Top News:
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 — Omnicom's (OMC.N) $13.5 billion acquisition of rival Interpublic (IPG.N) can move forward on the condition that the new company does …
Discussion:
Federal Trade Commission, The Verge, @wendyndavis, MediaPost, MarketWatch, @sarafischer, @afergusonftc, Variety, BMI, @matthewstoller, Axios, New York Times, Reuters, Adweek, @xpangler, The Wrap, @leehepner, @allumbokhari, Radio & Television …, @benremaly, Reclaim The Net, @laurenshirsch, @ftc, Business Insider, @afergusonftc, @leehepner, The Hollywood Reporter, campaignlive.co.uk and Global Competition Review, more at Techmeme »
RELATED:
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, Novaya Gazeta Europe, Radio Free Europe/Radio …, @rferl, @tsihanouskaya, @janlipavsky, Associated Press, @stevecapus, @denizyuksel130, Radio Free Europe/Radio …, @rferlpress, CBS News, Reporters Without Borders, The Crimean Human Rights Group, @andrii_sybiha, @stevecapus, @hannaliubakova.bsky.social, @kyivindependent.com, @stevecapus, PEN America, @davidfolkenflik, @rferlpress, @alsukurmasheva and @alsukurmasheva
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 …
Discussion:
New York Times, Mediaite, @gregtsargent, The Independent, PoliticusUSA, Talking Points Memo, HuffPost and Daily Mail
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
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 …
Melissa Korn / Wall Street Journal:
News Corp extends CEO Robert Thomson's contract through June 2030, as it faces AI headwinds; Thomson joined in 2013 and his previous deal ran through June 2027 — Thomson has pursued digital growth and focused the company on core areas of news, book publishing and digital real estate
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 …
Meera Pattni / Semafor:
Semafor appoints Andrew Friedman as General Manager and Head of Public Affairs; he joins Semafor from Google, where he served on the US Elections team — Semafor today announced the appointment of Andrew Friedman as General Manager and Head of Public Affairs, as the global news platform accelerates …
Discussion:
@davelee.me
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
Will Payne, The Sun's director of digital (editorial), is leaving after almost 11 years to become deputy editor-in-chief of News Corp's New York Post Group — Will Payne, The Sun's director of digital (editorial), is leaving after almost 11 years to join fellow News Corp title the New York Post.
Matt Grobar / Deadline:
Punchup Live, a ticketing and analytics platform for stand-up comedians, raised a $2.3M seed led by Social Leverage, and plans to expand into more live events — Led by Social Leverage, the round saw participation from all major existing investors including Hustlefund and Evil Twin Capital.
Discussion:
Danny Frenkel on LinkedIn
Rick Porter / The Hollywood Reporter:
Disney names Jilly Pearce as head of unscripted programming for ABC and Hulu; Pearce was previously the president of Objective Media Group America — The executive was most recently president of Objective Media Group America. — Disney is filling a key executive post in its unscripted division.
Discussion:
Deadline
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, @tdogmedia.bsky.social, Variety and TVNewsCheck
Assistant Standards Editor, NY — 
Asia Metals Correspondent, Singapore — 
Economic Policy Reporter, DC — 
Senior Director - Editorial, NY — 
Senior Editor, FL — 
Senior Sydney Correspondent — 
Investigative Reporter, OR — 
Reporter I, Remote — 
Reporter, CO — 
Digital Content Editor, CT — 
Sr. Political Reporter, CA — 
Editor, DC — 
Data Reporter, TX — 
Local Editor, MD — 
Editor - Founder Brew, NY — 
Senior Content Strategist, CA — 
Audience Strategist, CO — 
Senior Editor, Remote US — 
Community Newspaper Editor, FL — 
Managing Editor, NY — 
IT Industry Reporter, MA — 
Multimedia Reporter, TX — 
Food Correspondent, OR — 
Deputy Editor-in-Chief, NY — 
Breaking News Editor, Toronto — 
Breaking News Reporter, Remote — 
Digital Editor, OH — 
Senior Political Reporter, ME — 
Head of Multimedia, Sydney — 
Editorial & Opinion Page Editor, NV — 
Deputy Editor, HI — 
Principal Writer - Investigative & Trust — 
Culture & Travel Reporter, NY — 
Wealth & Philanthropy Reporter, TX — 
