Top News:
Isabella Simonetti / Wall Street Journal:
Memo: CNN CEO Mark Thompson plans to combine newsgathering into one TV-and-digital unit, and outlines his vision for subscriptions and improving mobile video — New CNN Boss Shakes Up News Operations, Explores Digital Subscription Model One combined unit will serve TV, streaming and digital platforms …
RELATED:
Sara Fischer / Axios:
CNN names longtime executive Virginia Moseley as the network's first executive editor; CNN's international news chief Mike McCarthy will be managing editor — Months after being named the new CEO of CNN Worldwide, Mark Thompson on Wednesday unveiled his strategy for bringing the decades-old cable new network for the digital era.
Discussion:
Associated Press, The Hollywood Reporter, @davidclinchnews, @sarafischer, @abigailmarone, Reuters and The Wrap
Nico Grant / New York Times:
Email: Google plans to cut 100 employees from YouTube's operations and creator management teams; a source says YouTube employs 7,173 people — The layoffs are part of efforts by the video platform's parent company, Google, to trim costs and bureaucracy as it embraces artificial intelligence.
Discussion:
The Wrap, TechCrunch, @vthallam@threads.net, The Hill, The Verge, @jjackyliang@threads.net, @alexeheath, The Information and 9to5Google
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James Hale / Tubefilter:
Internal memo: YouTube is restructuring its creator management teams, including consolidating various sports, media, film, and TV teams into a single team — YouTube's partnerships side is undergoing its first corporate restructuring in a decade-one that'll see changes to the creator management …
Discussion:
The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, The Information and Fox Business, more at Techmeme »
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
In a note to staff, Condé Nast announces it is bringing Pitchfork into the GQ organization, and lays off Pitchfork EIC Puja Patel and some Pitchfork employees — Pitchfork editor-in-chief Puja Patel will depart the company in the consolidation. — It's the end of an era for Pitchfork.
Discussion:
Washington Post, HuffPost, @ryanpitchfork, @maxwelltani, @jillian_mapes, Consequence, @en_cohen, @danlesac, @annkpowers, @michaelbd, @nyguild, @lindsayzoladz, @annkpowers, @ashleyrgold, The Verge, New York Daily News, @ericrennerbrown, @jeremypgordon, @davidgross_man, Boing Boing, @ericrennerbrown, @crumbler@threads.net, @_alialkhatib, @mikeisaac, @broderick, @mikeisaac, @catzhang1, @kevincollier, @maxwelltani, @nomizeichner, @jakeswearingen, @ohgooditsalex, The Daily Beast, @lfitzmaurice, @adhocemilie, Variety, @jbenton, @elite_gz, @genepark, @alex, @bcmerchant, The Wrap, @maxwelltani, UPROXX, @reallygordon, @rawiya, @grantsharpies, New York Times and Billboard
Ellen Huet / Bloomberg:
Fairly Trained, a nonprofit founded by ex-Stability AI VP Ed Newton-Rex, will give certification labels to AI companies that get consent for their training data — New system seeks to create a sort of ‘organic’ or ‘fair trade’ label for AI. — A new initiative will evaluate …
BreAnna Bell / Variety:
Amazon and Tastemade sign a multi-year first-look deal to produce unscripted lifestyle content, including 15 new shows for Prime Video and Amazon Freevee — Amazon and Tastemade have signed a multi-year first look deal to produce unscripted lifestyle content.
Discussion:
Emily Sweet on LinkedIn, Next TV, The Desk, Cord Cutters News, Nate Rea on LinkedIn and Media Play News
Nick Vivarelli / Variety:
A group of 20 prominent screen trade organizations ask governments around the world to enact regulations ensuring that streamers invest more in local content — The joint plea — hailing from production bodies in Europe, Canada, Australasia and Latin America — comes as streaming services …
Discussion:
The Guardian
Miranda Green / The Guardian:
Floodlight investigation: Alabama Power and its foundation fund local news outlets to control narrative around high electric bills and utility-related pollution — A Floodlight investigation found Alabama Power runs a news service and its foundation bought a Black newspaper.
Discussion:
@floodlightnews, @mirandacgreen, @sammy_roth, @byrontau, @mirandacgreen, @mirandacgreen and @mirandacgreen
Lauren Forristal / TechCrunch:
Amazon now lets US users create AI-generated backgrounds using Alexa prompts on the second-gen Fire TV Stick 4K Max and the Fire TV Omni QLED Series — Amazon is officially rolling out the ability to create AI-generated images on Fire TV devices. Starting today, the feature is available …
Discussion:
Joshua Danovitz on LinkedIn, 9to5Google, Cord Cutters News and The Verge, more at Techmeme »
Jess Weatherbed / The Verge:
The EU Parliament adopts a nonlegislative resolution proposing sweeping changes to music streaming, including fair compensation and promoting smaller artists — The EU has proposed sweeping changes within the music streaming industry to promote smaller artists and make sure underpaid performers are being fairly compensated.
Mark Gurman / Bloomberg:
Netflix is not planning to launch a native Apple Vision Pro app or allow its iPad app on the platform, and says users can watch Netflix on the web browser — Netflix Inc. isn't planning to launch an app for Apple Inc.'s upcoming Vision Pro headset, marking a high-profile snub of the new technology …
Abigail Summerville / Reuters:
LiveRamp, which helps match up customer datasets for brands and advertisers, agrees to acquire marketing data startup Habu for ~$200M in cash and stock — , a software company which helps match up customer datasets for brands, advertisers and retailers, told Reuters on Wednesday it has agreed …
Discussion:
Business Insider, @ericfranchi, @aripap, @crumbler@threads.net, Business Wire and @tkawaja, more at Techmeme »
Joshua Benton / Nieman Lab:
David Smith's purchase of The Baltimore Sun raises concerns about the paper's future, considering Sinclair's political influence and controversial actions — Its new owner, Sinclair executive chairman David D. Smith, has pushed local TV news hard to the right.
Discussion:
Baltimore Brew, Poynter, @sarah_mearhoff, @jbenton, @gmarkham, @dylanbyers, @davidfolkenflik, @davidfolkenflik, @mikeorren, MediaPost, Adweek, Media Nation, Observer, Hollywood Reporter, Newser and Washington Post
RELATED:
David Folkenflik / @davidfolkenflik:
[Thread] In a meeting with staffers, The Baltimore Sun's new owner claims he paid nine figures, had read the paper just four times, and the Sun was profitable
[Thread] In a meeting with staffers, The Baltimore Sun's new owner claims he paid nine figures, had read the paper just four times, and the Sun was profitable
Discussion:
The Baltimore Banner, Washington Post, @drewharwell@threads.net, New Republic, @willoremus, @KimPerales@toad.social, @skamidi, @pdavis_llc, @bgrueskin, @kyoshino, @davidfolkenflik, @tysonbrody, @davidfolkenflik, @clarajeffery, @bencjacobs, @jamesebriggs, @jayrosen_nyu, The Wrap, @karaswisher@threads.net, @travismayfield@threads.net and Axios