Top News:
Dominic Ponsford / Press Gazette:
In written evidence to the Prince Harry privacy trial, ex-Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre says allegations of phone hacking are “grave and sometimes preposterous” — Ex-Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre has described allegations of phone hacking, tapping and illegal newsgathering levelled …
Discussion:
The Guardian, Dominic Ponsford on LinkedIn, The Guardian, Financial Times and Reuters
RELATED:
Michael Savage / The Guardian:
In written testimony, a private investigator says Mail titles remained his “best customers” for two years after his 2005 conviction for disclosing private info — Steve Whittamore says Mail and Mail on Sunday remained his best customers for two years after conviction in 2005
K.J. Yossman / Variety:
Sky and Disney sign a multiyear deal to offer Disney+ to Sky customers in the UK and Ireland at no extra cost, and Sky will bundle HBO Max, Netflix, and Hayu — Sky and Disney have inked a multi-year distribution deal that will see the broadcaster offer Disney+ to Sky customers in the U.K …
Discussion:
TheDesk.net, Advanced Television, TVBEurope, Deadline, Metro.co.uk, Digital Spy, The Irish Times, WebWire, The Sun, Media Play News, Los Angeles Times, @maxwelltani, @scottygb, The Streamable, Daily Star, Business Plus, LADbible, Mirror, ISPreview UK, GB News, Shortlist, UK Press, Broadband TV News, The Times, Broadcast, The Hollywood Reporter, Radio Times, Sky News, Telecompaper and T3
Caitlin Huston / The Hollywood Reporter:
Fox-owned podcasting company Red Seat Ventures acquires subscription monetization company Supercast, as it ramps up its podcasting efforts — The Fox-owned podcasting company bought monetization company Supercast. — Red Seat Ventures has acquired another company as it ramps up its podcasting efforts.
Discussion:
Podnews, Simon Owens's Media Newsletter, Barrett Media, The Wrap and Bloomberg
Pew Research Center:
Survey: 80% of Americans say being informed about the news is essential to voting, but only 8% say people in the US have a responsibility to pay for news — In an era when many say the news finds them, there is no consensus about the importance of following the news
Andy Sheehan / CBS News:
Local efforts to keep the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette operating appear to have stalled; one potential buyer blames owner Block's unwillingness to speak with buyers — Add CBS News on Google — In less than three months, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is scheduled to go out of business.
Discussion:
@jayrosen.bsky.social and @cpotterpgh.bsky.social
Gary Baum / The Hollywood Reporter:
In court docs, celebs and public figures targeted by a web of reputation-smearing sites blame a publicist, a digital fixer, and a well-known Hollywood lawyer — A shadowy network of anonymous slander sites is attacking players in high-profile entertainment scandals — from Blake vs. Baldoni …
Alice Brooker / Press Gazette:
An interview with Dave Jorgenson, who launched WaPo's TikTok channel in 2019, about taking WaPo's video audience with him, launching long-form content, and more — The Washington Post's former face of Tiktok has said his decision to launch his own company was because video was not …
Discussion:
@niemanlab.org
Jonathan Vanian / CNBC:
Meta launches an AI feature that lets Threads users temporarily personalize their feed by specifying topics in a public post that begins with “Dear Algo” — Meta on Wednesday debuted an AI feature called “Dear Algo” that lets Threads users personalize their content-recommendation algorithms.
Discussion:
Meta Newsroom, iPhone in Canada, MediaPost, The Register, Digital Trends, Fast Company, The Verge, Android Central and TechCrunch, more at Techmeme »
Alexandra Steigrad / New York Post:
Sources: 11 CBS Evening News employees, or about 25% of the staffers eligible for buyouts, have chosen the option ahead of impending layoffs — About a quarter of “CBS Evening News” staffers eligible for buyouts have chosen the option ahead of impending layoffs under editor in chief Bari Weiss, The Post has learned.
Discussion:
NewsMax.com, Breitbart, TV Insider and Zeteo
Wall Street Journal:
The Office producer Ben Silverman's Propagate Content raised $50M from Ares Management at a $200M valuation, up 33% from 2023, as part of a creator-economy push — Before they were stars on Hulu, the women of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” were best known from #MomTok, a community of mostly millennial Utah-based mothers on TikTok.
Discussion:
The Wrap, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter and Variety
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Courier expands to nine more US states, bringing the progressive news network to 20 states, and says it has 104 employees, mostly working at local news outlets — Courier Newsroom, a local and national news group with a progressive perspective, is expanding to nine additional states this year, its publisher Tara McGowan told Axios.
Discussion:
Tara McGowan on LinkedIn and @taraemcg.bsky.social
