Top News:
Jim Waterson / Guardian:
Ofcom revokes RT's broadcast license in the UK, citing new Russian laws that criminalized journalistic output, and says it conducted 29 investigations into RT — British media regulator says it does not consider RT ‘to be fit and proper to hold a UK licence’
Leah Nylen / Politico:
Sources: the FTC will not challenge Amazon's MGM Studios acquisition as Lina Khan decided not to call for a vote, anticipating opposition from GOP commissioners — The Federal Trade Commission will not challenge Amazon's acquisition of MGM Studios after the agency's commissioners split on bringing a suit …
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MediaPost, @parismarx, @ryangrim, @eriqgardner, @business, Bloomberg, The Information, NPR, Input and Variety, more at Techmeme »
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Jennifer Maas / Variety:
Amazon finalizes its $8.5B acquisition of MGM, two days after the deal received clearance from the EU's antitrust regulator
Amazon finalizes its $8.5B acquisition of MGM, two days after the deal received clearance from the EU's antitrust regulator
Discussion:
About Amazon, Wired, Newslit Daily, Deadline, @variety, Broadband TV News, Adweek, Wall Street Journal, Transistori, @jeremylittau, @truefactsstated, @dsnynewscast, @jacobqknight, Deadline, @leojtravis10, @willmckinley, @barbaracrampton, @henereyg, @richlightshed, @colinhantsco, Gizmodo, globalnews.ca, Financial Times, The Verge, Next TV, Nerdist, The A.V. Club, New York Post, CNET, WHDH-TV, Vanity Fair, SlashFilm, The Streamable, Media Play News, TechCrunch, Bloomberg, The Hollywood Reporter, WORLD SCREEN, IndieWire, Consequence and Cord Cutters News, more at Techmeme »
Dan Kennedy / Media Nation:
Gannett closes at least 19 print weekly newspapers in Eastern Massachusetts and merges nine weeklies into four — Gannett is closing at least 19 print weekly newspapers serving at least 26 communities in Eastern Massachusetts, according to notices posted on those papers' websites.
Discussion:
Boston Business Journal, @karynregal, @downballotfocus, @karynregal, @karynregal, @downballotfocus and @johnguilfoil
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Janko Roettgers / Protocol:
Startups like Wurl, Amagi, and Frequency, which enable distribution and ads for free ad-supported streaming channels, say their business is booming — Cord cutting isn't just changing the way we watch TV; it's also fundamentally transforming how television networks are operating.
Discussion:
@karynelevy and @jank0
Alex Weprin / Hollywood Reporter:
Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel received a pay package in 2021 that topped $308M, mostly from a one-time stock grant worth $293.7M as the company went through an IPO — With most of that compensation tied up in stock that may or may not vest, the company says his realized pay was closer to $67 million.
Discussion:
@kimmasters, @alexweprin, Deadline, The Wrap and Variety
Aisha Majid / Press Gazette:
Analysis: the number of advertised journalism jobs in the UK rose 79% from February 2019 to February 2022; the average salary in February 2022 was £35,244 — New Press Gazette analysis suggests of UK journalism jobs data finds the number of vacancies and size of salaries paid are increasing.
Wall Street Journal:
Gambling regulators in Nevada and Indiana are investigating Barstool Sports and Penn National in the wake of sexual misconduct accusations against Dave Portnoy — Gambling regulators in two states are looking into both companies amid sexual-misconduct allegations against Barstool's founder
Discussion:
Awful Announcing, Daily Mail and insideradio.com
Manori Ravindran / Variety:
Vice takes full control of UK production company Pulse Films, and co-founders Thomas Benski and Marisa Clifford have left the company — Vice Media Group has taken full control of “Gangs of London” producer Pulse Films. — Pulse co-founders Thomas Benski and Marisa Clifford …
Pjotr Sauer / The Guardian:
Food blogger Veronika Belotserkovskaya, who lives in France, is one of the first three Russians charged under the country's fake news law for anti-war posts — Socialite and food blogger Veronika Belotserkovskaya says she is both amused and shocked to be charged
Discussion:
The Racket News, @andreasharsono, @brianstelter, @pjotrsauer, @pjotrsauer, NPR, Daily Mail, The Week and New York Times
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Magna hires NewsGuard to give “nutrition labels” for 20+ networks and 100+ news programs, to be used by parent company Interpublic's media clients like J&J — Anchors like Don Lemon, Joy Reid and Sean Hannity have long looked at Nielsen ratings as one of the primary measures of their performance on air.
Drew Harwell / Washington Post:
Western media including the BBC, Deutsche Welle, NYT, and WaPo are using Tor, Telegram, and shortwave radio as they try to pierce Russia's propaganda bubble — An international resistance of computer programmers and volunteer “information warriors” is racing to pierce Kremlin propaganda …
Discussion:
@rferlpress, @drewharwell, @geoffreyfowler, @washingtonpost, @mpolymer, @w7voa and Raw Story
Jonathan Stempel / Reuters:
Fox News appeals a ruling letting Smartmatic sue for defamation, questions Smartmatic's $2.7B claim in damages, and seeks relief under New York's anti-SLAPP law — Fox News on Thursday appealed a judge's decision to let voting systems company Smartmatic pursue a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit alleging …