Top News:
Washington Post:
A member of Qatari royal family invested ~$50M in Newsmax in 2019, 2020; sources: before and after the deal, staffers were urged to soften coverage of Qatar — Before and after the investment, senior newsroom leaders urged Newsmax staff to soften coverage of Qatar, current and former employees said
Dylan Byers / @dylanbyers:
Sources: NBC News plans to drop Ronna McDaniel as a paid contributor following on-air revolt from NBC/MSNBC talent; McDaniel is seeking legal representation — SCOOP @PuckNews: NBC NEWS plans to drop ex RNC-chair Ronna McDaniel as a paid contributor following on-air revolt from NBC/MSNBC talent. Execs are deliberating over details; announcement pending. Meanwhile, McDaniel is seeking legal representation. Full details, scoops &...
Discussion:
CNN, Variety, The Wrap, Fox News, New York Times, Business Insider, Axios, Newsmax, New York Post, @oliverdarcy@threads.net, Breitbart, @jvlast@threads.net, @wallace.bsky.social, @rudell.bsky.social, @plessinger.com, @tiltedcoffee.bsky.social, @hellertime.bsky.social, @kelyetar.bsky.social, Deadline, @newleaf.bsky.social, @jxsxpx.bsky.social, @mattnegrin.bsky.social, @mikec415.bsky.social, @yarrriv.bsky.social, @bchenrock.bsky.social, @golikehellmachine.bsky.social, @emptywheel, @mbkplus.bsky.social, @mrpresident1776.bsky.social, @jd123.bsky.social, HuffPost, @nslayton.bsky.social, @ronhogan.bsky.social, @greenlightening.bsky.social, @newsjennifer, @michaelcalifra, @henchman21.bsky.social, @kashana.bsky.social, @evilangela.bsky.social, @jeffjarvis.bsky.social, @bubbaprog.ilovecitr.us, @yashar, @friendoflwaxana.bsky.social, @ogmcduck.bsky.social, Raw Story, @nabbp.bsky.social, @nickfleisher.bsky.social, @oldnewdad.bsky.social, @cactrot.bsky.social, @markjacob16, @kdzwierzynski.bsky.social, @bdomenech, @snipy.bsky.social, @ronhogan.bsky.social, @ryanlcooper.com, @andreagrimes.bsky.social, @brooklynmarie.bsky.social, @3vansutton, @davelevitan.bsky.social, @Jonathanglick@mstdn.social, @nycsouthpaw, @rickywlmsbong.bsky.social, @petefrasermusic.bsky.social, @amandasmith.bsky.social, @blockhead13.bsky.social, @fancycwabs.bsky.social, @cfidd.bsky.social, @nberlat.bsky.social, @keithjoyce.bsky.social, @emptywheel, @michaelharriot, @rjonesing.online, @madrid_mike, @tranniehall.bsky.social, @baileymcc.bsky.social, @brendelbored.bsky.social, @bsdtectr.bsky.social, @bibliofishy.bsky.social, @robpegoraro.com, @mostlymartha.bsky.social and TVLine
Daria Mosolova / Financial Times:
BBC Director General Tim Davie calls for license fee reform as part of a broader strategy to turn the national broadcaster into a more commercial operation — Director-general says ‘fundamental questions’ need to be asked as corporation battles flagging demand
Discussion:
BBC, The Guardian, Digital Journal, Advanced Television, @ben@werd.social and Press Gazette
Bailey Lipschultz / Bloomberg:
Trump Media & Technology Group shares jumped up to 58% to hit $78.80 on its trading debut before the Nasdaq briefly halted trading, following the DWAC merger — - Trump Media & Technology Group operates Truth Social — Deal provides a windfall on paper for the former president
Discussion:
Media Matters for America, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, ABC News, Deadline, Quartz, Coeur d'Alene Press, CNN, Axios, @jason_kint, CNBC, New York Times, Barron's Online, Fast Company, The Guardian, Reuters, @jason_kint, Financial Times, The Indian Express and Associated Press, more at Techmeme »
Sam Meredith / CNBC:
A UK court grants Julian Assange permission to appeal his US extradition, unless the US provides “satisfactory assurances” on certain issues within three weeks — WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange leaves Westminster Magistrates Court in London, Britain.
Discussion:
The Guardian, Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, Reuters, Semafor, Bloomberg, Associated Press, New York Times, Reporters Without Borders, Gizmodo, Financial Times, NPR, Reclaim The Net, The Indian Express, El País, Wired, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, @mon4kooyong, CBS News, @gabrielshipton, @simonateba, Amnesty International, @wikileaks, @joshuarozenberg, Raw Story, Press Gazette, Reuters, The Hill, Mediaite, @davidkurten, Reason, Freedom of the Press …, CNN, Deadline, The Daily Beast, Committee to Protect …, National Union of Journalists …, Fox News, Politico and WBUR
Frederic Lardinois / TechCrunch:
Adobe launches GenStudio to let brands create content and measure its performance using generative AI, underpinned by promises of brand safety — Brands want to use generative AI to personalize their marketing efforts — but they are also deathly afraid of AI going off message and ruining their brand.
Wall Street Journal:
The NFL says the opening week Friday night game will be exclusive to NBC's Peacock, and Prime Video secured exclusive rights for a 2024-2025 season playoff game — Brazil game is part of league's effort to expand international presence, have more games not played on Sunday afternoons
Max Goldbart / Deadline:
The BBC has “no plans” to use AI again to promote Doctor Who, after the marketing team used AI “as part of a small trial” to help draft emails and notifications — The BBC has “no plans” to use AI again to promote Doctor Who after receiving complaints from viewers.
Discussion:
Observer, Gizmodo, @mistressofnull, @carnage4life, Times of India, CBR, @amadmannotabox, @carnage4life@mas.to, Screen Rant, Variety, BBC, r/technology, r/television and Slashdot, more at Techmeme »
Reuters:
Bertelsmann reports 2023 revenue down 0.4% YoY to €20.2B, meeting est., profit up 26% YoY to €1.3B, and lowers its 2026 outlook, as it slims down its business — German media group Bertelsmann (BTGGg.F) on Tuesday lowered its outlook for 2026 and now targets revenue of around 21 billion euros …
Alexandra Steigrad / New York Post:
Source: G/O Media CEO Jim Spanfeller told staff The A.V. Club and The Takeout have been sold; Paste bought The A.V. Club and Static Media bought The Takeout — G/O Media, the struggling company that recently sold Deadspin, is shopping popular humor site The Onion and continued its fire sale …
Discussion:
Adweek, The Wrap, The Daily Beast, @kennysmith@mstdn.social, @thedailybeast.bsky.social, @alexsteigrad and @ryanvailbrown
Axios:
Analysis: 16 of the White House's 31 press secretaries since 2000 have gone on to become paid contributors, commentators, or hosts on TV news programs — - Multiple networks scrambled to sign McDaniel when she left the RNC last month, despite her role in former President Trump's efforts …
Discussion:
The Guardian, Newser, The Hill, The Detroit News, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Mediaite, Reason, Politico and Today's Edition Newsletter
Mark Stenberg / Adweek:
Political news site Splinter relaunches, three months after it was acquired by Paste Magazine from G/O Media; Splinter has been dormant since November 2019 — The political news publisher Splinter relaunched Tuesday morning, three months after it was acquired by Paste Magazine in a package deal …