Top News:
New York Times:
A Q&A with NYT reporters on handling the Epstein files, including creating tools to make them searchable, prepping for the release, and dealing with redactions — Two dozen journalists. A pile of pages that would reach the top of the Empire State Building. And an effort to find the next revelation in a sprawling case.
Discussion:
@jswatz.bsky.social and @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social
Scott Nover / Washington Post:
The Richmond Free Press, a 34-year-old Black-owned weekly, shuts down due to falling ad revenue as the Black press suffers from the dispersion of its readership — The Richmond Free Press cited declining advertising in announcing the end of its three-decade run in Virginia's capital city.
Discussion:
Richmond Free Press, LGBTQ Nation and @scottnover.bsky.social
Advanced Television:
Report: AI-generated music uploads account for <1% of total streams; AI-adoption is strongest in functional and low-stakes settings such as background music — The music industry has long been defined by an extreme winner-takes-all dynamic. A small number of tracks, artists …
Discussion:
OC&C Strategy Consultants
Alice Brooker / Press Gazette:
An interview with Chloe Rushmere, head of content for magazine and newspaper subscription app Readly, on future plans as Readly integrates with France's Cafeyn — “All you can read” magazine and newspaper app Readly's merger with a French equivalent is set to enhance its mobile app and support the business to increase investment.
Discussion:
@pressgazette.co.uk
Edith Hancock / Wall Street Journal:
The EU approves UMG's $775M acquisition of Downtown Music, a deal UMG expects to complete in the coming weeks after announcing it in December 2024 — The companies offered to sell Downtown's Curve royalty in an effort to win Brussels's blessing — The European Union approved Universal …
Discussion:
Digital Music News, CMU, Billboard, Music Business Worldwide, Reuters, The Hollywood Reporter and Bloomberg
Todd Spangler / Variety:
SAG-AFTRA signs an agreement with Netflix covering The Pete Davidson Show as a podcast, after talks about whether it should be treated as a TV show or a podcast — Netflix has described its recently released “The Pete Davidson Show” as a “video podcast” — and now SAG-AFTRA has signed …
Discussion:
Barrett Media, Podnews, The Wrap, Deadline, The Atlantic, @theatlantic.com, Vulture and Motley Fool
Antonio Zappulla / Thomson Reuters Foundation:
The Thomson Reuters Foundation says its news brand, Context, will be “phased down”, some staffers will lose jobs, and the site will remain up as an archive — Over the past year, the world has fundamentally changed. — We are experiencing the most profound geopolitical shift in 50 years …
Bloomberg:
Meta and Snap report minimal impact from Australia's teen social media ban as it affects a small number of users who aren't high-value targets for advertisers — Move to restrict teens more likely to damage reputation than sales … Tech Across the Globe
Discussion:
WSVN-TV
Gene Maddaus / Variety:
The MPA urges ByteDance to curb its AI video model Seedance 2.0, after an AI-generated video of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt fighting on a rooftop went viral — The Motion Picture Association on Thursday denounced the newest AI video generator, Seedance 2., saying it had unleashed a flood …
Discussion:
The Guardian, TVBEurope, Fast Company, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Business Insider, Breitbart, Advanced Television, Motion Picture Association, Dexerto, Screen, The Information, The Wrap, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, The Verge, GamesRadar and The Indian Express, more at Techmeme »
New York Times:
Casey Wasserman will remain chair of the LA Olympics committee after a review of his ties to Epstein and Maxwell; multiple entertainers have left his agency — Casey Wasserman exchanged flirtatious messages over 20 years ago with Ghislaine Maxwell, a longtime companion of Jeffrey Epstein.
Discussion:
The Hollywood Reporter, Sports Business Journal, Boston.com, @bselena.bsky.social, @thinkyparts.bsky.social, @bubbaprog.xyz, People, Billboard, Variety, Los Angeles Times, Awful Announcing, LAist, @riodylan.bsky.social, @mollyknight.bsky.social, The Athletic, @daviddarmofal.bsky.social, The Hill, Associated Press and BBC
Brendon Kleen / Awful Announcing:
Memo: The Banner in Maryland plans to expand sports staff to cover Washington, DC, teams, hiring beat reporters to cover the Nationals and Commanders, and more — Credit: Baltimore Banner; Washington Commanders; Washington Nationals — The Baltimore Banner is hoping it can fill …
Discussion:
Media Nation, The Banner and Sports Media Watch
Ali Abunimah / The Electronic Intifada:
Current and ex-CPJ staffers say the nonprofit scrapped its Global Impunity Index in 2025 because Israel would have been ranked near the top or first, for years — Earlier this month, Omar Shakir stepped down from a senior role at Human Rights Watch after the group's suppression …
Discussion:
@katsikajules.bsky.social, Canary, @intifada.bsky.social and Committee to Protect …
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