Top News:
Filip Timotija / The Hill:
A source says “most” Voice of America journalists were put on administrative leave, a day after President Trump signed an EO aimed at eliminating the USAGM — Journalists at Voice of America (VOA) were put on administrative leave on Saturday, a day after President Trump signed …
Discussion:
The Newsguy, NPR, Columbia Journalism Review, Media Nation, Advanced Television, @KimPerales@toad.social, The White House, The Guardian, RedState, @davidfolkenflik, @farhip, Inside Radio, @sarahellison, @carlababbvoa, WNYW-TV, ZeroHedge News, @Free_Press@mstdn.social, The Wrap, Mediaite, The Indian Express, Reuters, @brianstelter, Associated Press, @davidfolkenflik, @bradleyrsimpson.bsky.social, @joshtpm.bsky.social, Business Insider, The Kyiv Independent, @oanalungescu.bsky.social, @anneapplebaum.bsky.social, The Post Millennial, @whodat35.bsky.social, UPI, CBS News, Wall Street Journal, TVNewsCheck, Deadline, @giantsigh.bsky.social, Variety and Rolling Stone
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Washington Post:
The USAGM has severed contracts for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, in addition to the VOA cuts — Lake had big plans to transform the outlet into a powerful “weapon” to fight an “information war.” Instead, the president has essentially shut it down.
Discussion:
IndieWire, BBC, Broadband TV News, RedState, Blaze Media, @brianstelter, @brianstelter, The Independent, Radio Free Europe/Radio …, Reason, Poynter, Reuters, @brianstelter, @atrupar, @malinowski, Sam Kessler on LinkedIn, The National Interest, New York Daily News, @w7voa, Timothy McDonald on LinkedIn, @brianstelter, @brianstelter, @repdonbacon, @ZekuZelalem@dair …, @ewong, @stevecapus, Reason, @malinowski, @brianstelter, @chriso_wiki, @rferlpress, @mimarek@universeodon.com, Vanity Fair, @chrisgreenwayuk, @thomasvlinge, @pressfreedom, Al Jazeera, The Gateway Pundit, Washington …, Politico, Associated Press, Politico, Reuters, CNN, Raw Story, Hong Kong Free Press HKFP, The Japan Times, The National Pulse and Committee to Protect …
Tyler Pager / New York Times:
Trump signs an EO seeking to dismantle seven federal agencies, including VOA parent USAGM, which is congressionally chartered as an independent agency — The order targeting the agencies, largely obscure entities that address issues like labor mediation and homelessness prevention, appeared to test the bounds of the president's power.
Discussion:
The White House, Adweek, Washington Post, Todd Carpenter on LinkedIn, Cora Hoppe on LinkedIn, Fox News, Reporters Without Borders, Axios, @jonathancohn.bsky.social, a simple ghoul, USA Today, USAGM, @theanthonydavis.bsky.social, @julieroginsky.bsky.social, The Independent, The Desk, @kallekn@mastodonsweden.se, @whodat35.bsky.social, Radio Free Europe/Radio …, Associated Press, @katzish.bsky.social and @mediaevan.bsky.social
David Enrich / New York Times:
After Trump dismantled the USAGM, VOA employees say some of its radio frequencies in Asia, the Middle East, and elsewhere went dark or began airing only music — President Trump's executive order on Friday calling for the dismantling of the federal agency that oversees the broadcaster is part …
Kurt Schlosser / GeekWire:
Trump praises Jeff Bezos for changes at WaPo, says he doesn't think media's treatment of him has changed so far, but he sees a shift among tech giants — The recent changes Jeff Bezos has instituted at The Washington Post have captured the attention of President Donald Trump, who praised the newspaper owner's efforts.
Discussion:
YouTube, The Hill, HuffPost, New Republic, Mercury News, Semafor, Dorf on Law, Fox News and AmmoLand Shooting Sports News
Ben Smith / Semafor:
How Breitbart became “legacy” MAGA media, as Editor-in-Chief Alex Marlow says the outlet is “trying to be the historical record of the Trump administration” — A sense of responsibility weighs heavily these days on Breitbart News. Washington Bureau Chief Matt Boyle …
Discussion:
@pinemikey.bsky.social and Breitbart
Tara Bennett / AV Club:
How Looney Tunes' first original animated feature got released, as WBD's legacy franchise is at a crossroads, all but abandoned by the studio it helped define — Warner Bros. has put its legacy cartoon at a crossroads. We spoke to those looking towards Looney Tunes' future. — FILM FEATURES LOONEY TUNES
Discussion:
Deadline, IndieWire, The Verge, @geekvibesnation.com, @willmckinley.bsky.social, Vulture, @jessehawken.bsky.social, Comic Book, @charliepgavin, @taradbennett, New York Times, Inverse, Gizmodo, Screen Rant, Polygon, @joshuacourtade.bsky.social, @talkinghenry.bsky.social, @ericblewis.bsky.social, @jacoboller.bsky.social, @tarabennett.bsky.social, The Hollywood Reporter, IndieWire and The Verge
Caitlin Huston / The Hollywood Reporter:
Audacy names Kelli Turner, who has been interim CEO since the end of January, as president and CEO, and overhauls its leadership team — Chris Oliviero has been named chief business officer and Bob Philips has been named chief revenue officer. … Additionally, Chris Oliviero …
Discussion:
Radio Ink
Alex Ritman / Variety:
Village Roadshow files for bankruptcy protection in the US, amid a long-drawn out and expensive legal battle with WB over The Matrix Resurrections — Village Roadshow Entertainment Group, the film producer and financier that has backed “The Matrix,” “Ocean's Eleven,” “Joker” and “The Lego Movie” …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Deadline, @eriqgardner and Screen Rant
Eva Corlett / The Guardian:
A profile of Lucy Blakiston, who runs the site Shit You Should Care About from her New Zealand home, aggregating stories into digestible social media snippets — The success of Shit You Should Care About has been down to Lucy Blakiston's focus on social media at a time where news avoidance is growing
Discussion:
Lucy Blakiston on LinkedIn, @rlmrdlnz.bsky.social and @vwdasher@masto.nu
Ashley Carman / Bloomberg:
A look at the growing battle over how to define a podcast, as YouTube pushes deeper into audio and Spotify pursues video, which are getting increasingly blurry — As YouTube pushes deeper into podcasting and Spotify pursues video, once-distinct business lines are getting increasingly blurry
Discussion:
9to5Google, Ashley Carman on LinkedIn and Los Angeles Times
Daniel Thomas / Financial Times:
Ofcom will enforce rules under the UK's Online Safety Act, designed to protect internet users from illegal content and harmful activity online, from March 17 — Regulator Ofcom will begin assessing tech groups' compliance with new obligations under Online Safety Act
