Mediagazer

4:35 PM ET, February 16, 2026

Top News:

Sources: Warner Bros Discovery is considering reopening sale talks with Paramount after receiving Paramount's most recent amended offer — Warner Bros Discovery Inc. is considering reopening sale talks with rival Hollywood studio Paramount Skydance Corp. after receiving its hostile suitor's …

Todd Spangler / Variety:

Following Disney, Paramount sent a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance, alleging its AI-generated Seedance videos and Seedream images infringed Paramount's IP — Disney also sent a legal demand to Chinese internet company — Paramount Skydance accused ByteDance of engaging in …

Osmond Chia / BBC:

ByteDance says it “respects IP rights and we have heard the concerns regarding Seedance” and it plans to “strengthen” safeguards, after Disney's legal threats — Chinese technology giant ByteDance has pledged to curb a controversial artificial intelligence (AI) …

Chris Quinn / Plain Dealer:

The Cleveland Plain Dealer says it has removed “writing” from some reporters' workloads; an “AI rewrite specialist” turns info gathered by reporters into drafts — A college student withdrew from consideration for a reporting role in our newsroom this week because of how we use artificial intelligence.

Discussion: David Cohn on LinkedIn, @mattrosoff.bsky.social, @mmorsch35.bsky.social, @bailardejesus, @kevinbankston, Michael Hewlett on LinkedIn, @fedsoccermom, @patrickdehahn, @mollytaft, @brokenbottleboy.bsky.social, @braden_keith, @jeffarnold_, @aresef, @mcnees.bsky.social, @pwoodreporter, @raleighreporter, @jacob_denobel, @ben_baby, @mikeisaac, @lahavharkov, @janerosenzweig.bsky.social, @stephenwhitty, @phil_lewis_, @4nsmiley.bsky.social, @michaelsocolow, @asymmetricinfo, @joepatrice.bsky.social, @nkalamb.bsky.social, @hamiltonnolan.bsky.social, @amandabecker.bsky.social, @jaybsauceda, @arijitdsen, @meganmmenchaca, @scenesallard, @marybethgahan, @moorehn, @mikedrucker, @benfritz, @ryanjhaas.bsky.social, @milligansusan, @alecmacgillis, @newsmanben, @stenspin, @meganmmenchaca, @adamjohnsonchi, @rickyreports, @mikehixenbaugh.com, @jmonkatthestate, @benfritz, @christiancaple, @ioangrillo, @meganmenchaca.bsky.social, @lionelbarber, @jeremymbarr, @alexbgault, @royalpratt, @fitzonsportsbsr and @glennthrush

Dan Kennedy / The Conversation:

Five regional newspapers in Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Seattle, Philly, and Salt Lake offer examples of sustainability for the news business, as WaPo shrinks — The Washington Post's evisceration at the hands of its billionaire owner, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, didn't have to happen.

Discussion: The Guardian, @billspaced.com, @gerritb.bsky.social, @davew@mastodon.social, @jeffjarvis.bsky.social, Lawyers, Guns & Money, The Week and Media Nation

Ken Fisher / Ars Technica:

Ars Technica apologizes after publishing an article it says had fabricated quotations generated by an AI tool attributed to a source who did not say them — On Friday afternoon, Ars Technica published an article containing fabricated quotations generated by an AI tool and attributed to a source who did not say them.

Discussion: @filmgirl.bsky.social, @mathewi, @kelciemmorris.bsky.social, @tante@tldr.nettime.org, @carnage4life@mas.to, @matthieudugal.bsky.social, @carnage4life.bsky.social, Pixel Envy, @mayintoronto@beige.party, @bachynski.bsky.social, @mrcopilot@mstdn.social, @kantrowitz, @michaelsocolow.bsky.social, @agpasquella.bsky.social, @benjedwards.com and 404 Media

Scott Shambaugh / The Shamblog:
A now-removed Ars Technica article, covering how an AI agent wrote a hit piece about an open source project maintainer, seems to have included AI hallucinations

Discussion: @peark.es, @keithng.bsky.social, @joshuafoust.com, @felipedlh.bsky.social, @radiodeadair.com, @carnage4life.bsky.social, @0x0.stonking.com, @ramiismail.com, @chucktowski.com, @karlbode.com, @Khrys@mamot.fr, @michaelsocolow.bsky.social, OSnews, Andrew Morgan on LinkedIn, Internet Governance Project, The Decoder, @mjp123.bsky.social, @shannonvallor.bsky.social, @berniethewordsmith …, @Linkshaender@bildung.social, @kazedkaz.bsky.social, @dahukanna@mastodon.social, @albertcardona@mathstodon.xyz, Tyler Adams on LinkedIn, Michael Dawe on LinkedIn, Ben Spargo on LinkedIn, @acdha@code4lib.social, @melissawm@pynews.com.br, @ehashman@cloudisland.nz, @elfsternberg.bsky.social, GitHub, @davidcrespo.bsky.social, @antisomniac.bsky.social, Paul Ford on LinkedIn, @ciphergoth, @googleoss, Scott Shambaugh on LinkedIn, James Cuff on LinkedIn, Vijay Balasubramaniyan on LinkedIn, Abhinaba Naskar on LinkedIn, Kautuk Pandey on LinkedIn, Scott Shambaugh on LinkedIn, I Am Completely Serious, @kendraserra.bsky.social, @librarian.bsky.social, @maoltuile.bsky.social, @librarian.bsky.social, @kendraserra.bsky.social, @kendraserra.bsky.social, @andybalaam@mastodon.social, @ironyuppie.com, Matt Mullenweg, @mordecwhy.bsky.social, @engineersneedart.com, @dancow.bsky.social, The Shamblog, > nick and Wall Street Journal

Will Oremus / Washington Post:

Former NPR host David Greene sues Google for allegedly replicating his voice in NotebookLM without permission; Google says the voice is based on a paid actor — NPR's David Greene says he was “completely freaked out” when he heard an AI voice that sounded just like his own, and he's suing over it.

Jeremy Barr / The Guardian:

CBS News staffers say they believe the network has decided to retain Peter Attia, who issued an apology for his inappropriate Epstein emails, as on-air analyst — Staffers believe network has decided to retain Attia, who issued apology after inappropriate Epstein emails, as on-air analyst

Discussion: Mediaite, New Republic, @tlcesq.bsky.social, @metacurity.com, @karlbode.com, @dannygroner.bsky.social, @thetnholler.bsky.social, @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social and Barrett Media

Drew Harwell / Washington Post:

In the nearly two weeks since his arrest, Don Lemon gained 300K+ Instagram followers, 140K YouTube subscribers, and his Substack soared 73% to 140K+ subscribers — The administration's attacks on Lemon and independent journalists have boosted their online attention and revenue.

Discussion: Baller Alert, The Hollywood Reporter and Entertainment Weekly

Lachlan Cartwright / Breaker:9 minutes ago

Sources: Anderson Cooper has decided to pass on a renewal offer with CBS and leave 60 Minutes after almost 20 years with the newsmagazine show — Legendary Newsman Will Focus on CNN And Family … Welcome to a special edition of Breaker, as we mark our first birthday …

Discussion: @ernie.tedium.co

Henry Chandonnet / Business Insider:

A look at Sourcery, a podcast and newsletter from Molly O'Shea, which gets big-name guests including Palantir CEO Alex Karp and Anduril co-founder Palmer Luckey — - Sourcery host Molly O'Shea has a deep rolodex — one that's helped her land interviews with Palantir and Anduril leaders.

Scott Roxborough / The Hollywood Reporter:

Mexico announces a 30% tax incentive for film and TV productions in Mexico, even as the Trump administration pressures studios to shoot more films in the US — Mexico unveils a series of incentives to support local cinema and attract international productions, just as the Trump government is threatening tariffs.

Discussion: UPI, Deadline and Local News Matters

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More News:

Todd Spangler / Variety:
Apple says it will bring “advanced video capabilities” to Apple Podcasts this spring, including allowing users to switch between watching and listening to shows

The Times:
Sources: the UK has shelved proposed anti-SLAPP legislation, fearing a backlash from lawyers, despite appeals from the editors of The Times and The Sun

Discussion: @williamrt

Max Tani / Semafor:
Guardian US plans to launch a daily video podcast in 2026, hosted by Kai Wright and Carter Sherman, to compete with The Daily; a source says it has 10 staff

Discussion: @maxwelltani

Financial Times:
Patrick Drahi's new ~15% stake in Channel 13 prompts questions about media independence in Israel; Drahi owns the outlet i24, which supports Benjamin Netanyahu

Discussion: @robertscotthorton.bsky.social

Nathan Taylor Pemberton / New York Times:
Conservative creators are increasingly posting “slopulism”, low-quality political content that prioritizes populist rage, aiming to provoke policy action

Discussion: @velveteenrabbi.bsky.social, @paulthedogman.bsky.social, @cip.uw.edu and @cip.uw.edu

Laura Hazard Owen / Nieman Lab:
Q&A with The Atlantic's Liz Bruenig on her hypothetical creative nonfiction measles essay, writing in second person, persuading parents about vaccines, and more

Discussion: @chasewoodruff.bsky.social, @samjmintz.bsky.social, The Guardian, @michaelhobbes.bsky.social, Metro.co.uk, @polgreen.bsky.social, @josie.zone, The Sun, @dannygroner.bsky.social, MS NOW, GB News, @melodyschreiber.com, @juliametraux.bsky.social, @ehahnmd.bsky.social and @melodyschreiber.com

Earlier Picks:

Max Tani / Semafor:
Sources: Apple partnered with the UK's Daily Mail soon after the Mail complained to the UK CMA in 2025 that Apple was stonewalling attempts to join Apple News

Discussion: @maxtani.bsky.social, Above Avalon and Reason

James Faris / Business Insider:
As Netflix, Disney, and Paramount add vertical clips to their streaming services, media analysts warn that short-form video isn't a cure-all

Discussion: Cord Cutters News

Hollie Richardson / The Guardian:
A look at the growth of Belfast in Northern Ireland as a home for producing TV shows, following the success of the comedy Derry Girls

Discussion: Mirror, The Irish Times, HELLO!, The Irish News, Digital Spy, @debbiemoon.bsky.social, Financial Times and Metro.co.uk

Abbey White / The Hollywood Reporter:
Q&A with PBS Kids' Sara DeWitt on the effect of cuts to the $112M Ready to Learn grant, including potentially partnering with ad tech companies

Discussion: @willmckinley.bsky.social

Isma'il Kushkush / Nieman Reports:
A look at the dearth of media coverage of Sudan's civil war, started in 2023; report: 32 journalists have been killed and 90% of outlets damaged or destroyed

Discussion: arabnews.jp, @zidan.bsky.social and Los Angeles Times

Jessica Toonkel / Wall Street Journal:
Memo: LA Olympics Chair Casey Wasserman is putting his talent agency up for sale after his ties to Epstein surfaced and high-profile talent departed the firm

From Techmeme:

Axios:
A senior official says Pentagon is “close” to designating Anthropic a “supply chain risk”, requiring all US military contractors to sever ties with the company

Eduardo Baptista / Reuters:
Alibaba debuts Qwen3.5, a 397B-parameter open-weight multimodal AI model that it says is 60% cheaper to use and 8x better at large workloads than Qwen3

Tripti Lahiri / Wall Street Journal:
As India prepares to host its AI Impact Summit in New Delhi this week, the country is set to promote a frugal AI strategy focused on solving local issues

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