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 (Washington Post)

Mediagazer: 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 (Washington Post)

Top News:

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:

Ross A. Lincoln /
The Wrap: Washington Post CEO Calls Reporter Who Exposed Quid Pro Quo Offer ‘an Activist, Not a Journalist’ @juwanthecurator.bsky.social: Calling David Folkenflik an “activist” is like, to borrow a Brit for this analogy, calling Queen Elizabeth a “reformer” [embedded post]

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/ ...

RELATED:

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:
New York Times, Press Watch, @_cingraham, @jlgolson, @markjacobnews@threads.net, CNN, @brainnotonyet.bsky.social, @not2b@sfba.social, @sallyjenx@threads.net, @karaswisher@threads.net, @bgrueskin, @dankennedy_nu@journa.host, @sdkstl, @juwanthecurator.bsky.social, @arusbridger, Newser, @arusbridger, @kslane, @jackshafer, @mariaramirezny, @froomkin, @bradkleinnews, @keitholbermann, @TonyStark@progressivecafe …, @dan1763, @gtconway3d, @nick_field90, Mediaite, @davidfolkenflik, @jswatz_tx@threads.net, @craigmwhitlock and The Wrap

Discussion:

Dan Froomkin /
Press Watch: Will Lewis must go. The Washington Post publisher's actions cast doubt on his newsroom's credibility.

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]

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/...

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/... CNN: Washington Post publisher Will Lewis reportedly tried to kill story about his involvement in UK hacking scandal

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. …

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

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/...

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]

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 …

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.<<

@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]

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]

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.”

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 @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. …

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.”

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....

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

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/...

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/...

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.” New York Times: Sources: Washington Post CEO Will Lewis criticized Sally Buzbee's judgment in publishing a May 2024 article about a UK phone-hacking lawsuit that involved him

Discussion:
SFGATE, Politico, The Daily Beast, Axios, @drewmagary, @emilybell, Media Nation, @pkafka, Talking Points Memo, @karaswisher@threads.net, @farhip, @rcmacleod, @harrymccracken, @peterjukes, @fredvultee, @nick_field90, @janecoaston, @tvhilton, @sulliview, @eisingerj, @paulvieira, @eisingerj, @silvermanjacob, @farnazfassihi, @nick_field90, @benmullin, @edmundlee, @kevinmdraper, @katie_robertson, @davidbeard@threads.net, @geisler_jill@threads.net, @davidbeard@threads.net, @jswatz_tx@threads.net, The Wrap, @kennysmith@mstdn.social, Digiday, @edmundlee@threads.net, @mattdpearce@threads.net, Puck, @dangillmor@mastodon.social, @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social, @ChrisBoese@newsie.social and @rogerford.org

Discussion:

Drew Magary /
SFGATE: The Washington Post is about to embrace the darkness

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

Drew Magary /
@drewmagary: You should be paying attention to what's going on at the Washington Post, because it's very, very bad. https://www.sfgate.com/...

Emily Bell /
@emilybell: There are network effects within networks. If you are an ‘entourage’ exec like Will Lewis (ie you bring a long train of people with you rather than working with what's in place) the tribal effects are strong - and work against diversity. You can blame Rupert Murdoch for that too/

Dan Kennedy /
Media Nation: Media notes: Will Lewis' unethical ask, Biden is still old and Hub Blog is back

Peter Kafka /
@pkafka: Shout out to @maxwelltani for reporting on the smoke before this week's events. https://www.semafor.com/...

Josh Marshall /
Talking Points Memo: The Brass's Take on the Shake Up at WaPo

Kara Swisher /
@karaswisher@threads.net: Technically, this is called the Sally Shiv. https://www.nytimes.com/...

Paul Farhi /
@farhip: Hoo boy. If events are accurately described here, this is a massive conflict of interest. https://www.nytimes.com/...

Riley MacLeod /
@rcmacleod: Maybe... don't be in charge of journalism if you don't like journalism, bro? [image]

Harry McCracken /
@harrymccracken: Never good news when the CEO chimes in on a particular story in the works, even if it doesn't involve him. (Trust me, I know.)

Peter Jukes /
@peterjukes: Phone Hacking - the unresolved spectre which hangs over so many senior Murdoch executives - now haunts US news rooms

Fred Vultee /
@fredvultee: Pesky phone-hacking scandal!

Nick Field /
@nick_field90: Exactly an hour after this damning report about Lewis, Dylan Byers published his own Buzbee-damning piece, along with the allegation that the Times piece was an attempt to get ahead of his https://x.com/... [image]

Jane Coaston /
@janecoaston: Which British news executives weren't involved in phone hacking, is this like how every British detective series has a choir competition episode

Tom Hilton /
@tvhilton: Someone should lose his job over this, and I'm not naming names but his initials are Will Lewis. And if you're still stumped, here's a hint: he never should have been hired in the first place.

Margaret Sullivan /
@sulliview: ‘Mr. Lewis told Ms. Buzbee the case involving him did not merit coverage’ https://www.nytimes.com/...

Jesse Eisinger /
@eisingerj: READ THE STORY WOT GOT BUZBEE FIRED* By @sarahellison & colleagues: https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Paul Vieira /
@paulvieira: “We are losing large amounts of money. Your audience has halved in recent years. People are not reading your stuff.” https://www.nytimes.com/...

Jesse Eisinger /
@eisingerj: *That was my attempt to put it in language Will Lewis might understand. Actually, it may have accelerated Buzbee's exit from the WaPo. Lewis is worried his role in one of the biggest UK media scandals was facing further exposure: https://www.nytimes.com/...

Jacob Silverman /
@silvermanjacob: Someone being sued in a phone hacking case shouldn't be running a newspaper. (Besides the fact that this new three silo structure sounds bad!) https://www.nytimes.com/...

Farnaz Fassihi /
@farnazfassihi: Stunning but not surprising from Murdoch orbit. Will Lewis clashed with the Washington Post editor over coverage of his role in the News Corp phone hacking scandal. So he pushed her out and replaced her with his buddies. https://www.nytimes.com/...

Nick Field /
@nick_field90: “Mr. Lewis told Ms. Buzbee the case involving him did not merit coverage, the people said. When Ms. Buzbee said The Post would publish an article anyway, he said her decision represented a lapse in judgment and abruptly ended the conversation” https://www.nytimes.com/...

Ben Mullin /
@benmullin: scoop: Former Post Executive Editor Sally Buzbee clashed with its chief executive, Will Lewis, over her decision to publish a story that included allegations he was involved in attempts to cover up the phone-hacking scandal w/ @katie_robertson https://www.nytimes.com/...

Edmund Lee /
@edmundlee: Hooboy ... @washingtonpost CEO Will Lewis told (now former) editor Sally Buzbee that a story she planned to run naming him as a possible party to a suit involving phone hacking, did not merit coverage. Nice reporting @BenMullin @katie_robertson https://www.nytimes.com/...

Kevin Draper /
@kevinmdraper: Will Lewis tells Post reporters “people are not reading your stuff” yet cares deeply when Post reporters have the temerity to write about him and a major court case he is involved in: https://www.nytimes.com/... [image]

Katie Robertson /
@katie_robertson: SCOOP w/ @benmullin: Washington Post CEO Will Lewis and editor Sally Buzbee clashed over an article about a phone-hacking lawsuit mentioning him in the weeks before she abruptly departed, contributing to tensions between the two https://www.nytimes.com/...

Dave Beard /
@davidbeard@threads.net: Would the @WashingtonPost publisher be added to a list of executives who UK plaintiffs argued were involved in a plan to conceal evidence of criminal phone hacking? It's not a story; don't cover it, the publisher told editor Sally Buzbee, who departed the Post abruptly.

Jill Geisler /
@geisler_jill@threads.net: Journalistic independence is essential for for trustworthy journalism. Editors defend it, sometimes at great personal cost. https://www.nytimes.com/...

Dave Beard /
@davidbeard@threads.net: Without fear or favor:

John Schwartz /
@jswatz_tx@threads.net: pro tip: if a source tells you a story about them is not really a story, well, it's really a story. https://www.nytimes.com/...

Stephanie Kaloi /
The Wrap: Exited Washington Post Editor Clashed With CEO Over Coverage of His Ties to Murdoch Scandal

Kenny Smith /
@kennysmith@mstdn.social: Though it was not the cause of the Post's changes, it surely did not help their internal dynamic. — From: @Mediagazer — https://mstdn.social/...

Sara Guaglione /
Digiday: The Washington Post's EIC succession plan shakes up newsroom, but does little to curb marketers' news avoidance

Ed Lee /
@edmundlee@threads.net: Hooboy ... @washingtonpost CEO Will Lewis told (now former) editor Sally Buzbee that a story she planned to run naming him as a possible party to a suit involving phone hacking, did not merit coverage. Nice reporting @benjaminmullin @katie_rob https://www.nytimes.com/... @mattdpearce@threads.net: My sympathies with all the Washington Post journalists who are getting confirmation right now that they have better ethics and news judgment than their CEO.

Dylan Byers /
Puck: ‘Post’ Mortem — The real and surprising story behind Sally Buzbee's departure from The Washington Post.

Dan Gillmor /
@dangillmor@mastodon.social: 1. Washington Post CEO came from the Murdoch empire. — 2. He has been implicated in the (still not fully unraveled) UK “phone hacking” scandal that exemplified the sleaziness of the Murdoch empire. — 3. He told Post editor not to publish a story containing references to his alleged involvement. …

Jeff Jarvis /
@jeffjarvis@mastodon.social: Will Lewis at work: — Clash Over Phone Hacking Article Preceded Exit of Washington Post Editor https://www.nytimes.com/...

Chris Boese /
@ChrisBoese@newsie.social: Clash Over Phone Hacking Article Preceded Exit of Washington Post Editor — Will Lewis, the chief executive of The Washington Post, objected to coverage of a legal development involving him in a phone hacking case. — https://www.nytimes.com/...

Roger Ford /
@rogerford.org: Washington Post CEO Will Lewis apparently tried to kill a story about Washington Post CEO Will Lewis being named in Prince Harry's phone-hacking lawsuit. I don't understand how this is not disqualifying to run a major news organization. (Gift link.) www.nytimes.com/2024/06/05/b...

The Verge:

Twitch announces a program that lets DJs use copyrighted music in their streams by paying a fee; Twitch signed deals with UMG, WMG, Sony Music, and indie labels— Livestreaming platform Twitch announced a new program aimed at DJs today that will allow creators to use copyrighted music in their streams by paying a fee.

Discussion:
Engadget, Deadline, Music Business Worldwide, Twitch, TechCrunch, MediaPost, Ethan Hammerman on LinkedIn and Music Ally, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Lawrence Bonk /
Engadget: Record labels will start reaching into the pockets of Twitch DJs

Bruce Haring /
Deadline: Twitch Will Have DJs Who Monetize Their Livestreams Pay A Fee For Music Use

Murray Stassen /
Music Business Worldwide: Twitch strikes music licensing deals with all three majors and Merlin for DJ livestreams

Lauren Forristal /
TechCrunch: Twitch DJs will now have to pay music labels to play songs in livestreams

Colin Kirkland /
MediaPost: Twitch DJs To Avoid Copyright Issues By Splitting Revenue With Record Labels

Ethan Hammerman /
Ethan Hammerman on LinkedIn: This is such incredible news - DJs can now actually build and monetize communities on Twitch in a meaningful way. …

Stuart Dredge /
Music Ally: Twitch strikes music licensing deals for livestreamed DJ sets

CNN:

Alex Jones agrees to liquidate his personal assets to pay Sandy Hook families under Chapter 7 bankruptcy, in a move that could end his ownership of Infowars— Right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on Thursday moved to liquidate his personal assets, agreeing to demands from the families …

Discussion:
Rolling Stone, Reuters and @_L1vY_@mstdn.social

Discussion:

Charisma Madarang /
Rolling Stone: Alex Jones Will Sell Off Infowars to Help Pay $1.5 Billion He Owes to Sandy Hook Families

Dietrich Knauth /
Reuters: Alex Jones asks to convert his bankruptcy to a Chapter 7 liquidation

Mother Bones /
@_L1vY_@mstdn.social: In more good news: — “Infowars host and known conspiracy theorist #AlexJones has just moved to liquidate his personal assets to pay the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook massacre, to whom he owes more than $1.5 billion in damages, a move that would end his ownership of #Infowars.” …

TechCrunch:

Cara, an artist-run, anti-AI social platform, grew from 40K to 650K users in the past week, as some Instagram artists leave over plans to train AI on user data— ‘Building a product is a bit like making art,’ said founder Jingna Zhang — Artists have finally had enough with Meta's predatory AI policies …

Discussion:

Yohan Yuki Xie /
@youronlyone@c.im: Isn't this a missed opportunity for the #fediverse, #Pixelfed in particular? — «A social app for creatives, Cara grew from 40k to 650k users in a week because artists are fed up with Meta's AI policies» — https://techcrunch.com/... … @tiffylt@threads.net: Flower Goddess 🌷 Also, all the stuff that's going on about Meta, Ai, and Cara. Hearing about artists throwing in the towel or leaving Instagram and their social media. Don't throw away all your years of hard work to a robot. We have no control over the ai thing, but to flat out, stop your creativity altogether? …

Anthony Duignan-Cabrera /
Silicon Valley Business …: EU privacy groups push back on Meta's AI training

Vanessa Arredondo /
Plain Dealer: Meta's AI rollouts in Europe revive data privacy concerns for U.S. social media users

Hilbrand Bos /
@hilbrandbos@threads.net: Fellow artists, have you heard already about Cara app? It's the new instagram but just for artists. If you're like me, tired of scrolling through advertisements and influencer shit, the place feel like paradise... Come find me there and give it a go! @cara_artists

Carolyn /
@CStamp@mastodon.social: “A social app for creatives, Cara grew from 40k to 650k users in a week because artists are fed up with Meta's AI policies” — The problem with this will be funding it. She just got an unexpected bill for almost $100,000 because it grew a lot faster than she expected. So if you use it, maybe do the cup of coffee thing. …

Rafael Brown /
Rafael Brown on LinkedIn: Meet Cara, the social art platform that might kill Instagram. Caara is made by artists for artists. …

Richard Speed /
The Register: Meta faces multiple complaints in Europe over plans to train AI on user data

Beach /
@beach@illo.social: Cara now at 700,000 users (it was 45,000 last week) and a great interview with the founder here: https://techcrunch.com/... #cara

Matt Navarra /
@mattnavarra@threads.net: Artists are fleeing Instagram to keep their work out of Meta's AI “Meta is training its AI on artists' creations. They're flocking to AI-skeptical app Cara to protect themselves.” The app has grown from about 40,000 users to 650,000 in the past week. …

Ben Lovejoy /
9to5Mac: Meta is using your data to train AI models; Europeans can opt out [U: Investigations]

The Verge:

Netflix is testing a homepage redesign on its TV app, replacing static tiles showing shows and movies with boxes that extend when the remote lands on them— Netflix is testing a big homepage redesign on its TV app. The new look replaces the static tiles containing the shows and movies …

Discussion:
Kelly Shuster on LinkedIn, Anna Zvagelskaya on LinkedIn, CNET, Reuters, BGR, 9to5Mac and Gizmodo

Discussion:

Kelly Shuster /
Kelly Shuster on LinkedIn: So excited to this rolling out! Such an incredible effort across many teams of truly stunning colleagues. Congrats, all! 🎉 — https://lnkd.in/...

Anna Zvagelskaya /
Anna Zvagelskaya on LinkedIn: Dream teamwork — https://lnkd.in/...

Kourtnee Jackson /
CNET: Netflix Is Testing a New Layout Design for TVs

Ryan Christoffel /
9to5Mac: Ready for change? Netflix just revealed a major redesign for its TV app

Variety:

SiriusXM will launch Mediaite's Press Club, a weekly show on events and people in media and politics, on June 8, hosted by Mediaite Editor Aidan McLaughlin— Several upstarts are trying to take advantage of it. — SiriusXM will launch “Mediaite's Press Club,” a new weekly hour-long show …

Discussion:
The Desk, Mediaite, @aidnmclaughlin, Radio Ink and @bristei

Discussion:

Matthew Keys /
The Desk: Mediaite Press Club podcast heads to SiriusXM

Jamie Frevele /
Mediaite: Mediaite Launches Weekly Show on SiriusXM and YouTube

Aidan McLaughlin /
@aidnmclaughlin: Some news! Press Club is launching as a weekly show on SiriusXM's POTUS Channel. The first episode, featuring an interview with George Stephanopoulos, airs this week https://variety.com/...

Wired:

Q&A with Bellingcat's Eliot Higgins on how being declared a foreign agent by Russia has affected his work, helping lawyers use open source evidence, and more— Eliot Higgins and his 28,000 forensic foot soldiers at Bellingcat have kept a miraculous nose for truth—and a sharp sense of its limits …

Discussion:
@wired, Nathan May on LinkedIn, @wired, @glocalreporting and Jonathan Luff on LinkedIn

Discussion:
@wired: Higgins worries that governments, social media platforms, and big tech aren't worried enough and that they'll take the danger seriously only when “there's been a big incident where AI-generated imagery causes real harm”—in other words, when it's too late. https://www.wired.com/...

Nathan May /
Nathan May on LinkedIn: “When people think about AI, they think it's going to fool people into believing stuff that's not true. But what it's really doing is giving people permission to not believe stuff that is true.” …

@wired:
Bellingcat is the world's biggest citizen-run intelligence agency, investigating everything from the 2014 shoot-down of MH17 to the various plots to kill Russian dissident Alexei Navalny. The person behind it all? Eliot Higgins. https://www.wired.com/...

Sonja Peteranderl /
@glocalreporting: „It's certainly the first time I've seen #AI-generated content being used as an excuse to ignore real content" @bellingcat founder @EliotHiggins on the role #AI/#deepfakes play re: #Gaza https://www.wired.com/... [image]

OPB:

Rachel Smolkin, SVP of global news for CNN Digital, is leaving to become president and CEO of Oregon Public Broadcasting— today announced that Rachel Smolkin has been chosen as the next president and chief executive officer, bringing a veteran journalist focused on changing audience needs to lead the organization.

Discussion:
CNN, @benmullin, Current, Radio Ink, Deadline, The Wrap, @madhulikasikka, Adweek and Inside Radio

Discussion:

Ben Mullin /
@benmullin: Some news: Rachel Smolkin, senior vice president of global news for CNN Digital, is the next president and CEO of Oregon Public Broadcasting https://www.opb.org/...

Julian Wyllie /
Current: Oregon Public Broadcasting taps CNN's Rachel Smolkin as CEO

Natalie Korach /
The Wrap: CNN Senior VP Rachel Smolkin Exits Network for Oregon Public Broadcasting CEO Role

Madhulika Sikka /
@madhulikasikka: @BenMullin Oh my congratulations @RachelSmolkin and good luck on your next chapter @sbasspersonal what a wonderful tenure

Mark Mwachiro /
Adweek: Rachel Smolkin Departs CNN to Run Oregon Public Broadcasting

TechCrunch:

Amazon acquires Indian video streaming service MX Player's key assets from Times Internet, a source says valuing MX at <$100M, below its $500M valuation in 2019— Amazon has agreed to acquire key assets of Indian video streaming service MX Player from the local media powerhouse Times Internet …

Discussion:
The Information and Aniruddha Jaju on LinkedIn, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Aniruddha Jaju /
Aniruddha Jaju on LinkedIn: The cat is finally out of the bag! — This is very exciting and big news! — Learnt a lot working on and leading this deal during my time at MX Player !! …

New York Times:

A look at the now-shuttered news site BNN Breaking, which former staff say mostly published AI-generated content; Microsoft had licensed BNN content for MSN.com— The news was featured on MSN.com: “Prominent Irish broadcaster faces trial over alleged sexual misconduct.”

Discussion:
@kashhill, @structstories, @tessasproule@threads.net and The Desk, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:
@kashhill: A look inside an A.I.-powered content mill spinning out hallucinations that made it into the ecosystem of legitimate news. From me and @tiffkhsu https://www.nytimes.com/... @structstories: Fascinating glimpse of the inside of an AI-powered content mill, showing the ease with which these ‘newsrooms’ can be spun up (and shut down). AI makes it easier to produce low quality content, but content produced using AI is not inherently low quality, https://www.nytimes.com/...

Tessa Sproule /
@tessasproule@threads.net: “According to Reuters, NewsBreak's AI tool, which scrapes the web and helps rewrite local news stories, has been used to publish at least 40 misleading or erroneous stories since 2021.” The health of our information ecosystem depends on keeping human journalists in the loop.

CNN:

The WSJ article on Biden's mental acuity relies largely on comments from Republican sources and Kevin McCarthy, who praised Biden's performance a year prior— The Wall Street Journal owes its readers — and the public — better. — The business broadsheet published and hyped …

Discussion:
Poynter, @hadas_gold, The Hill, Heartland Signal, @kbode@threads.net, @johnjharwood, @bgrueskin, @andykaczynski@threads.net, @karlbode.bsky.social, @jonfavs, Media Matters for America, Axios, Mediaite, @tomricks1, @jrothfeder, @radiofreetom, @tvmojoe, Fox News, Talking Biz News, The Independent, New Republic, Raw Story, HuffPost, NewsNation, The Daily Beast, who13.com and Deadline

Discussion:

Hadas Gold /
@hadas_gold: .@siobhanehughes on CNN, responding to criticism they didn't include more Dem quotes in the WSJ story on Biden's mental acuity: “My job here is to be the agent of the reader. I am not here to publish the quote provided to me or us by every single Democrat. I just can't do that.”

Sarah Fortinsky /
The Hill: Pelosi slams Wall Street Journal article on Biden's mental acuity as ‘hit piece’

Jennifer Schulze /
Heartland Signal: The WSJ attack piece is a reminder to beware of political attacks masquerading as journalism

Karl Bode /
@kbode@threads.net: the WSJ is a Rupert Murdoch owned right wing, corporatist, deregulatory rag peppered with just enough quality reporting to maintain a veneer of respectability hope this helps folks who seem confused

John Harwood /
@johnjharwood: not that long ago, the only way the WSJ would have published this story is if the lead examples/anecdotes about Biden “slipping” came from fellow Democrats speaking on-the-record

Bill Grueskin /
@bgrueskin: Biden clearly isn't as sharp as he used to be, but the WSJ doesn't do itself a lot of favors by starting its story about his decline with anecdotes from the current and former GOP speakers of the House, two men who are dedicated to defeating him in November. [image]

Andy Kaczynski /
@andykaczynski@threads.net: My colleague @oliverdarcy had issues with the WSJ's story on Biden's mental acuity. • It was primarily based on GOP sources, who have a vested interest in undermining Biden, while largely ignoring testimonies from Democrats. • The article selectively quoted GOPers like Kevin McCarthy and omitted comments from high-ranking Democrats like Pelosi. …

Karl Bode /
@karlbode.bsky.social: The Wall Street Journal is a right wing corporatist rag owned by rupert murdoch, peppered with just enough quality reporting to maintain a veneer of respectability — so watching a lot of hand-wringing over HOW COULD THIS CLUMSY PIECE ABOUT BIDEN'S AGE HAVE HAPPENED is amusing [embedded post]

Jon Favreau /
@jonfavs: Well that's good to hear: “In on-the-record interviews, however, seven GOP senators who've met with Biden lately described him as cogent and well-versed on the issues they discussed.” https://www.politico.com/...

Matt Gertz /
Media Matters for America: The Wall Street Journal's story about Biden “slipping” is comically weak

Dave Lawler /
Axios: WSJ takes on Biden's age, White House fires back

Alex Griffing /
Mediaite: 'Take That For What It's Worth': WSJ Reporter Says Credibility of Source In Biden Mental Fitness Article Is Questionable

Thomas E. Ricks /
@tomricks1: WSJ vets not impressed by news article on Biden and aging: “Today's WSJ article on Biden never wd have made it thru the Washington buro & page 1 in present form before arrival of Murdoch editor last year. Only on the record quotes are from the current and past GOP speakers.”

Jeffrey Rothfeder /
@jrothfeder: When I was Natl News Editor at Bloomberg News we would not allow anyone with an axe to grind to go anonymous. If you have something contentious to say, put your name and face to it. Say it out loud. This is journalistic malpractice.

Tom Nichols /
@radiofreetom: There really is a weird double standard where the media can question Joe Biden's mental acuity because of his age, but when Trump says something completely batshit crazy there is no investigation into whether he is actually emotionally unstable or disordered in some way. @tvmojoe: As always, CNN's Oliver Darcy gets it exactly right about the fatal flaw of current mainstream media coverage of this election. Depressing, but right. If you don't already subscribe to his free Reliable Sources newsletter, you really should. [image] Fox News: Biden White House urged Democrats to call back Wall Street Journal as it reported on president's mental acuity

Chris Roush /
Talking Biz News: WSJ's coverage of Biden's acuity takes criticism

Maya Boddie /
Raw Story: Pence aide turns tables on WSJ over Biden exposé: 'Happy to discuss Trump's mental acuity

Corbin Bolies /