Top News:
Reuters:
A Moscow сourt extends the custody of WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich to March 30, 2024 as he awaits trial; Gershkovich can appeal within three days — A Moscow сourt extended the custody of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich by two months on Friday as he awaits trial on spying charges that he denies.
Discussion:
Axios, Wall Street Journal, Irish News, 6abc, Fox News and Voice of America
Mark Sweney / The Guardian:
Telegraph Media Group CEO Nick Hugh steps down as the UK prepares to launch a second probe into plans to transfer control of the titles to a UAE-backed group — Nick Hugh's exit comes amid concern over Barclay family's deal to transfer control of titles — The chief executive of the Telegraph …
Discussion:
Bloomberg, The Wrap and Press Gazette
Kate Knibbs / Wired:
A look at women's blog The Hairpin, which has been resurrected by a Serbian DJ after its 2018 shutdown and is now filled with SEO-optimized, AI-generated trash — Beloved women's website The Hairpin shut down in 2018. This month it returned from the dead to churn out AI clickbait.
Discussion:
@tomgara@threads.net, @rick_paulas, @mediaevan, @round, @seejanemarie, @lingerie_addict, @jayasax and @andyorin
Cameron Joseph / Columbia Journalism Review:
As newspapers cut DC reporters, they can no longer pressure legislators on local issues or inform readers about their legislators' performance — This week sucked. — On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Times laid off 115 people, more than 20 percent of its total staff.
Discussion:
Ed Joyce on LinkedIn, @cam_joseph, @alexclearfield, @kirk_bado, @cam_joseph, New York Times, The Guardian and The Wrap
Joseph Hudak / Rolling Stone:
A group of investors including country singer Morgan Wallen buy Field & Stream, with plans to relaunch it as a brand and biannual print magazine — The country stars will relaunch the hunting, fishing, and outdoors brand digitally, in print, and through a live music festival
Alex Weprin / Hollywood Reporter:
Axios launches Axios Entertainment, a new studio division that will develop and produce original nonfiction films and TV shows — The company has projects in development with Tom Brady's Shadow Lion, Chrissy Teigen's Huntley Productions, Media Res, Guy Ritchie, Mark Wahlberg's Unrealistic Ideas, among others.
Discussion:
The Wrap, @markhorowitz, @alex and @jimvandehei
Winston Cho / Hollywood Reporter:
The George Carlin estate sues Dudesy, which released a comedy special featuring an AI-generated recreation of George Carlin, alleging copyright infringement — “We have to draw a line in the sand,” says daughter Kelly Carlin, who sued creators of an hourlong special titled 'George Carlin: I'm Glad I'm Dead.'
Discussion:
The Verge, The Hill, Variety, TMZ.com, Engadget, Gizmodo, @sarahspain, Consequence, @gianmarcosoresi, CBS News, MyStateline.com, @iwriteok, The A.V. Club, @satiristas, @reallyndacarter, @wkamaubell, Mashable, @lorakolodny@threads.net, Comic Book, United States District Court Central District of California, Rolling Stone, The Messenger and The Wrap, more at Techmeme »
Hanaa' Tameez / Nieman Lab:
How disagreements between the Los Angeles Times and the LA Times Guild over seniority protections resulted in more than 60 journalists of color being laid off — Disagreements between the LA Times and its Guild over seniority protections ended in more than 60 journalists of color being laid off.
Discussion:
@tatecurtis, @stufalk, @suhaunah, @raminskibba, @froomkin and @sarahscire
Deadline:
Marie Donoghue, former vice president of global sports video at Amazon's Prime Video, joins DraftKings as its chief business & growth officer — UPDATE: Marie Donoghue is the new Chief Business & Growth Officer at gaming company DraftKings. — In her new role, Donoghue will work closely …
Discussion:
Awful Announcing, Sports Media Watch, New York Post, @austinkarp, @draftkingsnews, DraftKings and Sportico
Ben Thompson / Stratechery:
Q&A with Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters on not launching an app on the Apple Vision Pro, the WWE deal, content strategy, ads, competition, gaming, bundles, and more — I am pleased to welcome Netflix Co-CEO Greg Peters for a Stratechery Interview. Peters was named the co-CEO of Netflix …
Sara Salinas / CNBC:
In a memo, Paramount CEO Bob Bakish announces layoffs, citing a need to “operate as a leaner company and spend less”; he did not disclose the size of the cuts — - Paramount CEO Bob Bakish announced layoffs at the media company. — He did not disclose how many jobs the company would cut.
Discussion:
Variety, NBC 7 San Diego, NME, @weareyourfek, @madisonmills22, @tracytran, The Wrap, Benzinga, Deadline, Reuters, Deadline, Bloomberg, The Hill and The Messenger
RELATED:
Georg Szalai / The Hollywood Reporter:
In a memo, Paramount CEO outlines growth strategies for 2024, including “driving to streaming profitability” and “maximizing content with the biggest impact”
In a memo, Paramount CEO outlines growth strategies for 2024, including “driving to streaming profitability” and “maximizing content with the biggest impact”
Discussion:
The Wrap, Deadline, @paulvrea, Broadband TV News, @tvgrimreaper, Adweek, Reuters and Next TV
Sara Fischer / @sarafischer:
Forbes CEO Mike Federle announces layoffs affecting less than 3% of staff, saying Forbes “must remain vigilant in our current economic environment” — NEW: @forbes layoffs announced today, the same day its union announced a 3-day walkout. — Unclear how many impacted yet — CEO Mike Federer said in a note to staff that Forbes “must remain vigilant in our current economic environment.”
Khadeeja Safdar / Wall Street Journal:
Janel Grant, an ex-WWE staffer who received a payout from Vince McMahon and signed an NDA in 2022, files a lawsuit accusing WWE and McMahon of sex trafficking — Janel Grant files lawsuit saying McMahon pressured her into sex with him and other men at wrestling business, raising questions about 2022 board probe into CEO's payouts
Discussion:
New York Post, NBC News, CityAM, @xpangler, @xpangler, Sportico, New York Times, @danprimack, @justinbaragona, @henereyg, @wsj, @wsj, @siddhantadlakha, WHDH 7News, @theinsneider, Deadline, USA Today, Mediaite, Defector, Sportico, Awful Announcing, Courthouse News Service, All I ever wanted …, Bloomberg, TMZ.com, Los Angeles Times, Irish News, UPROXX, The Wrap, The Messenger, Rolling Stone, FOX8 WGHP, Media Play News, CBS News, Metro.co.uk, WFLA-TV, Hollywood Reporter, The Verge, ComingSoon.net, Boing Boing, CNBC and The Sun