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Chinese nationalists and state media praise Trump's decision to dismantle VOA, RFA, and other US-funded media outlets that broadcast to authoritarian regimes — Hong Kong CNN — One nationalist influencer called it “truly gratifying.” Another said he was laughing his head off.
Discussion:
The Desk, Washington-Baltimore …, Politico, DNyuz, Radio Free Asia, Foreign Policy, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, @wang_maya, @hadas_gold, @taiwanfcc, @brianstelter, BBC, Punch Newspapers, Taiwan Foreign …, South China Morning Post, @radiofreeasia, @ewong, Phelim Kine on LinkedIn, @wbng.org, TVNewsCheck, Poynter, Global Times, @boerdeng, @pearsonelaine, The Guardian, The Diplomat, ABC, @passantino.bsky.social, NBC News, Washington Post, Global Times, Washington Examiner, Bloomberg, HuffPost and RedState
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Source: leaders of several US-funded international networks have told their teams to keep broadcasting, defying Trump, as they deem the terminations unlawful — The leaders of several US-funded international networks have instructed their organizations to continue broadcasting …
Discussion:
New Republic, @demfromct, @brianstelter, The Kyiv Independent, Lisa Curtis on LinkedIn and The Diplomat

Wired says it plans to drop paywalls for articles that are primarily based on public records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act — The news business isn't just any business — it serves a vital role in our democracy, recognized by the First Amendment. But media outlets can't serve that role if they're bankrupt.
Discussion:
CNN, Talking Biz News, @stevenlevy, @seth-stern.bsky.social, @eloquence@social.coop, @johncusack.bsky.social, @angusmaccaull.bsky.social, @dbeecher.bsky.social, @jonahblank.bsky.social, @gregwilliams718.bsky.social, @timmarchman.bsky.social, @evystadium.bsky.social, @wired, @katie-drummond.bsky.social, @josephcox@infosec.exchange, @leahfeiger.bsky.social, @warnercrocker.bsky.social, @dsilverman@mastodon.social and @werd.io


Tencent Music reports Q4 revenue up 8.2% YoY to ~$1.03B, above ~$1.01B est., social entertainment services revenue down 13% to ~$225M, and net profit up 47.3% — Tencent Music Entertainment (1698.HK) topped analysts' estimates for quarterly revenue on Tuesday with its second straight quarter …
Discussion:
Digital Music News, Music Business Worldwide, Tencent Music and Benzinga


Democratic FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks plans to step down in spring 2025; President Biden had renominated Starks in 2023 for a new term that ends in 2027 — Geoffrey Starks, one of two Democrats on the Federal Communications Commission, said that he will step down this spring.


Taboola strikes a deal with Microsoft to sell display ads for MSN.com, Outlook, Games, Office products, and more, as it expands beyond native advertising — Taboola struck a deal with Microsoft to sell display ads for MSN.com, Microsoft Outlook, Games and Microsoft's broader Office Suite …
Discussion:
Adam Singolda on LinkedIn and @sarafischer, more at Techmeme »


Memo: Daily Wire co-founder Jeremy Boreing plans to step down from his role as co-CEO to focus on creative projects for the company — Jeremy Boreing, co-founder of the Daily Wire, is stepping down from his role as co-CEO to focus on creative projects for the company, he told staff in a memo obtained by Axios on Tuesday.
Discussion:
@iancarrollshow, @imbrettcooper, @paleofuture.bsky.social and @jeremydboreing


In an open letter to the OSTP, Ben Stiller and 400+ Hollywood creatives urge President Trump to not let Google, OpenAI, and others “exploit” copyrighted works — More than 400 Hollywood creative leaders signed an open letter to the Trump White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy …


The Independent plans to launch Bulletin, a news service that uses Google AI tools to provide article summaries overseen by its journalists, later this month — UK-based publisher joins newsrooms around the world in grappling with existential threat posed by new technology
Discussion:
Press Gazette, @getwired.bsky.social, @jackcarterbenjamin … and @jaspar.bsky.social


Some owners of smart TVs and streaming sticks with Roku OS report seeing autoplaying video ads before they can use the home screen; Roku says it is just a test — Now, Roku is testing what it might look like if it took things a step further and forced people to watch a video ad play before getting to the Roku OS home screen.


Deezer reports 2024 revenue up 12% YoY to €542M and ~9.7M total subscribers, and says it achieved positive free cash flow, a first for the company — Spotify rival seeks to invest in research and development after reaching ‘massive milestone’ — Deezer has hailed a “milestone” …


Italian newspaper Il Foglio says it published the world's first newspaper edition entirely produced by AI, part of a month-long experiment to show AI's impact — Il Foglio says artificial intelligence used 'for everything - the writing, the headlines, the quotes ... even the irony'
Discussion:
Tomorrow's Publisher, @janerosenzweig.bsky.social and @hannahfearn.bsky.social