Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment Chapter 7 bankruptcy, paving the way for shutting down Redbox and liquidating its assets— Redbox will shut down, corporate parent is being liquidated — The bankruptcy case of Redbox's corporate parent Chicken Soup …

Discussion:

Jonathan Randles /
Bloomberg: Redbox Owner to Be Liquidated Following Alleged Mismanagement

Dade Hayes /
Deadline: Redbox Owner Chicken Soup For The Soul To Liquidate In Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Shift; Workforce Of 1,000 To Be Let Go And 24,000 Kiosks Shut Down, Lawyer Says

Janko Roettgers /
@jank0@sfba.social: There's now an official court order turning Redbox's bankruptcy into Chapter 7, liquidating the company. Updating my story here: https://www.lowpass.cc/...

Ximena Suarez /
Ximena Suarez on LinkedIn: Today marks a heart-wrenching moment for all of us who were part of the Redbox family. I spent 16 years with this team, and it's heartbreaking to see this chapter come to an end. …

William Hughes /
The A.V. Club: Chicken Soup is going in the toilet, and taking Redbox with it

Luke Bouma /
Cord Cutters News: Redbox Will Shutdown DVD Rentals & Its Streaming Service As Will Crackle

Kelsey Jordahl /
@kajord@scicomm.xyz: @jank0 “CEO Bart Schwartz, who had only joined the company two weeks ago, stepped down this morning for unrelated reasons” 🤔

Janko Roettgers /
@jank0@sfba.social: @kajord Yeah I know, interesting timing. But apparently he was brought in to help with the transition, and then realized that it was way more of a mess than he had anticipated.

Andrew A. Rosen /
@aagave: Sad. I spoke to management two years ago and the strategy didn't add up to me. It's not only notable that they couldn't course correct, but that no buyer came in to course correct for them.

Jay Peters /
The Verge: Redbox's disc rentals are over

The Hollywood Reporter:

The Writers Guild of America West negotiates a $3.05M settlement with CBS to compensate 24 writers on MacGyver, Seal Team, and Hawaii 5-0 for unpaid work— The union told members on Wednesday of the resolution to an arbitration claim made on behalf of ‘MacGyver,’ ‘Seal Team’ and ‘Hawaii 5-0’ scribes.

Discussion:

Jeremy Fuster /
The Wrap: CBS Pays Writers Guild $3 Million for Contract Violations

Cynthia Littleton /
Variety: WGA West Reaches $3 Million Settlement With CBS Studios Over Writer Fees and Benefit Payments

TechCrunch:

South Korea-based Beeble AI, which is developing virtual production services for indie filmmakers, raised $4.75M in seed funding at a valuation of $25M— Visual effects (VFX) have emerged as essential in filmmaking and have transformed storytelling and creativity in the film industry with its diverse digital techniques.

Nieman Lab:

Q&A with filmmaker Errol Morris on his 1988 The Thin Blue Line documentary, generative AI, disinformation, reenactment, his new Separated documentary, and more— “Our task is to get back to the real world, to the extent that it is recoverable.” — Errol Morris is used to being called a liar, a trickster, and a manipulator.

The Verge:

How the SCOTUS NetChoice ruling on social media platforms' First Amendment rights could affect a host of tech legislation, including kids' online safety laws— Here's what the SCOTUS decision might mean for everything from kids online safety laws to the TikTok ‘ban.’

Discussion:
@lauren_feiner, ACLU, @eff and Roll Call

Discussion:

Lauren Feiner /
@lauren_feiner: SCOTUS' big tech policy decision may have been overshadowed by the Trump immunity one, but it's poised to have massive effects on the future of social media regulation. Here's what the NetChoice opinion means for the future of tech policy: https://www.theverge.com/... @eff: TikTok should feel good about SCOTUS' Netchoice decisions, EFF's David Greene told @Verge. “The overwhelming message...is that content moderation is speech protected by the 1st Amendment,” a holding that's crucial to TikTok & to all social media companies. https://www.theverge.com/...

New Yorker:

Q&A with NYT's Joe Kahn on newsroom flare-ups, defining and building NYT culture among newer employees, his family foundation donations, Gaza coverage, and more— Joe Kahn, the newspaper's executive editor, wants to incentivize his staff to take on difficult stories, even when they might engender scrutiny, or backlash.

Discussion:
Nieman Lab, @brianstelter, @williams_paige, @chaykak, @kirk_bado, @claremalone and @viktorshtrum.bsky.social

Discussion:

Hanaa' Tameez /
Nieman Lab: The New York Times is “constantly thinking about the hierarchy of the stories that we're promoting,” Joe Kahn says

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: Fantastic @ClareMalone Q&A with NYT exec editor Joe Kahn: “I have the word ‘executive’ in my title, but actually the more important part is ‘editor’ and being involved with the journalists themselves, with their editors, in working through the stories...” https://www.newyorker.com/...

Paige Williams /
@williams_paige: Voters might not list democracy as top issue because they take a democratic society for granted yet should 2024 coverage be more existentially urgent, less horse race? @ClareMalone asks Joe Kahn. Their conversation, out today: https://www.newyorker.com/...

Kyle Chayka /
@chaykak: David Remnick interviewed in El Pais https://english.elpais.com/... Joe Kahn interviewed in New Yorker https://www.newyorker.com/...

Kirk A. Bado /
@kirk_bado: “According to one estimate, nearly seven per cent of American newspaper employees now work at the Times. The growth comes as almost every other corner of media has been beset by layoffs.”

Clare Malone /