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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.
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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” …
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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.
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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
Discussion:
The Verge, @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social, @kalihays1@threads.net, The Daily Caller, New York Post, @briankrebs@infosec.exchange, @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
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) …
Discussion:
The Drum
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.
Katie Kilkenny / The Hollywood Reporter:
Condé Nast staff marked for layoffs in November are assigned to a “central editorial group” as they await the outcome of their union's contract negotiations — While their union negotiates with top execs about the scale and terms of layoffs, employees who had been working at GQ …
Discussion:
@willyblackmore, @joshkovensky and @semaforben
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.
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