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Lee Enterprises says a “cybersecurity event” has disrupted operations at its newspapers since at least February 3, forcing some to not print at all — The media company Lee Enterprises said a “cybersecurity event” had created havoc at dozens of its newspapers, prompting some to publish shorter editions or not print at all.


An Adalytics report shows how ad systems run by Google, Amazon, Microsoft and others inadvertently placed ads on a website that hosts CSAM — Some of the biggest tech companies in the world served ads on a website featuring images of child abuse, helping to fund its operations.
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Many independent media organizations in Ukraine and exiled Russian news outlets that relied on US funding are struggling to survive after Trump suspended USAID — Independent media in Russia and Ukraine have been critical of their governments and provide alternative reporting, but much of it relied on U.S. grants.
Discussion:
Reporters Without Borders, The Daily Wire, @goldstein.bsky.social, EADaily, PolitiFact, TMZ.com and ZeroHedge News


Analysis: since his political career began in 2015, the number of media and defamation suits involving Trump or his businesses grew 4x vs. prior three decades — - Each case is unique yet connected, Kevin Goldberg, vice president at Freedom Forum, a nonpartisan nonprofit fostering First Amendment freedoms, tells Axios.
Discussion:
@kerrymflynn


A profile of Russia's most influential news anchor Dmitry Kiselyov, once an admirer of Western news networks who has since become Putin's propagandist in chief — Dmitry Kiselyov rose through the aftershocks of the Cold War and emerged as Vladimir Putin's propagandist in chief
Discussion:
@mjluxmoore


Sources: the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is considering changing its Oscar submission requirements to make disclosing films' use of AI mandatory — The use of AI in best picture contender “The Brutalist” recently grabbed headlines and ignited controversy …


A look at former NFL player Shannon Sharpe's success moving from TV commentator to podcasting, especially with his own show, Club Shay Shay — “Club Shay Shay” became a must-stop destination for Hollywood after Katt Williams aired his grievances. “This was our ‘Thriller’ album,” said the host Shannon Sharpe.


Sources: Amazon MGM Studios plans to launch an international theatrical distribution arm; its foreign output deal with Warner Bros. stops at the end of 2025 — The studio's current foreign theatrical output deal with Warner Bros. ends at the end of this year.
Discussion:
The Wrap


The Georgian parliament plans to introduce a new bill to “define the standards of media objectivity and ethics” and ban foreign funding for media altogether — Georgian authorities are doubling down on media and civil society groups, putting forward a range of new restrictions apparently inspired …
Discussion:
Dato Parulava on LinkedIn


Memo: the Pentagon adds CNN, WaPo, The Hill, and The War Zone to its eviction list, replaced by Washington Examiner, The Free Press, Daily Caller, and Newsmax — The US Defense Department announced Friday night that it would double the number of news organizations that would be removed …
Discussion:
The Desk, RedState, @brianstelter, @brianstelter, The Wrap, @stevenadamswv, @brian_henderson, @michaelssmithii, @ktoropin, Breitbart, Deadline, CNN and Reuters


Filing: five New York pension funds have sued Paramount Global, seeking a preliminary block on Paramount's Skydance merger and alleging breach of fiduciary duty — A Delaware court ruled that Paramount must produce records that could lay the groundwork for more lawsuits from investors challenging …
Discussion:
@deanobeidallah.bsky.social, Variety, The Desk and Bloomberg


President Trump amends his CBS lawsuit, alleging 60 Minutes' Kamala Harris interview unfairly diverted viewers from Truth Social, and ups damages claim to $20B — Donald Trump filed an amended lawsuit against CBS late Friday, adding a series of new claims over the network's edits in a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris.