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:
Washington Post, Mediaite, Politico, CNN, @brianstelter, Semafor, Newser, Raw Story, @kylegriffin1, HuffPost, New York Post, The Daily Beast, New York Times, Newsmax, The Guardian, @emptywheel, @jayrosen_nyu, @allanschlosser, @newsjennifer, TVNewsCheck, @michaelcalifra, Marty Davis on LinkedIn, @yashar, @sulliview, @maxwelltani, Frank Scafidi on LinkedIn, @dylanbyers, @jbflint, @markjacob16, @bdomenech, Reuters, @sarafischer, @3vansutton, @juliaioffe, @nycsouthpaw, Howard Pulchin on LinkedIn, @msnbc, @oliverdarcy@threads.net, MediaPost, @emptywheel, @michaelharriot, @madrid_mike, @dylanbyers, @sulliview, @david_darmofal, @farhip, CBS News, New York Daily News, Bloomberg, TVLine, Vanity Fair, Forbes, Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, New York Times, The Wrap, Next TV, The Hill, Fox News, @evilgalprods.bsky.social, @mastodonmigration …, @oliverdarcy@threads.net, @ninkendo.bsky.social, @ashleysays.bsky.social, @maver42.bsky.social, @mistyksnow.bsky.social, @jvlast@threads.net, @theonlyjdb.bsky.social, @wallace.bsky.social, @rudell.bsky.social, Breitbart, @plessinger.com, @kelyetar.bsky.social, @drewmelbourne.com, @newleaf.bsky.social, @jxsxpx.bsky.social, @mattnegrin.bsky.social, @mikec415.bsky.social, @yarrriv.bsky.social, @golikehellmachine.bsky.social, @henchman21.bsky.social, @snipy.bsky.social, @kdzwierzynski.bsky.social, @tiffanyleigh.bsky.social, @liberalwombat.com, @keithjoyce.bsky.social, @fancycwabs.bsky.social, @evilangela.bsky.social, @jd123.bsky.social, @ronhogan.bsky.social, @friendoflwaxana.bsky.social, @daycathy.bsky.social, @tranniehall.bsky.social, @saltcreekbrews.bsky.social, @rjonesing.online, @blockhead13.bsky.social, @bibliofishy.bsky.social, @cfidd.bsky.social, @greenlightening.bsky.social, @robpegoraro.com, @andreagrimes.bsky.social, @nberlat.bsky.social, @amandasmith.bsky.social, @ogmcduck.bsky.social, @chickenpuppet.bsky.social, @mgrady69.bsky.social, @brendelbored.bsky.social, @petefrasermusic.bsky.social, @brooklynmarie.bsky.social, @bsdtectr.bsky.social, @mbkplus.bsky.social, @baileymcc.bsky.social, @davelevitan.bsky.social, @nickfleisher.bsky.social, @jeffjarvis.bsky.social, @ronhogan.bsky.social, @ronhogan.bsky.social, @mrpresident1776.bsky.social, @nslayton.bsky.social, @emmagoldman.bsky.social, @mostlymartha.bsky.social, @chrisswartout.bsky.social, @sidhra.bsky.social, NPR, @nabbp.bsky.social, @ryanlcooper.com, @rickywlmsbong.bsky.social, @yolanda7712.bsky.social, @perfectorb.bsky.social, @Jonathanglick@mstdn.social, @bubbaprog.ilovecitr.us, Boing Boing, Deadline and Business Insider
RELATED:
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, Wall Street Journal, The Bulwark, Media Nation, MediaPost, The Nation, Mediaite, @dylanbyers, New York Times, The Wrap and New York Post
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:
Newser, The Nation, The Desk, The Hill, @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social, Los Angeles Times, Reason and Mediaite
Alexandra Topping / The Guardian:
BBC DG Tim Davie says the BBC's budget cuts since 2010 have been “shortsighted” and risked undermining its future, and announces a further £200M of budget cuts — Tim Davie says 14 years of reductions have put its future at risk, as he announces £200m of cuts
Discussion:
Press Gazette, Digital Journal and Variety
RELATED:
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, CityAM, The Media Leader, @ben@werd.social, HoldtheFrontPage, Advanced Television and News Media Association
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, @riaa, @riaa, @riaa, @riaa, @riaa, @riaa, 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
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, @taylorlorenz@mastodon.social and Advocate
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
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
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