Two more members of the Los Angeles Times editorial board have resigned over the paper's decision not to endorse a candidate in the 2024 presidential election (Max Tani/Semafor)

Mediagazer: Two more members of the Los Angeles Times editorial board have resigned over the paper's decision not to endorse a candidate in the 2024 presidential election (Max Tani/Semafor)

Top News:

NPR:

Recent moves at the Los Angeles Times and NBC News, and the lack of a Washington Post presidential endorsement, raise concerns that owners are appeasing Trump— Recent episodes involving major U.S. news organizations have stoked fears that outlets are preemptively self-censoring coverage …
Discussion:

Matt Hamilton /
@_hamilton_matt: Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Robert Greene is smart, deeply knowledgeable about L.A. County, and a decent colleague. His departure is a huge loss.

Jessica Brand /
@jbrand07: It is hard to describe what a loss this is. @robrtgreene was one of the most important, moral columnists in America on the critical issues of our time. @pattmlatimes: .@robrtgreene won a Pulitzer Prize for his wise, informed, invaluable writing about how government at every level works, and doesn't. This is a serious blow to the paper, a serious loss for readers, and for me, a gut-punch loss of a great colleague and friend.

Max Tani /
@maxwelltani: NEW: LA Times editorial board member Robert Greene tells me he has also resigned from the paper over the decision not to endorse in the 2024 presidential race, as well as the statement yesterday from owner Patrick Soon-Shiong. Blaze Media: Panicked LA Times union begs readers to stop canceling subscriptions over presidential endorsement debacle

Mallory Wilson /
Washington Times: L.A. Times owner says editorial board was given choice, ‘chose to remain silent’ on endorsement

David Folkenflik /
@davidfolkenflik: Did the L.A. Times and other news outlets pull punches to appease Trump? My story for NPR - (with cameos from @semaforben & @ianbassin) https://www.npr.org/...

Azi™ /
@azi: “One of the central media stories in the U.S. right now is the people who run big media companies making accommodations for a second Trump presidency and thinking about how to avoid antagonizing him” — @semaforben

Steve Bass /
@sbasspersonal: I don't know how much endorsements matter. However, if owners are fearful about endorsements, will they stand behind critical reporting? Raises questions for sure.

Jim Hᴏft /
The Gateway Pundit: LA Times Owner Exposes Editorial Board's Bias After Refusing to Draft Balanced Analysis of Trump and Kamala Harris Policies — Opts for Silence Instead of Informing Voters

Bill Grueskin /
@bgrueskin: This behavior by the Washpost edit page — and the editors' unwillingness to be upfront about it — is bizarre. Smacks of “anticipatory obedience” as @TimothyDSnyder would put it. Via @davidfolkenflik Link below [image]

Germania Rodriguez Poleo /
Daily Mail: LA Times boss says editors were asked to come up with ‘fair’ analysis of Trump AND Kamala - but chose not to Fox News: LA Times editor resigns over the paper not endorsing Harris for president: ‘Not okay with us being silent’

Katie Robertson /
New York Times: L. A. Times Editorial Chief Quits After Owner Blocks Harris Endorsement

JD Knapp /
The Wrap: LA Times Owner Denies Vetoing Presidential Endorsement: ‘The Editorial Board Chose to Stay Silent’

Jenn Gidman /
Newser: LA Times Is Missing One Big Endorsement

RELATED:

Semafor:

Two more members of the Los Angeles Times editorial board have resigned over the paper's decision not to endorse a candidate in the 2024 presidential election— The Scoop — Two more members of the Los Angeles Times editorial board resigned on Thursday over the paper's decision …

Discussion:

Ben Smith /
@semaforben: More fallout at the LA Times, @maxwelltani scoops https://www.semafor.com/...

Maxwell Tani /
@maxwelltani@threads.net: Karin Klein, another LA Times editorial board member, tells me she has also resigned https://www.semafor.com/...

Maxwell Tani /
@maxwelltani@threads.net: NEW: LA Times editorial board member Robert Greene tells me he has also resigned from the paper over the decision not to endorse in the 2024 presidential race, as well as the statement yesterday from owner Patrick Soon-Shiong.

Marisa Kabas /
@marisakabas.bsky.social: masterful gambit, pat. [image]

Margarita Noriega /
@margarita.bsky.social: Los Angeles expects more from the LA Times than silence. www.cjr.org/business_of_...

Ray Schultz /
MediaPost: Editorials Editor Of ‘The Los Angeles Times’ Resigns Over Blocked Endorsement

Oliver Darcy /
Status: A Puzzle at The Post — The Washington Post building. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Jim Hᴏft /
The Gateway Pundit: Leftist LA Times Editorial Page Editor Resigns in Protest After Owner Blocks Endorsement of Kamala Harris

Columbia Journalism Review:
Mariel Garza, editorials editor of the Los Angeles Times, resigns after the outlet's owner blocked the editorial board's plans to endorse Harris for president

Discussion:
@drpatsoonshiong, The Wrap, Fox News, Media Nation, @maxwelltani, Vanity Fair, The Gateway Pundit, Newsbusters, One America News Network, Matt Pearce, Blaze Media, Breitbart, @leonardpittsjr1, @markhamill, @leonardpittsjr1, BizPac Review, HuffPost, Raw Story, Washington Examiner, Townhall, @elonmusk, @loisbeckett, @kateaurthur, @loisbeckett, Poynter, New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter, @latguild, Twitchy, Associated Press, @saralibby, @deggans, @cagirl80, @williambibbiani, @gerrickkennedy, @kylebuis, @ragregg, @nickpowellchron, @davidfolkenflik, @mattdpearce, @lanana421, @jamesrbuk, @silvermanjacob, @maxapotter, @lara_korte, @byrobinepley, @laura_nelson, @michaelzlin, @mrneuropolitan, @johnrmoffitt, @mediamorphis, @robrtgreene, @jnicholsonindc, @sewellchan, @sdkstl, @matildabress, @newsjennifer, @byelsieramos, @sewellchan, Newser, @mac_ryan_@threads.net, Axios, The Hill, @jswatz_tx@threads.net, The Guardian, UPI, Ken Peterson on LinkedIn, @ryanboswell@sfba.social, @mattsheffield@mastodon.social, Bloomberg, New York Post, SFGATE, The Independent, @ianrosewrites@scicomm.xyz, @dangillmor@mastodon.social, The Editor's Desk, CNN, Washington Times, @ChrisHolladay@mastodon.social, @barney@mas.to, @Basmitharts@weird.autos, @coachfinstock.bsky.social, @marisakabas.bsky.social, @Bellison22@mastodon.social, @WarnerCrocker@mastodon.social, @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social, The San Francisco Standard, Deadline, Adweek and r/Journalism

Discussion:

Dr. Pat Soon-Shiong /
@drpatsoonshiong: So many comments about the @latimes Editorial Board not providing a Presidential endorsement this year. Let me clarify how this decision came about. The Editorial Board was provided the opportunity to draft a factual analysis of all the POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE policies by EACH

Ross A. Lincoln /
The Wrap: Two More LA Times Editorial Writers Quit Over ‘Chickens—’ Owner's Block of Kamala Harris Endorsement | Exclusive

Fox News:
LA Times union begs readers not to cancel the subscriptions that pay their salaries after blasting owner

Dan Kennedy /
Media Nation: More fallout from the LA Times; plus, the Sun shines in Colorado, and news deserts spread

Max Tani /
@maxwelltani: Karin Klein, another LA Times editorial board member, tells me she has also resigned

Natalie Korach /
Vanity Fair: Los Angeles Times Owner's Attempt at 2024 Neutrality Backfires

Jim Hᴏft /
The Gateway Pundit: REPORT: Far-Left Washington Post Staffers Furious as Jeff Bezos Allegedly Blocks Kamala Endorsement, Fearing Trump's Inevitable White House Comeback

Justine Brooke Murray /
Newsbusters: Head of LA Times Editorial Board QUITS, Calls Paper Racist and Sexist for Not Endorsing Kamala

Dr. Pat Soon-Shiong /
One America News Network: LA Times Editor Announces Resignation After Owner Blocks Planned Harris Endorsement Matt Pearce: That doesn't make any sense, Patrick — An embarrassing and avoidable episode for the owner of the Los Angeles Times.

Chris Enloe /
Blaze Media: LA Times owner tells the truth about Kamala Harris non-endorsement fiasco — and it exposes the rot in journalism

Paul Bois /
Breitbart: Los Angeles Times Editor Resigns After Owner Blocks Kamala Harris Endorsement

Leonard Pitts, Jr /
@leonardpittsjr1: Sadly, your weaselly rationalization doesn't obscure the fact that you have embarrassed yourself and a once-great institution. I'm an L.A. native. I can't recall the last time I didn't have a subscription to the Times, but from now on, I'll be getting my Lakers news elsewhere.

Mark Hamill /
@markhamill: I canceled our subscription to the LA Times because I want to make it clear that I am not okay with them being silent. In dangerous times, honest people need to stand up. This is the only way to show I'm standing up.- mh #ThankYouMarielGarza 🙏

Leonard Pitts, Jr /
@leonardpittsjr1: Dear @DrPatSoonShiong: How nice of you to try to teach professional journalists how to practice journalism. Perhaps next, you will instruct LeBron James on the proper form for a breakaway dunk. Surely, you're just as qualified to do the one as you are the other. 1/2

Terresa Monroe-Hamilton /
BizPac Review: LA Times editor quits after paper refuses to endorse Kamala Harris: ‘Makes us look craven’

Marita Vlachou /
HuffPost: Los Angeles Times Editor Resigns After Owner Blocks Presidential Endorsement

Jenny Goldsberry /
Washington Examiner: Los Angeles Times editorials editor quits when owner won't endorse Harris

Leah Barkoukis /
Townhall: Here's What the LA Times' Editorials Editor Did After Owner Decided Not to Run Presidential Endorsement

Elon Musk /
@elonmusk: @DrPatSoonShiong @latimes Makes sense

Lois Beckett /
@loisbeckett: @elonmusk ... Hey @elonmusk, did you ask @DrPatSoonShiong to not allow the @latimes editorial board to endorse Kamala Harris?

Kate Aurthur /
@kateaurthur: @elonmusk ... You plus-one-ing him means that this is for sure a deplorable decision on Soon-Shiong's part. Thanks for clarifying!

Lois Beckett /
@loisbeckett: There's been a lot of Twitter speculation about whether @DrPatSoonShiong's decision to block an @latimes endorsement of Kamala Harris was related to his relationship with @elonmusk. Musk just responded to @DrPatSoonShiong's tweet about not wanting to run an endorsement: [image]

Tom Jones /
Poynter: The Los Angeles Times won't endorse a candidate for president. Its owner offers a nonsensical explanation

Katie Kilkenny /
The Hollywood Reporter: Los Angeles Times Editorial Page Editor Resigns Following Paper's Decision Not to Endorse Presidential Candidate

Warren Squire /
Twitchy: Newspaper's Surprising ‘Neutral’ Turn Has Democrat Activist Editor Rushing for the Door Associated Press: ‘Los Angeles Times’ editor resigns after newspaper withholds presidential endorsement

Sara Libby /
@saralibby: It's understandably difficult for members of the public to fully grasp the distinctions between the news side and the opinion side of a paper. But what's laid out here is NOT an editorial, and presumably the owner of a newspaper would know that. https://x.com/... @deggans: Such an analysis would neatly avoid questions about how Trump is conducting himself publicly, his promises to go after political opponents, his lies about not losing the 2020 election or immigrants eating pets, etc. Perhaps the owner should leave journalism to journalists...

Claudia P. Granados /
@cagirl80: So BOTH coastal papers of record— the @latimes & @nytimes decided to sit out the MOST impt election of our lifetime! Am guessing it's in their best economic interest to sit it out instead of doing their jobs. Noted. The press is important in democracies. This is #NoBueno

William Bibbiani /
@williambibbiani: So people are - rightfully - angry that he prevented the Los Angeles Times from making a presidential endorsement, and his defense is yes, he DID prevent the Los Angeles Times from making a presidential endorsement, because he doesn't know how newspapers work. Shameful.

Gerrick Kennedy /
@gerrickkennedy: LAT does a fantastic voters guide...this side by side policy comparison could have existed as a piece. Endorsements serve a particular purpose. Either way, your continued interference in newsroom decisions shows your staff that you don't trust their editorial judgment.

Kyle Buis /
@kylebuis: This is not how endorsements work, and really comes off as someone looking to protect his interests by blunting his staff's work. Very bad look by the LA Times owner.

Remington A. Gregg /
@ragregg: This isn't how editorials work. Coming up with this silliness *in this one instance* makes this interference even more laughable.

Nick Powell /
@nickpowellchron: What he's describing is not how any editorial board worth its salt operates when it comes to endorsements. Readers look to us to give authoritative opinions on candidates and their policies. Otherwise what the hell is the point of endorsing?

David Folkenflik /
@davidfolkenflik: LAT owner @DrPatSoonShiong says below he gave editorial board the charge of assessing both candidates not making an endorsement per se. Unlikely to soothe roiled waters inside LAT

Matt Pearce /
@mattdpearce: Endorsing or not is traditionally the owner's prerogative, but publicly dumping on the staff is classless. @lanana421: @DrPatSoonShiong @latimes With all due respect, that's not how endorsements work. The L.A. Times makes endorsements in election cycles for up and down- ballot candidates, ballot measures, propositions, etc. Just say you overruled your editorial board's endorsement of VP Harris in favor of tax cuts.

James Ball /
@jamesrbuk: Unlike Donald Trump, Kamala Harris has not been president. So this explanation doesn't even remotely make sense on its own terms. Except, of course, to the owner of this site, who's replied: “makes sense”.

Jacob Silverman /
@silvermanjacob: Of course Musk is appreciative that Soon-Shiong blocked the paper from endorsing Harris. [image] @maxapotter: “This is a point in time where you speak your conscience no matter what.” —@marielgarzaLAT What this editor did ain't easy. I submit that this is what walking the walk of journalistic integrity looks like. And she said it like a journalist — succinctly and truthfully.

@maxapotter:
“Owning a newspaper carries great public responsibility. In my view, media proprietors should hire leaders they trust and then let them exercise their judgment.” — @sewellchan reporting the story.

Lara Korte /
@lara_korte: Garza argues the non-endorsement has thrown the board's integrity into question. [image]

Robin Epley /
@byrobinepley: .@marielgarzaLAT is incredibly courageous and I admire her so deeply for making this decision. Our readers deserve to know without doubt that no one calls an editorial board's shots, not even our employers.

Laura J. Nelson /
@laura_nelson: The non-endorsement undermines “every single endorsement we make, down to school board races,” Garza wrote. “People will justifiably wonder if each endorsement was a decision made by a group of journalists after extensive research and discussion, or through decree by the owner.”

Aaron McCall /
@mrneuropolitan: It is not popular - and I don't know if there is enough public trust for public funded media - but our current model that depends on ad clicks and billionaires is bad for our democracy.

John Moffitt /
@johnrmoffitt: Today is when people will need to do brave things.

Dwayne Winseck /
@mediamorphis: The bad media mogul—and the kind that throttle editorial & journalistic freedom—is regaining force amidst the crisis of ad-funded news media. Coupled with authoritarian populist bullying by Trump, @PierrePoilievre, Orban, etc, , these are lethal blows to media freedom, 1/

Robert Greene /
@robrtgreene: @marielgarzaLAT is a journalist of unimpeachable integrity.

Jonathan Nicholson /
@jnicholsonindc: The list of ex-LAT talent grows longer and more impressive. Sigh.

Sewell Chan /
@sewellchan: @latimes Hours after @semafor reported on Tuesday that Soon-Shiong had blocked the endorsement, Trump's rapid-response team sent out an email calling the newspaper's decision “the latest blow” for Harris. https://www.semafor.com/...

Sewell Chan /
@sewellchan: This year, the @latimes' assessment would have carried more weight than other publications', because Harris is the first major-party nominee from California since Ronald Reagan.

Sewell Chan /
@sewellchan: On Oct. 11, Patrick Soon-Shiong, who bought @latimes in 2018, informed the editorial board that the Times would not be making an endorsement for president. The message was conveyed to Garza by Terry Tang, the paper's editor.

Sewell Chan /
@sewellchan: @latimes @semafor I was the newspaper's editorial page editor in 2020 and 2021, and presided over the board's endorsement of Joe Biden in 2020. Months earlier, before I took the job, Soon-Shiong had stopped the editorial board from making an endorsement in the Democratic presidential primary.

Sewell Chan /
@sewellchan: It's the owner's prerogative and right to decide whether (and whom) to endorse. But in both the 2020 D primary, and now, the decision not to make an endorsement needed to better communicated and explained.

Sewell Chan /
@sewellchan: @marielgarzaLAT is an outstanding—and upstanding—journalist. During our collaboration our colleague @robrtgreene for editorial writing. Mariel's departure is a big loss for @latimes and for California journalism.

Staci D Kramer /
@sdkstl: “I am resigning because I want to make it clear that I am not okay with us being silent. In dangerous times, honest people need to stand up. This is how I'm standing up.” - Mariel Garza

Matilda Bress /
@matildabress: Thank you, Mariel & love to all the fantastic journalists at @latimes “I am resigning because I want to make it clear that I am not OK with us being silent,” Garza told me in a phone conversation. “In dangerous times, honest people need to stand up. This is how I'm standing up.”

Jennifer Schulze /
@newsjennifer: “It makes us look craven and hypocritical, maybe even a bit sexist and racist.” Fallout from the @latimes owner blocking planned endorsement of Harris⤵️ https://www.cjr.org/... [image]

Elsie Ramos /
@byelsieramos: “I am resigning because I want to make it clear that I am not OK with us being silent,” ⁦@marielgarzaLAT⁩ https://www.cjr.org/...

Sewell Chan /
@sewellchan: My friend Mariel Garza just resigned as editorials editor of @latimes after the newspaper's owner blocked the editorial board's plan to endorse Kamala Harris for president. https://www.cjr.org/...

Evann Gastaldo /
Newser: LA Times Editor Resigns After Harris Endorsement Is Blocked

Ryan Mac /
@mac_ryan_@threads.net: like clockwork

Ryan Mac /
@mac_ryan_@threads.net: and another thing: im not mad. please dont put in the newspaper (that i own) that i got mad.

Rebecca Falconer /
Axios: LA Times editor resigns after owner blocks Harris endorsement plans

Juliann Ventura /
The Hill: L.A. Times editorial editor quits after owner blocks plans to endorse Harris

John Schwartz /
@jswatz_tx@threads.net: Thank you, @sewellchan — a great story with real moral clarity https://www.cjr.org/...

Sheri Walsh /
UPI: L.A. Times editorials editor quits over decision to withhold presidential endorsement

Ken Peterson /
Ken Peterson on LinkedIn: “In dangerous times, honest people need to stand up. This is how I'm standing up.” — Those are the words of former Los Angeles Times …

Ryan Boswell /
@ryanboswell@sfba.social: And I was just starting to appreciate reporting from the LA Times more in the last few months. — The actual reporting team is still doing a decent job, but the owner has failed us all. — But it is important that word does get out that the editorial team did fully intend to endorse Harris, had they not been blocked. …

Matthew Sheffield /
@mattsheffield@mastodon.social: MAGA Media censorship strikes again: Los Angeles Times editorial page editor resigns after being blocked by paper's owner from publishing staff endorsement of Kamala Harris https://www.cjr.org/...

Christopher Palmeri /
Bloomberg: LA Times Editorial Chief Quits After Harris Endorsement Quashed

David Propper /
New York Post: Los Angeles Times editorial boss resigns after billionaire owner Patrick Soon-Shiong scraps Harris endorsement

Farley Elliott /
SFGATE: LA Times editor quits after billionaire owner blocked paper's presidential endorsement

Josh Marcus /
The Independent: LA Times editorials editor quits after billionaire owner reportedly blocked paper from endorsing Harris

Ian Rose /
@ianrosewrites@scicomm.xyz: I know how hard the news business is, but the billionaire hobby model is not going to be the way out. The sooner we realize that, the better. — News-about-the-news can seem like very inside baseball, but I urge everyone to be aware of what is happening at the LA Times. — #uspol #news #journalism …

Dan Gillmor /
@dangillmor@mastodon.social: LA Times owner seems to be in league with Trump, vetoing a Harris endorsement and then letting the campaign use standard-issue lies to smear the paper for something it didn't do. — The editorial page editor quit in protest and she deserves our respect. …

Andybechtel /
The Editor's Desk: A passive approach to political endorsements

Liam Reilly /
CNN: Los Angeles Times editor resigns after newspaper owner blocked plans to endorse Harris

Mallory Wilson /
Washington Times: L.A. Times, California's largest paper, decides to not endorse home-state Kamala Harris @ChrisHolladay@mastodon.social: @Mediagazer — LA Times really needs to rethink this hill they want to die on.

Barney /
@barney@mas.to: The Los Angeles Times' editorials editor has resigned, to protest the new pro-fascist owner's ban on presidential candidate endorsements. — #USPol #Journalism — https://www.cjr.org/... @Basmitharts@weird.autos: #USPol — Some quality Streisand effects — happening out in LA. — https://www.cjr.org/... @coachfinstock.bsky.social: He's literally saying I asked for both sidesism and doesn't see a problem with that.

Marisa Kabas /
@marisakabas.bsky.social: this fucking guy [image] @Bellison22@mastodon.social: LA Times editorials editor resigns after owner blocks endorsement — “The non-endorsement undermines the integrity of the editorial board & every single endorsement we make, down to school board races. People will justifiably wonder if each endorsement was a decision made by a group of journalists after extensive research and discussion, or through decree by the owner.” …

Warner Crocker /
@WarnerCrocker@mastodon.social: Stand up move. — Los Angeles Times editorials editor resigns after owner blocks presidential endorsement — #politics #media #journalism — https://www.cjr.org/... [image]

Jeff Jarvis /
@jeffjarvis@mastodon.social: Thank you, Mariel Garza. — Los Angeles Times editorials editor resigns after owner blocks presidential endorsement https://www.cjr.org/... The San Francisco Standard: L.A. Times opinion editor quits after billionaire owner kills endorsement

Ted Johnson /
Deadline: Los Angeles Times Editorials Editor Resigns Over Owner's Decision Not To Endorse In Presidential Race

Brad Pareso /
Adweek: LA Times' Billionaire Owner Blocks Paper's Planned Endorsement in Presidential Race

TechCrunch:

In a post, Perplexity criticizes media companies that have sued over AI, saying they wish AI tools didn't exist and prefer that corporations own reported facts— Perplexity shot back at media companies skeptical of AI's benefits in a blog post Thursday responding to News Corp's lawsuit filed against the startup earlier this week.

Discussion:
@carnage4life@mas.to, The Verge, The Hollywood Reporter, Pocket-lint, Digital Trends, TVNewsCheck and MEDIANAMA, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Dare Obasanjo /
@carnage4life@mas.to: The big difference between the AI era and Web 2.0 is that the former are quite happy to eat their seed corn. — Why support the business models of the companies your entire product is built around when you can destroy them instead? 🤷🏾 ♂️ — https://techcrunch.com/...

Alex Weprin /
The Hollywood Reporter: Perplexity CEO Speaks at News Corp. Event Days After Lawsuit: “Let's Talk About the Elephant in the Room”

Craig Donaldson /
Pocket-lint: AI search tool in legal trouble (again) since it can't stop plagiarizing

Andrew Tarantola /
Digital Trends: ‘Massive copyright violation’ threatens one of the world's hottest AI apps

Jon Accarrino /
TVNewsCheck: News Corp's Perplexity AI Lawsuit Signals The Need For News Data Licensing

Vallari Sanzgiri /
MEDIANAMA: News Corp Sues Perplexity AI for Copyright Infringement, Seeks $150K Per Violation

RELATED:

Wall Street Journal:
At a conference, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas says he'd like the company to reach ad revenue sharing agreements with publishers, rather than licensing deals

Discussion:
San Francisco Business Times, Reuters, Digiday, MediaPost, Adweek and Business Insider

Discussion:
San Francisco Business Times: Perplexity AI's quest for curiosity and cash, Mira Murati's new startup: Week in AI

Marty Swant /
Digiday: Perplexity faces new legal pressure even as it attempts to win over publishers and advertisers

Ray Schultz /
MediaPost: Perplexity CEO ‘Surprised’ By Dow Jones Lawsuit

Music Business Worldwide:

TikTok strikes a licensing deal with indie music distributor UnitedMasters, a member of Merlin; the current TikTok/Merlin licensing deal ends October 31— TikTok has announced that it has struck a multi-year direct deal with prominent indie artist services and distribution platform UnitedMasters.

Discussion:
UnitedMasters, Billboard, Digital Music News, Social Media Today and Music Ally

Discussion:

Kristin Robinson /
Billboard: UnitedMasters Forges Direct Deal With TikTok After Merlin Negotiations Collapse

Ashley King /
Digital Music News: And Just Like That, TikTok Inks a Direct Deal with UnitedMasters — Bypassing Merlin

Andrew Hutchinson /
Social Media Today: TikTok Establishes New Deal With UnitedMasters to Promote Independent Musicians

Stuart Dredge /
Music Ally: Merlin member UnitedMasters signs a direct deal with TikTok

USA Today:

A poll of 1,000 likely US voters finds 72% had not seen Kamala Harris on a podcast and 77.5% had not seen a Trump podcast appearance— An exclusive USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll asked respondents whether they caught campaign appearances by Harris and Trump on podcasts.

Discussion:

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: A new USA TODAY/Suffolk U poll finds that 1 in 4 American adults have heard Kamala Harris on a podcast and 1 in 5 have heard Donald Trump - impressively high totals if you ask me https://www.usatoday.com/...

Daniel Strauss /
@danielstrauss4: Watch this become the new normal for campaigning 👇

Brandi D. Addison /
Austin American-Statesman: Former President Donald Trump is coming to Texas for ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’ appearance

Stephen Quillen /
Al Jazeera: Trump, Harris turn to podcasts, and maybe Joe Rogan, for US election boost

Notes From Poland:

A state-owned Polish radio station relaunches with AI “presenters” after firing its journalists; station head says layoffs were due to a lack of listeners— A Polish radio station has stirred controversy after relaunching one of its channels in a new version run almost completely …

Discussion:
Marcos Bravo C. on LinkedIn and Associated Press

Reuters:

IAB, cable trade group NCTA, and the Electronic Security Association sue to block the US FTC's “click to cancel” rule, alleging it oversteps the FTC's authority— An industry group representing cable and internet providers sued along with two others on Wednesday to block …

Discussion:
The Verge, USA Today, Variety, Politico, @fight@mastodon …, Engadget, Cord Cutters News, MediaPost, AV Club and Policyband

Discussion:

Todd Spangler /
Variety: Cable Industry Trade Group Sues FTC, Seeking to Block ‘Click-to-Cancel’ Rule Politico: Should Kamala Harris embrace Lina Khan? Democrats are split — and some worry it will cost her @fight@mastodon.fightforthefuture.org: Another reason why we still need Lina Khan — https://www.reuters.com/...

Lawrence Bonk /
Engadget: Of course telecom companies are suing the FTC to block the new ‘click-to-cancel’ rule

Luke Bouma /
Cord Cutters News: Cable TV & Internet Industry Sues to Stop FTC's “Click to Cancel” Rule

Wendy Davis /
MediaPost: IAB And Cable Lobby Challenge Click-To-Cancel Regs

William Hughes /
AV Club: Media group sues FTC for making canceling subscriptions less of a pain in the ass

Bloomberg:

Filing: Grupo Televisa SAB Executive Chairman Emilio Azcarraga steps down amid a US DOJ probe into the Mexican conglomerate's dealings in international soccer— - Grandson of broadcaster's founder stepping down immediately — Investigation ongoing, company says it's cooperating

Discussion:
The Desk and Financial Times

Discussion:

Christine Murray /
Financial Times: Grupo Televisa's chair Emilio Azcárraga steps down amid Fifa probe

Bluesky:

Bluesky says it has 13M+ users, has raised a $15M Series A, and plans payment services to creators and a subscription for features like higher quality video— Bluesky now exceeds 13 million users, the AT Protocol developer ecosystem continues to grow, and we've shipped highly requested features like direct messages and video.

Discussion:
Gizmodo, The Verge, jwz, @rose.bsky.team, @brendelbored.bsky.social, SiliconANGLE, @danilo@hachyderm.io, Social Media Today, @eramdam.me, @bsky.app, @timbray@cosocial.ca, @bnewbold@social.coop, @parismarx.bsky.social, @molly.wiki, @rose.bsky.team, @chrismessina@mastodon.xyz, @andy@social.seattle.wa.us, @coreypein.bsky.social, Amir Shevat on LinkedIn, @pixel@desu.social, @triangulator.org, Decrypt, TechCrunch, @coachfinstock.bsky.social, @tante@tldr.nettime.org, @hikarisoph.bsky.social, Tubefilter and Engadget, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Matt Novak /
Gizmodo: Bluesky Teases Creator Payments While New Sign-Ups Explode After Elon Musk's Destruction of Twitter

Rose /
@rose.bsky.team: To grow sustainably, we're working on a subscription model for premium features like higher-quality video uploads and profile customizations (think colors and avatar frames), but Bluesky will always be free to use. We believe information and conversation should stay accessible to everyone.

Rose /
@rose.bsky.team: We're proud of our vibrant community of artists, writers, developers, and more, and in the near future, we will build a way for you to support them directly. Read more about Bluesky's Series A fundraise and our plans here: bsky.social/about/blog/1...

Brendel /
@brendelbored.bsky.social: Devs threading the needle here between wanting the millions of dollars and also knowing there's words in there that'll cause all of us to hoot and holler like feral maniacs [embedded post]

Duncan Riley /
SiliconANGLE: Bluesky raises $15M to expand decentralized social network and developer ecosystem

Danilo Campos /
@danilo@hachyderm.io: Bluesky has raised a $15m series A — This just in time for the weekend, so we'll be treated to endless tirades about the satanic rites of venture capital — and why the One True Way of building a pure and decent social platform is a grumpy dude paid a terrible wage to ignore user feedback …

Andrew Hutchinson /
Social Media Today: Bluesky Reaches 13 Million Users, Announces New Funding @bsky.app: Our lead, Blockchain Capital, shares our view that tech should serve people, not the reverse, and their extensive experience with dev communities is helpful as we invest in the ATmosphere. — This does not change the fact that the Bluesky app and @atproto.com do not use blockchains or cryptocurrency.

Tim Bray /
@timbray@cosocial.ca: At the moment I'm committed to the #Fediverse platform and to #CoSocial, or member-owned co-op instance, for my primary online social life. But at the same time I'd like #Bluesky to succeed, because the ATProtocol is technically interesting and having alternatives is good. Having said that, this doesn't make me happy. …

Bryan Newbold /
@bnewbold@social.coop: bluesky got more funding, and is working on several sustainable revenue models: subscriptions, domain registration, and payments. — work continues on atproto: tooling for independent Lexicon development; more docs/specs and testing for interop; more complete and documented SDKs — https://bsky.social/... …

Paris Marx /
@parismarx.bsky.social: this isn't going to help with the ongoing concerns about this place being run by crypto people and what might eventually happen with it once commercial pressures increase [embedded post]

Molly White /
@molly.wiki: i do think the degree to which bluesky is stressing that they do not use blockchains really underscores how toxic even a faint whiff of blockchain has become to any normal platform

Rose /
@rose.bsky.team: Paid subscribers won't get special treatment elsewhere in the app, like upranking premium accounts or blue checks next to their names. We won't sell your data. And we won't hyperfinancialize the social experience (through tokens, NFTs, etc.).

Chris Messina /
@chrismessina@mastodon.xyz: Bluesky raises $15M Series led by Blockchain Capital with participation from Alumni Ventures, True Ventures, SevenX, Amir Shevat of Darkmode, co-creator of Kubernetes Joe Beda, and others. — https://bsky.social/... @andy@social.seattle.wa.us: #Bluesky raising a series A round from #Blockchain really makes me want to keep my primary home in the #ActivityPub ecosystem. Blockchain is a grift and a plight upon the world (in the literal global warming sense as well as the figurative scam perspective). — Eventually these investors will want to make their money back. …

Corey Pein /
@coreypein.bsky.social: This is fine. 🔥 [embedded post]

Amir Shevat /
Amir Shevat on LinkedIn: The entire team at Darkmode Ventures are so excited about this! Big congratulations to Jay Graber, Rose Wang and the Bluesky Social team🦋💙

Andy /
@pixel@desu.social: Ah yes, Bluesky announced that they will pull off a subscription model for higher quality audio and profile customization. — Bluesky Nitro. — https://bsky.social/...

Kevin Webb /
@triangulator.org: Honestly, I hope this works out for everyone involved...hard to raise big sums of money these days and not take the cryptobucks. — Also, TIL: Bob Young, founder of Red Hat, participated in their seed round. Wish the industry had more folks like him around. [embedded post]

Liz Napolitano /
Decrypt: Bluesky Raises $15 Million From Crypto Firms—But Says No to Tokens

Amanda Silberling /
TechCrunch: Bluesky raises $15M Series A, plans to launch subscriptions

@coachfinstock.bsky.social:
Hoping the new investor has seen that this isn't a place that's down with crypto because the user base will be looking for Bluesky 2 somewhere else if that shit starts to show up [embedded post] @tante@tldr.nettime.org: What's going on over at Bluesky? — Oh they fundraised and got a whole bunch of money from a blockchain investor who has money in basically ever fucked up scam you have heard of. — Great. — https://bsky.social/... @hikarisoph.bsky.social: People losing their minds over the word “blockchain” should consider reading 😭 [embedded post]

James Hale /
Tubefilter: As X fumbles, Bluesky announces $15 million raise and plans for creator monetization

TechCrunch:

Goodreads co-founder Otis Chandler launches Smashing, an app that aims to create community around articles, podcasts, and more, and has an AI Questions feature— Smashing, a new app curating the best of the web from Goodreads co-founder Otis Chandler, is now available to the public.

Discussion:
MediaPost and Andrew Moseman on LinkedIn, more at Techmeme »

Reuters:

Israel publishes documents it says it found in Gaza, which it claims prove that six Al Jazeera reporters in Gaza were also members of Hamas or Islamic Jihad— The Israeli military named on Wednesday six Palestinian Al Jazeera reporters in Gaza it said were also members of the Hamas …

Discussion:
The Japan Times, Al Jazeera, New York Times, Canary, @speechboy71, Middle East Monitor, @arash_tehran, International Center …, UPI, Middle East Eye, New Jersey Online, The Times of Israel, Associated Press, The Times of Israel, New York Times, New York Post, Adweek, Al Jazeera, Washington Post, freebeacon.com, National Union of Journalists …, Algemeiner.com, Fox News, Jerusalem Post, Breitbart, RedState and The Wrap

Discussion:

Michael A. Cohen /
@speechboy71: A Palestinian journalist was literally holding an Israeli hostage captive in his apartment!!

Marwa A /
Middle East Monitor: Israel setting stage for more killings of Palestinian journalists, says Al Jazeera

Arash Azizi /
@arash_tehran: Good position by @JewishCurrents [image]

Sharon Moshavi /
International Center for Journalists: ‘Another Difficult Journey to Nowhere:’ One Journalist's Account of Life in Gaza

Doug Cunningham /
UPI: Blinken announces $135 million in U.S. aid for Palestinians after Qatar talks

Rayhan Uddin /
Middle East Eye: Fears for six Palestinian journalists after Israel names them as targets

Aysha Qamar /
New Jersey Online: More journalists have been killed in Gaza than any other conflict zone, nonprofit finds The Times of Israel: IDF releases more documents it says show cooperation between Hamas and Al Jazeera

The Times of Israel:
IDF says Gaza documents prove 6 Al Jazeera journalists are Hamas, PIJ operatives

Aaron Boxerman /
New York Times: Israel Accuses 6 Al Jazeera Reporters of Belonging to Militant Groups

Ronny Reyes /
New York Post: IDF names 6 Al Jazeera journalists as members of Hamas, Islamic Jihad after uncovering documents

Brad Pareso /
Adweek: Israel Names Al Jazeera Reporters as Gaza Militants, Network Condemns ‘Unfounded Allegations’

Adam Kredo /
freebeacon.com: Six Al Jazeera Journos Are Actually Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad Terrorists, Declassified Israeli Intel Shows National Union of Journalists (NUJ): NUJ strongly condemns IDF accusations against Al Jazeera journalists

Corey Walker /
Algemeiner.com: IDF Identifies Six Al Jazeera Journalists as Members of Hamas, Islamic Jihad Terror Groups

Fox News:
IDF claims 6 Al Jazeera journalists are members of terror groups, network responds to ‘fabricated accusations’

Joel B. Pollak /
Breitbart: IDF: Documents Expose 6 Al Jazeera Journalists as Hamas, Islamic Jihad Terrorists

Punchbowl News:

A group of Republican lawmakers led by senators Tom Cotton and Mitch McConnell ask for a probe into “systematic” leaks from the FTC and DOJ to Bloomberg News— In a letter dated Wednesday, the senators point to twelve instances since 2023 when Bloomberg broke stories …

Discussion:
Washington Times and Election Law Blog

Discussion:

Alex Miller /