Mediagazer: As local cinemas close around the US, residents in some small towns are forming nonprofits to buy and operate them; 250+ cinemas across the US are nonprofits (Jim Zarroli/New York Times)

12:00 AM ET, February 18, 2025

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Max Tani / Semafor:

Documents: the NYT greenlights using select internal and external AI tools for editorial and product staff, including from OpenAI, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft — The Scoop — The New York Times is greenlighting the use of AI for its product and editorial staff, saying that internal tools …

Alexander Bolton / The Hill:

The WaPo rejected a print ad from Common Cause that said “Fire Elon Musk”, designed to wrap around the DC edition, after the group said it signed a $115K deal — The Washington Post this week backed out of a “Fire Elon Musk” advertising order that was to run as a wrap …

Discussion: Status, Media Nation, New York Times, Business Insider, The Wrap, @numb.comfortab.ly, @jameskanter.bsky.social, Gizmodo, @gtconway.bsky.social, @jtischauser.bsky.social, The Independent, @jonzoidberg.bsky.social, @trashpandabee.bsky.social, Raw Story, @bgrueskin.bsky.social, @cindyweinstein@mastodon.world, @commoncause, @ProjectFearlessness …, CNN, @heidilifeldman@mastodon …, @marklemley.bsky.social, @PeterRu@climatejustice.social, @pulsa8.bsky.social, @ericsmom2006.bsky.social, The Fucking News, @commoncause, @jackofallwaze.bsky.social, @kennysmith.bsky.social, Nelson Davis on LinkedIn, @rethinkplaces.bsky.social, No Pressure, John., @leftcoastbabe.bsky.social, New Republic, @lr-detherage.bsky.social, @amysiskind.bsky.social, Benzinga, @matthewcort.land, @robpegoraro.com, @SteveRogers@progressivecafe …, @dangillmor@mastodon.social and @samlitzinger.bsky.social

Marc Caputo / Axios:

Sources: Trump is targeting AP to amplify GOP and conservative criticisms that the AP Stylebook shapes political dialogue by favoring liberal words and phrases — - “This isn't just about the Gulf of America,” White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich told Axios.

Jim Acosta / The Jim Acosta Show:

Former CNN anchor Jim Acosta calls on news outlets to unite in opposition to the Trump administration's treatment of journalists and news organizations like AP — It was only a matter of time. — The Trump White House placed unconstitutional restrictions on the Associated Press last week …

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Katie Robertson / New York Times:

The New York Times wins three 2024 Polk Awards, the most of any publication; The New Yorker, ProPublica, Vanity Fair, and The Baltimore Banner also won — The Times was honored for an investigation into extremism in Israel, coverage of the civil war in Sudan and a narrative about a Russian soldier who defected from the war in Ukraine.

Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:

Source: Spotify struck deals with Universal and Warner for its Music Pro plan launch, which includes concert tickets, but doesn't yet have rights from Sony — Spotify is developing a more expensive version of its service that will offer high-quality audio, early access to concert tickets and remixing tools.

Discussion: The Indian Express, Music Ally, The Verge, Lucas Shaw on LinkedIn, CMU, @lucas_shaw, MacRumors, 9to5Google, Digital Music News, Music Business Worldwide, 9to5Mac and Financial Times, more at Techmeme »

The Age:

Sources: Australia's plans to threaten US companies like Meta with large fines for not paying local media outlets have been paused amid tariff talks with the US — Plans to threaten US tech giants such as Meta with hundreds of millions of dollars in Australian charges have been paused …

Discussion: Australian Financial Review, Crikey, @johnquiggin.bsky.social and @brucerguthrie.bsky.social

Financial Times:

Surj, the sporting arm of Saudi Arabia's PIF, plans to invest $1B in DAZN and a new joint venture with the sports streamer; source: Surj will take a <5% stake — Surj Sports Investment will take stake in DAZN and help fund a Middle East broadcasting joint venture

Discussion: Advanced Television, @martingrantross, Bloomberg and New York Times, more at Techmeme »

Mike Butcher / TechCrunch:

Olyn, which bills itself as a “Shopify for filmmakers” that lets makers directly sell their films to viewers, launches, offering 90% of revenue to creators — The recent Brian Epstein biopic “Midas Man,” a film about the manager of The Beatles, debuted not on a platform like Netflix or Amazon …

Discussion: Financial Times

Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:

The UK's Advertising Standards Authority tells Reach to stop posting ad features on social media without clearly labeling them as ads — ASA closes Hull Live case informally but warns problem must be fixed. — The Advertising Standards Authority has investigated Reach regional website Hull Live …

Advanced Television:

Ampere Analysis forecasts streamers' spending on sports rights to reach $12.5B in 2025, accounting for a fifth of global sports rights spend, led by DAZN — Streamers will account for a fifth of global sports rights spend in 2025 according to Ampere Analysis sports media rights data.

Discussion: Broadband TV News, The Desk and Media Play News

Rick Porter / The Hollywood Reporter:

HBO restores next-day YouTube posts for Last Week Tonight clips after imposing a few days delay in February 2024; sources say Max viewership saw little increase — HBO reverses a decision to keep John Oliver's show off of the platform for several days.

Discussion: The Wrap, LateNighter, TVLine, Deadline, @rickporter.bsky.social, @latenightercom and ME

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More News:

Jim Zarroli / New York Times:
As local cinemas close around the US, residents in some small towns are forming nonprofits to buy and operate them; 250+ cinemas across the US are nonprofits

David Barnett / The Guardian:
An interview with Nadia Odunayo on building Goodreads alternative The StoryGraph, remaining bootstrapped, reaching 3.8M active users, not allowing DMs, and more

Discussion: @jonkeegan.com, @robitaille@hachyderm.io, @annkspencer.bsky.social, @vivdunstan@mastodon.scot, @ben-esse.bsky.social, @jpspencer.bsky.social, @DazzlingDamo@mastodon.ie, @indieauthornews …, @davidmbarnett.bsky.social, @emgeekay.bsky.social, @beate251.bsky.social, @GeofCox@climatejustice.social and @Climatehistories …, more at Techmeme »

Wall Street Journal:
A profile of Karoline Leavitt, the youngest White House Press Secretary in history at age 27, whose rise is marked by her loyalty to Trump

Discussion: @dannygroner.bsky.social, Mediaite, Poynter, Daily Mail and New York Post

Bloomberg:
A look at Japan's efforts to crack down on exploitation in the anime industry, which is notorious for grueling hours and low pay, following a scathing UN report

Discussion: Sohee Kim on LinkedIn, Comic Book, @business, Variety and @bloomberg.com

Jeff Gluck / New York Times:
A survey of NASCAR fans shows frustration, anger, and often acceptance of the fragmented system for watching races over broadcast, cable, and streaming channels

Discussion: The Desk, @jeff_gluck, Fox News and Awful Announcing

Scott Roxborough / The Hollywood Reporter:
While Hollywood has shown resistance to AI use, the tech has already become a standard tool to aid in dubbing and subtitling in international and indie films

Discussion: Jim Rivera on LinkedIn

Earlier Picks:

Katie Campione / Deadline:
WGA West President Meredith Stiehm asked studios to “stand up and fight back on AI” and said the guild recovered $78M in late pay and residuals owed in 2024

Dan Whateley / Business Insider:
Maryland-based Uscreen, which helps creators launch apps, engage fans, monetize memberships, and more, raised $150M from PSG Equity, giving PSG a majority stake

Discussion: PJ Taei on LinkedIn

Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
Paramount and YouTube cut a new carriage deal that will keep Paramount channels available on the YouTube TV video service; terms of the deal were not disclosed

Discussion: Engadget, @youtubetv, @jbberrygirl.bsky.social, The Wrap, TVNewsCheck, Front Office Sports, The Desk, CBS News, TechCrunch, The Streamable, New York Post, Streaming Better, Cord Cutters News, The Verge, 9to5Google and Awful Announcing

Washington Post:
How Elon Musk used a contract signed by a Reuters division during Trump's first term to promote “deep state” conspiracies and justify cuts to federal agencies

Discussion: Lawyers, Guns & Money, @peterstefanovic.bsky.social, @steve@s.yelvington.com, @acarvin.bsky.social, @marklittle.bsky.social, @digiphile.bsky.social, @socialmedialab.ca, @rondeibert.bsky.social, @o.simardcasanova.net, @willoremus.com, @claesdevreese.bsky.social, @drewharwell.com, @digiphile.bsky.social, @lewan.bsky.social, Politico, Daily Mail and r/Journalism

Kyle Wiggers / TechCrunch:
Kadrey v. Meta: Meta paused some AI-related book licensing efforts in April 2023 after contacting publishers and seeing “slow uptake” and logistical setbacks

Discussion: @markriedl.bsky.social

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

Discussion: Passionfruit, Forbes, Futurism, @hemrylarson, @hemrylarson, @paul@oldfriends.live and @josephcox@infosec.exchange

From Techmeme:

CNBC:
OpenAI closes a $40B round, the most raised by a private tech company, at a $300B post-money valuation; SoftBank led with $30B; source: ~$18B is for Stargate

Ivan Mehta / TechCrunch:
OpenAI's new GPT-4o-powered image generator is now available to all users; Sam Altman last week mentioned a limit of three images per day for free-tier users

Wall Street Journal:
Sources: in recent weeks, Meta executives including Mark Zuckerberg have pressed US trade officials to oppose an impending EU fine and cease-and-desist order

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