Top News:
Corbin Bolies / The Daily Beast:
The Los Angeles Times removes its AI-powered “Insights” feature from a column after the tool tried to defend the Ku Klux Klan, just a day after its debut — An AI-generated summary tried to offer “different views” on the hate group.
Discussion:
@sternbergh.bsky.social, @ripperoni.com and The Wrap, more at Techmeme »
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Laura Hazard Owen / Nieman Lab:
A look at the LA Times' AI “Insights”: much of the sourcing cited for counterpoints wouldn't pass scrutiny in a newsroom, and political labels can be confusing — The hope: The L.A. Times will appear more “objective” if it presents both sides of an issue, even if one side's written …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Futurism, The Guardian, @theredterra.bsky.social, @racebannon.bsky.social, @cmonstah.bsky.social, The Hill, SFGATE, @mrreeezinable.bsky.social, @joshuafoust.com, @laurahazardowen.bsky.social, @katebevan.com, The Verge, @dfeds.bsky.social, @jacobclifton.com, Los Angeles Times, Gizmodo, @dabeard.bsky.social, @marissarothkopf.bsky.social, @michaelhobbes.bsky.social and Raw Story
Chris Roush / Talking Biz News:
Memo: WSJ Editor Emma Tucker announces the layoffs of some reporters and editors, and the creation of new jobs, amid a consolidation of tech and media coverage — Wall Street Journal editor in chief Emma Tucker sent out the following on Tuesday:
Discussion:
@katie_robertson and @jessicalessin
Oliver Darcy / Status:
Sources: incoming Paramount president Jeff Shell asked CBS News chief Wendy McMahon and 60 Minutes boss Bill Owens in October to release the Harris transcript — As Paramount's merger with Skydance nears the finish line, CBS News chief Wendy McMahon and “60 Minutes” boss Bill Owens …
Jonathan Stempel / Reuters:
A US district court judge stops discovery requests against the NYT in Justin Baldoni's defamation lawsuit and signals the NYT might get dismissed from the case — A judge on Tuesday signaled he may dismiss the New York Times (NYT.N) as a defendant in a $400 million defamation lawsuit …
Discussion:
Deadline
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Memo: Kari Lake, special adviser to the US Agency for Global Media, says Victor Morales, who started working at USAGM in 2016, has been named acting USAGM CEO — - Sources inside the VOA worry the new Trump administration will try to turn the broadcaster into a vehicle for its agenda.
Discussion:
@davidfolkenflik, Arizona Republic, New Republic and New York Post
Emma Roth / The Verge:
YouTube will tighten gambling content rules, including prohibiting creators from verbally referring to gambling services not approved by Google, from March 19 — It may also restrict online gambling content for users under 18. … YouTube is tightening its policies on gambling content.
Discussion:
Barrett Media and CNN, more at Techmeme »
Martin Baron / The Atlantic:
Jeff Bezos handled his ownership of The Washington Post admirably for over a decade but then faltered badly, cozying up to Trump to avoid the president's wrath — The day the world learned that Jeff Bezos would buy The Washington Post, the Amazon founder offered assurances that he would not cower …
Discussion:
@vincentmorris, New York Post, @adriennelaf, Media Nation, @corbinbolies, @hughhewitt, @brianstelter, @benmullin, @vincentmorris, Poynter, @froomkin.bsky.social, @mariaramirez.bsky.social, @pbump.com, @postbaron.bsky.social, @shaneharris.bsky.social, New York Magazine, GeekWire and Mediaite
Kerry Flynn / Axios:
Firsthand, whose tools let marketers and publishers engage consumers through AI agents on their own sites or other sites as paid media, raised a $26M Series A — - The New York-based startup previously raised $6.6 million in seed funding, led by Radical Ventures.
Discussion:
Kerry Flynn on LinkedIn
Bloomberg:
Filing: AP renews its request for a judge to order the White House to resume access for AP reporters at Trump's events and says a ban harms AP financially — The Associated Press renewed its request for a judge to order the White House to allow the wire service's reporters to resume covering President Donald Trump's events.
Discussion:
The Guardian, Deadline and TVNewsCheck
Lucas Manfredi / The Wrap:
David Zaslav says WBD is both looking at how much content it's producing and bringing HBO content to TNT and TBS that it doesn't plan on licensing to rivals — The chief executive also said the media giant is changing how it programs its cable channels, including looking at bringing HBO content to TNT and TBS
Discussion:
@jbflint, Media Play News, @jbflint, @jbflint and @jbflint
Katie Robertson / New York Times:
Sources: WaPo CEO Will Lewis and Executive Editor Matt Murray skipped a premiere of Becoming Katharine Graham, a new documentary on the WaPo's fabled publisher — A premiere for a documentary about Katharine Graham, the longtime publisher, had people talking about changes at the paper, and in Washington.
Daniel Thomas / Financial Times:
Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada says the French media group doesn't regret its London IPO and “we're not in a hurry”, after its market cap fell to £1.7B, below ITV's — French broadcaster posts higher revenue in first results since UK listing last year
Discussion:
@mediaevan, Variety, @canalplusgroupe, Reuters, Screen and Advanced Television
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Georg Szalai / The Hollywood Reporter:
Canal+ reports FY 2024 revenue up 3.6% YoY to €6.45B, EBITA up 5.4% YoY to €503M, subscribers up 0.4% YoY to 26.9M, and a debt level of €355M
Discussion:
Broadband TV News, WORLD SCREEN, Investing.com, Cineuropa, BusinessLIVE, C21Media, Canal+, Deadline, Deadline and Deadline
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