Top News:
Minho Kim / New York Times:
Kari Lake says the USAGM sent layoff notices to 532 VOA employees, leaving ~100 staffers still employed; Lake had to rescind a previous layoff effort in June — The layoffs set up a potential battle with a federal judge who blocked previous efforts by Kari Lake, a fierce Trump ally, to restructure the agency.
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Chip Reid / CBS News:
Mark Knoller, a former CBS News White House correspondent known for keeping meticulous records of every presidential act, dies at the age of 73 — Longtime CBS News correspondent Mark Knoller has died at the age of 73. — He died in Washington, D.C., according to a close friend.
Discussion:
Mediaite, Suggest, Variety, @ianbremmer, @peterbakernyt, @edokeefe, @johngizzi, @johnjharwood, @joshgerstein, KARE-TV, @samstein, @stevenportnoy, @thirdwaymattb, @bretbaier, @jerry_cipriano, Irish Star, @margbrennan, @yashar, @brithume, @keegan_tweets, @eamonjavers, @sfutterman, @fangsbites, @tvietor08, @davidgoodmantv, @kellyo, @exjon, Joie Chen on LinkedIn, Deadline, @rorycooper, @katiecouric, @andrewfeinberg, @steveholland1, @horsleyscott, @chucktodd, @westwingreport, @danaperino, @tamarakeithnpr.bsky.social, @kevincorke, @devorahleah.bsky.social, The Hollywood Reporter, @brianstelter, @robt_gibbs, @w7voa, @cehoskinson, @mcfaul, @jordanfabian, @johannamaska, @nickbryantny, @aghamilton29 and @lukerussert.bsky.social
Joshua Rothman / New Yorker:
A look at the potential future of personalized, AI-generated entertainment, and how it could both submerge human originality and enable new forms of expression — We're used to algorithms guiding our choices. When machines can effortlessly generate the content we consume, though, what's left for the human imagination?
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Phil Hoad / The Guardian:
An inside look at how Netflix's use of data led to generic “algorithm films” intended for broad appeal, with AI set to further entrench the production style
An inside look at how Netflix's use of data led to generic “algorithm films” intended for broad appeal, with AI set to further entrench the production style
Discussion:
Us Weekly, Links I Would Gchat …, Mirror, GIANT FREAKIN ROBOT, Celebrity Insider, Boston.com, Town & Country, @rwstinner.bsky.social, TVNewsCheck, Glasgow Live, What's on Netflix, @berthac.bsky.social, Digital Trends, @arjun.bsky.social, @cliffharris.bsky.social, Screen Rant, Reading Chronicle, @abdecker.bsky.social, @Ruth_Mottram@fediscience.org, @timrichards@aus.social, Decider, CNET and Radio Times, more at Techmeme »
Daniel Thomas / Financial Times:
WBD Chair Emeritus John Malone says he discussed WBD-Fox merger with Rupert Murdoch in July 2024; sources say a possible deal was raised but not pursued — ‘Cable cowboy’ reveals talks as he reorganises media empire and prepares to give most of his $10bn fortune to good causes
Discussion:
New York Times, Broadband TV News and @jeffjarvis.bsky.social
Foo Yun Chee / Reuters:
Sources: Google is set to face a modest EU antitrust fine over adtech practices, in an investigation triggered by a complaint by the European Publishers Council — Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) Google is set to face a modest EU antitrust fine in the coming weeks for allegedly anti-competitive practices …
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Mastodon says it does not “have the means to apply age verification” to its services and it's up to server admins to observe local laws in places they operate — Decentralized social network Mastodon says it can't comply with Mississippi's age verification law …
Discussion:
@paulywill@mstdn.ca, @dyckron@mstdn.ca, Ace of Spades HQ, @BrideOfLinux@mastodon …, @Greguti@pouet.chapril.org, @vik@mastodon.nzoss.nz, @darkswordsman.com, @art@mastodon.sdf.org, @literalgrill@sakurajima.moe, @profcarroll@federate.social, Pixel Envy, @jenbanim@mastodo.neoliber.al, @kim_harding@mastodon.scot, @cdarwin@c.im, @jdp23.thenexus.today, @kentindell.bsky.social, @laurenshof@indieweb.social, @AAKL@infosec.exchange and @TechCrunch@mstdn.social
Trishla Ostwal / Adweek:
Perplexity's head of advertising and shopping Taz Patel has left after nine months; its ad business reportedly generated only about $20,000 in Q4 2024 — Perplexity push into advertising has so far brought in modest revenue as the company eyes new growth and faces mounting legal battles
Discussion:
@glenngabe, Trishla Ostwal on LinkedIn and The Information
Stefanno Sulaiman / Reuters:
TikTok suspends its live feature for the “next few days” in Indonesia, citing “increasing violence in protests” over lawmakers' pay — ByteDance's TikTok has suspended its live feature for the “next few days” in Indonesia following protests in the country, its spokesperson said in a statement on Saturday.
Todd Spangler / Variety:
YouTube TV and Fox reach a new carriage deal for Fox News, local Fox stations, Fox Sports, and other channels — A YouTube rep said, “We're happy to share that we've reached an agreement with Fox to keep their content on YouTube TV, preserve the value of our service for our subscribers and offer more flexibility in the future.
Discussion:
The Hollywood Reporter, Android Police, Cord Cutter Weekly, StreamTV Insider, The Streamable, UPI, Sports Business Journal, Ukrainian National News, Benzinga, Advanced Television, ClutchPoints, 9to5Google, The Wrap, Reuters, Media Play News, Awful Announcing, Washington Times, Yahoo Finance, MediaPost, Barrett Media and TVNewsCheck
Jon Allsop / Columbia Journalism Review:
Hurricane Katrina's 20-year anniversary prompts at least seven new documentaries, as well as reflections on criticisms of the press coverage after the storm — Race, climate, and the media legacy of an “unnatural” disaster. — Twenty years ago this week, Hurricane Katrina slammed …
Discussion:
City Journal, Mississippi Free Press, CBS News, @faineg.bsky.social, Daily Record, NewsNation, The Lens, al.com, The Nation, New Yorker, Associated Press, TV Insider, WSVN-TV, WPXI-TV, New York Times, Scientific American, New York Post, The Contrarian, Media Matters for America and Yale Climate Connections
Mike Masnick / Techdirt:
US representatives James Comer and Nancy Mace want Wikipedia to hand over editor identities and internal communications; the Wikipedia Foundation should decline — from the congress-shall-make-no-law dept — Congress has absolutely zero constitutional authority to investigate a private website for its editorial decisions.
Discussion:
@slashdottir@mastodon.online, @abierkhatib, @laundryqueen__, @dmichaeltripi, @molly0xfff, @andrewnaslund, @molly0xfff, @gopoversight, @ggreenwald, @ggreenwald, @joshuawood.net, @cdarwin@c.im, New York Post, @climatebrad.hillheat.com, United States House Committee …, @techdirt.com, Raw Story, USA Today, The A.V. Club, New York Sun and Gizmodo
Matthew Keys / TheDesk.net:
The FCC rejects a proposal by broadcasters and others to impose cable-style regulatory fees on streaming services, tech companies, and pure broadband providers — Key Points: — The FCC rejected proposals from NAB, Telesat, Iridium and state broadcaster groups to expand regulatory fees to large tech and broadband firms.
Discussion:
@tdogmedia.bsky.social and Broadband Breakfast
