WaPo CEO Will Lewis: Ask Me Anything Except About That Phone Hack Cover-Up (Corbin Bolies/The Daily Beast)

Mediagazer: A look at the methods future WaPo editor Robert Winnett used in the UK, including sending a reporter undercover to a government job and paying a source £100K+ (Corbin Bolies/The Daily Beast)

Top News:

New York Times:

WaPo CEO Will Lewis and top editor Matt Murray send memos trying to reassure staff, and former CEO Patty Stonesifer visits the newsroom, after a week of tumult— Will Lewis, the chief executive, pledged to employees to ‘improve how well I listen,’ while Matt Murray, the new editor, tried to reassure staff members.
Discussion:

Karl Bode /
@karlbode.bsky.social: Lewis is 100% going to double down and unless Washington Post staff get very creative and very vocal (which self preservation incentivizes against) it's all going to get significantly worse [embedded post]

Ben Smith /
@semaforben: Remarkable how distant UK politics are from Washington. Boris Johnson got Lewis knighted — this isn't a huge secret. https://pressgazette.co.uk/...

Dylan Byers /
Puck: License to Will — The latest anxieties and dueling narratives emanating from the expanding …

Dan Froomkin /
@froomkin: This thing from Wil Lewis is not a “conciliatory” memo, as per NYT story. He's basically saying: I will engage in some performative listening and you will understand me better. There is no apology, no actual humility. Just a desire to move on. No dice. https://www.nytimes.com/...

Anne Applebaum /
@anneapplebaum2000@threads.net: Having worked on Fleet Street, at the Telegraph, and at the Washington Post, I am flabbergasted by the prospect of merging their cultures

John Taylor /
@john_b_taylor@threads.net: The @washingtonpost needs a new publisher. The current one should step down immediately. If the Graham family still owned this news organization they would have fired this publisher by now. I'm extremely disappointed, but not surprised that @jeffbezos hasn't taken that step himself.

Katie Robertson /
@katie_robertson: More readable format of Will Lewis's memo to staff tonight here https://x.com/... [image]

Lionel Barber /
@lionelbarber: Final thought post my Washington visit: by seeking to kill the phone hacking story, Will Lewis has now encouraged every US news organisation to nail him/the full story. A scoopmeister in his FT days, he may appreciate the irony. All this is a huge distraction as he tries to @profdaly@threads.net: As a former Postie, I can't help wondering: What would Kay Graham do? What would Ben Bradlee do? They were people who had character, guts, and a clear understanding of the meaning of journalism.

Dan Froomkin /
@froomkin: Lewis quotes two kiss-ass emails, the “negative” one ending “we are rooting for you.” He has no idea how badly he has lost the newsroom. Also, self-congratulatory humility is not a thing. Also, you can't say “bygones” when you should be saying “bye”.

RELATED:

Washington Post:

Will Lewis criticizes reports that he tried to suppress stories on his ties to a phone hacking case and calls David Folkenflik an activist, not a journalist— In a statement Thursday, William Lewis pushes back at media outlets' accounts of events leading up to Post editor Sally Buzbee's abrupt departure on Sunday.

Discussion:
@benmullin, The Guardian, Politico, Poynter, @langfittnpr, @jayrosen_nyu, New York Times, @jackshafer, @jeremymbarr, @freddydeknatel, @froomkin, @wesleylowery, @maxwelltani, @bartongellman, @benmullin, @loisbeckett, @_cingraham, @dkiesow@threads.net, @edmundlee, @digiphile@threads.net, @gbrockell@threads.net, @jbenton, @atrios, @bgrueskin, @arusbridger, The Handbasket, @dankennedy_nu@threads.net, @janinegibson, @mattdpearce@threads.net, @sallyjenx@threads.net, Associated Press, @claremalone, @dicktofel, @jeffjarvis, @pressgazette, The Daily Beast, @davidgura@threads.net, @mollywoodpro@threads.net, HuffPost, Mediaite, @froomkin, @katie_robertson, @brianstelter, @jdawsey1, @ericuman, @wesleylowery, @davidfolkenflik, @rationaldoge@hachyderm.io, @hoipollois.bsky.social, SFGATE, @juwanthecurator.bsky.social and The Wrap

Discussion:

Frank Langfitt /
@langfittnpr: @WashPost CEO Will Lewis calls @davidfolkenflik an “activist, not a journalist,” after David exposed Lewis' attempts to kill an embarrassing story. I've worked w/ David for 3 decades. He's a GREAT journalist. This is just one more example that proves it. @MorningEdition @NPR

Jay Rosen /
@jayrosen_nyu: Were he wiser, Will Lewis would be focusing on one thing right now: losing the newsroom, meaning the confidence Washington Post journanlists have in him. And before calling @davidfolkenflik an “activist, not a journalist,” he would know what the Post newsroom thinks about that.

Jack Shafer /
@jackshafer: @jeremymbarr ... is an excellent media reporter and no activist. Will Lewis is dead wrong about him.

Jeremy Barr /
@jeremymbarr: In a new story, Washington Post publisher Will Lewis calls NPR media reporter @davidfolkenflik “an activist, not a journalist,” for writing that Lewis offered him a deal to not run a story about the UK hacking scandal in exchange for an interview https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... [image] @freddydeknatel: Calling a reporter “an activist, not a journalist” for reporting something you don't like is... very on brand for a former Murdoch media exec. This also isn't a denial at all of what @davidfolkenflik reported. The Will Lewis era kicking off at The Post! https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... [image]

Dan Froomkin /
@froomkin: Yes, indeed. Kudos to Washington Post media reporters @sarahellison and @ElaheIzadi for their bold reporting in exceedingly difficult circumstances. https://www.mediaite.com/...

Wesley /
@wesleylowery: you know, all of this wapo drama makes me really interested in reading some fresh, deep reporting and sweeping writing about Will Lewis role in the UK phone hacking scandal.

Max Tani /
@maxwelltani: Matt Murray's email to WaPo staffers this evening congratulating staff on this week's coverage, including the Post's Lewis/Buzbee stories [image]

Barton Gellman /
@bartongellman: By the ineluctable force of the Streisand Effect, WP publisher Will Lewis, who tried to kill two stories about him, has dared investigative reporters to get to the bottom of his role (if any) in the UK phone hacking scandal. His newsroom should be first in line.

Ben Mullin /
@benmullin: NEW: Leaders of The Washington Post Guild sends a letter to Matt Murray asking him “to publicly state in a note to the newsroom that you won't allow our journalistic work to be influenced by other pressures, whether they are external or come from within the company itself.” [image]

Lois Beckett /
@loisbeckett: My @guardian colleagues report on the @washingtonpost's incoming British editor, and how the @telegraph changed during his time there: https://www.theguardian.com/ ... [image]

Christopher Ingraham /
@_cingraham: Post publisher Will Lewis now attempting to denigrate NPR's David Folkenflik as “an activist, not a journalist.” Notably he doesn't deny anything. Deeply unserious, hackish stuff here. Will be a massive blow to the Post's credibility if he stays on. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... [image]

Damon Kiesow /
@dkiesow@threads.net: Remember when Jeff Bezos had his phone hacked in a case involving the National Enquirer and allegedly a Saudi Crown prince? And yet.

Edmund Lee /
@edmundlee: This comment from Will Lewis on @davidfolkenflik is completely off base. David is one of the best media reporters out there. Period. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Alex Howard /
@digiphile@threads.net: If Bezos wasn't reconsidering making William Lewis CEO & publisher of the @WashingtonPost because of his role in a phone hacking scandal & Sally Buzbee's resignation, he should now: calling @davidfolkenflik an “activist” will lose that newsroom. …

Gillian Brockell /
@gbrockell@threads.net: Even setting aside his editorial interference — which, let's be clear, that alone is disqualifying — his big idea to save the company is to create bigger newsroom silos and pivot to video??? That's the brilliant plan? Did no one tell him WaPo tried that a decade ago? (I was hired to edit video!) …

Gillian Brockell /
@gbrockell@threads.net: Sincere congrats if he actually makes one-time payments happen, that could legit rake in some cash. But let's be honest: Hundreds of WaPo journalists and tens of thousands of WaPo readers have been asking for this for years. So like, anyone of us could be publisher?

Gillian Brockell /
@gbrockell@threads.net: It seems like he wants to pivot to AI generated video? But like, laying off all my former video colleagues, who have won Pulitzers and Emmys galore, isn't gonna save you $70 million, bud. 🤷🏻 ♀️

Joshua Benton /
@jbenton: Anyone who declares @davidfolkenflik “an activist, not a journalist” because he wrote a story about you you didn't like is prima facie not the person to run the @washingtonpost https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Bill Grueskin /
@bgrueskin: Calling Folkenflik “an activist, not a journalist” is straight from the Murdoch/Fox playbook. Somewhere in the Afterlife, Roger Ailes is softly muttering, “Well done, my man. Well done.”

Alan Rusbridger /
@arusbridger: It's not v classy to smear ⁦@davidfolkenflik⁩ as an “activist” rather than a journalist for writing a story which appears to be true. Smacks of Murdoch rather than ⁦@washingtonpost⁩. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Marisa Kabas /
The Handbasket: The Washington Post is in fascist-guided free fall

Dan Kennedy /
@dankennedy_nu@threads.net: Regarding the reported 70m drop in The Washington Post's audience, that's raw digital traffic, which really isn't worth all that much. At one time the Post had 3m paid subscribers, then it dropped to 2.5m. It would be very telling to know what it is today. JournalismThreads

Janine Gibson /
@janinegibson: The after effects of phone hacking. Still! “It is not the first time that Lewis has engaged in intense efforts to head off coverage about him in ways that many U.S. journalists would consider deeply inappropriate” https://www.npr.org/... @mattdpearce@threads.net: The only real defense against what's happening at the Washington Post are my friends in the newsroom at the Post refusing to lower their ethical standards a millimeter. Let the culture eat the cronyism for lunch.

Sally Jenkins /
@sallyjenx@threads.net: Matt I share your sentiment but accuracy please: Matt Murray holds his position only because Sally Buzbee declined it, according to our own very good reporting. He is an excellent editor. It wasn't cronyism.

David Bauder /
Associated Press: After editor's departure, Washington Post's publisher faces questions about phone hacking stories

Clare Malone /
@claremalone: I mean, first of all, ⁦@davidfolkenflik⁩ is a journalist not an activist. But this is pretty stunning rhetoric for Lewis to use, purposefully weaponizing the current right wing discourse about NPR against an individual reporter. Uh! Alarm bells! https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... [image]

Richard Tofel /
@dicktofel: Very bad sign here that WaPo's publisher has chosen to attack the integrity of ⁦@davidfolkenflik⁩ of ⁦@nprnews⁩. People long familiar with the US press beat know Folkenflik as a straight shooter and fair reporter. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... @jeffjarvis: The Post is forced to cover its own journalistically dubious boss, who issues traditionalists' favorite slander against critics, calling @davidfolkenflik “an activist, not a journalist.” He projects. Gift link: Post publisher draws more scrutiny after newsroom shake-up... @pressgazette: Lewis has responded calling Folkenflik “an activist, not a journalist” and saying he “had an off the record conversation with him... and some six months later he has dusted it down, and made up some excuse to make a story of a non-story” https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

David Gura /
@davidgura@threads.net: Horsefeathers.

Molly Wood /
@mollywoodpro@threads.net: I can't get enough of this story for a lot of reasons, but one of them is how Lewis' behavior so obviously reveals the way Murdoch properties operate, which of course we already knew. Also, calling David Folkenflik an “activist” is such an anti-NPR right-wing tell. Like. Activist. *snort*

Marita Vlachou /
HuffPost: NPR Reporter Says WaPo CEO Offered Him Interview In Exchange For Killing Story

Colby Hall /
Mediaite: Washington Post Reporters Deliver Unflinching Piece on Claims Against New CEO Rattling Newsroom

Dan Froomkin /
@froomkin: Lewis now giving his own reporters shit for their coverage of him. “On Wednesday, when a reporter approached him to follow up on scheduling an interview, he expressed his disapproval with The Post's recent reporting on its own leadership changes.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... Fire him

Katie Robertson /
@katie_robertson: This story, by The Washington Post's @sarahellison and @ElaheIzadi about their own CEO and publisher, deserves to be read as well as applauded for the thorough way they have interrogated multiple claims https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: The Washington Post's latest account of turmoil atop the Post is top-notch media reporting. By the time you finish reading, your eyebrows may be permanently raised. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Josh Dawsey /
@jdawsey1: I feel lucky to be colleagues with ⁦@sarahellison⁩ — a terrific reporter and person. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Eric Umansky /
@ericuman: Post CEO William Lewis does not like the Post's coverage of him. BTW, the Post's @sarahellison and @ElaheIzadi have been doing great coverage. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... [image]

Wesley /
@wesleylowery: the criticism that someone is “an activist and not a journalist” has always been a nonsensical ad-hominem, as evidenced by the idea that it would ever apply to ⁦@davidfolkenflik⁩ of all people. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

David Folkenflik /
@davidfolkenflik: Post publisher draws more scrutiny after newsroom shakeup — @washpost reports on firestorm, firewalls, and sometimes fiery chief exec https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Bruce MacDonald /
@rationaldoge@hachyderm.io: 'It is considered a third rail in journalism for business-side leaders to intervene or attempt to influence coverage in their own publications, particularly when it concerns them and their own interests, said Kathleen Culver, director of the Center for Journalism Ethics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. … @hoipollois.bsky.social: David Folkenflik is a beloved public radio journo who does the quirky stories that are fascinating. — It's a bad look for an incoming newspaper owner to get defensive and call journalists names, ESP one holding him to account. — It's like ... he opposes the mission of journalism. [embedded post]

Drew Magary /
SFGATE: The Washington Post is about to embrace the darkness @juwanthecurator.bsky.social: Calling David Folkenflik an “activist” is like, to borrow a Brit for this analogy, calling Queen Elizabeth a “reformer” [embedded post]

Politico:

The recent crisis at The Washington Post suggests that CEO Will Lewis has no idea how the media operates, and his fast-growing credibility problem may undo him— The crisis at the newspaper suggests the publisher has no idea about how the media operates. — The oldest axiom in journalism …

Discussion:
@tednesi, @stevechapman13, @farnazfassihi, @alexthomp, @mattsradio, @brianstelter, @froomkin, @jbhavan and @sherrilynifill@threads.net

Discussion:

Ted Nesi /
@tednesi: “Attacking a reporter who has the goods also has a way of attracting additional reporters to the story, something Lewis must know.” https://www.politico.com/... @stevechapman13: “Nobody wants to work for an untrustworthy publisher.” https://www.politico.com/...

Farnaz Fassihi /
@farnazfassihi: The crisis at the Washington Post suggests the publisher Will Lewis has no idea about how the media operates. Will he be out before he ruins the Post, already he has lost all credibility with staff, readers & peers. https://www.politico.com/...

Alex Thompson /
@alexthomp: .@jackshafer: “If Bezos' hide is thick enough to endure the Post arrows, Lewis' should be, too.” https://www.politico.com/...

Matt McCleskey /
@mattsradio: “He can't very well put out the business fire that is consuming the Washington Post (it has lost $77 million in the past year) if his own pants are aflame.” https://www.politico.com/...

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: For Will Lewis “to imagine that the Post should not write about him is a pipe dream. This is a perk that not even the owner and his companies enjoy.” Indeed — owner Jeff Bezos has always said the Post should treat him just like anyone else https://www.politico.com/...

Dan Froomkin /
@froomkin: Even @jackshafer is skeptical of Will Lewis's longevity: “Depending on how the current crisis unwinds, Lewis' conduct and response may undo him. He can't very well put out the business fire that is consuming the Washington Post if his own pants are aflame.” @jbhavan: “Newsrooms are run by consent of the governed. You don't have to think your colleague is a good person in order to work effectively with them, but you must believe they are on the level with you.” https://www.politico.com/...

The Daily Beast:

A look at the methods future WaPo editor Robert Winnett used in the UK, including sending a reporter undercover to a government job and paying a source £100K+— DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL — Will Lewis has dragged WaPo into his alleged U.K. hacking scandal—and staffers who spoke with The Daily Beast are pissed.

Discussion:
@jeffjarvis@threads.net, @_eileenie_@threads.net, The Daily Beast, The Wrap, Press Watch, CNN and Media Nation

Discussion:

Jeff Jarvis /
@jeffjarvis@threads.net: Attention must also be paid to Will Lewis' editor from the ever-more-execrable Telegraph: https://www.theguardian.com/ ... @_eileenie_@threads.net: Anxieties are growing about whether what happened at the Daily Telegraph could be in store for the Post. A trusted paper once considered on the center-right, the Telegraph has tacked ever further to the fringes, embracing populist leaders and their ideas while Robert Winnett, now at WaPo, was in a key role. …

Mike Roe /
The Wrap: Washington Post Publisher Pitches His ‘Leadership’ and ‘Humility,’ Denies Pressuring Editor to Drop Story

Dan Froomkin /
Press Watch: Will Lewis must go. The Washington Post publisher's actions cast doubt on his newsroom's credibility. CNN: Washington Post publisher Will Lewis reportedly tried to kill story about his involvement in UK hacking scandal

NPR:

Will Lewis repeatedly offered an exclusive interview about WaPo's future, in exchange for dropping a story on claims he helped cover up UK phone hacking scandal— The Washington Post has written twice this spring about allegations that have cropped up in British court proceedings involving its new publisher and CEO, Will Lewis.

Discussion:
CNN, New York Times, Slate, @davidfolkenflik, New Republic, Media Nation, Jonathan Heawood on LinkedIn, @obrien_kat@mastodon.world, @_cingraham, @djvanness@mastodon.social, @arusbridger, @jlgolson, @craigmwhitlock, @sdkstl, @mariaramirezny, @froomkin, @bradkleinnews, @keitholbermann, @nick_field90, @jackshafer, @dan1763, @gtconway3d, @kslane, @davidfolkenflik, @bgrueskin, @not2b@sfba.social, @markjacobnews@threads.net, Newser, @karaswisher@threads.net, Politico, Axios, @sallyjenx@threads.net, @jswatz_tx@threads.net, Mediaite, @juwanthecurator.bsky.social, @dankennedy_nu@journa.host, The Wrap, Financial Times, @brainnotonyet.bsky.social, @TonyStark@progressivecafe … and New York Times

Discussion:

Oliver Darcy /
CNN: Morale plummets inside The Washington Post as staffers express alarm over publisher's attempts to squash story

Michael M. Grynbaum /
New York Times: The British Aren't Coming. They're Here. — As a historic presidential election looms …

Justin Peters /
Slate: The Baffling Disaster Unfolding at the Washington Post

David Folkenflik /
@davidfolkenflik: To misquote the Godfather, new Washington Post publisher Will Lewis made me an offer I had to refuse. My chat on @UpFirst with @NPRinskeep on the failed campaign of a top news executive to thwart unwelcome coverage https://www.npr.org/...

Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling /
New Republic: How Washington Post's Shady New CEO Keeps Breaking Journalism Ethics

Dan Kennedy /
Media Nation: Lewis keeps digging and demands a bigger shovel

Jonathan Heawood /
Jonathan Heawood on LinkedIn: In the UK, we have this funny habit of thinking we're better than everyone else. Particularly Americans. … @obrien_kat@mastodon.world: What a disaster for journalism that this person is leading the Washington Post - one of the premier journalism outlets in the world and an inspiration to many, not least for sticking up for what was right on Watergate. — https://www.npr.org/... #journalism #washingtonpost #ethics

Christopher Ingraham /
@_cingraham: This is extremely gross: The Washington Post's new publisher offered NPR an exclusive interview if they agreed to kill a story about his legal troubles. NPR refused, and the exclusive interview went to perennial management-defender Dylan Byers at Puck https://www.npr.org/... [image]

Dave Vanness /
@djvanness@mastodon.social: Will Lewis must resign. Democracy will die in darkness when editors like Lewis turn off the lights. #willlewis #washingtonpost #journalism #rupertmurdoch #jeffbezos https://www.npr.org/... [image]

Alan Rusbridger /
@arusbridger:

Alan Rusbridger /
@arusbridger: This is the episode of @mediaconfpod where @Bynickdavies sets out the allegations over a phone hacking cover up against @washingtonpost CEO Will Lewis. https://podcasts.apple.com/... [image]

Jordan Golson /
@jlgolson: This sort of thing happens every day. It's called “journalism.” It's the media equivalent of prosecutors cutting a deal with a smaller fish to get them to flip on the bigger fish. I guess sources know not to trust this NPR reporter now, though. https://www.nytimes.com/...

Craig Whitlock /
@craigmwhitlock: “When the late former Post managing editor Eugene Patterson was publisher of the St. Petersburg Times, he insisted the newspaper report his arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol on the front page.”

Staci D Kramer /
@sdkstl: >>In several conversations, Lewis repeatedly — and heatedly —offered to give me an exclusive interview about the Post's future, as long as I dropped the story about the allegations.<<

María Ramírez /
@mariaramirezny: There is a reason why the U.S. has the best journalism in the world. Reporters push back. Tina Brown said journalism in the U.S. is a mission; in the UK it's a job. She meant to be disparaging towards Americans, I guess.

Dan Froomkin /
@froomkin: “In several conversations, Lewis repeatedly — and heatedly —offered to give me an exclusive interview about the Post's future, as long as I dropped the story about the allegations.” WOW @bradkleinnews: A great detail from NPR's Folkenflik. “When the late former Post managing editor Eugene Patterson was publisher of the St. Petersburg Times, he insisted the newspaper report his arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol on the front page.”

Keith Olbermann /
@keitholbermann: Hey, @JeffBezos... You've hired a thug to run @washingtonpost He's not going to survive here You should get it over with and fire him today before he destroys your paper

Nick Field /
@nick_field90: @davidfolkenflik “That first interview appears to have gone to Puck's Dylan Byers. It ran a day after the Post's piece in May” Funny, that same Dylan Byers published an anti-Buzbee piece yesterday just an hour after the NYT article was posted. What a coincidence....

Jack Shafer /
@jackshafer: @davidfolkenflik “In several conversations, Lewis repeatedly — and heatedly —offered to give me an exclusive interview about the Post's future, as long as I dropped the story about the allegations.”

Dan Smith /
@dan1763: @davidfolkenflik @andevers A difference between U.K. and US media. The idea that anyone would be surprised if the owner blocks the paper they own, from writing an unfavourable story about them is just laughable in a U.K. environment. That's WHY they own these loss making organisations.

George Conway /
@gtconway3d: “Lewis had just been named publisher and CEO by Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos, but had not yet started. Lewis repeatedly—and heatedly—offered to give me an exclusive interview about the Post's future, as long as I dropped the story about the allegations.”

David Folkenflik /
@davidfolkenflik: The Washington Post's publisher pushed his executive editor hard to kill a damning story about him. It wasn't the first time - he did the same to me. My piece for NPR https://www.npr.org/...

Bill Grueskin /
@bgrueskin: Washpost CEO to NPR's @davidfolkenflik: If you drop that embarrassing story about me, I'll give you an exclusive interview. Folkenflik to Washpost CEO: No. https://www.npr.org/... [image]

Joe /
@not2b@sfba.social: @dangillmor You could link to the NPR story, which is not paywalled: https://www.npr.org/...

Mark Jacob /
@markjacobnews@threads.net: It's up to Jeff Bezos to fire Washington Post CEO Will Lewis for trying to kill coverage of his own ties to Rupert Murdoch's UK phone hacking scandal. Did Bezos buy WaPo to make it great or to wreck its credibility? https://www.npr.org/...

Kara Swisher /
@karaswisher@threads.net: This is, um, not good. Tho this kind of horse trading happens (largely with celebs), it is rare and shocking and adds heft to sally.buzbee accounts. Good on @davidfolkenflik: Washington Post's new CEO tried to kill a story about him - again https://www.npr.org/...

Sally Jenkins /
@sallyjenx@threads.net: I've had it. The Washington Post consists of its journalists. If an editor was spineless or gooey enough to be “rattled” by a mere remark from someone powerful, they didn't belong in the job. And for anyone to suggest off the record without putting their name to it that that's what happened is even more cowardly. …

John Schwartz /
@jswatz_tx@threads.net: I only worked in journalism 40 years, but this looks bad to me. Does it look bad to you? “In several conversations, Lewis repeatedly — and heatedly —offered to give me an exclusive interview about the Post's future, as long as I dropped the story about the allegations.” https://www.npr.org/...

Phillip Nieto /
Mediaite: NPR Media Reporter Accuses Washington Post CEO of Trying to Kill Negative Story By Dangling Exclusive Interview

@juwanthecurator.bsky.social:
Will Lewis is ruining the already battered reputation of the Washington Post in record time. He tried to swindle a deal out of a MEDIA REPORTER to hide a story about him trying and failing to previously hide a story. I think even Jeff Bezos could have found a better con artist. [embedded post]

Dan Kennedy /
@dankennedy_nu@journa.host: The Will Lewis Resignation Watch has officially begun. David Folkenflik has devastating new details about the Washington Post publisher's attempts to cover up his role in the Murdoch phone-hacking scandals, including offering an exclusive interview to Folkenflik last December if he'd agree to drop a story he was working on. #journalism …

Natalie Korach /
The Wrap: Washington Post CEO Will Lewis Attempted to Kill Phone Hacking Story: ‘Drop the Story, Get the Interview’

Karl /
@brainnotonyet.bsky.social: This is a very clear glimpse of the way democracy dies as journalism is strangled by its billionaire owners in an attempt to protect themselves from accountability. Corruption at this scale/unaccountable wealth are massive parts of the ongoing war against democracy and integral to understanding it. … @TonyStark@progressivecafe.social: This is why a free press is vital, so at least one can hold another outlet accountable. — Needless to add that there are major problems at the Washington Post and I've been talking about them for awhile. — They are going to need quite a rehabilitation to regain trust, if it's possible. …

The Canadian Press:

Google signs a deal with The Canadian Journalism Collective to distribute the CA$100M the company has promised to Canadian news companies in 2023— Google names group to dole out $100M to news — OTTAWA - Google announced which organization it has selected to distribute the $100 million …

Discussion: Google
Andrea Nemtin on LinkedIn, @hermida,

Discussion:

Andrea Nemtin /
Andrea Nemtin on LinkedIn: A huge win for community based journalism and our country. Thank you Erin Millar Sadia Zaman Christopher Lee and the many more folks who made this happen. …

Alfred Hermida /
@hermida: Here's the full list of Canadian news organisations applying for Google funding. The list runs to 24 pages and more than 500 entries. https://storage.googleapis.com/ ...

Alfred Hermida /
@hermida: Google is closing down its Google News Showcase program in Canada. Instead its only monetary contribution to journalism will be the CAD$100m per year agreed under the Bill C-18 exemption. https://blog.google/... Jaffer Zaidi / Google: How we're moving forward with the Canadian news ecosystem

Forbes:

AI search engine Perplexity is republishing parts of stories by Forbes and others, with nearly identical words and inadequate attribution, on its Pages feature— The startup, hailed as an AI-focused Google challenger, is republishing parts of exclusive stories from multiple publications …

Discussion:

Shirin Ghaffary /
Bloomberg: AI Startup Perplexity Says News Summary Tool Has ‘Rough Edges’

Marty McBecker /
@iplayguitarbad: @CodeMonkey_frfr ... No, you don't get to release a product and be like “oopsie!” They know exactly what their products are doing, they just do not care. If they cared, they'd test. They don't get to say “we intend to improve” when called out and expect to be taken in good faith. Losers.

Aravind Srinivas /
@aravsrinivas: @JohnPaczkowski @perplexity_ai Thanks for flagging this. The screenshot you shared is of a new product feature we released two weeks ago called “Perplexity Pages”. It has rough edges, and we are improving it with more feedback. The core Perplexity product has, from day one, had appropriate source attribution [image] @codemonkey_frfr: @JohnPaczkowski ... I think the point @AravSrinivas was making was that this is not intended behavior and they have every intent of improving attribution. It would be akin to a reporter releasing an article on a new story and accidentally providing “misinformation” simply because the story is new.

John Paczkowski /
@johnpaczkowski: @AravSrinivas @perplexity_ai The screenshot you shared that has prominent sourcing at the top is not what I'm talking about. This page, which reads like an original news article, does not have appropriate attribution. https://www.perplexity.ai/...

John Paczkowski /
@johnpaczkowski: @AravSrinivas @perplexity_ai I didn't comment on your core product, or what others are doing. But this story, which you pushed to users, is little more than plagiarism. There is no clear attribution, just tiny logos where our work is treated with the same weight as reblogs. It's not “rough” it's theft

John Paczkowski /
@johnpaczkowski: @AravSrinivas @perplexity_ai You scraped and repurposed investigative reporting gathered over months, fleshed it out with re-blogs of the same story by other outlets, and do not even bother to name us in your regurgitated post beyond a"Sources" link, which is click to expand. [image]

Emily Baker-White /
@ebakerwhite@threads.net: They did it with our TikTok scoop from earlier this week, too. This is investigative reporting, sourced painstakingly from whistleblowing company insiders. AI can't do that kind of work, and if we want people who do, this can't be allowed to happen. https://www.perplexity.ai/...

John Paczkowski /
@johnpaczkowski: Our reporting on Eric Schmidt's stealth drone project was posted this AM by @perplexity_ai . It rips off most of our reporting. It cites us, and a few that reblogged us, as sources in the most easily ignored way possible. Note the views. #zeroclick https://www.forbes.com/... [image] @eerkeboiten: @CodeMonkey_frfr ... You have to be kidding. Letting out tools that don't behave as intended out into the wild with flaccid assurances that there is every intention to fix the problems ....

New York Times:

Sources: WBD, home of TNT Sports, strikes a $650M deal for US rights to the French Open for 10 years, with plans to air the event on cable networks and Max— Warner Bros. Discovery has a 10-year, $650 million deal in place to be the new home of the French Open in the United States beginning in 2025 …

Discussion:
Variety, The Wrap, Awful Announcing, Barrett Media and Sports Media Watch

Discussion:

Brian Steinberg /
Variety: Warner Bros. Discovery Snares U.S. Rights to French Open (EXCLUSIVE)

Lucas Manfredi /
The Wrap: Warner Bros. Discovery Acquires US Rights to French Open

Jon Lewis /
Sports Media Watch: WBD reportedly acquiring French Open

The Wrap:

NY passes legislation that would protect actors' voices and likenesses from being digitally replicated without consent; the bill awaits Gov. Hochul's signature— “[These are] the most essential parts of who we are and the work we do,” SAG's Rebecca Damon says of the Digital Contracts Act

Discussion:
The New York State Senate, @mtfiii, @nysenate, @sagaftrany and Inside Radio

Discussion:

Michael T Ford III /
@mtfiii: New York Assembly Passes Bill to Protect Actors From AI Replicas “[These are] the most essential parts of who we are and the work we do,” SAG's Rebecca Damon says of the Digital Contracts Act https://www.thewrap.com/... @nysenate: #NYSenate Bill S7676B, sponsored by Senator Ramos, passed (60-0, unofficial). Establishes contract requirements for contracts involving the creation and use of digital replicas: https://www.nysenate.gov/... @sagaftrany: Huge shout out to @NYSenatorRamos and Assemblymember @HeleneWeinstein for their work on S.7676-B /A.8138-A and all that they do to protect #SagAftraMembers. The digital replica licensing bill passed unanimously in the NYS Senate and the Assembly! [image]

Variety:

Sources: WBD would like the NBA to consider a “fourth package”, which would carve out a small package of games rights, alongside Disney's, Amazon's, and NBCU's— The media company has signaled in recent days to the NBA that it would like to discuss the prospect of carving …

Discussion:
Deadline, @dennismtracy, @bristei, The Streamable, Front Office Sports, Sportico and Financial Times

Discussion:

Dade Hayes /
Deadline: As NBA Remains A Jump Ball, Warner Bros. Discovery Grabs French Open Tennis Rights In U.S.

Dennis Tracy /
@dennismtracy: David Zaslav: “we don't need the NBA” Also David Zaslav: um... 🥺 https://variety.com/...

Brian Steinberg /
@bristei: Warner Bros. Discovery hopes to cadge the NBA, NBC, Disney and Amazon into giving up games in already-sketched out rights deals so it can have a small package all its own — a sign of how much its ties with the league have deteriorated.... https://variety.com/...

David Satin /
The Streamable: WBD Reportedly Trying to Carve Fourth NBA Rights Package out of Failing RSN Inventory

Michael McCarthy /
Front Office Sports: Buzzer Beater? TNT Is Negotiating for Fourth NBA Rights Package

Associated Press:

A judge, not a jury, will give the verdict in the antitrust trial about Google's ad business, after Google paid $2.3M to cover US government's monetary damages— A judge rather than a jury will decide whether Google violated federal antitrust laws by building a monopoly on the technology that powers online advertising.

Discussion:
Reuters, Bloomberg, The Verge and The Information, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Mike Scarcella /
Reuters: Judge rules Google will not face jury trial in US digital ads case

Richard Lawler /
The Verge: Google's $2.3 million check helped the company get a trial by judge instead of jury

Jon Victor /
The Information: In Win for Google, Judge Rejects DOJ Request for Jury Trial in Adtech Antitrust Case

Semafor:

Some unionized journalists at the NYT, Reuters, and others criticize the NewsGuild over organizing costs and union leaders' left-leaning criticism of journalism— The Scoop — A top news union's organizing costs and some of its leaders' outspoken left-leaning criticism of journalism …

Discussion:
New York Post, The NewsGuild, @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social and Fox News

Discussion:

Lydia Moynihan /
New York Post: New York Times, Condé Nast union lawyers up after leaders' anti-Israel tweets

Rebekah Entralgo /
The NewsGuild: Newsletter: Historic First Contract Wins at Tribune

Jeff Jarvis /