We keep an eye out for the most interesting stories about Labby subjects: digital media, startups, the web, journalism, strategy, and more. Here’s some of what we’ve seen lately.
July 19, 2024
His employer, The Wall Street Journal,
has been advocating for his release and called the verdict a “disgraceful, sham conviction.” The BBC reports that “Russian observers say a quick conviction could mean that an exchange is imminent. According to Russian judicial practice, an exchange generally requires a verdict to already be in place.”
—SSBBC / Matt Murphy and Robert Greenall
/ Jul 19July 18, 2024
“Despite having more TikTok followers than Beyoncé or Reese Witherspoon, he has received little attention in the national press, perhaps because his videos are mainly in Spanish. But he drew attention last month with videos that he filmed with President Biden as he announced two new immigration measures.” —
The New York Times / Sapna Maheshwari and Ken Bensinger
/ Jul 18“The data, collected by BrightEdge and reported on by Search Engine Land, suggests that Al Overviews dropped from appearing in 11 percent of queries on June 1 to 7 percent of queries on June 30. BrightEdge’s data also indicates that Al Overviews cite Reddit and Quora dramatically less than they did before.” —SS
The Verge / Jay Peters
/ Jul 18“The journalist, Giulia Cortese, was also given a suspended fine of 1,200 euros for a jibe on Twitter, now named X, in Oct. 2021 about [PM Giorgia] Meloni’s height, that was defined as ‘body shaming’…A high number of lawsuits brought against journalists was cited this year by Reporters Without Borders, which relegated Italy five places to 46th in its 2024 World Press Freedom Index.” —
Reuters / Keith Weir and Gavin Jones
/ Jul 18“We give the people what they want. We don’t take ourselves too seriously when appropriate. I think it’s Metro’s role to provide the UK with access to free, impartial and trustworthy news. But it’s news and entertainment.” —SS
Press Gazette / Charlotte Tobitt
/ Jul 18“Researchers will gain access to Instagram data for up to six months, which may include information on how many accounts a teen follows, how much they use Instagram, their account settings, and more. However, Meta notes it won’t provide access to a user’s demographic information, nor will it include the contents of their posts, comments, or messages.” —SS
The Verge / Emma Roth
/ Jul 18“…accusing it of whipping up “unspeakable” hatred of Jews, Muslims and foreigners while undermining the country’s constitutional democracy. In what she called a “hard blow” against the far right, the interior minister, Nancy Faeser, ordered dawn raids in four German states at properties linked to the publication, which is ideologically close to the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party and promotes its drive for power.” —
The Guardian / Deborah Cole
/ Jul 18“The notion of a WBD split could see [up to $39 billion in] debt stay with linear networks, while the growing OTT service could hit a higher valuation multiple and be given the potential to invest in its growth, per FT.” —
Deadline / Anthony D'Alessandro
/ Jul 18“The arrangement — which several veteran television news producers described as unorthodox — has created something of a trompe l’oeil effect. A casual glance at the screen would suggest that MSNBC’s top anchors were covering the convention in person.” —
The New York Times / Michael M. Grynbaum
/ Jul 18“For over a decade, I have been critical of Taboola (and its one-time rival, Outbrain), equating them to the internet’s venereal disease that never goes away. In 2017, when the two companies merged, it became clear that what was the herpes of the internet was mutating into a superbug. I said as much on Twitter. Well, that day has come, and even Apple is now infected.” —
