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Sources: CNET lays off around a dozen people, or ~10% of its staff, including several longtime employees, after revelations the outlet used AI to write articles — Just weeks after news broke that tech site CNET was quietly using artificial intelligence to produce articles …
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Insider, The Wrap, Futurism, Talking Biz News, @cpautoscribe, @bigmeaninternet, @rachelmetz, Variety, @edzitron, @gloria_sin, @qwongsj, @greene_dm, @xoxogossipgita, @scalzi, @vikkie, @scottnover, @zemotion, @jessicalessin, @sdw, @klawls, @chrishayner, @chrishayner, @bcmerchant, @jaredbkeller, @stevenewing, @karlbode, @karlbode, @karlbode, @jake_k, @paleofuture, @miarsato, @miarsato and @miarsato
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Memo: CNET EIC Connie Guglielmo, who defended CNET's use of AI tools, plans to step down to become Red Ventures' SVP of AI content strategy and editor-at-large — Following monthslong questions about how CNET uses artificial intelligence tools, longtime CNET editor-in-chief Connie Guglielmo …


Sources: ESPN in talks with sports leagues and media partners about offering a live sports guide with direct links, possibly in exchange for a subscription cut — - ESPN has talked with major sports leagues and media partners about launching a feature that would link users directly …
Discussion:
The Streamable, @sherman4949, MediaPost, @chrisnickinson, Broadband TV News, @andy_staples, @sarthakgh, @ourand_sbj, @rltsports, @sallyjenkinswa1, @bachscore, @dalter, @sallyjenkinswa1, @jacobfeldman4, @pkafka, @tim_bays, @sherman4949, @great_katzby, @keitholbermann, @mediumbuying, @sportstvratings, @sherman4949, Awful Announcing and Barrett Media


Two US senators and 11 US House members sent a letter to Star-Ledger and NJ Advance Media executives protesting the decision to close their Washington bureau — Lawmakers: ‘"Our constituents rely on this coverage to be informed participants in our democracy’


Wired publishes rules for its use of generative AI tools, saying it will not publish text written or edited by AI but may use AI for headlines and story ideas — Some publications are already using text and image generators. Here's how WIRED will—and won't—use the technology.
Discussion:
@emilybell, @waltmossberg, @glichfield, @laurengoode, @ndiakopoulos, @rifish, @nickstatt, @mtrc, @martinstabe and @mediaevan


UMG CEO Lucian Grainge says the company is working with Deezer on a “new model” of streaming payments, similar to its earlier announced partnership with Tidal — The partnership, which follows a similar collaboration with TIDAL, was announced by UMG CEO Lucian Grainge on an earnings call.
Discussion:
Digital Music News, Complete Music Update, @dada_drummer and Music Business Worldwide
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Universal Music Group 2022 earnings: revenue of $10.96B, up 21.6% YOY, subscription and streaming revenue up 18.7% to $5.6B, operating profit up 14.8% to $1.69B — UMG also reported publishing revenues rose nearly 35% on the year. — Universal Music Group's revenues surged 21.6% to 10.34 billion euros …
Discussion:
tools.eurolandir.com, Music Business Worldwide, Variety, Reuters and The Hollywood Reporter


A look at the projection issues ruining movie theaters, where the use of aging digital projectors and worn-out light bulbs contribute to poor picture quality — Multiplexes are failing at their most basic function: delivering a bright, sharp image. — Michelle Pfeiffer and Jonathan Majors look like crap.
Discussion:
Marketing Charts, The Wrap and Villages-News


London-based Electrify Video Partners, which invests in and acquires YouTube channels, raised $50M led by MEP Capital — Electrify Video Partners has raised $50 million to invest in and acquire YouTube channels. — London-based Electrify was co-founded in May 2021 by Ian Shepherd …


Filings: Murdoch claims he delegates “everything” at Fox News to CEO Suzanne Scott and hosts claim no one from Fox Corp. gave election coverage instructions — Back in 2021, Fox Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch was described by President Joe Biden as the “the most dangerous man in the world …
Discussion:
CNN, Mediaite, Al Jazeera, Financial Times, FTVLive, Deadline, Vicky Ward Investigates, Media Matters for America, The Guardian, Slate, The Week, abc7NY, SheKnows and Forbes


A look at OptOut News, an app launched in March 2022 by journalists Alex Kotch and Walker Bragman to aggregate news “100% free from corporate media narratives” — After Alex Kotch got into the habit of scrolling Apple News every morning in 2020, he started to find the offering a little limited.
Discussion:
@risj_oxford, @mariabustillos and @optoutnews


The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project says unknown actors used false US DMCA copyright claims to take down some Equatorial Guinea news reports — By BBC Trending — Journalists have been forced to temporarily take down articles critical of powerful oil lobbyists due …
Discussion:
@bbcafrica, @chloefarand, @stylian65, @jpmarthoz, OCCRP and Plagiarism Today