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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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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 …


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


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


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 »


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


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


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


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.


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


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 »


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