Top News:
David Folkenflik / NPR:
The EU says it will give $6.2M in emergency funding to RFE/RL, after Trump withheld its funding; Sweden pledged $2M, but those funds have yet to arrive — The European Union has stepped in to provide Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty an infusion of millions of dollars to keep functioning …
Betsy Morais / Columbia Journalism Review:
Several women attest to Pulitzer winner and author Wesley Lowery's pattern of predatory behavior toward young women in journalism between 2018 and 2024 — Lowery rose to prominence as a reporter and media thinker. Women in the industry say he engaged in sexual harassment and assault.
Discussion:
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Corbin Bolies / The Daily Beast:
Sources: Disney CEO Bob Iger and ABC News President Almin Karamehmedovic asked The View hosts to tone down their political rhetoric, particularly about Trump — COOL IT — Multiple sources shared details with the Daily Beast about a meeting in which the ABC News president delivered a message that left the co-hosts unnerved.
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: NBCUniversal made an offer to take over MLB rights after ESPN opted out of continuing its contract, but is offering far less than ESPN currently pays — Comcast's NBCUniversal has made an offer to Major League Baseball to take over the package of regular-season and postseason games …
Ashley Spencer / New York Times:
How Disney's Lilo & Stitch, released in 2002, became one of its most merchandised characters, rivalling Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse, ahead of a new movie — Step aside, Moana, Elsa and Simba. In recent years, Stitch has quietly become one of Disney's most popular — and most merchandised — characters.
Discussion:
Hollywood in Toto, GamesRadar, Los Angeles Times, Time, The Movie Blog and SlashFilm
NBC News:
The White House removes official transcripts of Trump's public remarks from the government's website, replacing them with selected videos of his appearances — The White House told NBC News it has decided to post only videos. There still is one transcript remaining online, however: Trump's inaugural address.
Discussion:
@brunojnavarro.bsky.social, @jamescdownie.bsky.social and The Indian Express
Peter White / Deadline:
Danish podcast service Podimo hires Amazon's Georgia Brown as CCO as part of its push into English language content; Podimo has 1M+ paying subscribers — Georgia Brown, who was previously Head of Amazon Studios, Europe, is moving into the podcasting world.
Helen Davidson / The Guardian:
The Hong Kong Journalists Association says it has been subject to “random” tax audits, along with at least eight independent outlets and at least 20 journalists — Inland revenue targets eight outlets, union, 20 journalists and their families with supposed ‘random’ checks
Discussion:
China Digital Times, Hong Kong Free Press HKFP and Los Angeles Times
Anthony Hughes / Bloomberg:
Austin-based CTV ad platform MNTN raises $187M in its IPO, selling 11.7M shares at $16 each, the top of its $14 to $16 range, and giving it a ~$1.24B market cap — The Austin-based company — that counts Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds as its chief creative officer — and the selling shareholders …
Discussion:
Reuters, Adweek, Inc.com, MarketWatch and Fast Company
Committee to Protect Journalists:
Five major US-based press freedom orgs launch the Journalist Assistance Network to provide legal and safety resources to journalists and newsrooms in the US — Five major U.S.-based press freedom organizations announced Thursday the launch of a network to provide legal and safety resources …
Discussion:
@drumenaker.bsky.social
Kyle Wiggers / TechCrunch:
Google tests bringing ads to AI Mode, both below responses as well as “integrated into” them, and expands ads in AI Overviews to desktop in the US — Google on Wednesday detailed its plans to bring ads to AI Mode, the company's AI-powered experience in Google Search.
RELATED:
Andrew Romero / 9to5Google:
AI videos from Google's Veo 3, which features synchronized audio as well as crisper, more detailed video, are both impressive and terrifying
Discussion:
Benzinga, @picotop, @minchoi, @thewapplehouse, @fakehistoryhunt, @nearcyan, @markgadala, @diesol, @hashemghaili, @deedydas, @arikuschnir, @superloafcat, @fofrai, @tunguz, @techhalla, @theblackhokage, The Indian Express, NewsMax.com, TVBEurope, 404 Media, Saurabh Aggarwal on LinkedIn, Erica Fitzpatrick on LinkedIn, Puja Hait on LinkedIn, @tamaleaver.bsky.social and CNBC
Ashifa Kassam / The Guardian:
More than 90 European EICs and publishers call on the EU to act over proposed Hungarian legislation that could ban media organizations that get foreign funding — Media figures speak out as Orbán's party proposes penalising organisations that receive foreign funding
Tom Garry / The Guardian:
Sources: Disney signs a five-year deal to stream Women's Champions League matches on Disney+ in multiple European broadcast territories, including the UK — - Streaming platform in line to agree five-year deal — DAZN has shown Champions League for four seasons
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