Top News:
Emily Smith / The Wrap:
Media experts and former CNN executives say CEO Mark Thompson needs to cut costs as he remakes the network, and some top anchor salaries will likely be pruned — As the cable network suffers ongoing dismal ratings, Thompson needs to cut costs — including $50 million in on-air talent
Discussion:
Poynter, Simon Owens on LinkedIn, @jackshafer, @sharonwaxman, @sharonwaxman, @sharonwaxman and Poynter
Javier Espinoza / Financial Times:
Sources: the EU plans to fine Apple around €500M for allegedly breaking EU law over access to music streaming services, following a 2019 complaint by Spotify — Move is culmination of long-running European Commission antitrust probe after a complaint by Spotify
Discussion:
Total Telecom, CMU, Music Business Worldwide, Mashable, The Guardian, Fortune, Thomas Höppner on LinkedIn, CityAM, @ugambini, NBC Bay Area, The Overspill, The Information, @moo9000, @ellisitems, @florian4gamers, The Indian Express, Bloomberg, Damien Geradin on LinkedIn, @carnage4life, 9to5Mac, The Verge, Music Ally, Politico and Reuters, more at Techmeme »
Max Tani / Semafor:
A look at efforts by pro-Israel groups such as the 10/7 Project to discredit journalists like WaPo's Louisa Loveluck, who they deem to be biased against Israel — The Scoop — Pro-Israel groups, deeply critical of American news outlets such as the Washington Post over their coverage of the war in Gaza …
Discussion:
@elivalley, @fkamiah17@toot.wales, @emmavigeland, @tobiaschneider, @levinejonathan, @mehdirhasan, @semafor, @elizondogabriel, @heminator, @daveweigel and @onyadon
Jack Shafer / Politico:
Q&A with Margot Susca on her new book Hedged, which details how the US chain newspapers including Gannett were purchased and squeezed by PE firms like Alden — A journalism professor blames Wall Street for the newspaper industry's collapse. — The great American newspaper ain't what it used to be.
Discussion:
@leverling, @politico, @jfberke, @kenherts, @politicomag, @kenherts, @michaelkruse, @marcedge1, @margotsusca, @heidilegg and @margotsusca
Naman Ramachandran / Variety:
Ofcom launches an impartiality investigation into UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's participation on GB News' People's Forum, after receiving ~500 complaints — U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's participation on GB News' “People's Forum” last week is the subject of an impartiality investigation by the country's media regulator Ofcom.
Discussion:
Mediaite, The Guardian, Bloomberg, @peterstefanovi2, @ofcom, @paulbernaluk, @carolvorders, Broadband TV News, Deadline and Guido Fawkes
Bron Maher / Press Gazette:
The UK agrees to add safeguards to the “Snoopers' Charter”, requiring spy agencies to get an independent review before searching for journalistic material — Spy agencies will now need to secure independent review before searching for journalistic material.
Discussion:
National Union of Journalists …
Clay Risen / New York Times:
William Beecher, who as a NYT reporter revealed President Nixon's secret bombing campaign over Cambodia and Pulitzer Prize winner, died on February 9 at age 90 — His New York Times scoop enraged the Nixon White House, which ordered a tap on his phone. He later won a Pulitzer Prize at The Boston Globe.
Laura Oliver / Nieman Lab:
Ukraine's 2402 Foundation blends VR tools with other teaching methods to offer safety training for journalists, and has trained ~500 since the Russian war began — “When you end up in an extreme situation, you can't think properly. In a virtual situation, you realize how you would feel …
Discussion:
@niemanlab, @lauraoliver and 2402 Fund
Sarah Ellison / Washington Post:
Current and ex-staff and experts say Sinclair stokes its audience's fears, with views that align with Trump, and David Smith wants the same at The Baltimore Sun — The local news powerhouse, whose chairman recently bought the Baltimore Sun, focuses on fear in broadcasts that often align with Donald Trump's view of cities
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: ABC News President Kim Godwin has become a polarizing figure inside the network, as critics say she is failing to rise up to challenges facing the unit — Expected to be a change agent, Godwin became a polarizing figure and was recently given a new boss; her backers praise her management style
Discussion:
@wsjbusiness, @thesimonetti, @jbflint, @jbflint, @benmillermke and @jbflint
Jessica Toonkel / Wall Street Journal:
A look at the expansion plans of LeBron James' SpringHill, which makes most of its $200M in revenue from creating sponsored short videos for advertisers — The basketball legend is building a business that includes movies and TV, advertising and a grooming line.
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Paramount has held talks with Comcast about Paramount+ and Peacock joining forces through a partnership or a joint venture — The two companies have recently discussed a streaming partnership or joint-venture for Paramount+ and Peacock — Paramount has held recent talks with Comcast …
Discussion:
Broadband TV News, Cord Cutters News, New York Times, @danackerman, Dylan Jones on LinkedIn, @danspeerin, @stuffsomerssays, @richlightshed, @great_katzby, Variety, @carnage4life@mas.to, Observer, The A.V. Club, Jessica Toonkel on LinkedIn, TrekMovie.com, The Desk, Next TV, TechHive, ComingSoon.net, Reuters, Mike Richter on LinkedIn, The Wrap, UPROXX, The Streamable, Media Play News, The Verge, 9to5Google, @2xaught7.bsky.social and @ernie@writing.exchange