Top News:
Elizabeth Jensen / New York Times:
Robert MacNeil, who anchored evening newscasts for over two decades on PBS and delivered evenhanded, non-flashy news with Jim Lehrer, dies at 93 — With his longtime co-host Jim Lehrer, he delivered thoughtful reports that stood in stark contrast to the commercial networks' ever more sensational newscasts.
Discussion:
PBS NewsHour, Fox News, Associated Press, Washington Post, @judywoodruff, Variety, CNN, Current, The Hollywood Reporter, Los Angeles Times, The Daily Caller, @sherrilynifill@threads.net, @newshour@threads.net, The Hill, @newshour@threads.net, Deadline, @newshour@threads.net, Newser, Media Nation and CBS News
Jaffer Zaidi / The Keyword:
Google tests removing links to CA news sites to measure the impact of the California Journalism Preservation Act and pauses investments in the CA news ecosystem — A pending bill in the California state legislature, the California Journalism Preservation Act (CJPA), would create a “link tax” …
Discussion:
Politico, The Guardian, CNBC, The Wrap, NPR, The Mercury News, Bloomberg, Orange County Register, Matt Pearce, Whittier Daily News, @megjameslat, Los Angeles Times, @jason_kint, @noah__goldberg, @killedbygoogle, @raminskibba, @shelbygrad, Chris Krewson on LinkedIn, The Verge, @mattdpearce@threads.net, @no_such_zone, @erika_d_smith, Engadget, @jeffjarvis, @carnage4life@mas.to, @jason_kint, The NewsGuild, @newsguild, @adamkovac, Press Gazette, Sam Hoisington on LinkedIn, Gizmodo and Free Press, more at Techmeme »
Katherine Maher / NPR:
Memo: NPR's Katherine Maher says questioning whether NPR is living up to its mission is fair, but questioning staff integrity based on identity is disrespectful — The message below was sent by NPR's President and CEO to all staff: — Dear all, — This has been a long week.
Discussion:
Fox News, The Hill, The Wrap, @rottenindenmark, @jayrosen_nyu, @fritschner, @fritschner, @fritschner, NPR, @fritschner, Isabel Lara on LinkedIn, @stphnfwlr, @stphnfwlr, @scottdetrow_npr@threads.net, @jbouie.bsky.social, @benmullin, The Daily Beast, @isalara, @leilafadelnpr@threads.net and @edeggans.bsky.social
RELATED:
New York Times:
Uri Berliner's essay about NPR reignited criticism of the outlet on social media, especially by conservatives, and spurred vehement pushback from some staffers
Uri Berliner's essay about NPR reignited criticism of the outlet on social media, especially by conservatives, and spurred vehement pushback from some staffers
Discussion:
The Verge, @kalihays1@threads.net, The Daily Caller, New York Post, @briankrebs@infosec.exchange, @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social, @brianmannadk, @brianmannadk, @brianmannadk, @titonka, @jpederzane, @shannonpareil@threads.net, @shannonpareil@threads.net, @emilybellnyc@threads.net, @anildash@threads.net, @micah_loewinger@threads.net, @lpolgreen@threads.net, Fox News, New York Magazine, @jbouie@threads.net, @jbouie@threads.net, @matt.bachand@threads.net, @greenloopstore@threads.net, @digiphile@threads.net, @digiphile@threads.net, @digiphile@threads.net, @jenniferschulzechi …, @dankennedy_nu@threads.net, @maxkennerly.bsky.social, The Hill, Media Nation and CNN
Jack Brewster / Wall Street Journal:
A case study of the creation of an AI-powered local “news” website, directed to produce partisan stories on a US Senate race; a Fiverr developer made it for $80 — I paid a website developer to create a fully automated, AI-generated ‘pink-slime’ news site, programmed to create false political stories.
Ashley Carman / Bloomberg:
A look at faux podcast video ads, where brands pay for clips that look like podcast recordings and that are cheaper than a regular ad spot on an actual podcast — Brands like the validating veneer of the podcast look without having to pay premium prices for actual spots on shows — Welcome back to Soundbite.
Discussion:
The Ankler, RAIN News and On Substack
Alexandra Bruell / Wall Street Journal:
A look at the NYT's upheaval over sensitive topics like the Israel-Gaza war and management's push to emphasize neutrality, including via a probe of staff leaks — After internal upheaval over coverage of sensitive topics like the Israel-Gaza war, management renews emphasis on independence and neutrality
Media Matters for America:
A district court judge sides with Media Matters against Texas AG Ken Paxton, blocking Paxton's probe for now into the outlet's reporting on advertising on X — Media Matters President and CEO Angelo Carusone issued the following statement after Judge Amit Mehta of the United States District Court …
Paul McLane / Radio World:
Audacy announces it is partnering with ElevenLabs, which uses AI to create and edit synthetic voices, to build a library of voices for listeners and ad clients — It announced a partnership with AI company ElevenLabs — One of the largest radio groups in the U.S. is escalating its use of synthetic voices.
Discussion:
Inside Radio, Audacy Inc. and RADIO ONLINE
Reuters:
SAG-AFTRA reaches a tentative deal with major record labels, including WMG and Sony Music Entertainment, that includes protections over the use of AI — Hollywood performers and media professionals have reached a tentative deal with major record labels such as Warner Music Group (WMG.O) …
Bloomberg:
Adobe used images created by tools like Midjourney and uploaded to its stock marketplace by users to train Firefly; Adobe says ~5% of images were AI-generated — Company promotes its tool as safe from content scraped from the internet. — When Adobe Inc. released its Firefly image-generating software …
Matthew Choi / The Texas Tribune:
Two groups have filed a campaign finance complaint with the FEC over $630K that iHeartMedia sent to a PAC dedicated to the reelection of US Sen. Ted Cruz — End Citizens United and the Campaign Legal Center asserted Cruz could have broken campaign finance rules.
CNN:
Several journalists were injured Friday in an Israeli attack in central Gaza, including Sami Shehada, who lost a leg; he works for Turkish broadcaster TRT — Israeli forces surrounded and attacked the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza on Friday, wounding several journalists and at least one other person.