Mediagazer: Internal memo: opinion columnist Farhad Manjoo is leaving The New York Times (Ben Smith/@semaforben)

Interviews with 100+ people detail David Zaslav's WBD tenure, including deep cuts and a 50%+ stock drop, during a tumultuous time for the entertainment industry — A merger put him in the driver's seat at Warner Brothers, one of the industry's biggest studios. It has been a wild ride.

Discussion: IndieWire, Variety, Deadline, ComingSoon.net, @benmullin, The Hollywood Reporter, @sidhubaba, @brianstelter, @mileskahn, @tsoh_investing and @stcroix2020

New York Times:

Interviews with 12+ CNN insiders describe how David Zaslav cultivated friendships with some of CNN's biggest names, which did not stop him from then firing them — David Zaslav, the chief executive of Warner Bros. Discovery, was friends with some of the network's biggest names.

Discussion: @jayrosen_nyu, @blakerutherford, @omunderdal, @benmullin, @benmullin and @jamesstewartnyt

Financial Times:

As Rupert Murdoch cedes control to Lachlan this week, a look at the issues facing Fox: the $2.7B Smartmatic lawsuit, shareholder complaints, Ray Epps, and more — As the new chair completes his takeover, he must contend with unresolved claims hanging over the media company

Discussion: Politico and Cord Cutters News

Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:

On his last day as News Corp Chair, Rupert Murdoch said he hopes to “continue an active role in the company” and reflected on his past — “We should all be concerned about the suppression of debate by an intolerant elite who regard differing opinions as anathema," he added at the company's annual meeting.

Discussion: @waywardboobs.bsky.social, @brianstelter and NPR

Salvador Rodriguez / Wall Street Journal:

In 2022, Meta quietly began letting ads say past US elections were “rigged” or “stolen”; sources say executives decided this based on free speech considerations — Company weighed free-speech considerations in changing its policy last year

Discussion: The Guardian, Mother Jones, New Republic, @vanbadham, @benpershing, @zamaan_qureshi, @jayrosen_nyu, @melissaryan@me.dm, @Noupside@saturation.social and The Rural Blog, more at Techmeme »

Ben Smith / @semaforben:

Internal memo: opinion columnist Farhad Manjoo is leaving The New York Times — Farhad Manjoo @fmanjoo leaving the New York Times, per an internal note from opinion editor.

Discussion: @rachelmetz, @followtheh, @samuelaadams, @gadyepstein, @gamoid, @jasonabbruzzese, @howardkushlan, @fmanjoo and @fmanjoo

Steve McClellan / MediaPost:

GroupM partners with Google to assess the impact of Privacy Sandbox APIs on advertising; Chrome currently plans to complete cookie deprecation in H2 2024 — GroupM is teaming with Google Chrome on a post-cookie technology readiness program. — The companies will be working with a select group …

Discussion: Digiday, Ad Age and AdExchanger

Gene Maddaus / Variety:

Two SAG-AFTRA board members say they voted against the new contract because it did not have enough protections against AI, though they also had other concerns — Two members of the SAG-AFTRA board said they voted against the new contract because it does not do enough to protect actors against artificial intelligence.

Discussion: SAG-AFTRA, @ladykatebond, @ladykatebond, @ladykatebond, Wired, @alexwinter.com, KNSD-TV and CBS News

Charlotte Klein / Vanity Fair:

A look at Jazmine Hughes' resignation, as sources say the NYT's guild has objected to the handling of the New York Times Magazine staff writer's resignation — The paper's guild has objected to the handling of award-winning journalist Jazmine Hughes's resignation, an episode that comes …

Discussion: @charlottetklein

Anna Wiener / New Yorker:

A profile of Holly Herndon, an artist and musician who uses AI in her work and who co-founded Spawning, a company building a “consent layer for AI” for artists — The artist and musician uses machine learning to make strange, playful work. She also advocates for artists' autonomy in a world shaped by A.I.

Discussion: @kcesq, @totalvibration, @newyorker, @joelvmills, @hollyherndon and @annawiener, more at Techmeme »

Aisha Malik / TechCrunch:

YouTube expands support for enhanced bitrate 1080p HD video to Android, web, and smart TVs, from just iOS, and rolls out achievement badges for users over 18 — YouTube is expanding a few new features for premium users, the company announced on Wednesday. The platform is expanding …

Discussion: The Verge, more at Techmeme »

Lili Bayer / The Guardian:

Slovakian journalists and watchdogs express alarm after Slovakia's new prime minister described some media outlets as hostile and warned of restricting access — Robert Fico describes leading broadcasters and newspapers as hostile and says they are ‘unwelcome guests at government office’

Discussion: The Kyiv Independent