Mediagazer: YouTube has taken down a “true crime” channel with millions of views for 150+ AI-created videos about fake, lurid crimes, for breaking community guidelines (Henry Larson/404 Media)

10:35 AM ET, February 15, 2025

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Sara Fischer / Axios:

The White House says it will bar AP from events in the Oval Office and on Air Force One over AP's refusal to use “Gulf of America” instead of “Gulf of Mexico” — - “The Associated Press continues to ignore the lawful geographic name change of the Gulf of America.

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McKay Coppins / The Atlantic:

James and Kathryn Murdoch detail the succession battle that has pitted James and Lachlan Murdoch against each other, leaving the family empire's future unclear — James Murdoch on mind games, sibling rivalry, and the war for the family media empire — James murdoch was seated …

Jessica Toonkel / Wall Street Journal:

Sources: Paramount execs weigh risks of settling Trump's lawsuit against CBS News, concerned about potential shareholder litigation or criminal bribery charges — Media company executives fear liability from potential settlement paid before Skydance merger

Discussion: Yahoo Finance, @jeffjarvis.bsky.social, Raw Story, @katiefallow.bsky.social, @annmlipton.bsky.social, @annmlipton.bsky.social, @davidenrich.bsky.social and Townhall

Henry Larson / 404 Media:

YouTube has taken down a “true crime” channel with millions of views for 150+ AI-created videos about fake, lurid crimes, for breaking community guidelines — Elizabeth Hernandez found out about the decade-old murder from a flurry of tips sent to her newsroom in August last year.

Discussion: @hemrylarson, @hemrylarson, Fast Company, Tubefilter, @pensadorlouco@kolektiva …, Gizmodo, @jalefkowit@vmst.io, @agasramirez@freeradical.zone, @ubiquity75.bsky.social, Android Authority, NPR, Food Processing and BBC

Scharon Harding / Ars Technica:

In an AMA, Steve Huffman says Reddit is planning to roll out paid subreddits in 2025 and is “laying the foundation” to monetize commerce within subreddits — Huffman previously showed interest in potentially introducing a new type of subreddit with “exclusive content or private areas” that Reddit users would pay to access.

Discussion: @glenngabe@mas.to, @paul@oldfriends.live, @bastardsheep.com, SFist, Gizmodo, Digital Trends, @flwwhtrbt@mastodon.social, Engadget, @redditff.bsky.social, @drahardja@sfba.social, @autumnwolff.bsky.social, @stefan@stefanbohacek.online, @karlbode.com, @JessTheUnstill@infosec …, @arstechnica@mastodon.social, CNBC and r/RDDT, more at Techmeme »

Haroon Siddique / The Guardian:

UK-based lawyers for Apple Daily founder and activist Jimmy Lai say they are being targeted by the Chinese state and its supporters in an intimidation campaign — Exclusive: Barristers at Doughty Street Chambers say they have been subject to surveillance, hacking and rape threats

Discussion: @icarszoey.bsky.social, Bloomberg, @andyscollick.bsky.social, @mbrooker.bsky.social, @sensehofstede.nl, @alasdairmackenzie.bsky.social, @aoifenolan.bsky.social and @amfchina.bsky.social

Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:

Sources: Spotify hopes to launch a Music Pro tier in 2025, a $6/month add-on that will include higher-quality audio, early access to concert tickets, and more — - Spotify is hoping to roll out its new Music Pro this year — Customers may get early access to concert tickets, other perks

Discussion: Android Authority, Digital Trends, Reuters, @jordanhr.bsky.social and Financial Times, more at Techmeme »

Andrew Liszewski / The Verge:

Amazon will remove the ability to download ebooks to a computer and send them to a Kindle over USB on February 26; it enabled easy backups and file conversions — After February 26th, you can only download books from the Kindle store to your e-reader over Wi-Fi.

Discussion: Android Police, Android Authority, @tkristinwilson@mas.to, Trusted Reviews, @papapishu.bsky.social, Gizmodo and Pocket-lint

Jordan Novet / CNBC:

Filing: Trump Media reports 2024 revenue down 12% YoY to $3.6M and a $400M net loss, up from $58.2M in 2023; the company has a $6.6B market cap — Trump Media & Technology Group shares were down about 1% in extended trading on Friday after the operator of Truth Social released its 2024 results.

Discussion: Forbes, @j12t@j12t.social, US Securities and Exchange Commission, The Wrap, Axios and Bloomberg, more at Techmeme »

Amanda Meade / The Guardian:

Australia's ABC Chair Kim Williams calls News Corp's claims that the public broadcaster costs taxpayers more than Netflix “unbalanced and agenda-driven” — In strongly worded statement, Kim Williams says allegations in Murdoch-owned tabloids ‘do not stand up to scrutiny’

Discussion: @franksting@theblower.au, ABC, ABC, TV Blackbox and @simonrosenberg.bsky.social

Sanjai P R / Bloomberg:

Tata Communications says it now broadcasts 80% of global sporting events after acquiring live production and video transmission firm Switch Enterprises in 2022 — The acquisition of Switch Enterprises LLC three years ago has contributed to Tata generating content for events such as Formula 1 …

Ashley Carman / Bloomberg:

A look at the rapid rise and fall of Talk Tuah, a podcast by “hawk tuah girl” Haliey Welch, showing how podcasting lets people cash in on viral internet fame — During the fourth quarter of 2024, Haliey Welch's show ranked No. 11 in the entire US — Hello, and welcome back to Soundbite.

Discussion: Futurism and Barrett Media

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