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Wednesday, June 21, 2023

The right-wing media machine lashes out at the law, David Zaslav talks TCM with Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese, Geraldo Rivera announces he's leaving "The Five," TikTok makes a key admission to Congress, Warner Bros. Discovery is in discussions to license HBO shows to Netflix, and Mark Zuckerberg is apparently serious about accepting Elon Musk's offer for a "cage fight." But first, the A1.

THE A1

Subbing Out the News

CNN Photo Illustration/OceanGate Expeditions/Reuters

It's the story leading the broadcast evening news, saturating cable, and dominating digital platforms.

The developing saga of a submersible vessel that descended deep into the ocean for a rendezvous with the Titanic has received intense, extraordinary coverage this week from every major news organization, many of which have been covering its mysterious disappearance with live updates and wall-to-wall coverage.

It is, unquestionably, an intriguing story — and covered for good reason. It melds elements of mystery and humanity with a dose of high drama as rescuers race against time in their frantic search for a missing vessel with five souls aboard.

But questions have also been raised about whether the press is going overboard focusing on the story. Is the high volume of coverage and breathless nature of it warranted? Should a missing tourism vessel for the ultra-wealthy take precedence over other consequential stories happening around the world?

Samuel Freedman, a professor at the Columbia Journalism School, told me Wednesday that he can "understand the high drama of this event" and how it "resonates with the Titanic's sinking."

"But," Freedman added, "considering the Trump indictment, the Ukraine war, and other immensely important, ongoing news, the coverage of the sub's disappearance and the attempted rescue seems very excessive to me."

Freedman isn't the only one who believes the coverage has gotten out of hand. And with good reason. The saga does not impact the day-to-day lives of Americans. It isn't a case where government corruption is exposed. And it's not an instance in which news organizations are holding power to account.

In some ways, it has echoes of how the press covered MH370, the Malaysian airliner that went missing in 2014 with 239 people aboard and has never been fully recovered. Dramatic reports Wednesday of mysterious noises detected in the search for the submersible harkened back to 2014 reports in which search crews thought they had located wreckage, only for nothing to be found.

While the press took heat for around-the-clock coverage of MH370, the tragedy was arguably far more worthy of coverage. In addition to the mystery it posed the world, the flight's disappearance raised serious safety questions for the aviation industry, imperiled hundreds of passengers, and there was more hope that some people could be saved.

Meanwhile, as the furious coverage of the missing vessel entered its third day, growing more feverish with time, critics pointed out that other tragic maritime accidents have received far less attention from the press.

"The media obsession with the Titanic submersible is in contrast with the relative meagre coverage of the drownings in the Mediterranean Sea," the Irish journalist Vincent Browne pointed out on Wednesday, referring to the boats carrying scores of migrants that have sunk in recent months in a desperate attempt to reach Europe.

Just last week, Pakistani authorities said that more than 300 people were killed when a fishing boat packed with people sunk off the coast of Greece. Ylva Johansson, the European Union commissioner for home affairs, described the horrific incident as perhaps "the worst tragedy ever" in the Mediterranean Sea. And yet, the disaster did not inspire a level of coverage close to what major news organizations have devoted to the ocean submersible.

"The sinking of a boat carrying hundreds of migrants should be treated this way, but it isn't and hasn't been," Alex Shephard, a staff writer at The New Republic, wrote this week. "It is undoubtedly a new story and an unspeakably tragic one—it's also, unlike the Titanic tourists story, one that says a great deal about the way the world works."

"And yet it's treated as routine or even mundane — yet another faceless tragedy involving people who typically receive far less attention than those who are far better off than they are," Shephard added.

Eric Deggans, NPR's media critic and an adjunct instructor at Duke University, conceded that the coverage of the Titanic vessel has perhaps been over-torqued in recent days. But he said he believed the story was a fascinating one, worth much of the attention.

"Is there too much coverage of this story? Probably," Deggans told me. "But its one of those life-and-death stories where nothing happens for long stretches until something happens and everyone wants to be ready when it does."

"And the background around this story has more depth than you might expect," Deggans added. "From a look at the risky types of tourism, which have evolved to accommodate the super rich, to questions on why journalists never seemed to highlight how dangerous this activity was before now."

——— BELOW THE FOLD ———

CNN Photo Illustration/Fox News

Lashing Out at the Law: Meanwhile, one important story not getting enough attention: dangerous rhetoric being spewed by the right-wing media machine that undermines the American justice system and rule of law. Loud voices on Fox News and elsewhere in the MAGA Media world are engaged in an all-out assault on the FBI and Justice Department, telling their large audiences that Democrats are effectively wielding levers of government to rig elections and unjustly imprison political opponents.

It's dangerous talk — and it's being peddled to the masses in broad daylight. You don't have to go to obscure online forums to find this type of unhinged discussion. Just turn on Fox News. Greg Gutfeld, one of the supposed new faces of the right-wing channel, said Wednesday that he does "think it would be great to see the FBI disbanded." Jesse Watters, another one of the supposed new faces of Fox News, falsely stated that the FBI is "rigging elections" and called for people at the law enforcement agency to be thrown in prison. "FBI CROOKS ALL SKATED," an on-screen banner read. Sean Hannity went on to declare during his program that it is time for a "reckoning at your FBI," ranting against the supposed "bias" and "corruption" and "abuse."

The assault on the system of justice matters more than ever, given the unprecedented federal charges brought against Donald Trump. Newsrooms often focus on what lawmakers are saying, but the popular talk show hosts have far more influence over the GOP base. And they're priming a large portion of the country to believe the government is being run by a menacing anti-Democratic force and that law and order no longer exist. It's a dangerous recipe to play with.

► Related: Margaret Sullivan talks to Brian Stelter: "What's happened in right-wing politics ... puts us—we're in a scary place. There's a kind of creep. There's an antidemocratic creep that's happening in the United States. It's very troubling. And it's not about to stop anytime soon."

THE BUSINESS

CNN Photo Illustration/Aude Guerrucci/AFP/Getty Images

David and the Directors: Some of the biggest names in Hollywood have expressed concern to Warner Bros. Discovery boss David Zaslav about the future of Turner Classic Movies, amid restructuring at the channel. As first reported by IndieWire's Christian Blauvelt, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Paul Thomas Anderson have all spoken to Zaslav about the situation at TCM, part of a larger shake up at WBD (CNN's parent).

The trio released a joint statement Wednesday night: "Turner Classic Movies has always been more than just a channel. It is truly a precious resource of cinema, open 24 hours a day seven days a week. And while it has never been a financial juggernaut, it has always been a profitable endeavor since its inception. Earlier this week, David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, got in touch to talk about the restructuring of TCM. We understand the pressures and realities of a corporation as large as WBD, of which TCM is one moving part. We have each spent time talking to David, separately and together, and it's clear that TCM and classic cinema are very important to him. Our primary aim is to ensure that TCM's programming is untouched and protected. We are heartened and encouraged by the conversations we've had thus far, and we are committed to working together to ensure the continuation of this cultural touchstone that we all treasure."

IN THE INDUSTRY

Drawing on 20+ insiders, Lacey Rose, Kim Masters, and Alex Weprin report on what it is like to have Warner Bros. Discovery chief David Zaslav as your boss. (THR)
"Will the Daily Beast find a buyer?" asks Charlotte Klein. (Vanity Fair)
Katie Robertson reports on how The WSJ faced criticism for allowing Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito to prebut ProPublica's investigative reporting on him. (NYT)
ProPublica has become the latest newsroom to unionize. (WaPo)
CNN will air another July 4th concert special. This year's event will feature Demi Lovato, Post Malone, and more. (Deadline)

MEDIA MOVES

Laura Gentile left her role as ESPN's marketing chief after 20 years at the company to launch a business of her own; Tina Thornton was promoted to executive vice president of creative studio and marketing. (THR)
The Messenger hired Abe Brown as deputy editor. (Twitter)

THE INFO WARS

CNN Photo Illustration/Rob Kim/Getty Images

Rivera Resigns: By way of a tweet, television veteran Gerald Rivera announced to the world on Wednesday that his time as a rotating co-host on Fox News' "The Five" has come to an end. The news from Rivera, who said he will remain with the network as a correspondent at large, came amid drama with network star Greg Gutfeld. Gutfeld had rebuked Rivera in April when he tweeted in the wake of Tucker Carlson's firing that the ousted host's conspiracy theories about the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol were "bulls**t." It was the latest flare up in a contentious relationship, which has often found its way to live television.

In an interview with the AP's David Bauder, Rivera said that the choice to leave the popular talk show was his. But Rivera, who did not respond to my request to chat, said Fox News executives "didn't race after me to say, 'Geraldo, please come back.'" So, read into that what you will. Bauder said that Rivera did not comment specifically on Gutfeld, but that he did say, "There has been a growing tension that goes beyond editorial differences and personal annoyances and gripes. It's not worth it to me." Spokespeople for Fox News didn't respond to a request for comment. Bauder has more here.

IN THE BATTLEFIELD

Meanwhile, Greg Gutfeld was the subject of a piece in The WSJ. Gutfeld told Isabella Simonetti that "obviously" hosting the 8pm hour has crossed his mind, but that if he were to helm the time slot he would "definitely" quit "The Five" because of all the prep it would take to host a prime time program. (WSJ)
This all comes as Fox News continues to suffer consequences from Tucker Carlson's firing. The right-wing channel was bested in the demo by MSNBC for the second week in a row. (TheWrap)
NewsNation, which is trying to get a foothold in the ratings race, is hosting a town hall with conspiracy theorist and anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who also happens to be running for president. The event will air June 28 at 9pm and test the network's ability to fact-check his dangerous lies in real time. (NewsNation)
Switching gears: After meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Elon Musk said he's "incredibly excited about the future of India" and is a "fan" of Modi. Musk's Twitter earlier this year complied with India's orders to censor a BBC documentary in India. (CNBC)
So much for free speech! Musk declared that Twitter will now consider the words "cis" and "cisgender" to be "slurs" when examining whether a user is being harassed on the platform. (Engadget)
Katie Thornton reports about how right-wing media personalities are livid and claiming they're under political attack because new electric cars won't have AM radio, home to conservative talk radio. (Guardian)

THE VALLEY

CNN Photo Illustration/Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty Images

TikTok Twists and Turns: Some U.S. TikTok data is stored in China, after all. That's according to a Wednesday report from Forbes' Alexandra Levine who obtained a letter the short-form video company sent senators responding to questions about whether chief executive Shou Zi Chew misled Congress during testimony earlier this year. According to Levine, TikTok told the senators that there is a difference between general user data and creator data, given people in the latter group have handed over info to TikTok so they can be paid for their activity on the platform. Levine has details here.

🔎 Zooming in: The explanation from TikTok follows an earlier report from Levine that indicated some of the information of top TikTok stars was housed in China. That report led to serious questions being raised by lawmakers over whether Chou misled Congress. But TikTok said in the letter to senators, according to Levine, that it stands by its previous statements. "We were asked about, and our testimony focused on, the protected user data collected in the app—not creator data," the company reportedly said.

TOO MANY TABS

The Federal Trade Commission sued Amazon, alleging that it deceived millions of people into signing up for Prime. (CNN)
In a keynote speech at a think tank, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer described his "all hands on deck" plan to regulate A.I. (WaPo)
Mark Zuckerberg is apparently ready to seriously accept Elon Musk's offer for "a cage fight," per reporting from Alex Heath. (The Verge)
Musk responded Wednesday night to Zuck: "Vegas Octagon." (Twitter)
Leaks about leaks: "Joe Benarroch, who joined Twitter with CEO Linda Yaccarino and seems to be functioning as a head of comms, sent his first company-wide email urging employees not to leak," Zoë Schiffer reports. "He asked tweeps to report colleagues who are suspected of sharing confidential info." (Twitter)
Instagram is — finally – letting users download Reels. (Engadget)

CURTAIN CALL

CNN Photo Illustration/HBO

HBO on Netflix: It's not television. It's HBO. But it soon might be available on Netflix. Deadline's Peter White scooped late Tuesday night that Warner Bros. Discovery (CNN's parent) is in talks to license some HBO library titles to Netflix. Those talks, which I've confirmed are happening between the two companies, could result in a deal to send "Insecure," "Ballers," "Six Feet Under," "Band of Brothers," and "The Pacific," streaming on Netflix, Vulture's Eric Vilas-Boas and Josef Adalian reported Wednesday. WBD declined to comment.

🔎 Zooming in: The move to license such content would represent a major shift in strategy, allowing HBO's prestigious original content to exist on an archrival streaming service for the first time in years. And it obviously comes at a time when WBD is looking for cash anywhere it can. But as Vilas-Boas and Adalian report, it's not that unprecedented, given some HBO shows have in the past existed outside its walled off garden. More broadly speaking, Vox's Peter Kafka wondered: "Goodbye, streaming wars?"

OFF STAGE

"Absolute nonsense": Ryan Murphy denied accusations from Warren Leight, the WGA East strike boss, that crew members for "American Horror Story" were told that they'd be "black-balled in Murphy-land" should they respect NYC picket lines. (The Wrap)
Mark Burnett is "in talks to launch a new production venture," Peter White reports. (Deadline)
Thousands of striking writers participated in a Los Angeles march Wednesday. (KABC)
The Oscars approved new theatrical release requirements for 2025 best picture hopefuls. (Variety)
Taylor Sheridan talks to James Hibberd for THR's cover story: "My stories have a very simple plot that is driven by the characters as opposed to characters driven by a plot — the antithesis of the way television is normally modeled." (THR)
The two-episode premiere of Paramount's "1883," the prequel series to "Yellowstone," brought in 3.8 million linear viewers. (TheWrap)
"Across The Spider-Verse" has swung past a big milestone: $500 million at the box office. (Deadline)
"El Muerto," Sony's upcoming Spider-Man spinoff starring Bad Bunny that was scheduled for early 2024, has been removed from the studio's release calendar. (THR)
Following the commercial success of "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," Nintendo announced it will release a new video game featuring Princess Peach in a central role, the first game to do so since 2004. (Axios)
Hulu gave a thumbs up to a second season of "Nine Perfect Strangers," with Nicole Kidman returning as star and EP. (Deadline)
Season four of "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series" will be the show's last. (TheWrap)

Thank you for reading! This newsletter was edited by Jon Passantino and produced with the assistance of Liam Reilly. Have feedback? Send us an email here. We will see you back in your inbox tomorrow.