Dez Reads. Sports Streaming Showdown, Blake Lively’s Misstep, Matthew Perry’s Tragedy, Ford’s Hybrid Pivot, and Influencers vs. Journalists.

If you can’t tell by now, I’m a big fan of journalism. As an Old Millennial, I’ve not just grown up with the internet, but I also came of age as the journalism profession was embarking on a massive shift in how we value and access the news. That shift is still ongoing, and it’s scary not only for J-school graduates but for those of us who believe that independent reporting is one of the most effective ways to hold the powerful accountable.

Anne Marie kicks us off this week with a look at some of the practical implications of the rise in journalism at the DNC. I’m concerned about the rise of the influencer charm offensive and how it will impact the flow of information. For all the fights I’ve had with reporters over the years, I have always understood that the power of my pitch relies on an honest, compelling story. With the lack of accountability in the Wild West that is influencer journalism, will perks and flattery drive coverage? And what will that mean for our culture’s fragile trust in media at large?

This week, we also introduce new Dez hire Maggie Johnston to our readers, with a look at Blake Lively’s recent PR missteps; Bova unveils the latest chapter in his ongoing analysis of the streaming sector; Eric provides some personal experience counseling celebrities; and Schlein hammers home an important axiom regarding consumer choice in the automobile market.

As we prepare to kiss the summertime goodbye, I want to thank you again for reading and learning along with us.

Here we go.

Media.

Reuters. Influencers battle journalists for space and access at DNC

More than 200 content creators were credentialed to attend the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, in addition to the usual political and national press corps.

There’s little doubt or denying that the media and information landscape has changed, and the convention is embracing influencers with their sometimes niche, but often sizable audiences on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.

Traditional media doesn’t seem to be happy about the courting of this new generation of information and opinion peddlers in Chicago. While content creators are being connected directly to lawmakers, consultants, and other VIPs, journalists must cultivate their own connections. What’s ironic to me is that over the last 10 years, social media has been a major tool for reporters to develop sources, share scoops, and get ahead in their own fields.

With more than 83 percent of American adults often or sometimes getting their news from social media, and traditional media continuing to consolidate and struggle to stay relevant with shifting demographics, whether we like it or not, content creators are here to stay.

Rather than drawing battle lines as influencers vs. journalists, I hope to see more follow the journalist/content creator playbook. Like Jessica Yellin, the former CNN White House correspondent, started News Not Noise and marries hard news with analysis, for an audience primarily on Instagram, TikTok, and Substack.

– Anne Marie Malecha

Business.

WSJ. Judge Blocks Launch of Sports Streaming Service

We have more sports broadcast litigation to share. The WSJ is reporting that a preliminary injunction has stopped the launch of Venu Sports – the streaming partnership between Warner Bros., Fox, and Disney. A federal judge has ruled that this new service will “substantially lessen competition and restrain trade.”

The challenge came from Fubo – a sports-centric streaming service – claiming it is anticompetitive that Fubo is forced to pay for a broad bundle of generic channels without the ability to handpick the ones they offer their subscribers, while Venu would be only the more desired sports channels. And while I believe that is like Blockbuster complaining that Netflix gets to make their own shows and movies and put them on the internet, there is a fair argument to be made that these media giants are leveraging their position and size to work together and muscle out any competition. The courts will sort this out, and it likely ends with some types of concessions made to Fubo, but I am encouraged by the fact we are one step closer to a sports-only package that I can buy and ignore the other 500 channels I don’t ever watch.  

– Mike Bova

Culture.

CNN. ‘It Ends with Us’ has sparked discussion about domestic violence. Here’s what Blake Lively has said about the issue

It Ends with Us, the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling book, was recently released in theaters. The film, which deals with the heavy theme of domestic violence, was marketed in a way that seemed at odds with its serious subject matter. Lively’s promotion, urging fans to “put on their florals and go to the theater,” suggested a light-hearted rom-com rather than a poignant drama about overcoming abuse.

The situation worsened when Lively gave an insensitive response during an interview to a question about how she would go about addressing fans who might want to have a deeper conversation with her to discuss their personal experiences. Her dismissive remarks only fueled criticism, making it seem like she was out of touch with the film's gravity and the experiences of its audience.

Unfortunately for Lively, this controversy now appears to have grown legs of its own, with critics digging up Lively’s past comments from over eight years ago that seem to align with her current perceived insensitivity. It’s a classic example of how a few seemingly innocuous comments can snowball into a full-blown crisis.

– Maggie Johnston

Celebrity.

ABC News. The Matthew Perry Tragedy and The Way Things Work

Several people were indicted this week for supplying actor Matthew Perry with a fatal dose of ketamine. Perry’s former personal assistant pled guilty to administering the shot after Perry requested “a big one.” Perry had been in the throes of addiction for much of his life, so we can debate about his level of responsibility. One thing that cannot be debated is the way things work in a dark corner of Hollywood: the proximity to fame is an addiction as powerful as narcotics. Add money to the mix, and it’s like an industrial magnet collecting paper clips.

I have seen this repeatedly in my work on celebrity cases. What a star wants, the star gets — or else the entourage loses access, and there is no tundra as cold as being frozen out of a celebrity’s orbit. This has gone on from time immemorial. This doesn’t just happen with drugs either: whatever the star’s dark impulse, it will be indulged without consequence. Until there is one. All the rest of us can do is ask ourselves if this is a game we want to play. As the great movie concluded, “Forget it, Jake, it’s Chinatown.”

– Eric Dezenhall

Technology.

WaPo. Ford revamps electric vehicle strategy with push into hybrids

This first sentence of the story sums it up nicely: “Ford is revamping its money-losing electric vehicle business, retreating from some plans for all-electric vehicles and instead prioritizing the development of hybrid technology, the automaker announced Wednesday.” (my bold italics)

At my first Capitol Hill job in 1983, my desk was next to an older, seasoned Legislative Assistant with a Ph.D. in Economics. At the time, we were debating a Reagan Administration tax proposal to encourage businesses to invest more in research and development. His take on it changed the way I’ve viewed these types of government programs ever since. He said, “It won’t matter; the marketplace always wins.” The EV industry is failing because the marketplace isn’t as enthusiastic about the products as the government. Oh well, nice try.

I have a theory that secretly the big three car companies never really bought in to the “electric future.”  As arguably the most regulated industry in the world, they decided to run to the front of the parade as a “path of least resistance” strategy. Now that they’ve wasted billions of dollars, they’ll get back to making cars people want to buy. 

– Steven Schlein