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Axios:
Memo: NBCU News Group Chair Cesar Conde tells staff NBC dropped Ronna McDaniel as a paid contributor and apologizes for hiring the former RNC chair — NBC has dropped Ronna McDaniel as a paid contributor, NBCU News Group Chair Cesar Conde confirmed in a memo to staff following backlash from some of the network's journalists.
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Axios:
Analysis: 16 of the White House's 31 press secretaries since 2000 have gone on to become paid contributors, commentators, or hosts on TV news programs — - Multiple networks scrambled to sign McDaniel when she left the RNC last month, despite her role in former President Trump's efforts …
Washington Post:
A member of Qatari royal family invested ~$50M in Newsmax in 2019, 2020; sources: before and after the deal, staffers were urged to soften coverage of Qatar — Before and after the investment, senior newsroom leaders urged Newsmax staff to soften coverage of Qatar, current and former employees said
Daria Mosolova / Financial Times:
BBC Director General Tim Davie calls for license fee reform as part of a broader strategy to turn the national broadcaster into a more commercial operation — Director-general says ‘fundamental questions’ need to be asked as corporation battles flagging demand
Discussion:
BBC, Digital Journal, Advanced Television, The Guardian, @ben@werd.social and Press Gazette
Bailey Lipschultz / Bloomberg:
Trump Media & Technology Group shares jumped up to 58% to hit $78.80 on its trading debut before the Nasdaq briefly halted trading, following the DWAC merger — - Trump Media & Technology Group operates Truth Social — Deal provides a windfall on paper for the former president
Discussion:
Mumbrella, Media Matters for America, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, ABC News, USA Today, Reuters, Raw Story, Deadline, Quartz, Coeur d'Alene Press, @jason_kint, CNBC, New York Times, Barron's Online, Fast Company, The Guardian, Axios, @jason_kint, Financial Times, The Indian Express, CNN and Associated Press, more at Techmeme »
Wall Street Journal:
The NFL says the opening week Friday night game will be exclusive to NBC's Peacock, and Prime Video secured exclusive rights for a 2024-2025 season playoff game — Brazil game is part of league's effort to expand international presence, have more games not played on Sunday afternoons
Alexandra Steigrad / New York Post:
Source: G/O Media CEO Jim Spanfeller told staff The A.V. Club and The Takeout have been sold; Paste bought The A.V. Club and Static Media bought The Takeout — G/O Media, the struggling company that recently sold Deadspin, is shopping popular humor site The Onion and continued its fire sale …
Discussion:
Adweek, The Wrap, @kennysmith@mstdn.social, The Daily Beast, @thedailybeast.bsky.social, @alexsteigrad and @ryanvailbrown
Cynthia Littleton / Variety:
Audible partners with Amazon MGM Studios to co-produce TV series based on Audible Originals content; the titles will be shopped to Prime Video, MGM+, and others — Kerry Washington, James Patterson, Aaron Korsh are among the notables on board for new iterations of ‘The Prophecy,’ ‘Daniel X: Genesis,’ ‘Nut Jobs’ and others
Frederic Lardinois / TechCrunch:
Adobe launches GenStudio to let brands create content and measure its performance using generative AI, underpinned by promises of brand safety — Brands want to use generative AI to personalize their marketing efforts — but they are also deathly afraid of AI going off message and ruining their brand.
Aidan Ryan / The Boston Globe:
Boston public radio station WBUR is offering employees buyouts in an effort to cut ~10% of its budget; CEO says WBUR expects to also cut jobs or freeze hiring — The popular public radio station has struggled with a loss in advertising revenue — WBUR is offering buyouts to employees …
Discussion:
WBUR and Media Nation
Max Goldbart / Deadline:
The BBC has “no plans” to use AI again to promote Doctor Who, after the marketing team used AI “as part of a small trial” to help draft emails and notifications — The BBC has “no plans” to use AI again to promote Doctor Who after receiving complaints from viewers.
Discussion:
Observer, Gizmodo, @mistressofnull, @carnage4life, Times of India, CBR, @amadmannotabox, Variety, @carnage4life@mas.to, Screen Rant, BBC, r/technology, r/television and Slashdot, more at Techmeme »
Sam Meredith / CNBC:
A UK court grants Julian Assange permission to appeal his US extradition, unless the US provides “satisfactory assurances” on certain issues within three weeks — WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange leaves Westminster Magistrates Court in London, Britain.
Discussion:
The Guardian, Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, Reuters, Semafor, Associated Press, New York Times, Bloomberg, Reporters Without Borders, Gizmodo, Financial Times, NPR, Reclaim The Net, El País, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, @mon4kooyong, @gabrielshipton, @simonateba, Amnesty International, @wikileaks, @joshuarozenberg, Raw Story, Press Gazette, Reuters, The Hill, Mediaite, @davidkurten, Reason, Freedom of the Press …, CNN, The Indian Express, Committee to Protect …, Wired, CBS News, National Union of Journalists …, Deadline, The Daily Beast, Fox News, Politico and WBUR
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