Replacing Will Lewis at WaPo would be Jeff Bezos' cleanest, best move, but if he won't, he and Lewis should publicly commit to newsroom independence, and more (Margaret Sullivan/The Guardian)

Mediagazer: Replacing Will Lewis at WaPo would be Jeff Bezos' cleanest, best move, but if he won't, he and Lewis should publicly commit to newsroom independence, and more (Margaret Sullivan/The Guardian)

Top News:

Poynter:

Experts on journalism ethics and standards criticize Lauren Windsor's secret recordings of US Supreme Court judges and her failure to fully identify herself— Lauren Windsor calls herself a journalist. But she didn't act like one when she deceived Alito to get him to talk.
Discussion: Slate, Poynter Institute on LinkedIn, CNN, Fox News, @davidpwhelan@mastodon.world, New Republic and NewsNation

Discussion:

Mark Joseph Stern /
Slate: Those Secret Recordings of Alito and Roberts Revealed the True Stakes of the 2024 Election Poynter Institute on LinkedIn: Earlier this month in Washington, D.C., Lauren Windsor attended a charity gala where Supreme Court justices were in attendance. …

Ellen Rittiner /
CNN: Filmmaker reveals why she secretly recorded Supreme Court Justice Alito and his wife

David Whelan /
@davidpwhelan@mastodon.world: I always love a good Poynter analysis. Was the recording of Justice Alito “journalism”? — But, in a journalistic environment overrun with analysts, pundits, and opinion writers who are platformed but not ethically proscribed by news publishers, is it really the readers' fault if they accept an “activist's” output as journalism? https://www.poynter.org/... #media #news #journalism

Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling /
New Republic: Alito Caught on Tape Whining His Corruption Was Exposed

RELATED:
Rolling Stone:

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito suggests partisan funding of ProPublica is to blame for its coverage of the court, in a secret recording at a recent dinner— In a new, secret recording, the Supreme Court justice suggests partisan funding is to blame for coverage of justices' undisclosed luxury gifts

Discussion:
Fox News, New Republic, Slate, The Daily Beast, @rollingstone, @eisingerj, @rollingstone, @markjacob16, Minnesota Reformer, @normornstein, @rollingstone, @eisingerj, @lawindsor, @justinelliott, @digiphile@threads.net, @anatosaurus, @killick@dmv.community, @7im, @allysammarco@threads.net, @adamparkhomenko@threads.net, @ernie.tedium.co, @jstatepost@mstdn.social, @slackermom.bsky.social, @macloo.bsky.social, @JasonPerseus@mas.to, Boing Boing and NewsNation

Discussion:
Fox News: Liberal filmmaker defends secretly recording Alito, Roberts, says her ‘lies’ elicited ‘truths’ from justices

Matt Ford /
New Republic: The Real Lesson of the SCOTUS Tapes

Shirin Ali /
Slate: Mrs. Alito Explains on Secret Recording Why Her Husband's Job Is Really Cramping Her Style

Steven Lubet /
The Daily Beast: Was Clarence Thomas Fooling Us Then or Now? @rollingstone: In a new recording, Justice Samuel Alito lashes out at the news organization ProPublica, describing their news coverage of the Supreme Court as driven by political animus, insisting: “They don't like our decisions.” EXCLUSIVE: https://www.rollingstone.com/ ... [image]

Jesse Eisinger /
@eisingerj: Read for yourself and see if ideological billionaires lavishing secret gifts to Supreme Court justices (for decades in Clarence Thomas' case) are just “any little thing”: https://www.propublica.org/...

@rollingstone:
Alito continued, “ProPublica gets a lot of money, and they have spent a fortune investigating Clarence Thomas, for example. You know, everything he's ever done in his entire life.” 🔗 https://www.rollingstone.com/ ... [image]

Mark Jacob /
@markjacob16: Clarence Thomas takes $4 million in gifts (much of it secretly) and his right-wing pal Alito rips ProPublica for investigating “any little thing they can find.” These people are shameless.

Ashley Murray /
Minnesota Reformer: Pair of U.S. House Dems add to chorus calling for Alito, Thomas recusals

Norman Ornstein /
@normornstein: Corrupt to the core. Partisan hack. Unfit to wear any judicial robe.

@rollingstone:
But Alito didn't stop there. He volunteered: “There are groups that are very well-funded by ideological groups that have spearheaded these attacks.” Asked to elaborate, Alito got specific. “ProPublica,” he said. More: https://www.rollingstone.com/ ... https://x.com/...

Jesse Eisinger /
@eisingerj: So everyone understands: -Donors get no say in which stories we do -Donors have no idea what stories we are working on -We hold any powerful actor accountable-left, right, Dem, GOP, or jus' plain greedy -We are rigorously fair. Nothing we reported was challenged for accuracy.

Lauren Windsor /
@lawindsor: EXCLUSIVE UNDERCOVER AUDIO feat. the debut of my colleague @Ally_Sammarco: Alito v @ProPublica Justice Alito rants on ProPublica and minimizes Justice Thomas' extraordinary ethics breaches as “any little thing they can find” [video]

Justin Elliott /
@justinelliott: Our story on Justice Alito taking a luxury fishing vacation paid for in part by a hedge fund billionaire who later had cases at the court: https://www.propublica.org/...

Alex Howard /
@digiphile@threads.net: Since its founding, @propublica & its staff have been driven to hold powerful people & institutions accountable, driving impact through journalism. The Court adopted its first ethics code because of their reporting: https://www.propublica.org/... Alito's smear reflects his own political animus after journalists documented corruption on the court, not theirs.

Anat Shenker-Osorio /
@anatosaurus: Who needs a Pulitzer when you can have this praise? Congrats @propublica. Can't imagine higher esteem than angering a man who is taking our freedoms and ruling for billionaires.

Killick /
@killick@dmv.community: @Mediagazer — Sure, it's the MEDIA's fault for noticing he was in insurrectionist.

Tim Dickinson /
@7im: New audio: Alito lashes out at @propublica for its **checks notes... Pulitzer-prize winning ** coverage of Supreme Court corruption https://www.rollingstone.com/ ...

Ally Sammarco /
@allysammarco@threads.net: New Audio: Alito Bashes ProPublica for Reporting on Supreme Court Ethics https://www.rollingstone.com/ ...

Adam Parkhomenko /
@adamparkhomenko@threads.net: ANOTHER Alito audio has dropped. This time featuring my better half @allysammarco: Justice Alito rants on ProPublica and minimizes Justice Thomas' extraordinary ethics breaches as “any little thing they can find”

Ernie Smith /
@ernie.tedium.co: Personally I trust ProPublica over ProSecretDinnerRantica [embedded post] @jstatepost@mstdn.social: @Mediagazer — 🥥 Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is one bent mother redacted. 🥥 @slackermom.bsky.social: I don't give a shit what this corrupt MAGA asshole thinks about media coverage. He needs to be impeached along with Thomas for corruption. [embedded post]

Mindy McAdams /
@macloo.bsky.social: The bent Justice thinks everyone else is bent too. [embedded post]

Jason Perseus /
@JasonPerseus@mas.to: Upset he got caught, not because the underlying conduct makes him a corrupt piece of shit. — 🤷 ♂️ — Surprise! — https://www.rollingstone.com/ ... #uspol #politics #uspolitics #scotus #supremeCourt Boing Boing: Alito is even more radical than you think — Justice Alito isn't even pretending anymore.

New York Times:

Sources: Shari Redstone was irked that Skydance's revised Paramount terms reduced National Amusements' value from $2B to $1.7B, affecting her family's holdings— There were several hitches in the last week as Skydance, Paramount and its parent company, National Amusements, reached the final stages of negotiations.

Discussion:

Todd Spangler /
Variety: Paramount Co-CEOs Address End of Skydance Deal Talks, Say They're Focused on Go-It-Alone Strategic Plan

Jessica Toonkel /
Wall Street Journal: Redstone's National Amusements Ends Deal Talks With Skydance

Matthew Belloni /
@mattbelloni: New pod: So THAT happened. Shari ghosts David, and the fallout for Paramount will be massive. With Redstone holiday card recipient @RichLightShed. Listen! https://spotify.link/...

Ashley King /
Digital Music News: Former Warner Music CEO Edgar Bronfman Is Back—And Offering $2 Billion for Paramount

Georg Szalai /
The Hollywood Reporter: After Shari Redstone Ends Talks With Skydance, Wall Street Debates What's Next For Paramount

Dylan Jones /
Dylan Jones on LinkedIn: So, no deal for National Amusements, no permanent CEO in the seat at Paramount, and stock down close to 10%. Fair to say it's not the greatest day for Shari Redstone. …

Oliver Darcy /
CNN: Why Shari Redstone called off talks with David Ellison's Skydance on Paramount deal

Ben Mullin /
@benmullin: How the Paramount deal died: Shari's lawyers emailed the special committee just as they were planning to vote — she was miffed that Skydance had lowered the value of National Amusements from $2 billion to $1.7 billion. W/@LaurenSHirsch $PARA https://www.nytimes.com/... [image]

Lucas Shaw /
@lucas_shaw: The last 6 months in Paramount: Shari Redstone picked David Ellison/Skydance as her preferred buyer, largely ignored entreaties from other interested parties, and then decided she didn't want to sell to Ellison.

Callum Jones /
The Guardian: Paramount tycoon Shari Redstone pulls the plug on proposed Skydance merger

Erik Gruenwedel /
Media Play News: National Amusement's Shari Redstone Ends Acquisition Talks With Skydance Media

RELATED:
The Hollywood Reporter: In an email to staff, Skydance CEO David Ellison acknowledges Paramount merger talks have ended, and says that Skydance is “stronger” because of the talks

Discussion:

Michael P. Hill /
NewscastStudio: SkyDance-Paramount deal won't be happening

Jill Goldsmith /
Deadline: Shari Redstone, Paramount End Merger Talks With Skydance As Two Sides Unable “To Reach Mutually Acceptable Terms”

Alexandra Tremayne-Pengelly /
Observer: Paramount Owner Shari Redstone Ends Merger Talks with David Ellison's Skydance

David Satin /
The Streamable: Paramount, Skydance Merger Talks Die; What Will Shari Redstone Do Now?

Julian Clover /
Broadband TV News: Paramount-Skydance talks at an end

Mike Roe /
The Wrap: Skydance CEO David Ellison Says Company Is ‘Stronger’ After Scuttled Paramount Deal

Todd Spangler /
Variety: After Paramount Merger Talks Collapse, Skydance CEO David Ellison Tells Staff: ‘We Are Stronger Because of This Process’

Matthew Keys /
The Desk: Skydance Media merger with Paramount appears dead

Dawn Chmielewski /
Reuters: Shari Redstone ends talks with Skydance for Paramount merger, source says

Alexandra Steigrad /
New York Post: Shari Redstone kills Skydance bid for Paramount Global

Sahil Patel /
The Information: Shari Redstone's National Amusements Ends Sale Talks with David Ellison's Skydance

Brian Welk /
IndieWire: Paramount-Skydance Isn't Happening — Shari Redstone just shut down what looked like a done deal.

Emma Roth /
The Verge: Paramount's rumored merger with Skydance is off

Wall Street Journal:
National Amusements ends talks with Skydance; sources: Shari Redstone will likely seek a sale of just National Amusements, without including Paramount directly

Discussion:
CNBC, The Wrap, @jtoonkel, @nthonycarmen, @empirecitybo, The Ringer, @megjameslat, Reuters, @loudmouthjulia, @richlightshed, @tim_bays, @jbflint, @mattbelloni, Deadline, Variety, TrekMovie.com, Cord Cutters News, Quartz, The Hollywood Reporter, @philthepill.wtf, CNBC and Los Angeles Times

Discussion:

Lucas Manfredi /
The Wrap: Ariel Investments Founder Blasts Failed Skydance-Paramount Sale Process: ‘A Once in a Generation Kind of Screw Up’

Jessica Toonkel /
@jtoonkel: Sources tell me that Redstone rejected the Skydance merger before Paramount's independent committee of directors could vote Tuesday afternoon $PARA https://www.wsj.com/... via @WSJ

Anthony Carmen /
@nthonycarmen: Big day for The Town listeners @empirecitybo: My guess is that Shari Redstone will just take @ParamountPics completely off the market. She never wanted to sell in the first place.

Matthew Belloni /
The Ringer: Paramount-Skydance Is Dead. What Now? — Plus, a box office prediction for the highly anticipated ‘Inside Out 2’

Meg James /
@megjameslat: Paramount Global sale collapses after Shari Redstone pulls support for David Ellison's Skydance deal. Eleventh hour drama adds to the challenges facing media company. https://www.latimes.com/...

Julia Alexander /
@loudmouthjulia: This book is going to be so damn good. @richlightshed: @MattBelloni Hard position for a $PARA board member — if you vote for Skydance, even if you truly believe it creates superior long-term value, the near-term dilution ensures you will be spending a lot of time in Delaware Court [image]

Tim Baysinger /
@tim_bays: Absolutely bonkers

Joe Flint /
@jbflint: Add another chapter! National Amusements ends slow dance with SkyDance from @jtoonkel

Matthew Belloni /
@mattbelloni:

Anthony D'Alessandro /
Deadline: David Ellison Thanks Skydance Team As Paramount Merger Talks End; Sets Sights On “Building A Next Generation Content Company On Our Terms”

Todd Spangler /
Variety: Shari Redstone's National Amusements Says It Has Ended Talks With Skydance About Paramount Merger

Anthony Pascale /
TrekMovie.com: Paramount/Skydance Deal Officially Dead; Yet Another Bidder Emerges

Alex Weprin /
The Hollywood Reporter: No Deal: Shari Redstone Ends Talks On Skydance Offer for Paramount Global

Phil Santiago /
@philthepill.wtf: Can't wait for Paramount to eventually be owned by the company behind Cuisinart. [embedded post]

Lillian Rizzo /
CNBC: National Amusements stops discussions with Skydance on Paramount deal, sources say

The Guardian:

Replacing Will Lewis at WaPo would be Jeff Bezos' cleanest, best move, but if he won't, he and Lewis should publicly commit to newsroom independence, and more— The paper's reinvention, with the appointment of Will Lewis as publisher, is a mess - but there's still time to turn things around

Discussion:
@esmcintyre, @markjacob16, @davidgura@threads.net, @sulliview and Washington Post

Discussion:

Erin Siegal McIntyre /
@esmcintyre: ⬇️⬇️💯

Mark Jacob /
@markjacob16: Another fine column from @Sulliview, who says Jeff Bezos needs to take control and clean up the Will Lewis scandal at the Washington Post.

David Gura /
@davidgura@threads.net: “What's the point of owning the Washington Post if it's no longer the Washington Post?”

Margaret Sullivan /
@sulliview: The cleanest, best move: Replace Will Lewis as ⁦@washingtonpost⁩ CEO. But if Bezos won't (it seems unlikely unless another shoe drops), I have 3 recommendations. Among them: Bring back a public editor or ombudsman. My new ⁦@GuardianUS⁩ column https://www.theguardian.com/ ... Washington Post: Sources: Jeff Bezos has been closely engaged with Will Lewis, as the WaPo's new publisher developed the plan to create a “third newsroom” for new audiences

RELATED:

Axios:
Sources: WaPo CEO Will Lewis is floating Local+, a new offering for readers who want to pay extra for premium local content, including paid newsletters

Discussion:
@cuneytdil and @jayrosen_nyu

Discussion:
@cuneytdil: Scoop: New Brit regime atop Washington Post aims to boost local coverage. Will Lewis and new execs floating “Local+” concept, for readers who want to pay extra for premium local content. My column this week: https://www.axios.com/...

Jay Rosen /
@jayrosen_nyu: I am a subscriber and open to anything that might strengthen the Post (an important institution) but if you're calling scoop on a return to local coverage you have to include all the reasons this is going to be hard. Like it's labor intensive at a time when cutbacks are expected.

The Guardian:

A look at crime-reporting social media accounts in Washington, DC, which seek accountability from leaders but often ignore context and veer into fearmongering— Critics say crime-reporting social media accounts in Washington DC promote accountability from leaders but ignore context and veer into fearmongering

New York Post:

CNN signs a deal to use AP stories on its website, the first time it has done so since cutting ties 14 years ago to focus more on original reporting— CNN staffers fear a new deal with the Associated Press may spell layoffs at the third-place cable news network.

Discussion:
Editor and Publisher and NewscastStudio

Discussion:

Michael P. Hill /
Editor and Publisher: CNN signs AP deal for first time in 14 years

Michael P. Hill /
NewscastStudio: CNN signs AP deal for first time in 14 years

Nieman Lab:

The Institute for Nonprofit News survey of 346 member outlets for 2023: 71% of outlets are digital-first, about 33% reported declines in web traffic, and more— While the sector is still growing, that growth is slowing, by some metrics. And audience data for 2023 shows that across all outlets surveyed …

Discussion:
Institute for Nonprofit News, @risj_oxford and @localnewsini

Discussion:
Institute for Nonprofit News: About the Index — The INN Index is the most comprehensive dataset on nonprofit news in North America. @risj_oxford: “The full picture is neither feast nor famine,” say the authors of a report @INN based on a survey of its members on the state of their coverage, revenue, staffing, and audience in 2023 The nonprofit news sector is still growing, but this growth has slowed https://www.niemanlab.org/...

Pew Research Center:

A survey of 10,287 US adults on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X: most see news content, but a minority says they are on the platform for news, except for X— X remains more of a news destination than other sites, but the vast majority of users on all four are seeing news-related content

Discussion:
The Media Leader, Engadget, Press Gazette, The Verge, @kurtwagner8 and Bloomberg, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Sabrina Quagliozzi /
The Media Leader: TikTok: a growing source of news, especially for young adults

Gaby Del Valle /
The Verge: A growing number of Americans are getting their news from TikTok

Kurt Wagner /
@kurtwagner8: A new Pew Research study confirmed what I think many people already knew: Elon Musk has made X significantly more welcoming and appealing to political conservatives since his takeover https://www.bloomberg.com/... via @aishacounts [image]

Joshua Brustein /
Bloomberg: The Internet Isn't Getting More Toxic. It Just Feels That Way

New York Times:

How The New York Post, TMZ, and 100+ other sites around the world distorted a NYT story to claim that a remote Amazon tribe got addicted to porn due to Starlink— A Times story about the arrival of high-speed internet in a remote Amazon tribe spiraled into its own cautionary tale on the dark side of the web.

Discussion:
@elonmusk, @jacknicas, @jones3d, @seangraf and @oftenwrongsorry

Discussion:

Elon Musk /
@elonmusk: It was disrespectful & unkind of The New York Times to say that about the tribe

Jack Nicas /
@jacknicas: No, a remote Amazon tribe did not get addicted to porn. Those headlines and memes you've seen over the past week are not true. If you've shared those, then please share this. https://www.nytimes.com/...

Sean Graf /
@seangraf: No, a Remote Amazon Tribe Did Not Get Addicted to Porn https://www.nytimes.com/... The Marubo people are not addicted to pornography. There was no hint of this in the forest, and there was no suggestion of it in The New York Times's article.

HuffPost:

Howard Fineman, who spent three decades at Newsweek and later became HuffPost's political editor and global editorial director, dies at 75 of pancreatic cancer— Fineman, who provided a critical look behind the curtain of Capitol Hill as a regular analyst on cable television, died of pancreatic cancer.

Discussion:

Alexandra Steigrad /
New York Post: NBC News analyst Howard Fineman, 75, dies after brave cancer battle

Emily Langer /
Washington Post: Howard Fineman, political correspondent with analytical eye, dies at 75

Kimberly Atkins Stohr /
@kimberlyeatkins@threads.net: Oh, this is heartbreaking. Howard was not only a consummate journalist, he was also a gentleman who always showed me such genuine warmth and kindness. I'm just so, sad. But I'm deeply grateful to have known and worked with him. May his memory be a blessing to his family and all who loved him. https://www.huffpost.com/...

Joseph Wilkinson /
New York Daily News: Howard Fineman, veteran political journalist and analyst, dies at 75

Sam Stein /
@samstein: Remembering my good friend and mentor, Howard Fineman, who passed away last night after a valiant fight with pancreatic cancer. He was a lovely man, a force of nature and a mensch, in the truest sense. https://www.huffpost.com/...

Jake Lahut /
@jakelahut: I met Howard at the last campaign event I covered before the pandemic. After I introduced myself, he chatted me up and I was so struck by how interested he was in my background and life story as just some random kid from a local paper. He gave great advice, too.

Tyler Kingkade /
@tylerkingkade: RIP to a legend. Howard was very kind and welcoming to me when I was a baby intern at HuffPost. He was already a veteran but made time to sit and listen to my ideas, and actually engaged with me on them rather than dismissing me as a novice.

Greg Pinelo /
@gregpinelo: A hundred years ago, I went to watch the 4th of July fireworks with a friend who worked at Newsweek (great view from their offices in DC). My friend introduced me to Howard, and being very young and dumb, I said “Kurtz?” Howard smiled and said, “close enough.” RIP.

Joe Sonka /
@joesonkaky@threads.net: Longtime political journalist Howard Fineman has died. He got his start at the Louisville Courier Journal back in the 1970's, covering the environment, coal industry, state politics and then national politics, until he moved to Newsweek in 1980. @hollywoodpete69: @samstein @brianstelter Oh my god, I had no idea he was sick. He was such a good hearted person and incredible voice of reason, in addition to being a great journalist. I'm heartbroken, my thoughts go out to his family. @realgottalaff@threads.net: RIP Howard Fineman, a Newsweek political correspondent and television commentator for decades who brought behind-the-scenes insight to news cycles often dominated by horse-race campaign coverage, died June 11 at his home in Washington. He was 75...from pancreatic cancer... https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Deadline:

Sony Pictures Entertainment buys Alamo Drafthouse Cinema; 35 cinemas will keep operating under the Alamo brand, and Alamo's Michael Kustermann will remain CEO— Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) has just bought Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. D eadline first told you the chain was up for sale and being shopped around to studios.

Discussion:

Brent Lang /
Variety: Sony Pictures Buys Alamo Drafthouse

Ramishah Maruf /
CNN: Sony Pictures is buying Alamo Drafthouse

Jaspreet Singh /
Reuters: Sony Pictures Entertainment buys cinema chain Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

Jeremy Fuster /
The Wrap: Sony Pictures Acquires Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

Anna Washenko /
Engadget: Alamo Drafthouse is being bought by Sony Pictures

Khristopher J. Brooks /
CBS News: Sony Pictures buys dine-in movie theater chain Alamo Drafthouse

David Matthews /
New York Daily News: Sony acquires movie theater chain Alamo Drafthouse

Matt Schimkowitz /
The A.V. Club: Paramount Decree found dead as Sony buys Alamo Drafthouse

Chris Drazba /
Chris Drazba on LinkedIn: Excited to share that Alamo Drafthouse Cinema has been acquired by Sony Pictures Entertainment. First and foremost, congratulations to Sony and their commitment to the cinematic experience! …

The Hollywood Reporter:
Sony Pictures Acquires Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Landmark Deal That Puts Studios Back in Theater Game

Lindsey Bahr /
Associated Press: Sony Pictures acquires Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, the dine-in movie theater chain

Jay Peters /
The Verge: Sony buys Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

Brandon Mioduszewski /
Bloomberg: Sony Pictures Buys Alamo Drafthouse Theater Chain

AdExchanger:

Roku launches Roku Exchange to let programmatic ad buyers access the same data as direct buyers, get more metadata about channels, and more— Roku wants ad buyers to know it's no walled garden. — On Wednesday, Roku announced what it's calling the Roku Exchange.

Discussion:
MediaPost, The Desk, StreamTV Insider, Advanced Television, Adweek, Paul Gubbins on LinkedIn and Joe Melendez on LinkedIn

Discussion:

Wayne Friedman /
MediaPost: Roku Frees Up First Party Data for DSPs

Bevin Fletcher /
StreamTV Insider: Roku Exchange debuts for more direct programmatic access to streaming ad inventory

Catherine Perloff /
Adweek: Roku Shifts Its Approach and Opens Up Data to the Programmatic Ecosystem

Paul Gubbins /