Top News:
Liam Scott / Columbia Journalism Review:
A press freedom reporter at VOA recalls its last days, as dozens of staffers on J-1 visas may have to return to countries with a record of jailing critics — Covering the press freedom beat at VOA, I got a front-row seat to its demise. — On Saturday, about thirteen hundred Voice of America staffers …
Lindsey Bahr / Associated Press:
The National Association of Theatre Owners changes name to Cinema United, saying it is “complicated having the same name as a multinational military alliance” — In hindsight, NATO was an unnecessarily confusing acronym for a trade organization representing movie theater owners.
Discussion:
The Hollywood Reporter, IndieWire, @mediaevan.bsky.social, @royaltenenbaum69.bsky.social, Variety and Deadline
David Roeder / Chicago Sun Times:
Around 20% of Chicago Sun-Times staff, or 30 employees, took buyouts and have resigned, including most of the editorial board; 5 WBEZ workers also took buyouts — Columnists, editorial writers and many more head for the exits as the paper's nonprofit owner, Chicago Public Media, deals with fiscal hardship.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty:
RFE/RL sues USAGM and its officials Kari Lake and Victor Morales, arguing they acted unlawfully and unconstitutionally in blocking funds allocated by Congress — The grant cancellation would violate the Constitution and federal laws, according to the case filed by RFE/RL in the US District Court for DC
Discussion:
Politico, Adweek, UPI, Forbes, CBS News, Axios, The Desk, @kaedotcom.bsky.social, The Kyiv Independent, Reuters, Fox News and @passantino.bsky.social
Samantha Masunaga / Los Angeles Times:
The California Film Commission chooses a record 51 films to receive incentives in the state's film and TV tax credit program, including 46 indie films — A record 51 films shooting in the Golden State will receive a government incentive in the latest round of the state's film …
Discussion:
The Wrap, @erik_hayden, Governor of California, WKYC-TV and E&E News
Bloomberg.com:
Community Notes, first on X and rolling out on Meta's platforms, fall well short of stopping misinformation, and eliminating the rewards would go much further — The crowdsourced fact-checking system, which Meta adopted from X, is falling well short of stopping the spread of misinformation.
Discussion:
@pinemikey.bsky.social and Bloomberg, more at Techmeme »
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
The UK's NUJ urges Reach to reconsider a 2% pay rise offer for staff and compares £600 staff bonuses with the £662,000 in total bonuses paid to CEO Jim Mullen — NUJ asks Reach to “urgently reconsider” 2% pay offer. — Reach staff have received a £600 bonus in recognition of the company's profit growth last year.
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
ABC: print circulation of the UK's Daily Mirror fell 16.4% YoY in February 2025 to 196,150, dropping below 200,000 for the first time since the Edwardian era — The print circulation of the Daily Mirror dropped below 200,000 in February for the first time since the Edwardian era.
Lucy Knight / The Guardian:
Crowdfunding publisher Unbound goes into administration and has been acquired by newly-formed Boundless; some authors say they haven't been paid for months — The company, launched in 2011, has been acquired by new company Boundless, after writers have been left unpaid for months
Discussion:
@scribblerrob.bsky.social, @kizzia.bsky.social, Substack, @lemnsissay, @sdebar, @katharineq, @alanrew.bsky.social, @mcragg.bsky.social, @adashofseaglass.bsky.social, @danrhodes.bsky.social, @isobelstarling.bsky.social, @katbrownwrites.com, @matpringle.bsky.social, @shaunusher.bsky.social, @victoriastrauss.bsky.social, @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social, @russincheshire.bsky.social and The Bookseller
Reuters:
Sources: CCI officials raided the Indian offices of global ad giants, including GroupM, Publicis, Dentsu, and Interpublic Group, over alleged price collusion — The Indian antitrust body has raided the offices of many global advertising giants, including GroupM, Publicis, Dentsu and Interpublic Group …
Discussion:
MEDIANAMA, The Indian Express, @reuters, Aditya Kalra on LinkedIn, @reuters and Press Trust of India
Mike Butcher / TechCrunch:
Agentic Marketing Technologies, whose AI agent Lyra helps influencers book and run marketing campaigns, raised a $3.5M seed led by NFX — Booking an ad campaign with social media influencers is currently not exactly easy. For starters, influencers' approaches to marketing can be unconventional …
Discussion:
@tdoggyholhol
Danielle Kaye / New York Times:
The US DOJ charges film director Carl Erik Rinsch for allegedly defrauding a “streaming platform” for $11M; an arbitrator ruled in May that he owed Netflix ~$9M — Prosecutors say Carl Erik Rinsch used funds for a science-fiction series for personal investments.
Discussion:
Engadget, People, Media Play News, New York Daily News, Fox News, The Wrap, @mbkplus.bsky.social, al.com, The Verge, DNyuz, Associated Press, Rolling Stone, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter
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