Top News:
Ethan Gach / Kotaku:
Polygon staffers, including co-founder and EIC Chris Plante, say the video games website has laid them off, after Vox Media sold Polygon to publisher Valnet — One of the biggest gaming sites around was just blown up — The video game website Polygon has been sold to click-farm powerhouse Valnet …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Axios, Video Games Chronicle, @alicejovanee.bsky.social, @tched.com, @812filmreviews.com, @loudmouthjulia, @briamgilbert.bsky.social, @alissawilkinson.bsky.social, @caseynewton.bsky.social, @simonowens, @ohnorosco, @cecianasta, @mikestrawmedia, @mattbrownep, @theotherfrost, @legsfrank, @okayy_dan, @toadsanime, @echoapsey, @haasch_palmer, @cecianasta, @jacobkleinman, @mtsw.bsky.social, @elmayimbe, @mattreyn.games, @johnnychugs.bsky.social, @carlivelocci.com, @echoapsey.bsky.social, @monagle.bsky.social, @palmerh.bsky.social, @aemccarthy.bsky.social, @alexaray.bsky.social, @jonchristian.net, @mitchyd.bsky.social, @mattleone.bsky.social, @agramuglia.bsky.social, @petevolk.bsky.social, @pokachee.bsky.social, @nicolecarpenter.bsky.social, @alexnavarro.bsky.social, @parismarx.com, @grubb.wtf, @plante.bsky.social, @papapishu.bsky.social, @sethrosenthal.bsky.social, @jacoboller.bsky.social, @jaypeters.net, @jayasaxena.com, @botherer.bsky.social, @mmcwhertor.bsky.social, The Verge, a world with more sparrows … and petrana @ polygon, more at Techmeme »
Alex Isenstadt / Axios:
The White House launches White House Wire, a website that looks similar to the Drudge Report, to promote pro-Trump news stories — The White House has launched a new Drudge Report-like website devoted to promoting pro-Trump news stories. — Why it matters: The site, called “White House Wire …
Discussion:
Mediaite, The White House, Status, The Guardian, HuffPost, The Hill, @whitehouse, Mock Paper Scissors, @corgislave.bsky.social, @werd.io, Townhall, @amandamarcotte.bsky.social, @owillis.bsky.social, @mikeelgan.bsky.social, @kylewilsontharp, @jimhansondc, @noturtlesoup17.bsky.social, @donaldjtrumpjr, Newser, @axiosalex, @axiosalex, @willharrisinva.bsky.social, @bespacific@newsie.social, @lauraloomer, @125sapphire, @mail4ufromme1, @mattcameron.bsky.social, @jackshafer and The Post Millennial
Mark Stenberg / Adweek:
WaPo plans to overhaul its events business, moving away from virtual events to 30 to 40 in-person experiences, including 10 major franchise-style gatherings — The new approach will focus on franchisable gatherings catering to business audiences — The Washington Post is overhauling …
Discussion:
@washpostcomms and @markstenberg3
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Dylan Byers / Puck:
Sources: Shari Redstone asked CBS CEO if it would be possible to delay sensitive 60 Minutes stories about Trump until after the Skydance deal is closed — Amid Trump's legal torture of CBS, Shari Redstone has played the role of a spineless placater—a desperate seller eager to settle and liquidate her position in the family heirloom.
Georg Szalai / The Hollywood Reporter:
BBC Studios and the Agatha Christie estate partner to launch a writing course on education streaming service BBC Maestro, using AI to recreate Christie's voice — Actress Vivien Keene and the technology will bring the iconic mystery author to life in the result of a partnership between BBC Studios and the Christie estate.
Discussion:
The Guardian, Deadline, Engadget, The Times, BBC, BBC Maestro, The Independent, Mirror, @marygillis.bsky.social, SlashFilm and The Verge
Julia Love / Bloomberg:
Google begins showing AdSense ads in conversations with AI chatbots; sources say Google tested the ads in 2024 with startups, like AI search apps iAsk and Liner — Google's ad network has begun showing advertising within the flow of conversations with chatbots — part of Alphabet Inc.'s efforts …
Discussion:
New York Times, Engadget, TechCrunch, Mike Choi on LinkedIn, @michaelmartinez.co and The Hill, more at Techmeme »
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Aisha Counts / Bloomberg:
LinkedIn will share ad revenue with creators for the first time, starting with 30 B2B creators, and says users now watch 36% more video content than a year ago — - Networking site to share ad sales with 30 content creators — LinkedIn users watch 36% more video content than a year ago
Discussion:
Business Insider, Ad Age and Mashable, more at Techmeme »
Colby Hall / Mediaite:
Steve Doocy says he will move to a new role as the dedicated host of Fox & Friends remote assignments; the show will continue to be hosted from its NYC studios — After 6,828 days of waking up at 3:30 a.m., Fox & Friends co-host Steve Doocy decided he wanted to sleep in a bit.
Thomson Reuters:
Thomson Reuters reports Reuters News Q1 revenue down 7% YoY to $196M and adjusted EBITDA down 34% YoY to $39M — TORONTO, May 1, 2025 - Thomson Reuters (TSX/Nasdaq: TRI) today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025: — Good revenue momentum continued in the first quarter
Discussion:
Talking Biz News, Benzinga, Globe and Mail and Reuters
Saleah Blancaflor / Adweek:
Nielsen launches The Ad Supported Gauge, a quarterly report on how TV delivers advertising, says 72.4% of TV viewing was on ad-supported platforms in Q1 2025 — The report will provide a more comprehensive look at how TV delivers advertising across broadcast, cable, and streaming
Discussion:
The Wrap, MediaPost, Nielsen, The Hollywood Reporter, @nielsen and Streaming Better
Dominic Ponsford / Press Gazette:
Study: UK ad spend hit a record £42.6B in 2024, with Meta and Google capturing ~£25.4B; online display ads grew 15.1% to £16.7B, and search rose 12.8% to £16.9B — Google and Meta accounted for at least half the record £42.6bn spent on UK advertising last year, according to Press Gazette estimates.
Discussion:
@michaelsavage.bsky.social and Dominic Ponsford on LinkedIn
Washington Post:
Filing: Smartmatic says Fox News' “pivot” to amplify 2020 election fraud claims came after backlash from Trump and supporters for calling Arizona for Biden — In a new legal filing, the election technology company says backlash from Trump and supporters spurred false accusations …
Discussion:
Daily Kos, @scottnover.bsky.social, @patrickdmarley, Raw Story, The Desk, Los Angeles Times, New York Post and Washington Examiner
Joanna Partridge / The Guardian:
The UK's Standard reported a loss of £19.6M in the year to 29 September 2024, the period before it became a weekly; it has lost £125M over the past eight years — Following a rebrand and move to digital-first the total losses over eight years rise to nearly £125m
Discussion:
Press Gazette and @pressgazette
Daniel Boffey / The Guardian:
Court document: Rebekah Brooks took a “deeply concerning interest” in the phone hacking campaigner Tom Watson, and one journalist wrote that he “must die” — Exclusive: Sun reporter also wrote that former MP ‘must die’, according to claims in newly disclosed document
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Mark Zuckerberg says Threads has 350M MAUs, having added 30M in Q1 2025, compared to 20M in Q4 2024 — Instagram Threads, Meta's X competitor, has now grown to over 350 million monthly active users, CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed during the company's Q1 2025 earnings call on Wednesday.
Discussion:
@carnage4life@threads.com, @crumbler@threads.com, @jwang815@threads.com and @sdw@threads.com
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