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More than 500 Voice of America contractors are expected to lose their jobs by June 30; Kari Lake says 584 total employees were terminated across USAGM — More than 500 of the news service's contractors could be out of a job on June 30. — More than 500 Voice of America contractors …
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A profile of Ulviyya Ali, a VOA journalist in Azerbaijan until February, who has been jailed, like others in the country, on charges of currency smuggling — Ulviyya Ali reported for Voice of America for years. Trump's moves to dismantle the U.S.-funded outlet may have put her at greater risk, activists say.

Filing: advertisers ask a US judge to dismiss X's lawsuit accusing them of boycotting the company, arguing X failed to show that they acted with any common plan — Major companies that curtailed advertising on Elon Musk's social media platform X over concerns about its ability …
Discussion:
BMI, Futurism and Business Insider

A look at the pay packages of some top media and entertainment executives in 2024; seven of the 10 examined executives got raises despite lackluster earnings — Top execs kept raking in the bucks last year, even as many of the companies they led struggled to stay aloft

Sources: DOJ is conducting a criminal antitrust probe into whether Live Nation and AEG illegally colluded on concert refunds at the start of the COVID pandemic — The US Justice Department is conducting a criminal antitrust probe into how companies responded to mass concert cancellations …
Discussion:
@matthewstoller, @benbrodydc, The Hollywood Reporter and Reuters

A look at Maine-base Civic Sunlight, which sends newsletters with AI-generated summaries of city council meetings and has partnered with local legacy news orgs — Twists and turns for a surprisingly well-received experiment in Maine. — When Tom Cochran and David Mortlock started kicking around ideas …

How publishers are navigating their relationship with platforms amid generative AI's rise, based on interviews with 34 news and tech industry representatives — This research is generously funded by the Tow Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. — Introduction

Sources: Puck has hired an AI tech reporter after it tried unsuccessfully to buy Casey Newton's Platformer for seven figures and hire Alex Heath from The Verge — Matt Belloni's voice reverberates through Hollywood's power corridors—now so do whispers about his future at Puck.

Neal Mohan says the monetization rate of Shorts hit parity with core YouTube in the US and multiple other countries, and Shorts viewing grew 20% YoY in Q1 2025 — YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, the morning after the platform's big ad pitch and party in New York City, had a new milestone to share …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Digital Music News, The Information, The Information and The Hollywood Reporter, more at Techmeme »
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Zach Vallese / CNBC:
YouTube launches a weekly top podcast shows chart, tracking podcasts in the US and updated every Wednesday; The Joe Rogan Experience currently tops the chart
YouTube launches a weekly top podcast shows chart, tracking podcasts in the US and updated every Wednesday; The Joe Rogan Experience currently tops the chart
Discussion:
YouTube, @ashleyrcarman, @loudmouthjulia, Tubefilter, New York Times, 9to5Google, The Verge and @tchambers@indieweb.social, more at Techmeme »

Filing: Anthropic apologizes after one of its expert witnesses cited a fake article hallucinated by Claude in the company's legal battle with music publishers — A lawyer representing Anthropic admitted to using an erroneous citation created by the company's Claude AI chatbot …

Gaza journalists describe intimidation and assault by Hamas; the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate often doesn't publicize Hamas attacks for fear of reprisals — New York, May 15, 2025—When Gazan journalist Tawfiq Abu Jarad received a phone call from a Hamas security agent warning …
Discussion:
Middle East Monitor

The WSJ has launched two new paid executive membership programs, which cater to highly senior executives and include access to summits, roundtables, and more — Its Leadership Institute aims to launch two new councils a year — The Wall Street Journal launched the newest addition …
Discussion:
Mark Stenberg on LinkedIn, @simonowens.bsky.social and Talking Biz News

The Atlantic is partnering with Apple to provide exclusive audio benefits for subscribers and to sell subscriptions directly on Apple Podcasts — The Atlantic is partnering with Apple to launch exclusive audio benefits for subscribers, executives told Axios.
Discussion:
Simon Owens's Media Newsletter and Podnews

Public broadcasting officials went to DC on Thursday to convince lawmakers to keep their funding; Indiana cut all taxpayer funding for its 17 public stations — Public broadcasting officials from across the country plan to descend on Capitol Hill today in hopes of convincing lawmakers …
Discussion:
Editor and Publisher, Inside Radio, @davidfolkenflik.bsky.social and Fox News
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