Top News:
Daniel Thomas / Financial Times:
How generative AI is transforming the advertising industry; WPP and Publicis plan to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to embed AI in their businesses — At the start of the year, every single one of the roughly 100,000 people working for advertising giant Publicis received a video message …
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Meta begins testing “top topics” in the US, which will be shown on the Search page and in the For You feed and can feature political content — After acknowledging last week that Meta's X competitor Threads would not actively recommend political content, the company today announced …
Discussion:
Transparency Center and BGR, more at Techmeme »
Felix M. Simon / Columbia Journalism Review:
A report on the use of AI in news organizations, based on 170 interviews with employees at 35 publishers in the US, UK, and Germany and international experts — Executive Summary — Despite growing interest, the effects of AI on the news industry and our information environment — the public arena — remain poorly understood.
Washington Post:
Some news creators and journalists, who moved from X to Threads, criticize Meta for planning to stop recommending political content on Instagram and Threads — The platform announced it won't recommend “social commentary” or political news. — Meta announced on Friday …
Discussion:
Media Nation, Reclaim The Net, BGR, @Wolven@ourislandgeorgia.net, Instagram, @ashtonpittman, @hashtagcpt, Axios, @carnage4life, Quartz, Political Wire, @taylorlorenz@threads.net, @dead.place, @Laukidh@infosec.exchange, @jonasd@threads.net, @aaronhuertas_de@threads.net, @moskov@threads.net, @taylorlorenz@threads.net, @taylorlorenz@threads.net, @karissabe@threads.net, @goldman@threads.net, The Verge, MediaPost, Variety, The Hill and Engadget
Max Tani / Semafor:
Slate says 2023 was the most profitable year in its 27 year history, with revenue up 28% YoY through investments and growth in its podcasts and website — The Scoop — Amid a difficult year for news media last year, at least one legacy digital media company has quietly been moving the other direction.
Discussion:
@benjysarlin, @paldhous, Chris Peterson on LinkedIn, @rafat, @annasale, @maxwelltani and @katie_rayford
Clara Aberneithie / Press Gazette:
An interview with The Times' Paul Morgan-Bentley on going undercover with British Gas debt collectors as part of an investigation into pre-payment energy meters — Getting something “badly wrong” is what keeps head of investigations Morgan-Bentley up at night.
Discussion:
@pressgazette
Lauren Forristal / TechCrunch:
A look at STIRR, launched in 2019 by Sinclair with 100+ FAST channels and sold to Thinking Media in January 2024, as it plans an international expansion — Broadcasting company Sinclair recently sold off its free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) service STIRR to Thinking Media …
Discussion:
Cord Cutters News
Mark Sweney / The Guardian:
An interview with Channel 4 CEO Alex Mahon on changes in the UK's broadcast TV market, cuts to the network's program budget, and a gradual shift to streaming — The network boss believes production companies that underpin Britain's global reputation face being forced out of business
Discussion:
Melissa Carr on LinkedIn, Stephen Arnell on LinkedIn, Alex Mahon on LinkedIn and CityAM
Daniel Thomas / Financial Times:
A look at the uncertain future of TalkTV as its star presenter Piers Morgan moves to YouTube, saying his daily show had become an “unnecessary straitjacket” — Outspoken presenter is moving his ‘Uncensored’ show from TalkTV to YouTube — Piers Morgan, the outspoken presenter …
Discussion:
Mediaite, Variety and Broadband TV News
Committee to Protect Journalists:
Malaysia sentences British anti-corruption reporter Clare Rewcastle Brown to two years in prison in absentia for criminal defamation over her 1MDB reporting — The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Malaysian authorities to reverse the decision to sentence British anti-corruption …
Discussion:
BBC and Malay Mail
Lynn Neary / NPR:
Bob Edwards, the veteran broadcaster who hosted NPR's Morning Edition for 24 years, dies at 76 — Bob Edwards, the veteran broadcaster and longtime host of Morning Edition who left an indelible mark on NPR's sound, has died. He was 76 years old. — NPR's Susan Stamberg …
Discussion:
CNN, Washington Post, NBC News, Media Nation, Newser, Barrett News Media, @nprpatrick, @eugeneholley, @jamesfallows, @jennifervanasco, @carlquintanilla, @iraglass, @mcguffindavid, @erinedmison, @fritschner, @silasdhouse, @davidfolkenflik, @tamarakeithnpr, @nprinskeep, @kenrudin, @nprscottsimon, @dangillmor@mastodon.social, @lauren@mastodon … and @Bcollinsmn@mstdn.social
Bron Maher / Press Gazette:
Guardian forecasts a £39M deficit in FY 2023/24 as ad revenue was down 16%, or £9M, in the nine months to Dec. 31 and membership revenue was £3M behind budget — Digital reader revenue came in 4% below expectations. — Advertising revenue at Guardian News and Media was down £9m …
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