Top News:
Axios:
Memo: NBCU News Group Chair Cesar Conde tells staff NBC dropped Ronna McDaniel as a paid contributor and apologizes for hiring the former RNC chair — NBC has dropped Ronna McDaniel as a paid contributor, NBCU News Group Chair Cesar Conde confirmed in a memo to staff following backlash from some of the network's journalists.
Discussion:
CNN, Washington Post, Politico, Mediaite, Reuters, The Hill, Media Nation, HuffPost, The Guardian, Variety, The Wrap, TVLine, Los Angeles Times, Fox News, @brianstelter, @kylegriffin1, Marty Davis on LinkedIn, Washington Post, Newser, CBS News, New York Times, New York Daily News, Next TV, Newsmax, Raw Story, Bloomberg, New Republic, Forbes, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Breitbart, @emptywheel, The Daily Beast, @emmagoldman.bsky.social, @mbkplus.bsky.social, @mrpresident1776.bsky.social, @mastodonmigration …, @mikec415.bsky.social, @yolanda7712.bsky.social, @jd123.bsky.social, @jvlast@threads.net, @nslayton.bsky.social, @ninkendo.bsky.social, @daycathy.bsky.social, @ronhogan.bsky.social, @jayrosen_nyu, @greenlightening.bsky.social, @newsjennifer, @michaelcalifra, @henchman21.bsky.social, @evilangela.bsky.social, @jeffjarvis.bsky.social, @bubbaprog.ilovecitr.us, @mattnegrin.bsky.social, @yashar, @friendoflwaxana.bsky.social, @sulliview, @ashleysays.bsky.social, @ogmcduck.bsky.social, @maxwelltani, @dylanbyers, @chrisswartout.bsky.social, @nabbp.bsky.social, @liberalwombat.com, Boing Boing, @rudell.bsky.social, @nickfleisher.bsky.social, @tiffanyleigh.bsky.social, @markjacob16, New York Post, @kdzwierzynski.bsky.social, @bdomenech, @golikehellmachine.bsky.social, @snipy.bsky.social, @ronhogan.bsky.social, @sarafischer, @ryanlcooper.com, @andreagrimes.bsky.social, @brooklynmarie.bsky.social, @3vansutton, @davelevitan.bsky.social, @Jonathanglick@mstdn.social, @drewmelbourne.com, @nycsouthpaw, @rickywlmsbong.bsky.social, @chickenpuppet.bsky.social, @petefrasermusic.bsky.social, @amandasmith.bsky.social, @blockhead13.bsky.social, @maver42.bsky.social, @wallace.bsky.social, @ronhogan.bsky.social, @fancycwabs.bsky.social, @newleaf.bsky.social, @jxsxpx.bsky.social, @theonlyjdb.bsky.social, @cfidd.bsky.social, @nberlat.bsky.social, @msnbc, @keithjoyce.bsky.social, @evilgalprods.bsky.social, @plessinger.com, @kelyetar.bsky.social, @perfectorb.bsky.social, @emptywheel, @sidhra.bsky.social, @michaelharriot, @oliverdarcy@threads.net, @mistyksnow.bsky.social, @rjonesing.online, @saltcreekbrews.bsky.social, @mgrady69.bsky.social, @yarrriv.bsky.social, @madrid_mike, @tranniehall.bsky.social, @dylanbyers, @baileymcc.bsky.social, @sulliview, @brendelbored.bsky.social, @bsdtectr.bsky.social, @bibliofishy.bsky.social, @robpegoraro.com, @mostlymartha.bsky.social, @farhip, NPR, Deadline, Business Insider, Associated Press, Poynter and TVNewsCheck
RELATED:
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 …
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
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, Digital Journal, Advanced Television, The Guardian, @ben@werd.social and Press Gazette
Bailey Lipschultz / Bloomberg:
Trump Media & Technology Group closed up 16% at $57.99 per share in its Nasdaq debut, valuing the unprofitable company at $7.9B, following the merger with DWAC — - Trump Media & Technology Group operates Truth Social — Deal provides a windfall on paper for the former president
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Mumbrella, ABC News, Media Matters for America, New York Times, Reuters, Forbes, CNBC, Washington Post, USA Today, NBC News, Raw Story, Quartz, Deadline, Associated Press, @jason_kint, CNBC, New York Times, Barron's Online, The Guardian, Axios, @jason_kint, Financial Times, The Indian Express, CNN and MediaPost, 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, Associated Press, Semafor, 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, Committee to Protect …, The Daily Beast, National Union of Journalists …, Fox News, Politico and WBUR
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
Discussion:
The Verge, The Desk, NBC Sports Pressbox, BGR, New York Post, Deadline, Awful Announcing, Media Play News, Sports Media Watch, Next TV, Business Insider, Decider, Reuters and Cord Cutters News
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.
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:
The Daily Beast, @kennysmith@mstdn.social, @thedailybeast.bsky.social, @alexsteigrad, @ryanvailbrown, Adweek and The Wrap
Cynthia Littleton / Variety:
Audible partners with Amazon MGM Studios to co-produce TV series based on Audible Originals content; the titles will be shopped to Prime Video, MGM+, and others — Kerry Washington, James Patterson, Aaron Korsh are among the notables on board for new iterations of ‘The Prophecy,’ ‘Daniel X: Genesis,’ ‘Nut Jobs’ and others
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:
Gizmodo, @mistressofnull, @carnage4life, Times of India, Observer, CBR, @amadmannotabox, @carnage4life@mas.to, Variety, Screen Rant, 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 …