Mediagazer: An interview with Reach CEO Piers North about traffic from Google Discover falling ~50% in H2 2025, potential deals with AI companies, and more (Charlotte Tobitt/Press Gazette)

CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King signed a new deal, providing some stability at CBS News; source: King's current contract is worth ~$15M and runs through May — The ‘CBS Mornings’ co-host dispelled rumors of a possible departure, staying with the network amid broader overhaul

Max Tani / Semafor:

AP Senior Product Manager for AI Aimee Rinehart told staff that many editors preferred an AI-written article to a human one, and resistance to AI is “futile” — The Scoop — One of The Associated Press' leaders on AI had a blunt message for the publication's staff: Resistance to AI is “futile.”

New York Times:

Iran's official TV networks and aligned social media accounts are blending fact and fiction about the war, often using unproven claims and fake AI videos — State media and online propagandists are striking a confident posture, despite heavy losses. Some of the content was generated by artificial intelligence.

Discussion: HotAir, @brianstelter.bsky.social and Tasnim News Agency

Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:

Filing: Trump added between $600K and $1.25M in Netflix bonds to his portfolio in January; he also bought between $600K and $1.25M of SiriusXM bonds — New financial disclosures released Wednesday show that the President acquired Netflix bonds as Paramount was trying to pry WBD away from the streaming giant.

Discussion: Deadline, @nitishpahwa.com, Joe.My.God., @croyle@wandering.shop, The Wrap, Mediaweek and Just Jared

Tess Patton / The Wrap:

Netflix CFO Spencer Neumann says the company's new podcast division saw high mobile engagement in Q1, and video podcasts overindex on mobile vs. shows and film — Spencer Neumann adds that Netflix subscribers consume video podcasts during the day more than the streamer's TV and film offerings

Discussion: Variety, Deadline and Media Play News

Ken Doctor / Nieman Lab:

Authoritative national news is shrinking, maybe faster than local news did; supporters of trustworthy news need to move quickly past grief toward solutions — “The sweep of changes we see has one main cause: the political effort to stifle robust national journalism.” — Anderson Cooper may be running out of lily pads.

Discussion: Ken Doctor on LinkedIn, @tongli.bsky.social, @joeycoleman.ca, @jbruggers.bsky.social, @samlitzinger.bsky.social and American Press Institute

Miles Klee / Wired:

Grammarly is offering an AI-powered tool called “Expert Review” that simulates feedback from famous writers, dead and living, without their permission — The tool, offered by the recently-rebranded company Superhuman, gives feedback based on the work of famous dead and living writers—without their permission.

Discussion: Marnie Hughes-Warrington AO on LinkedIn, NextBigWhat, @manishakrishnan.bsky.social, @youwouldntpost, Futurism, @shannon_liao, @jbillinson, @ceaubin.com, Grammarly Support and Vanessa Heggie on LinkedIn, more at Techmeme »

Murray Stassen / Music Business Worldwide:

Apple Music introduces Transparency Tags, a metadata system for music distributors and labels to disclose AI-generated creative elements like artwork or lyrics — Apple Music is introducing a new set of metadata requirements designed to bring greater transparency around AI-generated content to the music industry.

Discussion: Tech in Asia, TechCrunch, CNET, 9to5Mac, Happy Mag and AppleInsider

Kendra Barnett / Adweek:

WPP names Nancy Hall as CEO of WPP Media US; Brian Lesser, WPP Media's global CEO, served in the role on an interim basis after the departure of Sharb Farjami — The appointment arrives a week after WPP announced a substantial reorg designed to recover steep financial losses

Discussion: Mediaweek, Variety and campaignlive.com

Silvia Sciorilli Borrelli / Financial Times:

A look at the upheaval in Italy's media as established broadcasters and publishers struggle to defend their authority and business against digital creators — Legal battle with controversial YouTuber echoes broader tussle — Even in Italy's sometimes raucous media landscape …

Matthew Keys / TheDesk.net:

Memo: Philo CEO Andrew McCollum is stepping down and will be replaced by COO Mike Keyserling; source: McCollum will become executive chairman of Philo — Philo CEO Andrew McCollum is stepping away from the role after more than a decade, handing the keys to the wallet-friendly streaming service …

Chris Arrant / Popverse:

Dark Horse Comics founder Mike Richardson is out after 40 years at the publisher; Embracer Group, which bought Dark Horse in 2021, names Jay Komas interim CEO — Embracer replaces Dark Horse CEO Mike Richardson with Middle-earth Enterprises exec in leadership shakeup. — Popverse's top stories

Discussion: ME, Graphic Policy, The Hollywood Reporter, @losthiskeysman.bsky.social, Chris Arrant on LinkedIn and The Beat