Top News:

Yahoo debuts a revamped version of its free Yahoo News app, powered by Artifact's AI tech, after acquiring the Instagram co-founders' news app in April 2024 — Artifact, the news app startup from Instagram's cofounders, was purchased by Yahoo earlier this year.
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Yahoo confirms it has been testing an AI summaries feature for a few months on the Yahoo News website for a small, single-digit percentage of articles — Yahoo's AI push isn't over just yet. The company, also TechCrunch's parent, recently launched AI-powered features for Yahoo Mail …

GroupM expects global ad spending excluding political advertising to grow 7.8% in 2024, a bump from its original 5.3% forecast; Dentsu also bumped its forecast — Don't ever say that uncertainty stops ad spending. — So far this year, it's held up strong despite regional conflicts …
Discussion:
Michael Burke on LinkedIn, Gregory Jensen on LinkedIn, @digiday and WORLD SCREEN

A look at the problems of new legislation to support journalism, through state tax money or fees on Big Tech, in California, New York, and Canada — Newspaper lobbyists look out only for themselves — Whither news? — · — Just now — California legislators have amended …
Discussion:
@danablankenhorn@threads.net, @pehoco@threads.net, @gaufre, @jeffjarvis, @timmcguire, @progresschamber, @gaufre and @jeffjarvis

Investigation: Google returned AI-written summaries for ~25% of news-related US search queries in mid-May 2024, with organic links pushed far down the page — The dramatic impact of Google's AI-written summaries on search result visibility for publishers has been revealed through exclusive new research.
Discussion:
Future Media, Dominic Ponsford on LinkedIn, @laurahelmuth@mastodon.social and KHOU-TV

Q&A with Ibrahaim Abdelbaki, the editor of BBC Arabic's Lifeline Service in Gaza, on providing information to displaced citizens, reporting challenges, and more — How the BBC Arabic's Lifeline Service in Gaza is delivering vital information to displaced citizens and airing first-hand accounts of survivors.

Disney and Ron DeSantis reach a 15-year agreement to let Disney undertake a $17B expansion of Walt Disney World near Orlando; Disney will end all litigation — The deal locks in a 15-year expansion plan for Disney World and clears a path for Disney to restart political donations in Florida.
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Associated Press, Fox Business, Gizmodo, The Wrap, Quartz, Orlando Sentinel, Reuters, Axios and CNN

UK nonprofit The Bureau of Investigative Journalism launches paid memberships and explores other revenue streams to address a £250,000 funding shortfall — The Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) is on a mission to diversify its revenue away from relying on foundations as …

Disney debuts two new ad products across its streaming portfolio: shoppable ads and advergames, which let viewers play branded games rather than watch ads — Exclusive: The products aim to make CTV ads more engaging — Disney has debuted two new ad products across its streaming portfolio …

A US judge orders X's lawsuit against Media Matters over accusations of misrepresenting the amount of antisemitic content on X will go to trial on April 7, 2025 — Social media platform X's lawsuit against media watchdog group Media Matters will head to trial on April 7, 2025, a U.S. District judge ordered on Thursday.
Discussion:
CNN and New York Post

Sources detail Evgeny Lebedev's decision to end the Evening Standards' daily print edition under pressure from a Saudi investor, after prevaricating for years — Current and former employees tell the story behind the daily edition's closure — Evgeny Lebedev agreed to axe …
Discussion:
@richjamesuk

Fox Sports acquires the rights to broadcast IndyCar starting in 2025, replacing NBC, which has held the rights since 2009; Fox now has Daytona 500 and Indy 500 — Fox Sports said Thursday it acquired the rights to broadcast IndyCar starting in 2025, a move that gives the network …