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Monday, October 9, 2023

Mark Thompson officially takes the reins at CNN, ABC News settles "GMA" sexual misconduct lawsuit with former producer, Linda Yaccarino backs out of The WSJ's tech conference,

THE A1

Haaretz's Horror at Home

CNN Photo Illustration/Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images

Esther Solomon, the editor-in-chief of Haaretz, Israel's oldest daily newspaper, was trying to observe the Jewish Sabbath on Saturday in Tel Aviv when her daughter, a member of the Israeli Air Force, brought some alarming news to her attention: Israel was under serious attack from Hamas.

Solomon quickly realized that the assault was far more grave than the usual round of rocket fire, which Israelis have grown accustomed to. She sprung to action, swiftly mobilizing her 400-some strong newsroom to begin reporting out the rapidly developing — and horrifying — story.

"The news seeped out, and then it flooded out," Solomon told me by phone on Monday, recalling the initial moments after the assault had begun.

Solomon said that while the wave of attacks caught everyone by surprise, shattering the celebration of the Simchat Torah holiday, the newsroom had in recent months built an infrastructure to seamlessly communicate for coverage of the pro-democracy protests that have gripped the country. The well-rehearsed processes allowed editors and reporters to gather in WhatsApp groups and publish critical reporting at a breakneck speed.

The Haaretz newsroom also has an unfortunate wealth of experience reporting from conflict zones. "It's not like we have to understand what it's like," Solomon told me. "We live in it all the time."

And yet, this staggering conflict that has now claimed the lives of more than 900 Israelis and 600 Palestinians, has presented unique challenges to the newspaper, which has filed hundreds of stories in the last 72 hours, informing audiences with 'round-the-clock dispatches.

Most glaring is the challenge of keeping reporters safe as they report in an especially dangerous environment. Solomon said that her reporters deployed in the field are donning the usual protective helmets and body armor to help protect from the bombardment of missile strikes and militant gunfire battering Israel. But she noted that the unpredictable nature of the situation means that safety simply cannot be guaranteed.

"One Haaretz journalist showed up the other day in an area that the militants were, but not one of the hot beds, and he had to run out of his car and lie on the ground and they shot up his car along with two others," Solomon said. "So you can take precautions, but what can you do? This is an extraordinarily dangerous time. Sometimes, it's not intentional, you are in the line of fire."

The Tel Aviv-based newsroom is also grappling with the unfolding war in deeply personal terms. Solomon said that she doesn't know "a single person who doesn't have some connection to somebody who is a hostage in Gaza now." And, she said, it is difficult for even the most seasoned journalists to process some of the horrors that they have been forced to bear witness to.

"Even as someone who has seen the photos we don't publish on previous terror attacks, it has been almost unbearable," Solomon said of a stream of images coming in from the field showing the atrocities Hamas has committed on civilians, adding that "there isn't a way you can unsee those images."

"Those images are just so searing and so difficult to digest and so difficult to understand," Solomon continued. "You can use the whole lexicon of adjectives to try to describe them and you won't even get there."

Another key challenge has been the inability to report directly from Gaza, given that Israeli journalists have been forbidden from traveling into the Palestinian territory since Hamas rose to power in 2006.

"There is a problem in terms of how to source credible information from Gaza, which is obviously extremely important because there will be, and already is, significant loss of life and suffering," Solomon said. "And that is part of the picture we need to offer to readers."

In the past, Haaretz has worked with freelance reporters in Gaza, who file stories under pseudonyms. But Solomon said she doesn't believe the odds of doing so at the moment are very good. And that is a significant problem, she said, because "there is no complete coverage of a war unless you have access to credible information on the Palestinian side as well."

Many of the challenges that Haaretz has encountered over the last few days are certain to also impact journalists from the U.S. and across the world, as news organizations send personnel to the troubled region to report on the consequential story. To these visiting journalists, Solomon offered some advice.

"Try as much as possible to platform the voices, the people who really live here and have lived through what has happened ... And understand the very, very raw emotions that they are going to be going through," she said. "This is an experience of horror that is raw still."

ISRAEL AT WAR

Israel's other big newspaper, The Jerusalem Post, experienced significant problems keeping its website online Monday. The outlet said it has been the victim of "a series of cyberattacks." (Threads)
The Committee to Protect Journalists said it is "deeply disturbed by reports that at least six journalists were among the civilians who were killed, injured or missing in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza." (CPJ)
The three big evening news anchors — David Muir, Lester Holt, and Norah O'Donnell — all anchored their shows Monday night from Israel.
On cable news, Anderson Cooper anchored for CNN from Israel; Ali Velshi was on the ground for MSNBC.
Cooper was visibly shaken up after an interview aired in which a woman whose family was taken hostage pleaded for help. (Mediaite)
Trey Yingst choked up during a Fox News live-shot describing the "horrific" acts of violence committed. (The Hill)
One of the most harrowing shots on Monday came during a live shot with Clarissa Ward, where the CNN team was forced to quickly take shelter in a ditch because of rockets being fired from the Israeli-Gaza border. (CNN)
"It is at moments such as this — breaking international news — when CNN is at its best," Tom Jones argued. (Poynter)
On NBC News Now, Richard Engel also took shelter with his team while reporting live as mortar shells struck the nearby area. (NBC News)
Anti-Defamation League head Jonathan Greenblatt criticized MSNBC during a "Morning Joe" interview. "I've got to ask who is writing the scripts? Hamas? The people who did this? They are not fighters ... they are not militants ... they are terrorists." (THR)
On X, which was once indispensable during breaking news situations, mis-and- disinformation has flourished, with doctored and misleading images being widely circulated. Elon Musk himself recommended users follow an account known for spreading misinformation. (CNN)
Fox News personalities have been — wait for it — blaming President Joe Biden for the attack. But, as Zachary Pleat notes, the narrative that some are advancing has been dispelled by the network's chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin. (MMFA)

——— BELOW THE FOLD ———

CNN Photo Illustration/Art Streiber/Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc

Thompson Time: There's officially a new boss at CNN. Mark Thompson on Monday formally started at the news organization as chairman, chief executive, and editor-in-chief. To mark the beginning of his tenure, Thompson greeted employees at the daily editorial meeting and sent staffers an introductory video in which he addressed several issues confronting the organization he now leads. Some of the highlights from that video:

► On moving past recent turmoil: Thompson said that he has started to get a sense of "the spirit of CNN" during trips to the network's offices over the last few weeks. "Honestly, it has been really heartening. Given the shocks and uncertainties of the past two years, I was braced for cynicism and suspicion," he said. "Instead, I feel I met a group of tough and amazingly focused and enthusiastic people. People who still believe in CNN and its mission 100%. People who now want to get on with the future. And so do I."

► On why he took the job: Thompson said that he "chose to do this job" because "the world needs news it can trust more than ever." He said that he believes CNN is well-positioned to deliver it. Thompson argued that "there are plenty of news organizations" such as The New York Times, that "bring the news to elite audiences." He added, "CNN was founded to bring it to everyone."

► On being multi-platform: Thompson complimented CNN's editorial chops. "But," he said, "I want to add that from now on we must be committed to presenting that news in whatever form, in whatever product, makes most sense for audiences today." Thompson candidly said, "Conventional TV will remain critical, but it can no longer define us. It's one platform in a growing portfolio of platforms."

► On investing in digital: Thompson noted that the media industry is in the midst of immense disruption. "For most people under retirement age, the first place they turn for their news is their phones, not their TV," he noted, adding that news outlets that "don't respond to that revolution" risk dying off. Thompson said "time is of the essence" to reshape CNN for the future. "The truth is that despite some recent encouraging developments, like the launch of CNN Max, this company is still nowhere near ready for the future," he said. "TV is vital ... but TV is also too dominant at CNN and digital too marginal." Thompson said that CNN's digital products today "lag well behind the current state of the art" and that he aims to improve it.

► On editorial philosophy: Thompson said he wants to "follow the news wherever it leads us and no matter who it is going to upset." He urged staffers "not to second guess" themselves or "get distracted by complicated arguments about balance or whataboutism or false equivalency." He stressed, "Let's cover political news proportionately and fairly, but not be frightened by our own shadows."

► On working together: Thompson concluded his video message saying that "it will be not me, but us working together" that will solve these challenges. "But," he said, "we do need to pick up the pace now if we want CNN to be one of the winners in this era of news."

THE INDUSTRY

THE FOURTH ESTATE

ABC News settled a sexual misconduct lawsuit with former "Good Morning America" producer Kirstyn Crawford, who accused the network of ignoring allegations of harassment and misconduct raised against Michael Corn, a former senior news executive. (WSJ)
Vietnam attempted to plant spyware on the phones of CNN's Jim Sciutto and two of the news network's Asia-based reporters as part of a broader hacking campaign targeting prominent Americans, Joseph Menn, Max Hoppenstedt, Michael Birnbaum, Yann Philippin, Rafael Buschmann, and Nicola Naber report. A CNN spokesperson declined comment. (WaPo)
Brian Steinberg writes about how CNN and NBC News are battling "for the future of streaming news," with each outlet taking a markedly different strategy. (Variety)
Google said it would make good on its threat to remove links from its search engine in Canada over the nation's Online News Act, which will go into effect on December 19. (Bloomberg)
WIRED removed a story about Google and said it did not meet editorial standards after Charlie Warzel dug into its claims. (The Atlantic)
⚾ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's publisher, Andrew Morse, has made a fun bet with the Philadelphia Inquirer's publisher, Lisa Hughes, over who will win the NLDS face-off between the Braves and Phillies. (Instagram)

IN THE MARKET

Nelson Peltz "is planning a fresh push for board seats at Disney," Lauren Thomas and Robbie Whelan report. (WSJ)
Claire Atkinson reports that Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs "are back out looking for acquisitions to continue growing their startup, Candle Media." (The Ankler)
DreamWorks Animation will axe some 70 jobs, citing "overall cost-reduction," Wendy Lee reports. (LAT)

MEDIA MOVES

Disney promoted Lylle Breier to executive vice president of marketing partnerships and special events. (THR)
Fox Entertainment Global named David Smyth executive vice president of content sales. (TheWrap)

THE VALLEY

CNN Photo Illustration/Jerod Harris/Getty Images

Linda Laying Low: After her disastrous appearance at the Code Conference, it seems that Linda Yaccarino is not too eager to appear at another such confab. The X executive on Monday canceled her schedule appearance at The Wall Street Journal's Tech Live conference, which is slated for next week. An X spokesperson told The WSJ, "Linda Yaccarino will be unable to attend the WSJ Tech Live conference next week. With the global crisis unfolding, Linda and her team must remain fully focused on X platform safety." The Verge's Elizabeth Lopatto has more.

TOO MANY TABS

Threads has seemingly surged in engagement as Elon Musk continues to dismantle the features that once made Twitter great.
Looking for journalists to follow on Threads? Check the replies to this post. (Threads)
Threads appears to be working on a "Trending Topics" feature as the platform continues to compete with X. (9To5Mac)
Spotify slapped restrictions on its free tier for users in India as the streaming giant seeks to rack up more paid users. (TechCrunch)
The E.U. is pondering new tech rules for Microsoft's Bing and Apple's iMessage, Foo Yun Chee reports. (Reuters)
Britain's Information Commissioner's Office slapped Snap with a preliminary enforcement notice after the tech giant allegedly failed to gauge risks to privacy posed by its A.I. chatbot. (The Guardian)

CURTAIN CALL

CNN Photo Illustration/Mario Tama/Getty Images

Closing Credits: The Writers Guild of America announced Monday that its members had overwhelmingly voted to ratify the agreement struck with major studios, officially ending the strike that shuttered many productions for months. The WGA said 99% of its members voted to approve the new deal, which will expire May 2026. In a note, the guild thanked the negotiating committee for securing the contract, as well as "strike captains, lot coordinators, and the staff that supported every part of the negotiation and strike." CNN's Taylor Romine and Samantha Delouya have more here.

HOLLYWOOD HELL

SAG-AFTRA resumed talks on Monday with the studios as both sides work on negotiating a deal to end the actors' strike. (LAist)
As the Hollywood strikes appear to be nearing their end, the industry is bracing for the ensuing cavalcade of work that will ensue, Umberto Gonzalez, Kristen Lopez, and Scott Mendelson report. (TheWrap)

OFF STAGE

Olivia Rodrigo announced an intimate last-minute, one-off "Guts" concert in Los Angeles on October 9. (Pitchfork)
Bad Bunny announced that his new album, "Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana," will drop Friday. (CNN)
Bruce Springsteen announced rescheduled tour dates for his postponed 2023 shows. (Pitchfork)
The final season of Netflix's "The Crown" will drop in two parts, with the first debuting November 16 and the second streaming December 14. (CNN)
Disney's "Loki" is in hot water after allegations that a promotional poster was partially created using generative A.I. (The Verge)
The season two premiere of the Marvel series reached 10.9 million views in three days. (Variety)
Disney+ is restoring "Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs" in 4K to commemorate the company's 100-year anniversary. (Deadline)
50 Cent became the latest celebrity to back a football team, sponsoring a Wales-based under-15 girls' soccer team. (BBC)

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. You can follow us on Instagram and Threads. We will see you back in your inbox tomorrow.