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The AP says it was blocked from a White House event after the WH threatened to bar the organization if it did not adopt Trump's renaming of the Gulf of Mexico — The Associated Press issued this statement on Tuesday from Executive Editor Julie Pace: — As a global news organization …
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Status, Associated Press, New York Times, Columbia Journalism Review, Washington Post, HuffPost, @alanrozenshtein.com, The Bulwark, IJR, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, @akivamcohen.bsky.social, The Guardian, Townhall, Le Monde, Politico, @joemenn.bsky.social, @thefireorg, Patterico's Pontifications, @timodc, @kottke.org, @natashabertrand, @wakeup2politics, Raw Story, Twitchy, The Daily Beast, @kellyo, @eugenedaniels2, @benmullin, The Moderate Voice, Sarah Nordgren on LinkedIn, @jfberke, @motherearth19309.bsky.social, @jacquiheinrich, @meganjanetsky, @jeremymbarr, Axios, @swin24.bsky.social, @itegoarcana.bsky.social, Agender Android Among Humans, The Independent, @aclu.org, Breitbart, The Daily Wire, @newsjennifer.bsky.social, Reuters, Media Nation, @rickf@indieweb.social, @thesparrowproject.bsky.social, New York Post, Fabiano Maisonnave on LinkedIn, CBS News, @amandacarpenter.bsky.social, @couts.bsky.social, The Gateway Pundit, @edhirsch.bsky.social, @dsilverman@mastodon.social, @dboardman.bsky.social, @peterbakernyt.bsky.social, Business Insider, Variety, @charlottegarden.bsky.social, @grantstern.bsky.social, @grantstern.bsky.social, @mimarek@universeodon.com, Fox News, @drjaybee.bsky.social, @shelleybwoke.bsky.social, @mttaggart@infosec.exchange, The Desk, @Professor_Stevens …, Mediaite, @krystyna@toad.social, The Wrap, @michael_w_busch …, @claesdevreese.bsky.social, @rieckhoff.bsky.social, @sheencr.bsky.social, CNN, @fbajak.bsky.social, @marklittle.bsky.social, @sydney-bauer.com, @nicokow.bsky.social, @eduardosuarez.bsky.social, @jellyfrog23.bsky.social, @andreagrimes.bsky.social, @ezor.org, @kairyssdal.bsky.social, Deadline, Blaze Media, The Hill, Hollywood Life, Bloomberg, NPR and Quartz, more at Techmeme »


Morning Brew co-founder Austin Rief steps down as CEO, replaced by COO Robert Dippell; the company is on pace to generate $70M+ in revenue in 2025 — The 10-year-old company, now wholly owned by Axel Springer, has transformed its newsletter business into a multimedia portfolio
Discussion:
Talking Biz News, @ericnewcomer, @brettdash_, @austin_rief, @markstenberg3 and @austin_rief


Sources: ESPN and the NFL are in renewed negotiations and have discussed a deal that would have ESPN take control of NFL Network and NFL RedZone — Once again, ESPN and the NFL are in renewed negotiations for the former to take on the latter's media assets. What's changed since the last time these dance partners played footsie?
Discussion:
Awful Announcing, The Streamable, Cord Cutters News and Barrett Media


Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch says Fox and Tubi brought in $800M+ in advertising sales for the presentation of Super Bowl LIX — In addition to the record 127.7 million viewers for the game, Kendrick Lamar's performance was the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show in history.
Discussion:
The Wrap, Variety, @archroadkill.bsky.social, Deadline, The Japan Times, Business Insider, Decider, Media Play News, Forbes, Los Angeles Times and Awful Announcing


Sources: more than 20 Observer journalists have taken redundancy, capped at £120,000 per person, and 46 staffers are transferring over to Tortoise Media — Insiders believe 46 Observer staff are set to transfer to new owner Tortoise next month. — More than 20 Observer journalists …
Discussion:
@katebevan.com


A study of paywalls on 21 German and Austrian local and regional news sites in 2022: less is more for teaser features, and discounts are an effective enticement — “Reducing the information density of teaser elements on paywalled articles and offering discounts may help newspapers increase their online subscriber numbers."
Discussion:
@neilthurman.bsky.social and Simon Owens's Media Newsletter


WWE CEO Vince McMahon's lawyer says US federal prosecutors dropped a criminal probe into whether McMahon tried to cover up sexual misconduct allegations — Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have dropped a criminal probe that focused on whether former World Wrestling Entertainment boss Vince McMahon tried …
Discussion:
@benkochman and Fox News


The National Trust for Local News, which bought 20+ Maine newspapers in 2023, is facing persistent losses and executives say they can't rule out layoffs — The Maine newspaper group has been hit with persistent financial losses — When the nonprofit National Trust for Local News acquired …
Discussion:
@joshuabenton.com, @aidanryan.bsky.social and Media Nation


Sources: Les Echos-Le Parisien no longer plans to sue X, refraining from a lawsuit with other French papers accusing X of running content without compensation — LVMH-owned newspaper group Les Echos-Le Parisien is not party to a lawsuit involving French media against Elon Musk's X …
Discussion:
@gabstargardter


An analysis of Webtoon and Wattpad, including their strengths, user base of creators, potential to grow like YouTube, and the increasing problem of AI slop — The web comic giant could become another entertainment monopoly, but there are some cracks in the foundation
Discussion:
Julia Alexander on LinkedIn

In a letter to Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, FCC Chair Brendan Carr says he is opening a probe into Comcast and NBCUniversal, particularly over “promotion of DEI” — Federal Communications Chair Brendan Carr is seeking to open an investigation into Comcast and NBCUniversal's diversity …
Discussion:
The Wrap, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, The Desk, @mgallagher.bsky.social, Fierce Network, Broadband Breakfast, The Verge and TVNewsCheck


IAC reports Dotdash Meredith's Q4 revenue up 10% YoY to $522.1M and plans to ramp up monetization efforts after Dotdash traffic grew 80% in 2024 — Company aims to complete its spin off of Angi by the end of March — IAC is ready to move on from home-services company Angi …
Discussion:
Reuters


Annual letter: YouTube CEO Neal Mohan says TV has overtaken mobile as the “primary device for YouTube viewing in the US”, indicating YouTube is “the new TV” — YouTube CEO Neal Mohan released his annual letter Tuesday morning, outlining his priorities for the video platform.
Discussion:
YouTube Official Blog, Broadband TV News, Awful Announcing, Cord Cutters News, Fast Company, Shelly Palmer, @carnage4life@mas.to, Advanced Television, Rachel Stockman on LinkedIn, Daniel Juyung Seo on LinkedIn, Deadline, Zachary Kahn on LinkedIn, @richlightshed, @eric_seufert, The Wrap, @tvgrimreaper, @yoda, @youtubeliaison, Tara Walpert Levy on LinkedIn, Nate Loucks on LinkedIn, iPhone in Canada Blog, 9to5Google, NewscastStudio, Ezra Cooperstein on LinkedIn, TV Tech, The Streamable, Media Play News, Streaming Better, Neal Mohan on LinkedIn, TVNewsCheck, @ricmac@mastodon.social, WORLD SCREEN, Tubefilter, Variety, Daily Guardian, Engadget and Barrett Media
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