With five old phones and some Pew data, the BBC’s Marianna Spring monitors social media from the inside

[Nieman Lab: The Daily Digest] Wednesday, August 30, 2023 [With five old phones and some Pew data, the BBC’s Marianna Spring monitors social media from the inside]( “The reason I have to have undercover voters is because social media sites won’t — and to some extent, can’t — tell you exactly what they’re recommending every single voter.” By Sophie Culpepper. [The Daily Tar Heel’s shooting coverage is just the latest example of college newspapers taking on a local reporting role]( What We’re Reading POLITICO / ANTHONY COLEY [“If you want the public’s trust, broadcast the Trump trials.” →]( “If ever there was a moment in American history that should prompt the federal courts to change their outdated policy, surely the prosecution of a former president for attempting to overturn the will of the voters would be it. The time has come for the federal court system to catch-up with the times — many state courts already broadcast live trial proceedings.” AP News [ESPN to telecast dozens of college football games in movie theaters →]( “We believe that theaters have the ability to generate excitement around live sporting events,” Theater Sports Network president and COO Scott Daw said. “These events will replicate the feel of a football stadium experience as fans gather and fill theaters to watch the games on the big screen.” Press Gazette / Bron Maher [The New Statesman is the first major publisher to distribute its newsletters entirely through Substack →]( The New Statesman abandoned its old WordPress-based newsletter platform to make the move Philadelphia Inquirer / Elizabeth Wellington [Jamila Robinson, a Philadelphia Inquirer editor, named new Bon Appétit editor-in-chief →]( Robinson, who led the Inquirer’s food and culture coverage for three years, has been a leader of the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts since 2020. Al Jazeera / Ali Harb [Canadian publishers express anger over Meta’s “stupid and dangerous” news ban amid wildfires →]( “Experts said the impasse should push news outlets to rethink their reliance on social media to reach audiences and propel policymakers to find ways to support local journalism. ‘There is much danger in becoming too dependent upon these large platforms as core parts of your business model and your operations; it makes you structurally vulnerable.'” FT / Laura Pitel [German TV bosses are mad about “ideological” government plan to curb junk food ads →]( Thomas Rabe, chief executive of the European broadcasting network RTL Group argued that the ban, which would prevent broadcasters from showing adverts for unhealthy foods aimed at children during certain time slots, would have a “significant” impact on the television industry at a time when it is already struggling. Washington Post / Laura Wagner [A crackdown on “woke” coverage is tearing Atlanta magazine apart →]( Topics the publisher believes are too “divisive” include “Black Lives Matter movement and how you feel about that then and now, the Trump effect, the stolen elections, defund the police, legislation around pro-life heartbeat bills, bathroom bills, voting access, election security, transgender.” (Half the staff has quit.) Harvard Magazine / Nancy Walecki [The new little magazines →]( “When you’re a young emerging writer, you don’t always get the chance to make a really ambitious argument in a 3,000-5,000 word space.” the Guardian / Jim Waterson [Local news startup Manchester Mill to expand across the U.K. →]( Since launching as a personal project of founder Joshi Herrmann in 2020, The Mill has launched spin-off editions in Liverpool and Sheffield, attracting more than 5,000 subscribers paying £7 a month for its mix of longform journalism and on-the-ground reporting. Leeds, Birmingham, Glasgow and Newcastle are among the targets for new versions of its high-end paywalled local newsletter model. Mother Jones / Jahna Berry [The story behind Mother Jones’ first-ever reader listening sessions →]( One thing they learned: “When seeking news and information, Black audiences say they lack enough access to high-quality, rigorous journalism that’s free and that provides a perspective that reflects their lived experiences.” Substack / Matt Bors [The Nib, a comics site and magazine, closes after 10 years →]( “I am choosing to give it a death with dignity rather than make painful cuts and have it operate as a shadow of itself for a few more years. We have a blowout last day coming this Friday, with about four times as many comics as we usually run.” New York Times / Benjamin Mullin and John Koblin [CNN names former New York Times CEO Mark Thompson its next top executive →]( “A top challenge at CNN will be its transition to a more digital-focused future as the cable business declines.” Press Watch / Dan Froomkin [Advice to newsroom leaders on the eve of another chaotic election →]( “Campaign polling should have no relevance to reports from the courtroom.” “Focus less on the amount of campaign funding to each candidate, and more on where funding is coming from, and what interests funders have in government policy.” “Stop getting sucked into culture war soundbites that are simply meant to inflame and get coverage.” Reuters / Katie Paul [Facebook usage data backs up Meta’s claim news holds little value for the platform →]( “Daily active users of Facebook and time spent on the app in Canada have stayed roughly unchanged since parent company Meta [started blocking news there]( at the start of August, according to data shared by Similarweb, a digital analytics company that tracks traffic on websites and apps, at Reuters’ request.” [Nieman Lab]( / [Fuego]( [Twitter]( / [Facebook]( [View email in browser]( [Unsubscribe]( You are receiving this daily newsletter because you signed up for for it at www.niemanlab.org. 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