Top News:
David Folkenflik / NPR:
A look at the disputes over Kari Lake's official title and power at USAGM, as she uses the title of acting CEO while lawsuits challenge her status — By the close of business Wednesday, Trump administration official Kari Lake must explain to a federal judge how she intends to ensure that Voice …
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Toluse Olorunnipa / The Atlantic:
Kari Lake pushes to deport some of her former employees who worked for Voice of America; they were invited to the US under J-1 visas that are no longer valid
Kari Lake pushes to deport some of her former employees who worked for Voice of America; they were invited to the US under J-1 visas that are no longer valid
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James Rogers / MarketWatch:
Paramount Skydance shares jumped 36.7% on Wednesday, and trading volume exploded; CNBC's Jim Cramer called the stock a meme stock early in the day — Shares of newly merged — and highly shorted — media company Paramount Skydance soared Wednesday, fueling a ‘meme-on-steroids feel’ — Referenced Symbols
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Mumbrella, @jimcramer, Variety, Bloomberg, Barron's Online, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Deadline, MarketWatch, @sergiustrading, Capital Brief, @drpatelphd and Investopedia
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Cynthia Littleton / Variety:
Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison says BET Networks is no longer for sale and he plans to operate the new company with Paramount's assets intact — New regime meets the press in wide-ranging Q&A session held at Melrose studio lot following Aug. 7 acquisition
Discussion:
Deadline, TheDesk.net, TVNewsCheck, Cord Cutters News, The Wrap, @tvgrimreaper, Benzinga and Collider
Vivian Nguyen / Crypto Briefing:
Justin Sun sues to block Bloomberg from publishing details of his crypto holdings that he had divulged “confidentially” to be included in its Billionaires Index — The 14-page complaint accuses Bloomberg of public disclosure of sensitive financial information and promissory estoppel.
Discussion:
@difezc70441, @sethbrower.com, @molly.wiki, @molly.wiki, @molly.wiki, @molly.wiki, @mstevens86.bsky.social, @molly.wiki, @molly.wiki, @molly.wiki and @molly.wiki
Caitlin Huston / The Hollywood Reporter:
Netflix VP of Consumer Products Josh Simon, who oversaw merchandising and experiences, leaves to be CEO of Funko, which makes bobbleheads and other collectibles — Josh Simon had created products for the streaming giant's biggest titles, including ‘Stranger Things,’ ‘Bridgerton’ and ‘Squid Game.’
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GeekWire, Seattle Business Journal, Kidscreen, Retail Dive, The Wrap, Deadline, Variety, Business Wire and Bloomberg
Washington Post:
Interviews with over 70 people detail the 13-year search for Austin Tice, the American journalist who was kidnapped near Damascus in August 2012 — The Post uncovered new details and previously unreported efforts to find the reporter kidnapped in Syria. — Mekhennet, Nakashima …
Discussion:
Reporters Without Borders, @justatareq, @suzanhaidamous, Newser, The Hill, NewsMax.com, @mohamdech, @mtdukes.bsky.social and The Week
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
The UK's Reach is hiring an overnight team in Australia for the first time to deliver “what UK news audiences want to see”, following its expansion in the US — The UK's largest commercial news publisher Reach is hiring an overnight team in Australia for the first time.
Discussion:
PR Week UK
Trip Gabriel / New York Times:
Leonard Tow, a cable TV and telephone company magnate and philanthropist who supported journalism and the arts, dies at 97 — Once on the Forbes 400 list of richest Americans, he donated substantially to the arts, higher education, hospitals and criminal justice reform.
Matthew Keys / TheDesk.net:
Marco Gaudino, charged in 2024 for allegedly giving Tim Burke credentials to access systems used by Fox News and others, avoids prison time after a plea deal — A Washington man has avoided prison time after he confessed to helping a Florida media consultant and former video journalist break …
Discussion:
@thedesk.net
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Paramount investor Mario Gabelli sues Shari Redstone's National Amusements, claiming NAI received “unfair and inequitable” terms in the Skydance merger — Now his investment firm has officially taken the matter to court. — On Wednesday, Gabelli's GAMCO filed a lawsuit …
Discussion:
The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Business Wire and The Wrap
Bloomberg:
Shares of CoinDesk owner Bullish jumped 143% to $90 in its NYSE debut, up from its IPO price of $37; sources say the IPO was more than 20 times oversubscribed — Bullish shares jumped 143% from the IPO price after the digital-asset exchange operator and owner of media outlet CoinDesk raised $1.1 billion in an initial public offering.
Discussion:
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Rebecca Huntington / WyoFile:
Eight local newspapers in Wyoming will keep publishing after three newspaper executives reached a deal to buy them from Illinois-based News Media Corporation — Wyoming newspaper executives Robb and Jen Hicks and Rob Mortimore announced Tuesday they've reached an agreement …
Discussion:
@mediaevan, Sheridan Press, GoCoNow and Cowboy State Daily
