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WBD splits into two publicly traded companies: Global Networks, with CNN and other cable channels, and Streaming & Studios, with HBO Max and its studio business — The entertainment company is contending with a hefty debt load and a sagging stock price
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WBD says David Zaslav will be CEO of the new Streaming & Studios business, and current WBD CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels will become CEO of the Global Networks business — Warner Bros. Discovery plans to split into two public companies by next year, the media giant announced Monday …
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WBD's split is set to close in mid-2026; CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels says he assumes “the majority” of WBD's ~$37B debt will exist with the spun off Global Networks — But “a not-insignificant portion” will remain with Streaming & Studios — and with David Zaslav.
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@sherman4949 and @sherman4949

ABC News suspends senior national correspondent Terry Moran over a now-deleted X post calling Trump administration official Stephen Miller a “world class hater” — ABC News said that it has suspended senior national correspondent Terry Moran over a late night X post, now deleted …
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9News Australia reporter Lauren Tomasi was shot with a rubber bullet by law enforcement live on camera while reporting on LA protests against immigration raids — Nine correspondent Lauren Tomasi was filming a piece to camera about LAPD ‘moving in’ on demonstrators when struck by bullet
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Docs: from mid-December, YouTube told moderators to prioritize “freedom of expression” over potential harm, including for political, social, and cultural issues — The world's largest video platform has told content moderators to favor “freedom of expression” over the risk of harm in deciding what to take down.
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Engadget, more at Techmeme »

The Guardian partners with Cambridge University to launch Secure Messaging in its app, protecting sources by making messages indistinguishable from other data — Today, the Guardian, in collaboration with the University of Cambridge, launches Secure Messaging, a world-first from a media organisation

Interviews with The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and Yahoo News executives about how AI-powered summaries can help busy readers, reliability issues, and more — “Summaries aren't a replacement for journalism: they can't exist without it.” The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg …
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Talking Biz News, @niemanlab.org and @sarahscire.com, more at Techmeme »

Politico's editorial union says its new AI tool generates garbled or made-up DC intelligence, including a fictional basket-weaver guild; Politico defends it — The Scoop — Politico's new AI product has generated garbled or made-up Washington intelligence, including a lobbying effort …

In its ruling letting Trump bar AP, a US appeals court says small settings like the Oval Office are essentially invite-only and not covered by 1A protections — By a 2-to-1 vote, a three-judge panel found that the president can bar the news outlet from small settings such as the Oval Office …
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WPP CEO Mark Read plans to leave WPP by the end of 2025 after 30+ years, as the ad firm faces a near five-year share price low and AI-driven industry upheaval — Mark Read will step down from UK group after market capitalisation halved during his seven-year tenure
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In a wide-ranging report, the BFI says AI companies are plundering 130K UK film and TV scripts to train AI models in a “direct threat” to the industry's future — Film institute's report raises fears AI will eliminate junior roles in film, TV, video game and special effects industries
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