Mediagazer

1:25 AM ET, December 16, 2025

Top News:

Dan Mangan / CNBC:

President Trump files a $10B defamation lawsuit against the BBC, alleging it intentionally doctored a Panorama documentary to misrepresent his January 6 speech — President Donald Trump filed a defamation lawsuit against the BBC in Miami federal court on Monday night, seeking at least $5 billion in damages.

Reuters:

Internal documents: Meta earned $18B+ in annual ad sales from China in 2024, making up 10%+ of its global revenue, with $3B+ linked to fraudulent ads like scams — A Reuters investigation reveals the owner of Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp decided to accept high levels of fraudulent advertisements from China.

Aidan Ryan / The Boston Globe:

The Boston Globe says Brian McGrory will return as editor, after Nancy Barnes' departure at the end of 2025; McGrory previously was editor from 2012 to 2023 — Brian McGrory is returning to The Boston Globe as editor, the company's co-owner and chief executive Linda Henry announced to staff Monday.

Discussion: WBUR, @davidfolkenflik, New York Times, TVNewsCheck, Media Nation and Boston Business Journal

Sara Fischer / Axios:

WSJ launches Free Expression, a newsletter-focused opinion brand that will be available via its own channels and Substack, initially offering free content — The Wall Street Journal on Monday launched “Free Expression,” a newsletter-focused opinion brand that will be available via its own channels and Substack.

Discussion: @sarafischer, Wall Street Journal and Talking Biz News

Byron Tau / Associated Press:

Sources: Bay Area radio station KCBS-AM, which faced MAGA backlash over ICE coverage, scaled back political reporting after Brendan Carr's threats of a probe — Before Jimmy Kimmel, there was KCBS. — Just six days into President Donald Trump's new administration, the San Francisco Bay …

Discussion: @matthewkeyslive, @adamrose.bsky.social, @matthewkeyslive, @matthewkeyslive, @kaedotcom.bsky.social, @stupordave1.bsky.social and Freedom of the Press …

Kanis Leung / Associated Press:

Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai is found guilty of colluding with foreign forces and conspiring to publish seditious articles, and faces a possible life sentence — Jimmy Lai, the former Hong Kong media mogul and outspoken critic of Beijing, was convicted in a landmark national security trial …

Discussion: BBC, The Guardian, Hong Kong Free Press HKFP, ZeroHedge News, Al Jazeera, CBS News, Fortune, Human Events, @liamjscott, Reuters, The Daily Signal, Columbia Journalism Review, @nickkristof, Catholic League, Kyodo News, Taipei Times, The Daily Register, Wall Street Journal, OCCRP, Courthouse News Service, HotAir, @kenroth, Washington Examiner, Metro.co.uk, JURIST, @yaqiu, @thecfhk, @klustout, The Daily Wire, @kevinkfyam, Breitbart, @johnsimpsonnews, The Free Press, @joshrogin, @hkdc_us, @tomgrundy, @frances_hui, @cpjasia, Kagi News, NPR, New York Times, Associated Press, Australian Financial Review, Irish Independent, Committee to Protect …, Reporters Without Borders, @klustout@threads.com, Nikkei Asia, Sky News, The Independent, Washington Post, Globe and Mail, CBC News, The Japan Times, New York Times, Reuters, Financial Times, Bloomberg, CNBC, @lorak.bsky.social, Semafor, WAN-IFRA, France 24, NBC News, UPI, Al Jazeera and NewsMax.com

Alice Brooker / Press Gazette:

The Associated Press launches AP Verify, an AI-powered tool, including chatbot and geolocation, to help journalists authenticate text, photos, and videos — AP Verify helped find eyewitness videos from Charlie Kirk assassination. — Associated Press has launched an AI-powered tool …

Discussion: The Associated Press, @kennysmith.bsky.social, @mrdudders.bsky.social and @tongli.bsky.social

Rose Henderson / Bloomberg:

Memo: Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos lay out Netflix's WBD offer, moving to quell concerns about job losses and the end of theater releases, after Paramount's bid — Netflix Inc. co-Chief Executive Officers Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos tried to reassure employees' concerns about the company's bid …

Chris Morris / Variety:

Acclaimed actor and director Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele Singer were found dead in their home; LAPD is investigating the deaths as a homicide — Rob Reiner, who segued from starring in “All in the Family” to directing movies including “This Is Spinal Tap,” “A Few Good Men” and …

Discussion: @realDonaldTrump …, TMZ.com, People, Los Angeles Times, NBC Los Angeles, TMZ.com, Associated Press, NBC News, New York Times, New York Times, People, New York Times, Reuters, The Wrap, ABC7, Zeteo, Rolling Stone, @mayorofla, New York Post, @rapidresponse47, Gold Derby, E! Online, HuffPost, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, Esquire, @jbenton, Daily Mail, The Mahablog, New York Sun, ZeroHedge News, WAGA-TV, SheKnows, WWL-TV, Wall Street Journal, FemaleFirst, HELLO!, No More Mister Nice Blog, The Guardian, The Tab, Agence France-Presse, Suggest, Us Weekly, TODAY.com, The Hollywood Reporter, @samstein, The Hill, ABC News, Cord Cutters News, National Enquirer, The US Sun, Straight Arrow News, Townhall, InStyle, Daily Star, Fox News, Washington Post, Sandra Rose, TVLine, Celebrity News & …, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, NewsMax.com, al.com, @kathrynw5, @therickwilson, Chicago Sun Times, Jacobin, USA Today, Washington Examiner, HOLA!, GamesRadar, Forbes, NDTV Profit, @trumanswhack, @spongebobsloth, @ceo_branding, @collinrugg, @variety, @erikdavis, @nickterrymgr, @da__dealer, @richarderoeper, @reallorispencer, @tjandcasper, @yashar, @stylesgala, @unhealthytruth, @vronskies, @sherripizza, @danielsilvabook, @theflickpick, Nicki Swift, NBC Bay Area, Deadline, @variety, @elex_michaelson, @letterboxd, Dexerto, Plain Dealer, The Times of Israel, France 24, El País, Mirror, The Scottish Sun, Le Monde, Benzinga, Raw Story, Vanity Fair, Advocate, CBS News, Extra, The Japan Times, Business Insider, masslive.com, @antonia2024bsky.bsky.social, @michaeljstern.bsky.social, @fightingliberal.bsky.social, RADAR, UPI, @lonsj.bsky.social, RedState, @phillewis.bsky.social, San Diego Union-Tribune, The Indian Express, Vogue, The Forward, David Earl Williams III on LinkedIn, Breitbart, @madgreek2024.bsky.social, World of Reel, @angus.bsky.social, Consequence, /Film, TV Insider, Looper, IndieWire, Alternet.org, The Post Millennial, Page Six, Channel2 NOW, Pasadena Star News, OMG.BLOG, New York Daily News, CNBC, IJR, Oh No They Didn't!, Mock Paper Scissors, Press Telegram, Just Jared and Twin Cities

Max Tani / Semafor:

Internal tests show WaPo debuted its AI podcast feature despite 68%-84% of generated scripts failing its standards, saying it would “iterate through” the issues — The Scoop — The Washington Post began putting out AI-generated podcasts even after internal tests found …

Discussion: @stevemullis.net, John Stoll on LinkedIn, @KimPerales@toad.social, @gbrumfiel.bsky.social, @jaycowit, @eduardosuarez.bsky.social, @dceiver.bsky.social, Futurism, The Wrap, @kennysmith.bsky.social, @harrymccracken.com, TechCrunch, @maxwelltani, @status.news and @oliverdarcy.bsky.social

Freddy Mayhew / Press Gazette:

PA Media, the UK's largest press agency, says it has adopted a “video-first” strategy to meet increased demand for live and vertical social media content — PA has adopted a “video-first” approach to its content offering in response to increased demand for live and vertical video content …

Front Office Sports:

Sources: ESPN hired ex-USA Today sports editor Roxanna Scott for the new position of SVP, EIC, in which she will be the top editor across TV and digital — ESPN is beefing up its editorial department. — Roxanna Scott has been hired for a newly created position in which she will be the top editor …

Discussion: Awful Announcing

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More News:

Brian Merchant / Blood in the Machine:
Interviews with copywriters on generative AI's impact: their work used for training, layoffs, wages and rates in free fall, freelancers losing clients, and more

Discussion: Simon Willison's Weblog, Cautious Optimism, @bcmerchant.bsky.social, @twitnews@twit.social, @paulguinnessy.bsky.social, @jessielilley.bsky.social, @peter@thepit.social, @carnage4life@mas.to and Wisconsin Watch

Max Tani / Semafor:
In an internal memo, Axios CEO Jim VandeHei warns that the US is in “a post-news era” where “everyone has their own individual reality”

Discussion: Axios, @jessicalessin and @kennysmith.bsky.social

Natalie Korach / Status:
Sources: an August vesting milestone gives Axios co-founders Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen the ability to cash out from their Cox deal and possibly exit

Discussion: @bgrueskin.bsky.social and @nataliekorach.bsky.social

Anna Heim / TechCrunch:
Berlin-based Mirelo, whose AI models can interpret video content to add matching sound effects, raised a $41M seed led by Index and a16z, after a $3M pre-seed

Discussion: Index Ventures, Florian Wenzel on LinkedIn, Andreessen Horowitz, Tech Funding News, Unite.AI, EU-Startups, Mirelo AI and Tech.eu

Elias Leight / Wall Street Journal:
Christmas music is more popular than ever, with listeners embracing it earlier in the year; by December 10, 20 of Spotify's top 25 tracks were Christmas-themed

Discussion: Barrett Media, Talia Kraines on LinkedIn, Digital Music News and Raw Story

Paul Sonne / New York Times:
A profile of Ivan Urgant, a popular Russian late-night TV host who became a pariah after his suspension in February 2022 for opposing the invasion of Ukraine

Discussion: @michaeljstern.bsky.social

Earlier Picks:

Lauren Edmonds / Business Insider:
Filing: Reddit says in its lawsuit against Australia's social media ban that it's “a collection of public fora” and social interaction isn't its “sole purpose”

Discussion: Dexerto, KnowTechie, MediaNama, @businessinsider.com and BMI, more at Techmeme »

Scott Fitzgerald / Wall Street Journal:
Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on antitrust, argues consumers stand to benefit from Netflix's acquisition of WBD

Discussion: Elisheba Rachel tell …

Ashley Carman / Bloomberg:
A look at financial advice YouTuber Caleb Hammer, who has over 2M subscribers and 60K to 70K subscribers paying $9.99/month for exclusive content

Discussion: @dannygroner.bsky.social

Mike Masnick / Techdirt:
How media coverage of Trump's AI EO overstated federal authority over states and overlooked how the order's interstate commerce argument could backfire

Discussion: Implicator.ai, Washington Post, @BrideOfLinux@mastodon …, @haroldfeld.bsky.social, @rpardee@hachyderm.io, @jmiers230.bsky.social, @maxkennerly.bsky.social and @techdirt.com, more at Techmeme »

Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Major brands were replaced by direct-response advertisers during commercial breaks of CBS News' December 13 town hall with Erika Kirk, moderated by Bari Weiss

Will McCurdy / PCMag:
Amazon rolls out Ask This Book to the Kindle iOS app, letting readers ask questions about plot or characters; authors can't opt out

Discussion: Engadget, Writer Beware, The Verge, MacRumors, MakeUseOf, 9to5Mac, @carnage4life.bsky.social and @hypervisible.blacksky.app

From Techmeme:

Natalie Alms / Nextgov/FCW:
The Trump administration launches the US Tech Force to recruit ~1,000 staffers from Apple, Meta, xAI, and others for two-year stints to modernize the government

Lora Kolodny / CNBC:
Shares of Tesla closed at a 2025 high on Monday after the company confirmed it is testing driverless vehicles in Austin without a human safety operator

TechCrunch:
Ford plans to repurpose its US battery manufacturing capacity to launch a battery energy storage business for data centers, amid a shift away from large EVs

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