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BuzzFeed sells Complex, acquired for $300M in 2021, to livestream shopping platform Ntwrk for $108.6M; BuzzFeed plans to lay off 16% of its workforce — - The Wall Street Journal reported that BuzzFeed is also looking to possibly sell its social media food brand Tasty.
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The Guardian, The Hollywood Reporter, CNN, The Information, Digital Music News, Semafor, Music Business Worldwide, @jalefkowit@octodon.social, @natjarv, The Desk, Business Wire, New York Post, Variety, Newser, The Wrap, Adweek, The Hill, @nicholasadeleon, Deadline, @sarafischer, Billboard and New York Times, more at Techmeme »


Newsmax joins the New York Post's editorial board and other right-leaning outlets criticizing a pair of Florida bills making it easier to sue for defamation — The cable channel joins a growing list of right-wing outlets bashing Florida GOP legislation that takes square aim at the news media.
Discussion:
Raw Story, @aaron.rupar@threads.net, New York Post and Fox News


Sources: Amazon plans to shut its FAST service Freevee in the coming weeks, as part of a broader effort to focus its ad and product efforts on Prime Video — The service has become redundant following the introduction of ads to Prime Video — Amazon is planning to sunset its free …
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CarterMatt, @seriestalks, @webbarr, @takeshikitano3, @jackgen0vese, @imperfecttl, Dan Rayburn on LinkedIn, The Desk, The Streamable, 9to5Google, Deadline, TechHive, UPROXX, Geoff Clark on LinkedIn, Metro, The Information, TVLine, @markstenberg3@threads.net, Media Play News, Consequence and Appleosophy
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Amazon says there are “no changes” coming to Freevee, following reports that the company plans to shutter its FAST service in the coming weeks — The statement comes after AdWeek reported that the free, ad-supported streamer was shutting down — Amazon is pushing back against reports …
Discussion:
Fast Company, Media Play News, The Streamable, MediaPost, The A.V. Club, UPROXX, Variety and Cord Cutters News


Filing: a US court gives Audacy, the second-largest radio broadcaster in the US, approval to exit bankruptcy, slashing ~$1.7B of its debt in a restructuring — - Soros Fund Management slated to own largest stake in company — Firm to slash $1.7 billion of debt through restructuring plan
Discussion:
The Desk, Inside Radio and Radio & Television …


Journalists at Hearst's San Antonio Express-News and MySA.com say they intend to unionize, becoming the fourth Texas newsroom to announce a union effort in 2024 — Journalists at the San Antonio Express-News and MySA.com announced their intent to unionize on Wednesday …
Discussion:
@mediaguildwest, San Antonio Express-News, @susanrinkunas.com, The NewsGuild and MediaPost


Meta says “we understand Meta will not be required to pay for news content that publishers voluntarily post to our platforms” in Indonesia under a new law — Facebook parent Meta Platforms (META.O) on Thursday said it believes that a new Indonesia law does not require …
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Instagram launches its marketplace tool to connect brands with creators for paid partnerships or ads in eight new countries, including India, Japan, and the UK — Instagram said today that it is expanding its marketplace tool to connect brands with creators for paid partnerships or ads in eight new countries.


The first trial in the death of a cinematographer on the set of Rust begins; weapons handler Hannah Gutierrez pleads not guilty to involuntary manslaughter — More than two years after Alec Baldwin fired the deadly shot, questions persist about who was responsible for the accidental death …
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UPI, KTAR.com, @megjameslat, @megjameslat, NewsNation, KGW-TV, Rolling Stone, Raw Story, Reuters and Deadline


A look at Dana Walden's reorganization of ABC News, which is an effort to stabilize the unit and showcase her mettle as a top decision-maker at Disney — Dana Walden undertakes a major shake-up at ABC News with hopes to stabilize the unit and showcase her mettle as a top decision-maker in Bob Iger's empire.
Discussion:
New York Post


Sources: Reddit has inked a deal with Google to make its content available for training the search giant's AI models; source: the contract is worth ~$60M a year — Social media platform Reddit has struck a deal with Google (GOOGL.O) to make its content available for training …
Discussion:
@reuters, @reuters, @reuters, The Verge, @annatonger, @chirag_mehta, @toddlombardo, @mrjnowlin, @basedtorba, @brij and Gizmodo, more at Techmeme »


Press Forward, the philanthropic initiative to invest $500M over five years in local news, says 11 new communities have joined six established chapters — 11 more communities have joined the movement — On Wednesday, Press Forward announced an expansion of its local chapters at the opening of the Knight Media Forum.