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 (Joshua Benton/Nieman Lab)

Mediagazer: 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 (Joshua Benton/Nieman Lab)

Top News:

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

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.

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/...

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. 🛑🛑🛑💸

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 @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/...

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/...

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/...

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/... @rt_com: Blinken: ‘RT possesses cyber capabilities’ Cyber capabilities in question: MEMES Follow us to enjoy the full range of our capabilities! [video]

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— The U.S. State Department announced new sanctions on Russian state media Friday, accusing a Kremlin news outlet of working hand …

Discussion:
The Desk, @sputnikint, Voice of America, The Guardian, New York Post, Reuters, @cdarwin@c.im, New York Times, @markmetz@sfba.social and Boing Boing

Discussion:

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

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:
Variety, @daveleebbg@threads.net, AV Club, The Wrap, The Hollywood Reporter, TVNewsCheck, The Verge and Decider

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

Current:

Email: New York Public Radio's CEO announces 26 layoffs, including 12 voluntary departures, or 8.5% of jobs, as NYPR plans to cut back on podcasts and events— New York Public Radio is eliminating 26 positions and will cut back on podcasts and live events, CEO LaFontaine Oliver announced in an email to staff Thursday.

Discussion:

Robert Wildeboer /
Gothamist: New York Public Radio is cutting staff and programming — again

Beth Fertig /
Beth Fertig on LinkedIn: I worked at WNYC for 26 years. Over that time, we created an astonishing news operation that won every award in broadcast journalism. …

Ashley King /
Digital Music News: More Staffing Cuts at NY Public Radio — Digital Formats, Declining Radio Listenership Blamed

Ilya Marritz /
Ilya Marritz on LinkedIn: WNYC was my professional home for many years — this is heartbreaking — please support public radio now! — https://lnkd.in/...

Associated Press:

Two brothers are charged with assaulting New York Times photographer Erin Schaff on January 6, 2021, in the Capitol and stealing her camera— Two brothers were arrested Thursday on charges that they assaulted a New York Times photographer inside the U.S. Capitol during a mob's attack on the building more than three years ago.

Discussion:
NBC News, HuffPost and The Philadelphia Inquirer

Discussion:

Ryan J. Reilly /
NBC News: DOJ charges two brothers in Jan. 6 assault on a New York Times photographer

Lydia O'Connor /
HuffPost: Capitol Rioter Brothers Charged With Assaulting Journalist On Jan. 6

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:
Lookout Santa Cruz, @sarahscire and @jbenton

Discussion:

Sarah Scire /
@sarahscire: “All of these playbooks are at least partially written. You sometimes hear people say, 'Nobody's figured it out yet.' But this is all about execution.” @kdoctor on lessons learned, expansion plans, and being “rigorously digital” https://www.niemanlab.org/...

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:
Reuters, @bsdtectr.bsky.social, Cord Cutters News, @michellef_davis, @2xaught7.bsky.social and Next TV

Discussion:

Anirban Sen /
Reuters: US satellite-TV providers DirecTV and Dish are in talks to merge again, source says @bsdtectr.bsky.social: Dish is still around? — Didn't they talk about doing this some years ago? Didn't. [embedded post]

Luke Bouma /
Cord Cutters News: DIRECTV & Dish Are In Early Talks to Merge

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/...

Bloomberg:

Google ad trial: an ex-Facebook ad exec testifies the company signed the 2018 Jedi Blue deal with Google because it couldn't compete against Google's “monopoly”— - Employees concluded ad tech ‘monopoly’ hurt competition — The social network eventually signed an agreement with Google

Discussion:
@bigtechontrial: For followers of the Google Search case, this strategy might sound familiar to Google's revenue share agreement with Apple, in exchange for Apple curbing the development of its own competing search engine. That case didn't end well for Google...

Vidushi Dyall /
@vidushi_law: We heard a lot about FB's views of G as a competitor, an email stating some were “...worried about the strategic issue that arises once G sits b/t pubs and FB. We have seen them take very aggressive steps once they have a footprint. I would hate for DCLK to use AN to gain a strong usvgoogleads.com: Trial Update, September 13: Case moves at warp-speed, as we hear about FB and Google's secret Network Bidding Agreement

Vidushi Dyall /
@vidushi_law: FB in attempting to develop a full ad stack, acquired a publisher ad server (LiveRail) which failed. But on cross, we learned it wasn't G or DFP to blame and that FB shut things down because of major integration issues and a culture clash following the acquisition among other

Jason Kint /
@jason_kint: While “Jedi Blue” deal between Google and Facebook surfaced for the first time today in a Virginia courtroom at the US v Google antitrust trial, an Eastern District of Texas court just denied Facebook's protective order in the same matter. Pop some corn please. It's Friday. [image]

Vidushi Dyall /
@vidushi_law: FB's “point of view on the ad tech market” was that “G's market share will continue to grow regardless of partnership because they are the only competition still investing heavily in both tech & services, and they have the most compelling feature rich products.”

Vidushi Dyall /
@vidushi_law: Boland was crossed on this email and his prior praise of G for dynamic allocation, where he agreed that it raises CPM for pubs and makes it easier for targeted ads to be delivered- reinforcing G's point that its conduct has benefited its customers, even if rivals didn't like it.

Vidushi Dyall /
@vidushi_law: On cross we saw a doc where FB found that G achieved its position in the market, that it characterizes as a monopoly, by “offering the best in class product & continually investing in improvements, investing heavily in servicing customers, and aggressively pricing tools.”

Vidushi Dyall /
@vidushi_law: Boland also stated that header bidding sent G into “defense mode” and that it benefited everyone but G because it took away its unfair advantage that gave AdX full visibility of publisher inventory.

Lara O'Reilly /
Business Insider: The CEO of $50 billion adtech giant The Trade Desk is calling for Google to be broken up

Adweek:

The BBC is adding extra hours of programming and new shows to cover the US elections, expanding World News America, adding podcast episodes, and more— The U.K. network will devote more hours than ever to America's presidential campaign — The 2024 U.S. presidential election is heading …

Discussion:
Politico

Discussion:

Jack Blanchard /
Politico: What's it like to cover a US election?

CNBC:

Trump says he has “absolutely no intention” of selling his Trump Media stock when the lockup period expires; DJT initially popped 25%+, then closed up about 12%— Shares of Trump Media shot up by more than 25% on Friday, minutes after majority owner Donald Trump said he has no plans to sell his stake.

Discussion:
CNN, Associated Press, @airspeedswift@mastodon.social, @pkafka, Politico, CBS News, Axios, New York Times, Reuters, Fortune and Quartz, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Matt Egan /
CNN: Trump's social media stock explodes higher after Donald Trump says he's not selling

Associated Press:
Trump Media stock jumps after former president says he won't sell shares when lockup expires

Ben Cohen /
@airspeedswift@mastodon.social: No mention in this article of the reality that the only value in this company is to get a cut of the money foreign actors will funnel through it if its owner were elected. If it were sold before then, the market cap would just evaporate. …

Peter Kafka /
@pkafka: Not a big proponent of taking the former President of the United States at his word but he does seem to understand the conundrum he's in: He owns a giant pot of money but as soon as he starts taking money out of the pot the whole thing could disappear. https://www.cnbc.com/...

Declan Harty /
Politico: Trump's $2B decision: Former president vows to hold onto social media venture stock

Aimee Picchi /
CBS News: DJT stock soars after Trump says he has “no intention of selling” his Trump Media shares

Dan Primack /
Axios: Trump says he won't sell his Truth Social stock

Alexandra Ulmer /
Reuters: Trump says he is not selling his shares of media company

Press Gazette:

The Guardian ends a voluntary redundancy round that saw ~30 journalists leave and agrees to a two-year pay deal that increases most journalists' salaries 3%— The Guardian has agreed a two-year pay deal that will see the salaries of most of its journalists increase by 3%, backdated to the start of April.

Press Gazette:

DMGT's Mail Online and News Corp's The Sun trim US newsrooms; sources: Mail Online's cuts hit up to 10% of staff, and The Sun's cuts were a larger percentage— US Sun cites “seismic change” in digital landscape. — The Sun and the Mail have both made redundancies to their US editorial teams this week.

Discussion:
@markkleinmansky, @pressgazette, The Guardian, Gabriella Iannetta on LinkedIn and Sky News

Discussion:

Mark Kleinman /
@markkleinmansky: Exclusive: News UK and DMGT, the publishers of The Sun and MailOnline respectively, are taking the axe to their workforces in the US, eliminating scores of jobs between them in a further sign of the mounting financial pressures afflicting the media sector. https://news.sky.com/... @pressgazette: Sun and Mail make journalist redundancies in US - US Sun cites “seismic change” in digital landscape amid platform changes and falling traffic https://pressgazette.co.uk/...

Gabriella Iannetta /
Gabriella Iannetta on LinkedIn: Time to write this dreaded LinkedIn post...again. — #opentowork I was part of mass layoffs at the US Sun this week nearly nine months after being laid off last year. …

Mark Kleinman /