Top News:
Joe Flint / Wall Street Journal:
WBD splits into two publicly traded companies: Global Networks, with CNN and other cable channels, and Streaming & Studios, with HBO Max and its studio business — The entertainment company is contending with a hefty debt load and a sagging stock price
Discussion:
New York Times, CNN, MediaPost, The Streamable, Axios, Associated Press, TechCrunch, The Independent, @sherman4949, How-To Geek, @karlbode.com, @karlbode.com, @pkafka, Awful Announcing, New York Post, Sports Business Journal, @dylanbyers, Financial Times, Yahoo Finance, Deadline, @sherman4949, @sarafischer, @jbflint, @sherman4949, @jbflint, @xpangler, @jbflint, @brianstelter, @jbflint, Dylan Jones on LinkedIn, Barrett Media, @sherman4949, @jackcarterbenjamin …, Newser, @sherman4949, @jbflint and WPXI-TV
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Jacob Pramuk / CNBC:
WBD says David Zaslav will be CEO of the new Streaming & Studios business, and current WBD CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels will become CEO of the Global Networks business — Warner Bros. Discovery plans to split into two public companies by next year, the media giant announced Monday …
Discussion:
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Tony Maglio / The Hollywood Reporter:
WBD's split is set to close in mid-2026; CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels says he assumes “the majority” of WBD's ~$37B debt will exist with the spun off Global Networks
WBD's split is set to close in mid-2026; CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels says he assumes “the majority” of WBD's ~$37B debt will exist with the spun off Global Networks
Discussion:
Sportico, CNBC, Kotaku, @sherman4949, Engadget, @mhwilliams.bsky.social, @sherman4949 and @sherman4949
Natasha May / The Guardian:
9News Australia reporter Lauren Tomasi was shot with a rubber bullet by law enforcement live on camera while reporting on LA protests against immigration raids — Nine correspondent Lauren Tomasi was filming a piece to camera about LAPD ‘moving in’ on demonstrators when struck by bullet
Discussion:
BBC, The Times, The Guardian, Committee to Protect …, The Wrap, The Hill, CNN, TechCrunch, The Independent, The Daily Beast, @9newsaus, 9News, al.com, CBS News, Full Feed, Associated Press, @girlbosswoman, The US Sun, @joelcardwellx, @designedtofade, @_zeets, @craigbuchananwa.bsky.social, @gregggonsalves.bsky.social, @sigkill, @nickmckim, @grhutchens, @cbmccartney, @nickschadegg, Alternet.org, Newser, @byyourlogic, Metro.co.uk, Deadline, @daanysaeed, New York Post, @krishgm, Time and i 💚 ween, more at Techmeme »
Ted Johnson / Deadline:
ABC News suspends senior national correspondent Terry Moran over a now-deleted X post calling Trump administration official Stephen Miller a “world class hater” — ABC News said that it has suspended senior national correspondent Terry Moran over a late night X post, now deleted …
Discussion:
@stephenm, CNN, @presssec, @jdvance, Fox News, Adweek, Mediaite, Daily Mail, Axios, The Hollywood Reporter, People, New York Times, Poynter, The Japan News, @yashar, Townhall, @brianstelter, Los Angeles Times, @jojofromjerz, masslive.com, @brianstelter, @billybinion, HuffPost, Entertainment Weekly, @aidnmclaughlin, The Guardian, Newser, New Jersey Online, HotAir, @farhip, @gtconway3d, @theemodragon.bsky.social, al.com, TV Insider, One America News Network, @noturtlesoup17, New York Daily News, Reason, CBS News, @mayaonstage.bsky.social, Financial Times, The Hill, @kampeas, @senatorbanks, @yashar, @philipaklein, Breitbart, Rolling Stone, RedState, New York Sun, Daily Caller News Foundation, Associated Press, Washington Times, Politico, Fox News, Variety, @adamserwer.bsky.social, @wagatwe.com, @joshuaerlich.bsky.social, NewsMax.com, @michaeljstern.bsky.social, Newsbusters, New York Post, The A.V. Club, Alternet.org, Salon, USA Today, Barrett Media, The Boston Globe, TVLine, The Post Millennial, The Independent and Just Jared
New York Times:
Docs: from mid-December, YouTube told moderators to prioritize “freedom of expression” over potential harm, including for political, social, and cultural issues — The world's largest video platform has told content moderators to favor “freedom of expression” over the risk of harm in deciding what to take down.
Discussion:
The Verge, Engadget, @noupside.bsky.social, @beyerstein.bsky.social, @lauren@mastodon … and Althouse, more at Techmeme »
Max Tani / Semafor:
Politico's editorial union says its new AI tool generates garbled or made-up DC intelligence, including a fictional basket-weaver guild; Politico defends it — The Scoop — Politico's new AI product has generated garbled or made-up Washington intelligence, including a lobbying effort …
Discussion:
@maxwelltani, @karlbode.com and @notjessewalker.bsky.social
Brian Stelter / CNN:
Dr. Phil was embedded with ICE during the LA immigration raids, for a report on McGraw's Merit TV, highlighting the made-for-TV nature of Trump's crackdown — As federal agents prepared to fan out in Los Angeles for a controversial immigration crackdown, the officers were greeted by a familiar face: Dr. Phil McGraw.
Discussion:
Mediaite, 404 Media, Fox News, Politico, Advocate, Time, New Republic, @brianstelter, @brianstelter, @brianstelter, Raw Story, The Independent, Ars Technica, @lucas_shaw, Washington Times, @tinyklaus.com, The Daily Signal, KRDO, @brianstelter.bsky.social, @matttomic.bsky.social, @besmith63.bsky.social, @heidilifeldman@mastodon …, @aaronblake, MSNBC, Oh No They Didn't!, Townhall, New York Sun, The Gateway Pundit, Breitbart, Suggest, Blaze Media and Al Jazeera
Katharine Viner / The Guardian:
The Guardian partners with Cambridge University to launch Secure Messaging in its app, protecting sources by making messages indistinguishable from other data — Today, the Guardian, in collaboration with the University of Cambridge, launches Secure Messaging, a world-first from a media organisation
Sarah Scire / Nieman Lab:
Interviews with The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and Yahoo News executives about how AI-powered summaries can help busy readers, reliability issues, and more — “Summaries aren't a replacement for journalism: they can't exist without it.” The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg …
Discussion:
Talking Biz News, @niemanlab.org and @sarahscire.com, more at Techmeme »
New York Times:
In its ruling letting Trump bar AP, a US appeals court says small settings like the Oval Office are essentially invite-only and not covered by 1A protections — By a 2-to-1 vote, a three-judge panel found that the president can bar the news outlet from small settings such as the Oval Office …
Discussion:
CNN, Diane Ravitch's blog, JURIST, @mrsdeborahlynn.bsky.social, @brianstelter.bsky.social, @scottnover, The A.V. Club, Kai Falkenberg on LinkedIn, Associated Press, @peterbakernyt.bsky.social, Media Nation, Bloomberg, American Wire News, Washington Post, Twitchy, New York Post, Mediaite, Deadline, TVNewsCheck, Washington Times, The Wrap, The Gateway Pundit, KRDO and Washington Examiner
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Daniel Thomas / Financial Times:
WPP CEO Mark Read plans to leave WPP by the end of 2025 after 30+ years, as the ad firm faces a near five-year share price low and AI-driven industry upheaval — Mark Read will step down from UK group after market capitalisation halved during his seven-year tenure
Discussion:
Adweek, Marketing Dive, PRWeek, Reuters, Telegraph, The Guardian, Business Insider, MediaPost, The Drum, @marksweney, BMI, The Independent, Variety, The Times, MediaNews4U, NewsMax.com, The Standard and Fortune
Max Tani / Semafor:
Sources: Netflix bought a pilot TV series from The Daily Beast, produced with Bright North Studios, focusing on topical news events in a 30-minute format — THE SCOOP — Netflix wants to quickly turn around more documentaries on events in the zeitgeist. Just don't call it “news.”
Discussion:
@maxwelltani
