Microsoft confirmed that it provided its BitLocker recovery keys to federal investigators in Guam, allowing them to unlock encrypted data on laptops, thus crossing a privacy line.  This is a clear sign that "’encrypted’" does not always mean "’inaccessible," and the implications go far beyond one investigation, Fox News writes.

Outlier Media has pioneered a new journalistic model — one that it is collaborative and community focused, Columbia Journalism Review writes. It was started in 2016 by Sarah Alvarez, a former civil rights lawyer, as an information service on properties people wanted — responses were sent via text message — and has since broadened its service. “I was not satisfied with covering low-income communities for a higher-income audience," Sarah Alvarez said in 2018. "I wanted to cover issues for and with low-income news consumers."

GenZ is more likely than people in older age categories to watch entertainment/celebrity/music on TV or video streaming online, Civic Science reports. They also will subscribe to health and fitness content. And while 25% are paying more attention to political news (compared to 35% of people age 30+), 23% are showing less interest.     

The Washington Post decimated its sports, local news and international teams with a widespread round of layoffs on Wednesday, affecting 30% of its staff, including 300 of the 800 journalists in the newsroom and some people on the business side, The New York Times reports. The Times opines that the cuts are a sign that Jeff Bezos has “not yet figured out how to build and maintain a profitable publication on the internet.”

Fox Corp. beat Wall Street expectations in the second quarter, due to strong advertising demand at its news and sports networks, Reuters reports. The company also achieved growth at its streaming service Tubi. Q2 revenue totaled $5.18 billion, versus estimates of $5.06 billion. (This story is partly behind a paywall). 

A bill that would require mental health warning notices for social media users has been introduced in the Illinois legislature. The Mental Health Warning for Social Media Act would mandate a pop-up explaining the risks of social media use and information on how to obtain social and crisis prevention help. A second pop-up would advise users of the time they have spent on social media. House Bill 4750 was introduced by Rep. Justin Cochran (D).   

The Mountain West sports conference has reached media rights agreements with CBS Sports and Fox Sports for six years and the CW Network for five years, resulting in the largest  distribution plan in its history. Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez hailed the deals with “three nationally recognized broadcast and media partners and marquee streaming platforms.” Kiswe is also now part of the portfolio.   

Nebraska Public Media of Lincoln, Nebraska is acquiring Omaha’s KOO-FM and will convert it to non-commercial public radio, Nebraska Public Media reports. Nebraska Public Media’s programming will not be available in Omaha via a dedicated radio signal. 

Hour Media has acquired the assets of Sale Lake, Utah Bride & Groom and Utah Style & Design from JES Media, Salt Lake magazine reports. Hour Media, which specializes in city,, regional and lifestyle publishing, will focus on enhancing client service, the reader experience and product distribute. 

Media mix modelers should consider as-run radio as a new channel instead of equating radio ROI with historical benchmarks, former Procter & Gamble media analyst John Fix argues in a blog post, according to Radio Ink. Fix notes that broadcasters have partnered with firms like Media Monitors, software platform Act1, and Nielsen to provide as-run data for total radio buys.