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Thursday, October 12, 2023

News networks grapple with graphic war images, actors and studios suspend talks, Ari Emanuel torches CAA, Threads adds an edit button, Google vows to defend its generative A.I. users in copyright lawsuits, Taylor Swift's "Eras Tour" hits theaters, AMC Theatres boss Adam Aron gets caught in alleged extortion scheme, and more. But first, the A1.

THE A1

The Fog of War

CNN Photo Illustration/Amir Cohen/Reuters

The public is enveloped in the fog of war.

As the world's eyes remain fixated on the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas, viewers are being overwhelmed with dubious claims saturating the global discourse. Adding to the challenge of swimming through the heavily polluted information ocean is the reality that some questionable claims circulating have also been given credence by authoritative sources.

In only the last few days, the Israeli Defense Forces, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, and President Joe Biden made the shocking assertion that Hamas terrorists had beheaded babies, a grisly claim that the White House has since walked back. As the allegation came under heavy scrutiny, Netanyahu's office took the extraordinary step Thursday of publicly releasing graphic photos of the bodies of babies who had been murdered and torched by Hamas, a monstrous act beyond comprehension, though inconsistent with the initial claims of decapitation.

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran had played a direct role in orchestrating the terror attack on Israel, a claim that has been called into serious question by further reporting, citing U.S. intelligence sources. All the while, an untold number of doctored and misleading images have gone viral online, leaving audiences with a warped perception of what is actually happening in the Middle East.

It goes without saying that war is messy. And from that mess can emerge information that is not entirely accurate. Government authorities and news organizations on the ground encounter a multitude of logistical challenges and ethical dilemmas as they quickly gather information and attempt to verify it. Those challenges are especially pronounced when operating in an environment teeming with high emotion and chaos brought by bombings and gunfire.

Such conditions are fertile grounds for spawning preliminary reports that later prove to be incorrect. Sometimes they turn out to have been exaggerated or missing crucial context. In other cases, they are entirely false. Honest mistakes can occur while working under immense pressure to disseminate information to the public at a hurried pace — even from sources with good track records.

This has been on full display during the Israeli-Hamas war. Usually, a reader can take The WSJ's reporting to the bank. Usually, when the President of the United States makes an explosive — and especially gruesome — claim, the public can trust that he has done his due diligence.

But that hasn't been the case, despite the stakes being extraordinarily high — a truth that government officials and journalists must remember as they deliver news and updates to the public.

In our fractured and algorithmically-driven, 24/7 news environment, information can speed across the planet and seep into the public consciousness at an astonishing pace. This too often happens before information is properly scrutinized, verified, and wrapped in the necessary context. In the rush to inform, audiences can end up misinformed if proper care is not taken.

Once a narrative has been rooted, it can be challenging to ever ascertain whether it is entirely true. Were babies decapitated by Hamas terrorists? Did Iran directly play a role in orchestrating the attack? The evidence available at the time of this publication paints a less-than-clear picture. A definitive statement simply cannot be made.

That gray area leaves newsrooms with thorny conundrums as they try to fact-check widely circulated claims and sort fact from fiction for their audiences — all while watching the initial narrative's roots grow deeper and deeper into the public's understanding of events.

In many cases, powerful media and political figures who have shown little interest or concern with disseminating the facts, are comfortable misleading and/or lying to their audiences in hopes of amassing power or treasure. The result is a muddying of the waters, providing fertile ground for conspiracy theorists and distracting from the very real human impacts taking place in the war zone, where thousands have already been killed and injured.

While social media platforms have slashed moderation and misinformation efforts, news organizations are facing ever greater challenges of reporting on the war in real-time. Their responsibility to get it right could not be more paramount.

——— BELOW THE FOLD ———

CNN Photo Illustration/CNN

Disturbing Images Dilemma: All week, news networks have wrestled with difficult decisions over whether to air graphic images from the brutal Hamas assault and ensuing war on air. On Thursday, newsrooms were confronted with their biggest dilemma yet. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office released three graphic photographs showing babies who had been savagely killed in the initial Hamas attack over the weekend. One picture showed the tiny body of a baby whose onesie was stained in blood. The other two images showed babies burned beyond recognition.

Many news organizations chose not to air or publish the images, given how graphic and disturbing they were. But some newsrooms did believe it was important for the public to see them. CNN, MSNBC, and CBS News aired the image of the baby whose clothing was stained with blood. "I know it's difficult to see, but I want you to consider not looking away," Jake Tapper said, cautioning the audience about the graphic nature of the photo before showing it on-screen. "Secretary [Antony] Blinken said this image might be worth a million words, in some way it's impossible to find any words." On MSNBC, Nicolle Wallace told her audience, "These images are impossible to unsee once you've seen them and it will break your heart. We do not take the decision to show one of these images to you lightly."

🔎 Zooming in: "Viewers have become accustomed to live shots of bombs and rising smoke from airstrikes since CNN reported from Baghdad during the first Gulf War in 1991, widely considered the first war televised in real time," LAT's Stephen Battaglio wrote Thursday. "However, the horror that has unfolded onscreen over the last several days from the Middle East is presenting a level of intensity not witnessed since the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001."

ISRAEL AT WAR

Ted Johnson writes about how correspondents covering the war are struggling with the "carnage and brutality" of the terror attack. (Deadline)
The BBC remains in some very hot water over its stylistic decision not to dub members of Hamas as "terrorists," including with one of its own reporters, Noah Abrahams, who announced he would "no longer work or represent the BBC" over the public broadcaster's decision. (Variety)
"Hamas militants have vowed to broadcast their executions of Israeli hostages on the internet. Recent history shows there's virtually nothing tech companies can do to prevent that from happening," Drew Harwell points out. (WaPo)
Donie O'Sullivan reports on the torrent of bogus claims flooding the internet. (Threads)
TikTok became the latest tech company to come under fire with the E.U. over illegal content relating to the war spreading on its platform. (BBC)
The E.U. has launched an official probe into X, despite Linda Yaccarino saying the embattled social media platform has removed "hundreds of Hamas-affiliated accounts." (CNN)
CBS News boss Wendy McMahon told Sara Fischer that of the more than 1,000 videos her teams have examined from the conflict, only 10% were usable. Many of the reasons, she explained, were "directly tied to misinformation." McMahon said CBS is investing in A.I. capabilities to combat such misinformation. (Axios)
Speaking of CBS: The network said that Scott Pelley will sit down with President Joe Biden for Sunday's broadcast of "60 Minutes." (Axios)
First in Reliable | Bob Iger emailed the ABC News team: "Last night's special broadcast from [David Muir] and the team in particular was incredibly powerful. I know that the horrors of this violence have been difficult to bear, but it is important that the world hears these stories and understands what is unfolding on the ground. Your professionalism and dedication are an inspiration, and I couldn't be prouder of our brilliant ABC News team for all your hard work and outstanding coverage."
Harper's Bazaar Editor-In-Chief Samira Nasr apologized for "deeply insensitive and hurtful comments" she made about the war. Nasr had previously said, "Cutting off water and electricity to 2.2 million civilians… This is the most inhuman thing I've seen in my life." (NY Post)
Jake Tapper told Aidan McLaughlin and Diana Falzone that he is very much "for historical context in terms of coverage of a larger war." But Tapper cautioned that discussing some topics "when bodies are still warm" could "run the risk of seeming as if you are trying to justify something that I am guessing nobody was actually trying to justify." (Mediaite)
"There was no electricity in our house. There was no internet on the cell phone service": Nic Robertson also spoke to Falzone about the logistical challenges reporting from the war zone. (Mediaite)
"I think this will be a long TV deployment," Lester Holt told Brian Steinberg. (Variety)
Fox News' Trey Yingst was reporting from the location of the Tribe of Nova music festival when suddenly gunshots erupted near his location: "Lay down flat!" (Mediaite)
CNN has seen its ratings increase amid the war, while rival MSNBC has seen its ratings sink. (Mediaite)
More than 700 Hollywood figures condemned the Hamas attack: "This is terrorism. This is evil." (Variety)
The sound editor on Netflix's "Fauda" died in Hamas' attack on Israel, Ted Sarandos revealed. (TheWrap)

THE INDUSTRY

CNN Photo Illustration/Michael Tullberg/Getty Images

Standoff With SAG: Things have gone south with the striking actors and major studios in their negotiations. After Wednesday's meeting, the AMPTP, which represents the studios, said that talks have been suspended. The AMPTP said that after "meaningful conversations, it is clear that the gap between the two parties is "too great" and that "conversations are no longer moving us in a productive direction." SAG-AFTRA, which represents the actors, released a scathing statement lashing out at the studios, accusing them of employing "the same failed strategy" of "putting out misleading information." CNN's Rob McLean and Liam Reilly have more.

HOLLYWOOD HELL

In conversation with Lucas Shaw at the inaugural Screentime summit, Netflix boss Ted Sarandos said SAG-AFTRA proposed a levy on subscribers: "It just felt like a bridge too far to add this deep into the negotiations." (CNN)
Beatrice Verhoeven spoke to actors who described the break down as "a rough day for everyone" and "disappointing." (THR)
But Drew Taylor reported that they are also "resolute" in their fight against the major studios. (TheWrap)
Brooks Barnes and Nicole Sperling reported on the Hollywood workers who are "reeling" as the SAG-AFTRA strike carries on. (NYT)
The Ankler's "Strategy Guy," an anonymous former Hollywood executive, outlined the "next 10 things the WGA should fight for." (Ankler)

IN THE MARKET

Ari Emanuel torched CAA over Julia Ormond's Harvey Weinstein lawsuit, saying it is "disgusting what they did" while also calling out Margot Robbie and Meryl Streep for their silence. (TheWrap)
Emanuel also confirmed that he is interested in buying the PGA Tour. (Bloomberg)
Comcast and Disney "have hired investment banks to value Hulu, the next step in what's been a nearly five-year process to put the streaming service under one owner," Alex Sherman reports. ( CNBC)
Netflix said it will open immersive stores in 2025 where fans can live out their favorite content, including playing games, shopping for merch, and eating themed meals. (Bloomberg)
YouTube is doubling down on NFL content, choosing to focus on its NFL Sunday Ticket, rather than chasing after NBA rights. (Deadline)
Spotify announced a partnership with Alex Cooper's The Unwell Network. (THR)

THE FOURTH ESTATE

Tom Skilling, a fixture of Chicago television, announced he will retire next year after 45 years at WGN. (WGN)

MEDIA MOVES

The Information hired Matthew Resnick as chief operating officer. (AdWeek)
The FT announced the creation of its visual investigations team, to be led by Alison Killing. (FT)
The Block tapped Tim Copeland as its editor-in-chief. (TBN)
The NYT named Chris Stanford as a deputy editor; added Ken Belson, Joe Drape, Kevin Draper, Tania Ganguli, and Jenny Vrentas to a new unit called the "Business Sports Pod"; and hired Santul Nerkar as a sports fellow. (NYT/NYT)

THE INFO WARS

IN THE BATTLEFIELD

As Steve Scalise drops out of the race for House Speaker, read this smart piece from Brian Rosenwald: "The truth is that angry conservative media hosts have only themselves to blame for [Kevin McCarthy's] downfall and the disarray currently facing House Republicans. The leaders of conservative talk radio and cable news have spent years assailing GOP congressional leaders ... and they are largely responsible for turning far-right rebels like [Matt Gaetz] into stars." (POLITICO)
Steve Bannon had lashed out at Steve Scalise, saying that if the Louisiana congressman became speaker it would be "disastrous." (MMFA)
The Gateway Pundit, which is being sued by former Georgia elections workers, "is being accused of purposely delaying discovery in the case to forestall a jury trial," Jason Hancock reports. (Missouri Independent)

THE VALLEY

CNN Photo Illustration/Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto/Getty Images

Threads Adds New Tools: The Meta-owned platform Threads is getting some new features this week as it continues to build up its suite of tools. Adam Mosseri, the executive overseeing the platform, announced that the team was rolling out an edit button, as well as audio capabilities. But Mosseri continued raising questions about what role Meta wants news to play on the platform. In a reply to The Verge's Mia Sato, Mosseri said Threads "won't do anything to get between people and content from accounts they follow, regardless of whether or not the content is news." But, Mosseri added, Threads "won't proactively recommend news content to people who don't seek it out."

🔎 Zooming in: Like many of Mosseri's posts, his latest commentary on news only raised additional questions. For instance, what exactly does Meta consider to be "news"? Are live updates about a sports game considered "news"? What about live updates posted from a Meta event? Unfortunately, we don't know. And his spokesperson told me Thursday he "doesn't have much time right now" to participate in an interview anytime soon. But the spokesperson said they will "definitely consider for the future." We'll see. I'm not holding my breath!

TOO MANY TABS

Google said it will defend users using its generative A.I. platforms from accusations of intellectual property violations. (Reuters)
Amazon said its October Prime day — yes, the one that just passed — sold some 150 million items from third-party retailers, outpacing last year's fall event. (CNBC)
Twitch added additional anti-harassment features. (TechCrunch)
Montana-based TikTok'ers are challenging the state's ban of the app slated to go into effect on January 1, Amy Beth Hanson and Haleluya Hadero report. (AP)
TikTok is also facing challenges abroad, notably in Malaysia, where the government is warning the ByteDance-owned company has yet to fully comply with local laws, Ram Anand reports. (Bloomberg)
"Teens love LinkedIn": Anya Kamenetz reports that for some young people "burned out" from traditional platforms, the professional networking site is "the way social media should be." (The Cut)
Microsoft is contesting the IRS's claims the company owes $29 billion in back taxes. (AP)

CURTAIN CALL

CNN Photo Illustration/John Shearer/Getty Images

Taylor Hits Theaters: The fall blockbuster of the year has arrived. Taylor Swift's "The Eras Tour" concert film hit theaters on Thursday, one day early. Swift said on social media that the release was moved up "due to unprecedented demand" to see the show, which is currently boasting a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, albeit with only nine reviews. Of course, the film is already destined to smash records and be a hit. The only question is how big will it be? Analysts are expecting it to clear $100 million at the domestic box office in its opening weekend. But it could easily surge far past that milestone, especially as Swift works to whip up excitement. On Wednesday night, at the premiere, she showed up with Beyoncé. Knowing Swift, she has other tricks up her sleeve to promote the film. We'll see how well it performs. Regardless, it's set to provided a much-needed boost to the theater business.

OFF STAGE

AMC Theatres boss Adam Aron "sent sexually explicit images and messages in a weeks-long text exchange with a woman who tried to extort hundreds of thousands of dollars from him using fake identities," Liz Hoffman reported. (Semafor)
Comedy Central still has yet to find someone to fill Trevor Noah's shoes at "The Daily Show," Elahe Izadi reports, asking, "Why not?" (WaPo)
"Miramax acquired the rights to the "Halloween" franchise, marking the end of a bidding war. ( TheWrap)
Gerard Butler settled a legal dispute over a claim he was still due at least $10 million from his role in "Olympus Has Fallen." (THR)
RIP: Phyllis Coates, the first actress to portray DC's Lois Lane, has died at 96. (TheWrap)
AMC dropped a trailer for "The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Lived." (YouTube)
The latest trailer for Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie's "The Curse," which stars Fielder alongside Emma Stone, has dropped. (YouTube)

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 next week.