Reuters withdraws two stories on the World Anti-Doping Agency after it was found that WADA's media head received a Reuters press pass for the Masters golf event (Martyn Ziegler/The Times)

Mediagazer: Reuters withdraws two stories on the World Anti-Doping Agency after it was found that WADA's media head received a Reuters press pass for the Masters golf event (Martyn Ziegler/The Times)

Top News:

CNN:

Melania Trump's book publisher asked CNN to sign an NDA and pay $250K to interview her, but then called the request a “miscommunication”— Nearly two months ago, CNN reached out to Melania Trump's book publisher to request an interview with the former first lady ahead of her upcoming memoir.
Discussion: The Guardian, New York Post, Mediaite, The Wrap, The Hill, Vanity Fair, Metro.co.uk, KSTP-TV, @claytravis, @joshtpm, @hadas_gold, @weathersbywi, @dfriedman33, @lesliestreeter, DNyuz and Boing Boing

Discussion:

Martin Pengelly /
The Guardian: Melania Trump passionately defends abortion rights in upcoming memoir

Ariel Zilber /
New York Post: CNN claims Melania Trump's book publisher demanded $250K for interview

Sarah Rumpf /
Mediaite: CNN Reporter Absolutely Shreds Melania Trump Over ‘Completely Unprecedented and Very, Very Unusual’ $250K Request to Do an Interview

Andi Ortiz /
The Wrap: ‘The View’: Sunny Hostin Thinks Melania Trump ‘Hates’ Donald and ‘Wants to Take Him Out’ With New Abortion Rights Video

Dominick Mastrangelo /
The Hill: CNN says Melania Trump publisher asked for $250K fee in response to interview request

Bess Levin /
Vanity Fair: Melania Trump's Publisher Demanded $250,000 From CNN for an Interview About Her Book: Report

Jessica Kwong /
Metro.co.uk: Melania Trump book publisher ‘tried to charge CNN $250,000 for an interview’

Clay Travis /
@claytravis: Honestly they should have asked for $10 million. Why should Melania speak to CNN when Kamala and Walz ignore you guys too? (Except for a ten minute slobber fest with Dana Bash).

Hadas Gold /
@hadas_gold: Even if the contract was mistakenly sent, the amount fits in with what she's been paid for appearances in the past as @PamelaBrownCNN reports

Brandon Weathersby /
@weathersbywi: Price of the brick went up since April. [image]

Dan Friedman /
@dfriedman33: $500K and she'll exclusively change her mind to pro-life. https://www.theguardian.com/ ...

Leslie Gray Streeter /
@lesliestreeter: You can't miscommunicate a check that big.

Jason Weisberger /
Boing Boing: Melania's representatives backpedal after attempt to fleece CNN

The Verge:

Google rolls out ads in AI Overviews when a user's question has a “commercial angle”, and identifies the ads with a “sponsored” header, on mobile in the US— Google is rolling out ads in AI Overviews, which means you'll now start seeing products in some of the search engine's AI-generated summaries.

Discussion:
PRWeek, SE Ranking Blog and Search Engine Land, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Michelle Castillo /
PRWeek: Pinterest unveils AI-fueled ad tools

RELATED:

TechCrunch:
Google rolls out AI-organized Search results in the US on mobile, showing users AI-aggregated pages of content from forums, articles, YouTube videos, and more

Discussion:

Trishla Ostwal /
Adweek: Publisher Traffic Spiked Thanks to Google's Gen AI Overview Tweaks

Webb Wright /
The Drum: New ads in search AI Overviews unlock greater monetization opportunities for Google

Shelly /
@mizshellytee.bsky.social: Today's a good day to switch your default search engine to something else, if you haven't already. [embedded post] @xodaniwrites.bsky.social: Even with human editors, the headline can make or break a piece. [embedded post] @feralhattie.bsky.social: Just in time to lend a smidge, a dollop, a hint of added election chaos! Thanks awfully, goog [embedded post]

Dan Shields /
@dshieldspgh.bsky.social: <insert thisisfine.gif> [embedded post]

Danny Goodwin /
Search Engine Land: Google AI Overview ads launch on mobile in U.S.

Alex Brown /
@bookjockeyalex.bsky.social: please. i'm begging you to stop. no one wants this. [embedded post]

Calvin Wankhede /
Android Authority: Google's declining search quality drove me to Perplexity, but is the grass really greener?

The Times:

Reuters withdraws two stories on the World Anti-Doping Agency after it was found that WADA's media head received a Reuters press pass for the Masters golf event— World Anti-Doping Agency media chief James Fitzgerald accredited for golf event via Reuters, who have admitted to ‘a violation of our journalistic standards’

Discussion:
Talking Biz News, Reuters, @2xaught7.bsky.social, @tariqpanja,

Discussion:

Chris Roush /
Talking Biz News: Reuters pulls stories on anti-doping agency

Tariq Panja /
@tariqpanja: The WADA official denies to @martynziegler the two things are connected and that he was attending the golf in a private capacity. [image]

Tariq Panja /
@tariqpanja: @martynziegler This is the note attached to the stories that are now no longer available. [image]

Tariq Panja /
@tariqpanja: Global news agency Reuters has pulled two stories related to the World Anti Doping Agency after WADA's chief comms officer was found to have been supplied with a Reuters press pass for the coveted Augusta Masters golf. Story here by @martynziegler https://www.thetimes.com/...

Bloomberg:

The NFL is in talks with Skydance Media and its major investor RedBird Capital Partners about deals that could include a sale of NFL Media and NFL Network— - Discussions revolve around the league's media assets — Earlier conversations with ESPN are said to have stalled

The Guardian:

The BBC cancels a planned Boris Johnson interview after presenter Laura Kuenssberg says she accidentally sent the former UK prime minister her briefing notes— Briefing notes mistakenly being sent to ex-PM meant it was ‘not right for the interview to go ahead’, says presenter

Discussion:

Laura Kuenssberg /
@bbclaurak: While prepping to interview Boris Johnson tomorrow, by mistake I sent our briefing notes to him in a message meant for my team. That obviously means it's not right for the interview to go ahead. It's very frustrating, and there's no point pretending it's anything other than

Steven McIntosh /
BBC: Kuenssberg ‘embarrassed’ by Johnson message error

Nazir Afzal /
@nazirafzal: I told you Laura Kuenssberg was struggling now that she is in opposition! She could, of course, ask some different questions that Boris Johnson hasn't seen in advance. For a change.

James O'Brien /
@mrjamesob: I'll do it.

Glyn Moody /
@glynmoody@mastodon.social: #BBC cancels Boris #Johnson interview after Laura #Kuenssberg message gaffe - https://www.theguardian.com/ ... gosh, it's almost as if she has been working hand-in-glove with the tories for years...

Alice Jones /
@alicevjones: Looking forward to the Netflix dramatisation of this, followed by the Amazon Prime one a couple of months later

Jonathan Shainin /
@jonathanshainin: I hope they make two movies about this one too

Dave Jones /
@welshgasdoc:

Tim Stickland /
@sticklandtim@mastodon.green: #ukPolitics — #BBC — #BorisJohnson — Since I'm paying for this through my licence fee, can I have a copy please. And why message him anyway ? — @LauraKT any comment.... https://www.theguardian.com/ ...

Steve Topple /
Canary: NO ONE believes Kuenssberg's excuse over Johnson interview - except her corporate media mates

Henry Morris /
@mrhenrymorris: Those leaked questions in full: [image]

Ross McCafferty /
@rossmccaff: 325 grand a year

Jake Kanter /
Deadline: BBC Scraps Interview With Boris Johnson After Laura Kuenssberg Mistakenly Shared Briefing Notes With Former UK Prime Minister

Ellise Shafer /
Variety: BBC's Boris Johnson Interview Canceled After Presenter Laura Kuenssberg Mistakenly Sent Former U.K. Prime Minister Briefing Notes

Anita Singh /
Telegraph: ‘Embarrassed’ Laura Kuenssberg cancels Boris interview after she sent him her briefing notes

Axios:

A look at James McDonald's Access Global, which has bought seven local news sites and launched eight in Philadelphia and on the Jersey Shore over the last year— McDonald thinks there's a viable business model for hyper-local sites if they're tied to coverage from a broader region or city.

Discussion:
Simon Owens on LinkedIn

Reuters:

Russian journalists Antonina Favorskaya, Sergei Karelin, Konstantin Gabov, and Artem Kriger go on trial in Moscow over their alleged links to Alexei Navalny— Four Russian journalists went on trial in Moscow on Wednesday on charges of involvement in an “extremist” group after authorities accused …

Discussion:
Adweek, Associated Press and DNyuz

Variety:

Samsung TV Plus adds about 4,000 hours of ad-supported, free-to-stream Korean shows and movies, following deals with CJ ENM and others— Leading Korean content owners including CJ ENM and NEW ID have struck supply deals with Samsung TV Plus, a U.S. free ad-supported TV (FAST) channel.

Discussion:
Neowin, Samsung Newsroom, Streaming Better, Media Play News and WORLD SCREEN

Discussion:

Erik Gruenwedel /
Media Play News: Samsung TV Plus Ups South Korean Streaming Content Portfolio in the U.S.

Alexa Alfano /
WORLD SCREEN: Samsung TV Plus Acquires Raft Of K-Content

TechCrunch:

WP Engine files a lawsuit in California against Automattic and WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg, accusing them of “abuse of power, extortion, and greed”— Web hosting provider WP Engine has filed a lawsuit against Automattic, and WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg, accusing them of extortion and abuse of power.

Discussion:
Engadget, @cowkitty, @jeffr0, @hashim_warren, @zimm3rmann, The Verge, @ryancduff, @automattic, @wpengine, @ryancduff, @ctrlaltdwayne, @dwlz, @bgardner, WP Engine, Automattic, TechRadar and The Register, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Lawrence Bonk /
Engadget: WordPress founder sued for alleged libel and attempted extortion @cowkitty: According to @wpengine's filing, they shared proof that Matt Mullenweg made an unrequested job offer to WPE's CEO to join Automattic & then threatened to tell the press + WPE's investor that she had interviewed at Automattic (when she hadn't) if she declined the offer #wordpress [image]

Jeff /
@jeffr0: They should get an Ohio Supreme Court judge for the WP Engine vs Automattic case for maximum dumbassery [image]

Hashim Warren /
@hashim_warren: What are the consequences of this? WP Engine is claiming that Matt Mullenweg has been lying to the IRS for years and has been “self-dealing” with the WordPress license. This is mutual scorched earth. [image]

Michael Zimmermann /
@zimm3rmann: @wpengine Oh man, when a jury sees those text messages 😂

Jess Weatherbed /
The Verge: The ‘WordPress’ fight is now a lawsuit

Ryan Duff /
@ryancduff: @wpengine ... This complaint is filled with days of material Matt provided while running his mouth, because he thought he was right and his “lawyers” told him to “go for it” Like... they're citing slack messages, 𝕏 posts, podcasts, interviews. The whole gambit. haha

Ryan Duff /
@ryancduff: OH NO BABY WHAT IS YOU DOIN Why is @photomatt over on HackerNews defending himself in the comments on the post about the WPEngine v Automattic lawsuit? What is happening? This is so wild 🤣😭 PLEASE MAKE IT STOP https://news.ycombinator.com/ ... [image] @automattic: Our associate general counsel explains how and why both Automattic and the WordPress Foundation own the WordPress trademarks. Read more in our latest post. https://automattic.com/... @wpengine: Matt Mullenweg and Automattic's self-proclaimed scorched earth campaign against WP Engine has harmed not just our company, but the entire WordPress ecosystem. The symbiotic relationship between WordPress, its community and the businesses that invest millions to support WordPress

Ryan Duff /
@ryancduff: @wpengine ... I'm only through two pages of the introduction and the Quinn Emanuel attorneys are returning Matt's “scorched earth” favor. No holds barred 😳🫣

Dwayne /
@ctrlaltdwayne: Holy moly. I just read through the WP Engine vs. Automattic filing, and oh boy. I think Matt might of bitten off more than he can chew here. - WP Engine are arguing nominative fair use over using terms like WordPress and Woocommerce (which we already knew) - Matt deceived the

Dan Loewenherz /
@dwlz: In perhaps the most predictable reaction you can imagine to this manufactured WordPress drama, WP Engine just filed a defamation suit against Automattic and Mullenweg. The only winners here are the attorneys. And I bet the defendants settle. https://wpengine.com/...

Brian Gardner /
@bgardner: Here's our latest update (@wpengine) with information the #WordPress community needs to know. We have spoken our truth, and we will not be silent. Please read the details (PDF) in the post below. 👇

Thomas Claburn /
The Register: Latest in WordPress war: Automattic says it wanted 8% cut of WP Engine revenue

Washington Post:

After reporter Christine Brennan asked a WNBA player a question the latter saw as race baiting, the players association says she doesn't “deserve” credentials— In a thrilling but delicate moment for the WNBA, a journalist's focus on Clark is stirring tension among players and the press.

Discussion:

Tom Jones /
Poynter: A USA Today columnist asked a fair question. The WNBA Players Association responded with an out-of-line statement.

Matt Yoder /
Awful Announcing: Sue Bird says Caitlin Clark being ‘used as a pawn’ to advance racist agenda in WNBA

Justin Tasch /
New York Post: Fiery WNBA union claims over Caitlin Clark-DiJonai Carrington question a ‘complete overreaction’: Christine Brennan

Christine Brennan /
@cbrennansports: I asked DiJonai Carrington about that moment early in Sunday's Indiana-Connecticut game when she caught Caitlin Clark in the eye. Here's her answer: [video]

Stewart Mandel /
@slmandel: For sports journalism nerds, thought this by @benjstrauss was a well-reported story about a complicated story. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Frankie de la Cretaz /
@thefrankiedlc: I wanted to address the idea that the WNBPA's statement about USA TODAY's Christine Brennan was about one incident, so I did a deep dive into her WBB coverage this season. Of the 18 WBB columns of Brennan's that I read from this year, 17 were about Clark. https://www.thefrankiedlc.news/ ...

Adam Zagoria /
@adamzagoria: Either the WNBA wants to be treated and covered like other major leagues or not. It's not the job of journalists to ‘celebrate and amplify’ the league. Christine Brennan is a pro and was asking the tough questions.

Adam Jacobi /
@adam_jacobi: Demanding Christine Brennan's credential to be pulled is, by orders of magnitude, far more unprofessional than anything she's done as a reporter over the last 6 months. Work your resentments out with a therapist, not a press release. @thesarahkelly: I would like white journalists to be less defensive when Black athletes tell them their coverage or approach is harmful. Instead, we get this circling of wagons. https://www.poynter.org/...

Maitreyi Anantharaman /
Defector: The WNBA's Season Of Clash Is Big Business For The Permanently Aggrieved

Keith Olbermann /
@keitholbermann: Congratulations. You've just attacked one of the women who paved the way to make a WNBA possible. If you think @cbrennansports has any agenda besides supporting and covering women's sports, you should close your union and suspend WNBA play until you read in on what SHE

Christine Brennan /
@cbrennansports: Thank you @AdamZagoria. If we're going to ask the question of a male athlete, and of course all of us have done that for decades, why wouldn't we ask it of a female athlete?

Jonathan Martin /
@jmart: This is so embarrassing - and not for Christine Brennan, one of the finest reporters on any beat https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... @priyadesai: WNBA Players Association released a statement today and called out Christine Brennan by her name [image]

Ahmad Austin Jr /
Mediaite: ‘Way Beyond What Is Normal’: Longtime Sports Reporter Criticized for Viral Question About Caitlin Clark Fox News: Megan Rapinoe condemns journalist for asking player about giving Caitlin Clark black eye: ‘That feels racist’

The Hollywood Reporter:

New Yorker union members vote to authorize a strike ahead of the magazine's annual festival as they negotiate a second contract with Condé Nast— More than six months into negotiations over a second labor contract, the magazine's union is asserting that wage floors …

Discussion:
CNN, @newyorkerunion, NewsGuild of New York and @newyorkerunion

Discussion:
@newyorkerunion: After months of negotiations, management has proposed raising the salary floor from $60,000 to $61,500. Our proposed minimum is $67,000: a fair baseline for the rising cost of living. Prestige can't feed us; we want fair pay for everyone at The @NewYorker, and we want it now. [image]

Reuters:

Tanzania suspends the digital content licenses of a local media company for 30 days for allegedly publishing content damaging the country's image— Tanzania's communications regulator has suspended the digital platforms of a local media company for allegedly publishing restricted content …

Discussion: