Top News:
Dominic Ponsford / Press Gazette:
The UK CMA giving Google “strategic market status” could allow publishers to opt out of Google AI Overviews without removing websites from search — The UK Competition and Markets Authority has set out plans to give publishers more control over the way their work appears in Google search.
Discussion:
Channel NewsAsia, Morningstar, Inc. and Search Engine Roundtable, more at Techmeme »
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Financial Times:
The UK CMA proposes to designate Google with “strategic market status” in general search and search advertising under the new Digital Markets Competition Regime — Big Tech giant slams Competition and Markets Authority's plan as ‘punitive’ and risk to economic growth
Discussion:
Engadget, Metro.co.uk, WinBuzzer, BMI, Silicon UK, Cryptopolitan, Channel NewsAsia, Telegraph, The Register, Capital Brief, Advanced Television, The Stack, Competition …, The Standard, TipRanks Financial, Bloomberg, Business Today, Bench Media, Reuters, Tech Monitor, The Independent, Morningstar, Inc., Stockhead, ComputerWeekly.com and PYMNTS.com
New York Times:
Media Matters sues the FTC, saying its inquiry into advertiser boycotts of X is part of a “campaign of retribution” by the Trump administration and Elon Musk — The liberal advocacy organization said in a lawsuit that the Federal Trade Commission's inquiry into boycotts with other advertising groups was “retribution.”
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Jody Godoy / Reuters:
The FTC approves Omnicom's $13.5B acquisition of rival Interpublic on the condition that the new company does not boycott platforms over political content
The FTC approves Omnicom's $13.5B acquisition of rival Interpublic on the condition that the new company does not boycott platforms over political content
Discussion:
TVNewsCheck, Federal Trade Commission, @wendyndavis, @sarafischer, MarketWatch, @afergusonftc, BMI, @matthewstoller, New York Times, @xpangler, @leehepner, @allumbokhari, @benremaly, @laurenshirsch, @ftc, @afergusonftc, @leehepner, Business Insider, The Verge, The Wrap, Adweek, Reuters, Radio & Television …, MediaPost, Axios, Reclaim The Net, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, PR Week UK, campaignlive.co.uk and Global Competition Review, more at Techmeme »
Ben Smith / Semafor:
Steve Bannon launches a fierce public challenge against Fox News for its pro-war stance on Iran, accusing it of propaganda and calling for a FARA investigation — A key force in the populist MAGA media, former Trump campaign chief and White House aide Steve Bannon, has turned his opposition …
Lauren Wolfe / Committee to Protect Journalists:
Russia frees Ukrainian journalist Vladislav Yesypenko, detained since March 2021, and Belarus frees Belarusian journalist Ihar Karnei, detained since July 2023 — The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release of Ukrainian journalist Vladislav Yesypenko and Belarusian journalist Ihar Karnei …
Discussion:
Radio Free Europe/Radio …, The Kyiv Independent, @rferl, @tsihanouskaya, @janlipavsky, @stevecapus, @denizyuksel130, Novaya Gazeta Europe, @rferlpress, The Crimean Human Rights Group, @andrii_sybiha, @stevecapus, @stevecapus, PEN America, @davidfolkenflik, @rferlpress, @alsukurmasheva, @alsukurmasheva, Radio Free Europe/Radio …, @hannaliubakova.bsky.social, @kyivindependent.com, Associated Press, CBS News, Radio Free Europe/Radio … and Reporters Without Borders
Ted Johnson / Deadline:
Filing: CBS calls Trump's 60 Minutes lawsuit against the network “meritless” and an attempt to “evade bedrock First Amendment principles” — As settlement talks continue between the legal teams of Paramount Global and Donald Trump, CBS once again characterized …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Variety, @tdogmedia.bsky.social and TVNewsCheck
Matt Smith / Press Gazette:
Politics Joe puts its video podcasts behind a Patreon paywall, citing YouTube's revenue model limitations, and has 400+ subscribers five days after launch — Five days after launch brand attracts 400 paying subscribers on Patreon. — Politics Joe has put its video podcasts behind a paywall …
Committee to Protect Journalists:
Azerbaijan gives eight journalists prison sentences ranging from 7.5 to 15 years, as part of a series of media trials set to obliterate independent reporting — Eight Azerbaijani journalists have received prison sentences ranging from 7 ½ to 15 years, as part of an ongoing series …
Decca Muldowney / The Verge:
How online fandom communities are advocating against AI, including protesting companies scraping fanfic content for AI training and opposing AI-generated fanfic — ‘It is a gift. They stole it without my permission.’ … In the online world of fanfiction writers, who pen stories inspired …
Discussion:
@proggrrl.bsky.social and Gizmodo
Thomas Escritt / Reuters:
German court overturns a ban on far-right magazine Compact, accused of inciting hatred against Jews and foreigners, saying it wasn't extreme enough to be banned — A German court has overturned a ban on far-right magazine Compact that was accused of inciting hatred against Jews and foreigners …
Discussion:
The Guardian
Najat Kantouar / Wall Street Journal:
Axel Springer wants to double its value by 2030 through AI, long-term relationships with readers, and reducing reliance on search engines and social media — The company intends to reduce its reliance on search engines and social media — Axel Springer said it plans to double …
Discussion:
@jeffjarvis.bsky.social, MediaPost and Reuters
Sahil Patel / The Information:
Sources: Google reduces its Google TV and Android TV budget by 10% and cuts Android TV and Google TV's ~300 employees by up to 25%, as it focuses on YouTube — Google has cut its smart TV budget and trimmed its team—marking the most concrete signs yet of the company's waning interest competing …
