Top News:
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: WaPo officials told staffers a cyberattack compromised the email accounts of several journalists and was potentially the work of a foreign government — Reporters covering national security and economic policy were among the employees affected by the breach
Ben Johansen / Politico:
Sources: USAGM told employees of VOA's Persian-language service who were placed on administrative leave to return to their roles amid the Iran-Israel conflict — President Donald Trump ordered the service to shut down in March. — Employees of Voice of America's Persian-language service …
Discussion:
New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, NBC News, Bloomberg, Washington Examiner, NOTUS, @alexthenewsbee, @farhip, @amanbatheja.bsky.social, Semafor, Al Jazeera, @scottnover.bsky.social, @newsguy.bsky.social, @eddwilson.bsky.social, One America News Network, @bluedotin.bsky.social, TVNewsCheck, @derekmyoung.bsky.social, @cmcknichols.bsky.social, @ianbassin.bsky.social, Fox News, Raw Story, @raymondnorman.bsky.social, The Wrap and The Indian Express
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Matthew Keys / The Desk:
Arabic news channel Alhurra replaces its programming with an image accusing the USAGM of illegally withholding Congress-approved funding for its parent MBN — The Arabic-language news channel Alhurra is using its air waves to draw attention to the U.S. Agency for Global Media's (USAGM) decision to rescind funding for its operations.
Discussion:
@kaedotcom.bsky.social and @newsguy.bsky.social
Michael Savage / The Guardian:
Hamish McKenzie says WaPo approached Substack about hosting its writers, and there has been a “change in mindset” of traditional media about the platform — Newspaper could join legacy media brands in embracing newsletter platform — The Washington Post has held talks …
Discussion:
@daisandconfused, @chriscillizza and @maryhilt.bsky.social
Liam Scott / Freedom of the Press Foundation:
An interview with US Press Freedom Tracker Senior Reporter Stephanie Sugars on documenting nearly 62,000 anti-press social posts by Trump over the past 10 years — 61,989. — That's how many social media posts by President Donald Trump over the past decade that journalist Stephanie Sugars has single-handedly reviewed.
Discussion:
@pressfreedomtracker.us, @pressfreedomtracker.us, @pressfreedomtracker.us, @pressfreedomtracker.us, @pressfreedomtracker.us, @pressfreedomtracker.us, @pressfreedomtracker.us, @pressfreedomtracker.us, @pressfreedomtracker.us, @pressfreedomtracker.us, @pressfreedomtracker.us, So What and U.S. Press Freedom Tracker
Michael Savage / The Guardian:
Sources: senior BBC executives are considering charging US consumers for access to its journalism to boost revenues amid falling UK license fee incomes — Corporation has been targeting audiences across the Atlantic as it tries to shore up revenue streams — Senior BBC figures …
Discussion:
The Overspill, @michaelsavage.bsky.social and @douglindner.bsky.social
Bloomberg:
Statista expects the global influencer marketing industry to grow 36% between 2024 and 2025, reaching $33B, as brands tighten overall ad budgets — Ashton Hall's morning routine involves dunking his head in iced Saratoga Spring Water. For the company that sells the bottled water …
Discussion:
The Verge, Mirror, Social Media Today and Coinmonks
Alisha Buaya / Mediaweek:
MAGNA: Asia Pacific ad revenue grew 7.9% in 2024 to $288B led by digital advertising; TV budgets declined by 1.9%, print dropped by 3%, and radio fell by 4.2% — Ros Allison: ‘Some return to growth evident for the Australian market in 2025.’ — Global advertising revenues for media owners …
Discussion:
Mumbrella, Radio & Television … and Radio Ink
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
Mediahuis Ireland, which owns the Belfast Telegraph, Irish Independent, and others, says it has 100K+ digital subscribers after launching paywalls in 2020 — Mediahuis Ireland has crossed the 100,000 digital subscriber mark, just over five years after first launching its paywalls.
Discussion:
HoldtheFrontPage, Peter Vandermeersch on LinkedIn and BelfastTelegraph.co.uk
Jonathan Stempel / Reuters:
Byron Allen settles with McDonald's over his $10B 2021 lawsuit accusing the fast food chain of racial stereotyping in its ads budget; terms were not disclosed — McDonald's (MCD.N) has settled a $10 billion lawsuit by the media entrepreneur Byron Allen accusing the fast-food chain of …
Discussion:
Baller Alert, The A.V. Club, Variety, Deadline, @fly_sistah, Restaurant Business, TVNewsCheck, The Wrap, The Desk and MarketWatch
CNBC:
The WNBA and E.W. Scripps renew their media rights deal, ensuring Friday night WNBA matchups will continue on Ion, along with a new weekly studio show — The WNBA and E.W. Scripps announced on Friday a new, multi-year media rights agreement to carry Friday night WNBA matchups on Ion.
Discussion:
@matthewkeyslive, Brian Lawlor on LinkedIn, Sports Media Watch, Front Office Sports, Cord Cutters News, Sportico, New York Times, Awful Announcing, The Desk, Adam Symson on LinkedIn, Sports Business Journal, The E.W. Scripps Company, Barrett Media, TV Tech, Radio & Television … and Multicast News
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
Take-Two, the NBA, and the National Basketball Players Association expand their partnership to launch NBA Take-Two Media, producing content, events, and more — The video game publisher of the NBA 2K franchise will partner with the league on original content and competitive gaming via its new banner …
Discussion:
Charlie Hyun on LinkedIn, TVNewsCheck, The Wrap, Jonathan Rosen on LinkedIn, Sports Business Journal, NBA.com and Variety
