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:
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David Zurawik / CNN:
NBCU News Group executives made the only decision they could have when reversing Ronna McDaniel's hire, following the on-air revolt by MSNBC's biggest stars — Editor's Note: David Zurawik is a professor of practice in media studies at Goucher College. For three decades, he was a media critic at the Baltimore Sun.
Discussion:
Fox News, The Guardian, @dylanbyers, Wall Street Journal, The Nation, Mediaite, The Bulwark, Media Nation, MediaPost, New York Times, The Wrap, New York Post, Politico, Raw Story and TVLine
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 …
Discussion:
The Desk, The Nation, Newser, The Hill, @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social, Los Angeles Times, The Daily Beast, Reason and Mediaite
Murray Stassen / Music Business Worldwide:
RIAA: US recorded music industry revenues grew 8% YoY to $17.1B in 2023, with paid subscription revenues up 11% to $10.1B and paid subscriptions up 6% to 96.8M — The US recorded music industry generated $17.1 billion in 2023. — That's according to the Recording Industry Association of America …
Discussion:
RIAA, Inside Radio, The Verge, Variety, Music Ally, Thomas Hesse on LinkedIn, Deadline, Jess Kenney on LinkedIn, Digital Music News, Media Play News, Forbes and Billboard
Ananya Bhattacharya / Rest of World:
A look at Disney+ Hotstar's and JioCinema's strategy to beat Netflix and Prime Video in India, including by focusing on sports content and affordable pricing — Mukesh Ambani's Reliance and The Walt Disney Company have joined forces creating a hard-to-beat streaming entity in the country.
Discussion:
@_ananyaaa and @_ananyaaa
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, Media Voices, The Media Leader, CityAM, Digital Journal, Press Gazette, @ben@werd.social, Advanced Television and News Media Association
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
Lauren Sherman / @lapresmidi:
Source: i-D magazine, which Karlie Kloss acquired in late 2023, lays off ~10 staff in London, or most of its editorial employees; two editors will remain — Scoop: i-D magazine, which was bought by Karlie Kloss late last year, laid off most of the editorial staff in London today — about 10 employees — global editorial director Olivia Singer and features editor Mahoro Seward are staying for now, I hear
Gene Maddaus / Variety:
A US judge lets a defamation lawsuit against Netflix by a former friend of con artist Anna Sorokin over the Shonda Rhimes miniseries Inventing Anna proceed — A former friend of con artist Anna Sorokin was allowed on Tuesday to proceed with a defamation lawsuit against Netflix over the Shonda Rhimes miniseries, “Inventing Anna.”
Media Matters for America:
An analysis of ~65 NYT articles on US anti-trans legislation from the year to February 15, 2024: 66% did not quote a trans person, and 18% had misinformation — From February 15, 2023, through February 15, 2024, another 18% of such articles included anti-trans misinformation with no fact-checking
Discussion:
@aridrennen, @translashmedia, @aridrennen, @aridrennen, @newsrepertoire, @chican3ry, @kathrynvarn, Advocate and @taylorlorenz@mastodon.social
A.J. Perez / Front Office Sports:
Sources and a lawsuit by ex-Arena Group CEO Ross Levinsohn detail The Arena Group's chaotic handling of Sports Illustrated and a messy transfer to Minute Media — - Sources say 5-Hour Energy tycoon Manoj Bhargava threatened to destroy the archives in a meeting with the new publishers of ‘SI.’
Discussion:
Awful Announcing, MediaPost, The Wrap and Business Insider
Bailey Lipschultz / Bloomberg:
Trump Media & Technology Group closed up 16% at $57.99 per share in its Nasdaq debut, valuing the unprofitable company at $7.9B, following the merger with DWAC — - Trump Media & Technology Group operates Truth Social — Deal provides a windfall on paper for the former president
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