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☆ Sweden to play US in last 16 after beating Argentina while South Africa makes history
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Matt Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A meeting between Sweden and the US in the first knockout stage of the Women’s World Cup was confirmed on Wednesday as the Scandinavian side beat Argentina 2-0. Banyana Banyana’s 3-2 win at the Wellington Regional Stadium marked the African nation’s first win ever at a Women’s World Cup having qualified twice. South Africa makes historyOver in Hamilton, Banyana Banyana had to come from behind after Arianna Caruso put Italy ahead through a penalty early on. Benedetta Orsi is consoled by her teammate Lucia Di Guglielmo after scoring an own goal against South Africa. Catherine Ivill/Getty ImagesThe second half saw something of an onslaught from South Africa, who continually regained the ball high up the pitch and got numbers forward en masse.

Persons: Sofia Jakobssen, Rebecka Blomqvist, Argentina’s, Elin Rubensson, Banyana Banyana, Arianna Caruso, Robyn Moodaly, Benedetta Orsi, goalkeepr Francesca Durante, Durante, Orsi, Lucia Di Guglielmo, Catherine Ivill, Hildah Magaia, Banyana, Cristiana Girelli’s, Caruso, Gireilli, Thembi Kgatlana, Desiree Ellis, Valentina Giacinti, Kgatlana, Ellis ’, FIFA’s Organizations: CNN, Argentina, Wellington, Cup, South American, Waikato, Sofia, FIFA, US, Tokyo, National Team, South, Portugal Locations: Sweden, Italy, South Africa, Hamilton, New Zealand, Africa, Netherlands, England, Australia, Argentina

☆ US job openings at more than two-year low but still elevated
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

There were 1.6 job openings for every unemployed person in June, little changed from May. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 9.610 million job openings. Reuters GraphicsThere were an additional 136,000 job openings in healthcare and social assistance, while vacancies increased by 62,000 in state and local government, excluding education. The job openings rate was unchanged at 5.8% in June. ISM manufacturing PMIIt has, however, not been a reliable predictor of manufacturing employment in the government's nonfarm payrolls count.

Persons: Elizabeth Frantz, Eugenio Aleman, Raymond James, Lucia Mutikani, Andrea Ricci, Paul Simao Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Federal, Labor, Survey, Labor Department, Employers, Treasury, Institute for Supply Management, PMI, Economists, ISM, Thomson Locations: Arlington , Virginia, U.S, WASHINGTON, . U.S

☆ US manufacturing shows signs of stabilizing at lower levels in July, ISM says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

It was the ninth straight month that the PMI stayed below the 50 threshold, which indicates contraction in manufacturing, the longest such stretch since the 2007-2009 Great Recession. The ISM survey's forward-looking new orders sub-index increased to 47.3 in July. According to the ISM, the delivery performance of suppliers to manufacturing firms has been faster for 10 straight months. It has, however, not been a reliable predictor of manufacturing employment in the government's nonfarm payrolls count. Manufacturing employment likely rose by 5,000 jobs last month, according to a Reuters survey of economists.

Persons: Charles Mostoller, Lucia Mutikani, Paul Simao Organizations: BMW, REUTERS, Reuters Connect WASHINGTON, Institute for Supply Management, PMI, Reuters, ISM, Federal Reserve, Manufacturing, Fed, U.S . Labor Department, Thomson Locations: Greer , South Carolina, U.S

☆ How a Guggenheim banker-turned-newsletter publisher is building the anti-Vice, profitably
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Patrick Trousdale's The Daily Upside newsletter for investors just hit 1 million subscribers. It's an example of how a media company can be profitable in a jittery time for the industry. As an investment banker at Guggenheim Partners in the last decade, Patrick Trousdale had the chance to observe the media industry up close. "You have sizzle before the steak at times with digital media," Trousdale, 33, told Insider. Patrick Trousdale.

Persons: Patrick Trousdale's, Patrick Trousdale, Trousdale, Trousdale forgoing, Puck, Graydon Carter's, Nat Rubio, Leah McGrath Goodman, Goodman, John Keeling, —, " Keeling, Patrick Boyle, Substack, Keeling, there's Organizations: Guggenheim, Guggenheim Partners, Guggenheim Securities, Vice Media, Morning, Financial Times, Apple, Plaid, Business Development, Air Mail, Facebook, Google Locations: Puck

☆ Warner Bros. Discovery is making a big shake-up to its ad sales org. Read how its sales chief explained the changes.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Discovery is shaking up its ad sales organization. It's also expected to make further staff reductions in ad sales as part of the restructure. Discovery is shaking up its ad sales organization and structure. EVP Jim Keller, who was key to bringing a digital approach to the merged company's newly combined sales team, left, along with Scott Kohn, EVP of national ad sales, and John Dailey, SVP of ad sales. Based on the learnings and successes we've experienced in the past year, this morning we are announcing a new sales structure and strategy.

Persons: It's, Marybeth Strobel, Greg Regis, Regis, Strobel, Ryan Gould, Jon Diament, Sheereen Russell, WBD, Jon Steinlauf, Jim Keller, Scott Kohn, John Dailey, David Zaslav, we've, AE's, Lucia Moses, lmoses Organizations: Warner Bros, WBD, Max, CNN, NBA, NCAA, MLB, NHL

☆ US annual inflation posts smallest rise in more than two years
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index increased 0.2% last month after edging up 0.1% in May, the Commerce Department said. Excluding the volatile food and energy components, the PCE price index gained 0.2% after rising 0.3% in the prior month. That lowered the year-on-year increase in the so-called core PCE price index to 4.1%, the smallest advance since September 2021. The annual core PCE price index climbed 4.6% in May. Line chart with data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and Federal Reserve shows PCE inflation slowed to 3% year-on-year in June, while core PCE inflation also eased to 4.2%.

Persons: Christopher Rupkey, Cory Stahle, Ellen Zentner, Morgan Stanley, Lucia Mutikani, Chizu Nomiyama, Paul Simao Organizations: Labor, Federal Reserve, Fed, Commerce Department, Reuters, Treasury, Labor Department, Employers, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, New York, U.S, Ukraine, Salt Lake City , Utah

☆ Moderate US economic growth expected in second quarter
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

According to a Reuters survey of economists, GDP growth likely increased at a 1.8% annualized rate last quarter after rising at a 2.0% pace in the first quarter. Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, likely remained a pillar of support, although the pace of growth slowed from the second quarter's robust 4.2% rate. Further contribution to GDP growth was expected from government spending. Inventory investment is a wild card, though most economists are penciling in a contribution to GDP growth of at least five tenths of a percentage point. Business sharply reduced inventory accumulation in the January-March quarter in anticipation of weaker domestic demand, slicing 2.14 percentage points off GDP growth that period.

Persons: Dean Maki, they're, Mike Skordeles, Joe Biden's, Sean Snaith, Richard de Chazal, William Blair, Lucia Mutikani, Andrea Ricci Organizations: Federal Reserve, Point72, Management, Labor Department, Truist Advisory Services, Investment, University of Central Florida's Institute, Economic, Fed, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Stamford , Connecticut, Atlanta, United States, London

☆ Encarnacao shines as Portugal beat Vietnam 2-0 for first World Cup win
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Portugal coach Francisco Neto made seven changes to the team that lost 1-0 to the Netherlands in their Group E opener and the decision paid off as first-half goals from Encarnacao and Francisca Nazareth earned them a first ever World Cup win. In stark contrast to their struggling display against the Netherlands, Portugal dazzled under the floodlights in Hamilton and Neto was delighted with the victory even though the scoreline did not reflect their dominance. "This is very important and it means a lot for all the players," said the Portugal coach, who has been in charge since 2014. "In the first half, I was not satisfied with the team," Vietnam coach Mai Duc Chung said. "They are 11 ranks higher than us and they come from Europe so, yes, they are much better than us ...

Persons: Jessica Silva, David Rowland HAMILTON, Telma Encarnacao, Francisco Neto, Francisca Nazareth, Neto, Encarnacao, Lucia Alves, Tran Thi Kim Thanh, Kim Thanh, Kim Thanh's, Nguyen Thi, Thuy, Patricia Morais, Mai Duc Chung, Hritika Sharma, Ken Ferris Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, REUTERS, Vietnam, Waikato, Encarnacao, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Portugal, Vietnam, Waikato, Hamilton , New Zealand, David Rowland HAMILTON , New Zealand, Netherlands, U.S, Auckland, Dunedin, Hamilton, United States, Nazareth, Europe, Hyderabad

☆ US economic growth accelerates in second quarter; inflation retreats
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Gross domestic product increased at a 2.4% annualized rate last quarter. Excluding food and energy, prices rose at a 2.6% pace following a 4.2% rate of increase in the first quarter. Though the pace of growth slowed from the first quarter's robust 4.2% rate, it was enough to add more than a full percentage point to GDP growth. Government spending also contributed to GDP growth. A measure of domestic demand increased at a solid 2.3% rate after surging at a 3.2% pace in the first quarter.

Persons: Amira Karaoud, Christopher Rupkey, Joe Biden's, Lucia Mutikani, Nick Zieminski, Andrea Ricci Organizations: REUTERS, Commerce, Federal Reserve, Gross, Reuters, Fed, Consumer, Labor Department, Conference, Treasury, Investment, Thomson Locations: Louisville, U.S, WASHINGTON, New York, United States

☆ A top Warner Bros. Discovery ad sales exec has exited, and insiders say rumors are flying of layoffs and changes as early as next week
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Insiders are speculating more layoffs and organizational changes are on the way. The media giant is wrapping its ad sales upfront period, where sales have been soft across the industry. Discovery has parted ways with another top ad sales exec, and insiders are speculating that more layoffs and changes are on the way. He's also a vet of Hulu ad sales and active in digital advertising, serving on the board of trade group the Interactive Advertising Bureau. Keller's exit is the second big WBD ad sales departure this year; John Dailey stepped down from his position as SVP of ad sales in March.

Persons: Discovery's, salespeople, Jim Keller, Jon Steinlauf —, Keller, He's, WBD, Keller didn't, Chris Licht, Steinlauf, David Zaslav, John Dailey Organizations: Warner Bros, Insiders, HBO Max, Hulu, Interactive, CNN, Discovery Locations: Discovery

Media and entertainment deal-making has slowed, but private equity players are still betting big on the space. Middle Eastern sources are still providing funding to media, which could fuel deals in the months ahead. Media deal volume has actually increased, just not as fast; PwC recorded media deals rose 3% (to 326) in the six months through May, down from a 7% increase in the previous six months. And beyond private equity, legacy players could shed properties they consider non-core: Paramount is trying to offload BET while Warner Bros. Insider's list of top private equity players in media and entertainment highlights 17 firms, from heavy hitters to smaller upstarts, based on our reporting and conversations with investors and insiders.

Persons: PwC, Hollywood —, Ryan, Morgan Stanley, Sherrese Clarke Soares Organizations: Media, Hollywood, RedBird Capital Partners, NFL, Company, Qatar Investment Authority, Yahoo, ESPN, Paramount, BET, Warner Bros, Discovery, Equity Partners Locations: Providence, BlackRock

☆ US new home sales fall, but trend remains strong
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Summary New home sales fall 2.5% in June; up 23.8% year-on-yearMedian new house price drops 4.0% year-on-yearWASHINGTON, July 26 (Reuters) - Sales of new U.S. single-family homes fell in June after three straight monthly increases, but the trend remained strong as an acute shortage of previously owned homes underpins demand. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast new home sales, which account for a small share of U.S. home sales, would drop to a rate of 725,000 units. New home sales are counted at the signing of a contract, making them a leading indicator of the housing market. While the overall the housing market continues to stabilize, higher mortgage rates and the renewed house price appreciation could delay a recovery. The median new house price in June was $415,400, a 4.0% drop from a year ago.

Persons: Conrad DeQuadros, Richard de Chazal, William Blair, Jerome, Powell, Lucia Mutikani, Andrea Ricci, Paul Simao Organizations: U.S, Commerce Department, Brean, Reuters, Mortgage, Association, National Association of Home Builders, Federal, Treasury, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, New York, U.S, Midwest

☆ This top Procter & Gamble exec is showing Hollywood how brands can make prestige films and be 'power-up' partners for studios and streamers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

P&G Studios head Kimberly Doebereiner argues that great entertainment can come from brands. Procter & Gamble is at the forefront of the growing brand film space — with its own in-house shingle, P&G Studios, actively pursuing entertainment projects that look nothing like ads. "The first thing I'd love is for the distributors to see that great content can come from anybody, and even if it's from a brand, that doesn't mean it's brand content," she told Insider in an interview. "We have great marketing, we have great brands, we can help bring in viewers, right? "We'd love to have our content be able to show up in the retailer with our brands and create better awareness for that content," Doebereiner said.

Persons: Kimberly Doebereiner, Doebereiner, Gamble, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer's, Michael Sugar's Sugar23, Reese Witherspoon's, Barbie, we've, Brand, Queen Latifah Organizations: G Studios, Procter, Gamble, HBO, Hulu, Brands, Hollywood, Advertising, Tide, Gillette, Tribeca Studios, Walmart, Blue Fox Entertainment Locations: Hollywood

☆ US consumer confidence races to two-year high; house prices rising
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Summary Consumer confidence index increases to 117.0 in JulyLabor market differential rises to 37.2 from 32.5 in JuneHouse prices continue upward trend in MayWASHINGTON, July 25 (Reuters) - U.S. consumer confidence increased to a two-year high in July amid a persistently tight labor market and receding inflation, bolstering the economy's prospects in the near term. That supports economists' views that consumer spending was flattening out after rising at its fastest pace in two years in the first quarter. The Conference Board's consumer confidence index increased to 117 this month, the highest reading since July 2021, from 110.1 in June. TIGHT LABOR MARKETThe survey's so-called labor market differential, derived from data on respondents' views on whether jobs are plentiful or hard to get, increased to 37.2 this month from 32.8 in June, a sign labor market conditions remain tight despite job growth slowing. And while more households planned to buy houses, they could run into affordability challenges as tight supply pushes up prices.

Persons: Robert Frick, Dana Peterson, Lisa Sturtevant, Lucia Mutikani, Paul Simao Organizations: Labor, Conference, Federal Reserve, Consumers, Navy Federal Credit Union, The, Reuters, University of, Conference Board's, Fed, Federal Housing Finance Agency, Bright MLS, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, Vienna , Virginia, U.S

☆ Every Hollywood company is having a terrible summer except Netflix, whose global content machine should help it ride out the actors' strike: 'They just aren't worried'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But one company that doesn't seem to be sweating it too much is Netflix. And for all of June , Netflix signed up 3.5 million subscribers, the service's best month since Antenna started measuring it. Netflix's robust global content machine should also help it ensure subscribers still see plenty of fresh content during the strike, at least for the near term. Many writers blame Netflix for making it harder to make a living as a result, one of the conditions that led to the strike. Subs growth for Netflix is increasingly coming from overseas, where lower pricing power could cut into its average revenue per user.

Persons: execs, We've, It's, Mark Mahaney, Wedbush, LightShed, gripes, Jefferies Organizations: Netflix, Hollywood, Disney, Warner Bros, Evercore, LightShed Partners, Microsoft Locations: Hollywood, Netflix's

☆ It's Hot Girl Walk versus Hot Girl Walk after TikTok trend-starter says a Florida company is infringing on her trademark
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Hot Girl Walk is suing a company formerly known as Hot Girl Walk Miami for copyright infringement. The lawsuit claims that Hot Girl Walk Miami created confusion between the two brands. The Hot Girl Walk trend, which originated on TikTok, encourages four-mile outdoor walks for women. Hot Girl Walk asks that the pair be permanently banned from selling merch with the Hot Girl Walk Miami branding. The company also asks to recoup any profits made by their competitor while selling Hot Girl Walk Miami merchandise.

Persons: Monica Villegas, Lucia Di Tore, Lind, Amelia Lind, Villegas, Di Tore Organizations: Service, Miami, Walk Locations: Miami, Wall, Silicon, Delaware, Florida, Walk Miami

☆ Kipyegon smashes mile world record, Warholm sparkles at Monaco Diamond League
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

July 21 (Reuters) - Kenya's Faith Kipyegon shattered the women's mile world record, while compatriot Ferdinand Omanyala won the men's 100 metres in a photo finish at the Monaco Diamond League meeting on Friday. "Tonight, I just confirmed what I am capable of," Omanyala said after securing his first Diamond League victory in the 100m. American Fred Kerley, who suffered his first defeat of the season last week at the Silesia Diamond League, did not run. Sweden's world record holder, Armand Duplantis, experienced a challenging time at the pole vault competition, losing the event for the first time this year. "Today did not go as planned, and this is my last competition before the World Championships in Budapest.

Persons: Kipyegon, Ferdinand Omanyala, Ciara Mageean, Omanyala, Jamaica's Ackeem Blake, Fred Kerley, Karsten Warholm, Alison Dos Santos, Warholm, Jamaica's, Jackson, Julien Alfred, Saint Lucia, Dina Asher, Smith, Armand Duplantis, Christopher Nilsen, Duplantis, Tommy Lund, Ken Ferris Organizations: Monaco Diamond League, Kenyan, Diamond League, Silesia Diamond League, Thomson Locations: Ireland, Botswana, Silesia, Oslo, Brazil, Budapest, Gdansk

☆ Read the leaked Hearst Magazines memo announcing dozens of layoffs across titles like Cosmopolitan and Seventeen: 'Change can be difficult but it is necessary'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Reed Alexander | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Hearst Magazines implemented layoffs Thursday affecting dozens of employees across its portfolio. Insider obtained the full memo from the president of Hearst Magazines announcing the news. Hearst Magazines Media Union tweeted that 41 of its members were laid off due to "company restructuring." Change can be difficult but it is necessary as we pave the way forward as a digital-first media company. Thank you all for your dedication as we work together to build the future for Hearst Magazines.

Persons: we're, Debi Chirichella, Hearst, —, Hearst Magazines Media Union, Chirichella, Slack, I'm, You'd, he'd, Jessica Giles, EIC Kristin Koch, It's, we've, Reed Alexander, Lucia Moses, lmoses, Alison Brower, Dan Whateley Organizations: Hearst, Hearst Magazines, Cosmopolitan, Hearst Magazines Media, Hearst Union, Twitter, Fashion

☆ Why Hollywood actors and writers are on strike and how the WGA and SAG-AFTRA walkouts are changing the entertainment industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

The Hollywood writers' strike got a boost when actors joined the picket lines in July. Together, the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes have upended development and promotion of new content. Read more about the issues and demands driving the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes:When will the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes end? Some are predicting that the writers' strike appears to be on course to outlast the previous the 100-day WGA strike of 2007-8, which cost the California economy roughly $2 billion. Read more about how Hollywood companies prepared for the strikes:Getting a job in Hollywood right now: Is anyone still hiring?

Persons: AFTRA, Oppenheimer, Abbott, Fran Drescher, it's, Read, Adam Conover, Ted Sarandos, David Zaslav, picketers, showdowns, Hollywood's, Reed Alexander, Lucia Moses Organizations: Hollywood, SAG, WGA, Writers Guild of America, Alliance, Television Producers, Netflix, Warner Bros, Discovery, Employees, Wall, Big Tech Locations: Los Angeles and New York City, California, Hollywood

☆ Brands are pouring money into film and TV — meet 13 marketers making the biggest moves as Hollywood's new financiers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

It's not just Barbie — lots of big brands are getting serious about making Hollywood-style entertainment. Insider identified 13 new and established players making the biggest moves in the space. "Barbie" may be the movie of the summer, but lots of other big brands are getting serious about making Hollywood-style entertainment. Neutrogena: Neutrogena Studios launched in 2021 and is J&J Consumer's first brand-funded content studio to make feature documentaries and scripted shorts. PepsiCo: PepsiCo's Content Studio is led by veteran PepsiCo marketer Lou Arbetter.

Persons: It's, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer's, Oscar, Michael Sugar, Brian Newman, REI, Michael Sugar's, Jae Goodman, Lauren Denowitz, Coke, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard's, Selman Careaga, John Deere, Mara Downing, Al Roker, Jill Wilfert, Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie, Barbie, Ken, Jaap Buitendijk, Robbie Brenner, J.J, Abrams, Lena Dunham, Barney, Daniel Kaluuya, J, Sebastian Garcia, Laurie Hernandez, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck's, Entertainment —, Justin Biskin —, Howard, Lou Arbetter, Max, Robert Rodriguez, Nadia Hallgre, Stanley Nelson, Arbetter, Procter, Kimberly Doebereiner, Paolo Mattola, Kyra Sedgwick, Watiti, Saint Laurent, Anthony Vaccarello, Saint, Pedro Almodóvar, Ethan Hawke, Pedro Pascal, it's, Paolo Sorrentino, David Cronenberg, Kelly Mullen, Bryce Dallas Howard, Lena Waithe, WePresent, Holly Fraser, Moses Sumney, Solange Knowles, Riz Ahmed, Aneil, Fraser Organizations: Hollywood, Procter, Gamble, Companies, Brands, Unilever, InBev, Waffle Iron Entertainment, draftLine Entertainment, Netflix, Coca Cola, Entertainment, Global, Deere, Warner Bros, Warner Brothers, Universal Studios, Mattel, Neutrogena Studios, Studio, Kerry, Seattle Film, Ghetto Film, HBO Nike, Nike, Waffle, Apple, HBO, PepsiCo, Pepsi Super, Showtime, Pepsi, G Studios, Imagine, Amazon's, Hulu, Paramount, Blue Fox Entertainment, Saint Laurent Productions, Unilever Entertainment, Imagine Entertainment, Monotype Locations: Hollywood, Kerry Washington, American, Cannes, Britain

☆ Hearst slashes roles across its magazine portfolio, which includes Cosmopolitan and Seventeen, as it looks to implement 'strategic decisions'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Lucia Moses | Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Hearst Magazines implemented layoffs Thursday affecting employees across its portfolio. The Hearst Magazines union tweeted that some 41 roles were cut. "As we continue to produce the highest-quality content across all platforms, we're also making strategic decisions that position the business for long-term growth," a Hearst Magazines spokesperson told Insider in a statement. Hearst Magazines Media Union tweeted that 41 of its members were laid off due to "company restructuring." The Hearst Union did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider on Thursday.

Persons: we're, didn't, Hearst Magazines Media Union, Hearst, Lucia Moses, Reed Alexander, ralexander, Dan Whateley Organizations: Hearst, Hearst Magazines, Cosmopolitan, Hearst Magazines Media, Hearst Union

☆ US weekly jobless claims fall to two-month low
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Unadjusted claims fell by 326 to 257,976 last week. Reuters GraphicsThough the labor market remains tight, last week's drop in claims was likely exaggerated by difficulties adjusting the data for seasonal patterns. The claims data covered the week during which the government surveyed businesses for the nonfarm payrolls component of July's employment report. Claims fell during the June and July survey weeks. At current levels, the so-called continuing claims are low by historical standards, indicating that some laid-off workers are quickly finding work.

Persons: Rubeela Farooqi, Unadjusted, Lucia Mutikani, Andrea Ricci, Paul Simao Organizations: Federal Reserve, Labor Department, Reuters, Reuters Graphics, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, White Plains , New York, California, Georgia, South Carolina, Oregon, Michigan , Kentucky , Indiana , New York , New Jersey , Iowa, Illinois, U.S

☆ It's not just 'Barbie' — as Hollywood goes through upheaval, brands from Nike to John Deere are becoming the new financiers of film and TV
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

As studios cut spending and strikes shut down production, Hollywood can take some solace — brands are coming to the rescue. Brand Storytelling is an organization that's held a festival for brand content alongside the Sundance Film Festival for the past seven years. Brand film submissions have almost tripled to 160 in the past three years, according to Rick Parkhill, director and co-founder of Brand Storytelling. "Film directors need the work," said Marcus Peterzell, who left ad giant Omnicom to found Passion Point Collective, a brand film studio, in 2019. He's since made some 36 film projects for brands.

Persons: Greta Gerwig, Kyra Sedgwick, John Deere, Kimberly Doebereiner, Chris Paul, Mattel's Robbie Brenner, There's, Jill Lubochinski, Holly Fraser, WePresent, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer's, Reese Witherspoon's, Michael Sugar's Sugar23, we've, Marc Gilbar, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Gilbar, that's, Rick Parkhill, Riz Ahmed, WeTransfer, Vicky Grout, Parkill, Saint Laurent, Pedro Almodóvar, David Cronenberg, They're, Marcus Peterzell, Peterzell Organizations: Hollywood, Mattel, Nike, HBO, Procter & Gamble, Tide, Gillette, G Studios, Warner Bros, Discovery, PepsiCo, REI, Dallas Buyers, Sundance, Brand, Brands Locations: —, HBO's, Hollywood

☆ US existing home sales fall; annual house price decline slows
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, July 20 (Reuters) - U.S. existing home sales dropped to a five month-low in June, depressed by a chronic shortage of houses on the market that slowed the pace of decline in annual house prices. Existing home sales fell 3.3% in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.16 million units, the lowest level since January, the National Association of Realtors said on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast home sales would drop to a rate of 4.20 million units. The median existing house price fell 0.9% from a year earlier to $410,200, the second-highest price ever. The median house price rose 3.5% from May.

Persons: Freddie Mac, Lawrence Yun, Lucia Mutikani, Paul Simao Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Reuters, Federal, Thomson Locations: Midwest, West

☆ Netflix says subscribers to its ads plan have doubled. Meet the 19 execs driving the streamer's aggressive push into advertising.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Netflix said in its 2Q earnings that subscribers to its ads plan have doubled over the previous quarter. Peter Naylor, VP of global advertising salesPeter Naylor, VP, global advertising sales. Netflix has also brought on several directors and other roles in ad sales who've worked at Hulu, Snap, and elsewhere. Chad Rumminger, who focuses on automotive accounts, from automotive ad sales at Twitter. Julie Taylor Green is head of US vertical ad sales; she was TikTok's director of global business solutions before that.

Persons: execs, they're, Jeremi Gorman, Peter Naylor —, Netflix salespeople, Nielsen, DoubleVerify, Kelly Metz, They've, Gorman, Peter Naylor, who've, Naylor, Julie DeTraglia, Kinsey Tamberrino, He's, Hulu playbook, Adam Gerber, Gerber, he's, it's, She's, Asaf Davidov, DeTraglia, Jon Whitticom, Whitticom, that's, Kinsey Osberg Tamberrino, Michaela Giovengo, Valerie Bischak, Doug Brodman, Victoria Morris, Amy Newton, Joanna Read, Eric Berman, Chad Rumminger, Morgan Tully, Nicole Sabatini, Julie Taylor Green, Chris Smutny Organizations: Netflix, Hulu, ABC, Microsoft, Omnicom Media, Yahoo, Gorman's, ABC Television Group, Disney, Comcast, Viacom Media Network, Amobee, Twitter, Google, Amazon, Tech, Gaming, Entertainment Locations: Hulu, TikTok

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