Mediagazer: Bengaluru-based Pratilipi, which runs Pratilipi Comics, podcasting studio IVM, and more, raised a $20M Series E at a $100M valuation, down from $265M in 2021 (Pranav Mukul/The Economic Times)

Source: President Trump plans to announce TikTok America, a company that is ~50% owned by US investors and 19.9% by ByteDance, which would license the algorithm — President Donald Trump plans to announce later on Wednesday his plan for a new company called TikTok America …

Bron Maher / Press Gazette:

Newsquest's editorial development director says it now employs 36 “AI-assisted” reporters, freeing up the rest of the newsroom to “be out pounding the beat” — Regional publishing giant Newsquest now employs 36 “AI-assisted” reporters across its titles, its editorial development director has said.

Dominic Ponsford / Press Gazette:

Tortoise Media names Times journalist Rachel Sylvester as The Observer's political editor; a source says 50%+ of Observer staff have decided to leave — Tortoise Media has announced the recruitment of Times journalist Rachel Sylvester as political editor of The Observer as it gears up to take over the title later this month.

Discussion: @jackcarterbenjamin …, @jamiesusskind, @tortoise, @plutotlabarbie, @rsylvestertimes, @catneilan, @mypalfootfoot7, @michaelsavage, @carolecadwalla.bsky.social, @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social and @josiah.writes.news

Pranav Mukul / The Economic Times:

Bengaluru-based Pratilipi, which runs Pratilipi Comics, podcasting studio IVM, and more, raised a $20M Series E at a $100M valuation, down from $265M in 2021 — The deal, however, has been struck at a significantly lower post-funding valuation of $100 million, as per cofounder and CEO Ranjeet Pratap Singh.

Discussion: YourStory.com

Benjamin Mullin / New York Times:

After leaving Meet the Press, Chuck Todd is embarking on a career as a media entrepreneur, and plans to hire other hosts for a podcast and video network — After leaving NBC News in January, the former “Meet the Press” moderator is starting a new chapter as a media entrepreneur.

Discussion: @kantrowitz, @chriscillizza, @djtweets, @tvgrimreaper, @benmullin, @michaelkruse, @owillis.bsky.social, TVNewsCheck, @jeffjarvis.bsky.social and @benmullin.bsky.social

Brendan Ruberry / Semafor:

Users complain that three well-known sites that help avoid paywalls, including archive.is, redirected them to Russia's RT for at least five days as of Tuesday — The Scoop — Three well-known sites that help users avoid paywalls mysteriously redirected users to Russian state-controlled …

Ashley Carman / Bloomberg:

A look at the ascent of true crime podcaster John Allen, known as MrBallen, and the success of Ballen Studios, which employs 70 people and produces seven shows — John Allen, known online as MrBallen, operates a 70-person company with his Pulitzer Prize-winning family on staff.

Sarah Scire / Nieman Lab:

A look at Direkt36, a member-supported Hungarian investigative news site that recently released a documentary about the wealth in Viktor Orbán's inner circle — “In a bizarre way, the government propaganda also helped create some buzz around the film.”

Discussion: TVNewsCheck and @amlwhere.bsky.social

Benjamin Mullin / New York Times:

An NPR document from February 2011 estimated defunding could cut up to $240M from the public radio system and close up to 18% of roughly 1,000 member stations — Republicans say there is no reason for the government to fund the public broadcasters. — There is no reason, Republicans say, for the government to fund NPR and PBS.

Discussion: Fox News, The Washington Free Beacon, @mattgertz, @benmullin, Media Nation and Nieman Lab

Naman Ramachandran / Variety:

News Corp finalizes the sale of Australian pay-TV operator Foxtel Group to DAZN in a $2.2B deal after regulatory approval, and will take a 6% stake in DAZN — Billboard Women in Music 2025 — News Corp said Wednesday it has finalized the sale of Australian pay-TV operator Foxtel Group to global sports streaming provider DAZN.

Discussion: Advanced Television, MediaPost, Reuters, The Wrap, The Hollywood Reporter and News Corporation

Mark Mwachiro / Adweek:

QVC launches a 24/7 live shopping stream on TikTok by integrating with TikTok Shop; the stream will include original content just for TikTok — The commerce channel has been on TikTok Shop since August 2024

Discussion: WWD, CNBC and TVNewsCheck

Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:

The Telegraph removes a March 22 article claiming campaign group Stop Funding Hate had amplified anti-Semitic social media posts and will pay legal costs — The Telegraph has removed an article claiming campaign group Stop Funding Hate had amplified anti-Semitic social media posts.

Discussion: @josiah.writes.news