Mediagazer: George Carlin's estate sues Dudesy over its comedy special featuring an AI George Carlin, alleging copyright infringement and right of publicity violations (Winston Cho/Hollywood Reporter)

1:20 PM ET, January 26, 2024

Top News:

A Moscow сourt extends the custody of WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich to March 30, 2024 as he awaits trial; Gershkovich can appeal within three days — A Moscow сourt extended the custody of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich by two months on Friday as he awaits trial on spying charges that he denies.

Discussion: Axios, Wall Street Journal, Irish News, 6abc, Fox News and Voice of America

Mark Sweney / The Guardian:

Telegraph Media Group CEO Nick Hugh steps down as the UK prepares to launch a second probe into plans to transfer control of the titles to a UAE-backed group — Nick Hugh's exit comes amid concern over Barclay family's deal to transfer control of titles — The chief executive of the Telegraph …

Discussion: Bloomberg, The Wrap and Press Gazette

Kate Knibbs / Wired:

A look at women's blog The Hairpin, which has been resurrected by a Serbian DJ after its 2018 shutdown and is now filled with SEO-optimized, AI-generated trash — Beloved women's website The Hairpin shut down in 2018. This month it returned from the dead to churn out AI clickbait.

Discussion: @tomgara@threads.net, @rick_paulas, @mediaevan, @round, @seejanemarie, @lingerie_addict, @jayasax and @andyorin

Cameron Joseph / Columbia Journalism Review:

As newspapers cut DC reporters, they can no longer pressure legislators on local issues or inform readers about their legislators' performance — This week sucked. — On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Times laid off 115 people, more than 20 percent of its total staff.

Discussion: Ed Joyce on LinkedIn, @cam_joseph, @alexclearfield, @kirk_bado, @cam_joseph, New York Times, The Guardian and The Wrap

Joseph Hudak / Rolling Stone:

A group of investors including country singer Morgan Wallen buy Field & Stream, with plans to relaunch it as a brand and biannual print magazine — The country stars will relaunch the hunting, fishing, and outdoors brand digitally, in print, and through a live music festival

Discussion: Variety and Billboard

Alex Weprin / Hollywood Reporter:

Axios launches Axios Entertainment, a new studio division that will develop and produce original nonfiction films and TV shows — The company has projects in development with Tom Brady's Shadow Lion, Chrissy Teigen's Huntley Productions, Media Res, Guy Ritchie, Mark Wahlberg's Unrealistic Ideas, among others.

Discussion: The Wrap, @markhorowitz, @alex and @jimvandehei

Winston Cho / Hollywood Reporter:

George Carlin's estate sues Dudesy over its comedy special featuring an AI George Carlin, alleging copyright infringement and right of publicity violations — “We have to draw a line in the sand,” says daughter Kelly Carlin, who sued creators of an hourlong special titled 'George Carlin: I'm Glad I'm Dead.'

Hanaa' Tameez / Nieman Lab:

How disagreements between the Los Angeles Times and the LA Times Guild over seniority protections resulted in more than 60 journalists of color being laid off — Disagreements between the LA Times and its Guild over seniority protections ended in more than 60 journalists of color being laid off.

Discussion: @tatecurtis, @stufalk, @suhaunah, @raminskibba, @froomkin and @sarahscire

Deadline:

Marie Donoghue, former vice president of global sports video at Amazon's Prime Video, joins DraftKings as its chief business & growth officer — UPDATE: Marie Donoghue is the new Chief Business & Growth Officer at gaming company DraftKings. — In her new role, Donoghue will work closely …

Discussion: Awful Announcing, Sports Media Watch, New York Post, @austinkarp, @draftkingsnews, DraftKings and Sportico

Sara Salinas / CNBC:

In a memo, Paramount CEO Bob Bakish announces layoffs, citing a need to “operate as a leaner company and spend less”; he did not disclose the size of the cuts — - Paramount CEO Bob Bakish announced layoffs at the media company. — He did not disclose how many jobs the company would cut.

Discussion: Variety, NBC 7 San Diego, NME, @weareyourfek, @madisonmills22, @tracytran, The Wrap, Benzinga, Deadline, Reuters, Deadline, Bloomberg, The Hill and The Messenger

Georg Szalai / The Hollywood Reporter:
In a memo, Paramount CEO outlines growth strategies for 2024, including “driving to streaming profitability” and “maximizing content with the biggest impact”

Discussion: The Wrap, Deadline, @paulvrea, Broadband TV News, @tvgrimreaper, Adweek, Reuters and Next TV

Ben Thompson / Stratechery:

Q&A with Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters on not launching an app on the Apple Vision Pro, the WWE deal, content strategy, ads, competition, gaming, bundles, and more — I am pleased to welcome Netflix Co-CEO Greg Peters for a Stratechery Interview. Peters was named the co-CEO of Netflix …

Discussion: @markgurman, @loudmouthjulia, @markgurman, The Hollywood Reporter, @stevemoser, @loudmouthjulia, @markgurman, Benzinga, @mostly.borrowed.ideas …, @mostly.borrowed.ideas …, 9to5Mac, Gizmodo and AppleInsider, more at Techmeme »

Sara Fischer / @sarafischer:

Forbes CEO Mike Federle announces layoffs affecting less than 3% of staff, saying Forbes “must remain vigilant in our current economic environment” — NEW: @forbes layoffs announced today, the same day its union announced a 3-day walkout. — Unclear how many impacted yet — CEO Mike Federer said in a note to staff that Forbes “must remain vigilant in our current economic environment.”

Discussion: CNN, @taradublinrocks, @dankennedy_nu@threads.net, @jayrosen_nyc@threads.net, @nyguild, @forbesunion, @redsteeze, @ethangach, @bill_shea19, @iamkylemullins, @alexrkonrad, Talking Biz News, @sarafischer, BNN Bloomberg, @crumbler@threads.net and The Wrap

Khadeeja Safdar / Wall Street Journal:

Janel Grant, an ex-WWE staffer who received a payout from Vince McMahon and signed an NDA in 2022, files a lawsuit accusing WWE and McMahon of sex trafficking — Janel Grant files lawsuit saying McMahon pressured her into sex with him and other men at wrestling business, raising questions about 2022 board probe into CEO's payouts

Archived Page Info:

This is a snapshot of Mediagazer at 1:20 PM ET, January 26, 2024.

View the current page or another snapshot:

Who's Hiring in Media?

Congress Editor, DC — WaPo

China Night News Reporter, London — Bloomberg

Senior Reporter, DC — LexisNexis

Transcription Copy Editor - Opinion, CA — NYT

Part-time Editor, Remote — Techmeme

Home & Travel Reporter - Ireland — Newsweek

Weather Reporter, MA — Boston Globe

South Reporter, GA/Remote — ProPublica

Awards Specials Editor, CA — Hollywood Reporter

Middle East Editor, Remote — Semafor

Private Capital Reporter, London — FT

Deputy Tech Ed. - CNBC, CA — NBCUniversal

Reporter - Police Beat, OR — The Oregonian

National Tech Reporter — States Newsroom

Articles Editor, CA — SF Standard

Harrisburg Reporter, PA — PCBC

Higher Ed. Reporter, Remote CA — EdSource

Alabama Reporter, AL — Inside Climate News

Tech Reporter, CA — Fortune

Digital Editor, DC — Stars & Stripes

Deputy Editor - Investigations, NY — WSJ

Senior Writer - Biotech, Remote — Fierce

Business Reporter, TX — Fort Worth Report

News Correspondent, MS — Magnolia Tribune

Accountability Reporter, NC — Charlotte Observer

Freelance Reporter - L.A. Education, CA — The 74

Associate Editor, London — WIRED

Copy & Weekend Editor, NH — Keene Sentinel

Political Reporter, TX — Courier Newsroom

Staff Writer, MA/Remote — Tech Advisor

Economic Mobility Reporter, FL — Miami Herald

Reporter - Skift Meetings, Remote — Skift

Reporter, NC — NC Newsline

Add your company here

See Also:

Mediagazer: site main

Mediagazer River: reverse chronological Mediagazer

Mediagazer Mobile: for phones

Mediagazer Leaderboard: Mediagazer's top sources

Subscribe:

Mediagazer RSS feed

Mediagazer on X

Mediagazer on Mastodon

More News:

Katie Kilkenny / The Hollywood Reporter:
The WGA East files an unfair labor practice charge against G/O Media, alleging that G/O Media has been “bargaining in bad faith” in ongoing negotiations

Discussion: The Information

Katie Kilkenny / The Hollywood Reporter:
The Directors Guild of America says it has secured the same streaming residuals and access to streaming platform viewing data that the WGA won

Discussion: @tvgrimreaper, @joerussotweets, @katiekilkenny7, Variety, The Wrap and Deadline

Amy Hawkins / The Guardian:
Documents reveal that several eligible sci-fi works were excluded from the 2023 Hugo Awards, held for the first time in China, raising censorship concerns

Discussion: @amyhawk_, @wang_maya, Chris Cottorone on LinkedIn, @cstross@wandering.shop, Ad Astra Science Fiction …, The Bookseller and @tess@mastodon.social

Meg James / Los Angeles Times:
The Los Angeles Times appoints Terry Tang as the paper's interim executive editor; Tang has been LA Times's editorial page editor since February 2022

Discussion: @olgakhazan, @georgia_geen, @mitrakalita, @ryfons, @alexbruell, @megjameslat, @megjameslat, Talking Biz News, The Objective and The Hollywood Reporter

Bloomberg:
Sources: Disney's India assets are being valued at ~$4.5B in merger negotiations with Reliance, less than the $10B Disney initially pursued

Discussion: Reuters

Earlier Picks:

Wall Street Journal:
Sources: BuzzFeed is looking to sell its food sites, Tasty and First We Feast; Fortress Investment Group, which took over Vice, is in talks to sell Refinery29

Discussion: @mediaevan, The Information and The Wrap

Luke Bouma / Cord Cutters News:
Fubo TV launches Instant Headlines Beta, which uses AI to generate headlines from live news programs on Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, and other networks

Nate Raymond / Reuters:
A US appeals court rules 9-7 that Texas-based citizen journalist Priscilla Villarreal cannot sue officials over her arrest for asking a police source questions

Discussion: The Texas Observer

Sara Fischer / Axios:
CUNY's Craig Newmark School of Journalism plans to cover tuition for 50% of students in 2025 and raise money to expand free tuition to all students by 2026

Discussion: YouTube, @otraletra, @gmochkofsky, @mathewi, @gmochkofsky, @gabemschneider, @gmochkofsky, @brizzyc, Maggie Farley on LinkedIn, @lpolgreen@threads.net, @kalihays1@threads.net, Observer, Nieman Lab, Dimas Sanfiorenzo on LinkedIn, Newmark J-School and Anita Zielina on LinkedIn

From Techmeme:

Tim Nudd / Ad Age:
Apple apologizes for the “Crush” iPad Pro ad and scraps plans to run it on TV; Apple's VP of marketing communications Tor Myhren says “we missed the mark”

Mark Gurman / Bloomberg:
Sources: Apple's first server chips for its upcoming AI features will be the M2 Ultra; simpler AI tasks will be processed directly on iPhones, iPads, and Macs

Wall Street Journal:
In a blog post, Neuralink details a problem with its implant in patient Noland Arbaugh's brain that reduced data collection after the implant's threads came out

Sister Sites:

Techmeme
Top news and commentary for technology's leaders, from all around the web

memeorandum
What US political commentators are discussing online right now

WeSmirch
The top celebrity news from all around the web on a single page