Top News:
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.
Discussion:
Media Nation, HuffPost, The Guardian, TVLine, Los Angeles Times, The Wrap, CNN, The Hill, Fox News, @brianstelter, @kylegriffin1, New York Times, CBS News, Politico, New York Daily News, Next TV, Vanity Fair, Forbes, Rolling Stone, Raw Story, @jayrosen_nyu, @sulliview, @farhip, @sulliview, @maxwelltani, @dylanbyers, @dylanbyers, @msnbc, The Daily Beast, @sarafischer, @evilgalprods.bsky.social, @mastodonmigration …, @oliverdarcy@threads.net, Newsmax, @ninkendo.bsky.social, @ashleysays.bsky.social, @maver42.bsky.social, @mistyksnow.bsky.social, Breitbart, @jvlast@threads.net, Bloomberg, Deadline, @emptywheel, @emmagoldman.bsky.social, @mbkplus.bsky.social, @mrpresident1776.bsky.social, @mikec415.bsky.social, @yolanda7712.bsky.social, @jd123.bsky.social, @nslayton.bsky.social, @daycathy.bsky.social, @ronhogan.bsky.social, @greenlightening.bsky.social, @newsjennifer, @michaelcalifra, @henchman21.bsky.social, @evilangela.bsky.social, @jeffjarvis.bsky.social, @bubbaprog.ilovecitr.us, @mattnegrin.bsky.social, @yashar, @friendoflwaxana.bsky.social, @ogmcduck.bsky.social, @chrisswartout.bsky.social, @nabbp.bsky.social, @liberalwombat.com, Boing Boing, @rudell.bsky.social, @nickfleisher.bsky.social, @tiffanyleigh.bsky.social, @markjacob16, New York Post, @kdzwierzynski.bsky.social, @bdomenech, @golikehellmachine.bsky.social, @snipy.bsky.social, @ronhogan.bsky.social, @ryanlcooper.com, @andreagrimes.bsky.social, @brooklynmarie.bsky.social, @3vansutton, @davelevitan.bsky.social, @Jonathanglick@mstdn.social, @drewmelbourne.com, @nycsouthpaw, @rickywlmsbong.bsky.social, @chickenpuppet.bsky.social, @petefrasermusic.bsky.social, @amandasmith.bsky.social, @blockhead13.bsky.social, @wallace.bsky.social, @ronhogan.bsky.social, @fancycwabs.bsky.social, @newleaf.bsky.social, @jxsxpx.bsky.social, @theonlyjdb.bsky.social, @cfidd.bsky.social, @nberlat.bsky.social, @keithjoyce.bsky.social, @plessinger.com, @kelyetar.bsky.social, @perfectorb.bsky.social, @emptywheel, @sidhra.bsky.social, @michaelharriot, @rjonesing.online, @saltcreekbrews.bsky.social, @mgrady69.bsky.social, @yarrriv.bsky.social, @madrid_mike, @tranniehall.bsky.social, @baileymcc.bsky.social, @brendelbored.bsky.social, @bsdtectr.bsky.social, @bibliofishy.bsky.social, @robpegoraro.com, @mostlymartha.bsky.social, NPR, Washington Post, Business Insider, Associated Press, Poynter and TVNewsCheck
RELATED:
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