Mediagazer: A.G. Sulzberger says the role of a free press is under attack, and that the anti-press playbook used in eroding democracies is now being deployed in the US (A.G. Sulzberger/New York Times)

A.G. Sulzberger / New York Times:

A.G. Sulzberger says the role of a free press is under attack, and that the anti-press playbook used in eroding democracies is now being deployed in the US — This essay was originally delivered as a talk at the Notre Dame Kellogg Institute for International Studies on Tuesday.

Discussion: The Nation, TVNewsCheck, @nytimespr, @maxwelltani, @brianstelter, @froomkin.bsky.social and @sydney-bauer.com

Jeanna Smialek / New York Times:

The EU General Court rules the EU should not have denied an NYT journalist's request for text messages between Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla — The case revolved around whether texts between a top official and a drug company executive counted as a public record that might need to be disclosed.

Discussion: The Guardian, UPI, Le Monde, Associated Press, City A.M., Bloomberg and Politico

Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:

The BBC plans to expand its Local Democracy Reporting Service beyond local authorities and “dramatically” increase BBC's presence on YouTube and TikTok — BBC director-general Tim Davie has revealed plans to expand the Local Democracy Reporting Service outside of its current focus on local authorities.

Discussion: Broadband TV News and BBC

Max Goldbart / Deadline:

BBC DG Tim Davie says the BBC will only work with top talent who sign up to a new set of anti-bullying standards unveiled several months back by the CIISA — The BBC will only work with top talent who sign up to a new set of anti-bullying standards in film and TV, according to the Director General …

Discussion: Reuters and Advanced Television

Katie Razzall / BBC:

Some leading UK TV executives call for collaboration or consolidation among public broadcasters, amid funding pressures and competition from US streaming giants — Just before Christmas, in a private dining room in the upmarket Charlotte Street Hotel in the heart of London's Soho …

Discussion: TVNewsCheck and Andrew Ailwood on LinkedIn

Lauren Feiner / The Verge:

FTC v. Meta: Meta's lawyer disparaged tech journalists Kara Swisher and Om Malik, calling Malik a “failed blogger”, showing Meta's long-simmering media tensions — Meta's lead attorney called a once-prominent tech journalist a “failed blogger.”

more at Techmeme »

Joanne Kaufman / New York Times:

Elizabeth Pochoda, a journalist who worked as an editor at many publications, including The Nation, Vanity Fair, and House & Garden, has died at 83 — She was a writer and a top editor at publications as diverse as The Nation, Vogue and Entertainment Weekly. She also helped found Grand Street and reboot Vanity Fair.

Discussion: @markharris.bsky.social

Sophie Culpepper / Nieman Lab:

Some NYT local investigation fellows discuss their experience getting the time and resources their local newsrooms didn't have to conduct investigations — “Newspaper wars are out. I think the future of local news is collaboration.” — If last year's Pulitzer Prizes were a …

Discussion: Sona Patel on LinkedIn, @pculpepper.bsky.social and @niemanlab.org

The Economic Times:

Mumbai-based gaming company Dream Sports has invested $50M in cricket media platform Cricbuzz and cricket broadcaster Willow TV, both owned by Times Internet — Dream Sports, a Mumbai-based gaming company, has invested $50 million in Cricbuzz and Willow TV, both owned by Times Internet, securing a strategic minority interest.

Discussion: BMI

Stephen Fowler / NPR:

Court docs: DOGE tried to assign a team to review CPB operations on April 29, but CPB said DOGE had no role “supervising or having any activity relating to CPB” — Less than a day after President Trump attempted to fire three Corporation for Public Broadcasting board members last month …

Discussion: CNN, The Dispatch, @thedesk.net, @brianstelter.bsky.social, Inside Radio and @notaaroncraig.bsky.social

Benjamin Mullin / New York Times:

CNN CEO Mark Thompson tells employees that CNN plans to launch a streaming service in fall 2025; cable subscribers will have free access to the service — The service is part of a major push to find paying customers for the network's journalism. — CNN is getting ready to launch a streaming service.

Discussion: The Streamable, TVNewsCheck, Status, Cord Cutters News, Deadline, The Wrap, @oliverdarcy.bsky.social, NPR, al.com, Axios, MarketWatch, Barrett Media, @mcgritterson.industries and @davezatz.bsky.social

Ryan Scott / SlashFilm:

Sinners passes $215.3M domestically, making it the first original movie to make $200M+ since 2017's Coco, and the first live-action movie to do so since 2013 — Following its blockbuster debut in theaters in mid-April, “Sinners” has been on a box office tear that has defied even the most optimistic expectations.

Discussion: @socalbat.bsky.social, @ryanscottwrites.bsky.social, @heartimecia.bsky.social, @timcarvell.bsky.social and New York Times