Top News:
Wall Street Journal:
CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King signs a new deal, providing some stability at CBS News; a source says King's current deal is worth ~$15M and runs through May — The ‘CBS Mornings’ co-host dispelled rumors of a possible departure, staying with the network amid broader overhaul
Discussion:
New York Post, Variety, @bariweiss, DNYUZ, Awful Announcing, Status, Daily Mail, @jeremymbarr, Sandra Rose, Fox News, Entertainment Weekly, Reuters, HELLO!, Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, TMZ.com, Us Weekly, TV Insider, RADAR, E! Online, TheGrio, The Hollywood Reporter, CNN, @justinbaragona.bsky.social, The Wrap, Baller Alert, The Cut, Deadline, New York Daily News, Mediaweek, Barrett Media and Mediaite
Max Tani / Semafor:
AP Senior Product Manager for AI Aimee Rinehart told staff that many editors preferred an AI-written article to a human one, and resistance to AI is “futile” — The Scoop — One of The Associated Press' leaders on AI had a blunt message for the publication's staff: Resistance to AI is “futile.”
Discussion:
@peterhamby, @gregjaffe, @scottnover, @hshaban, @dinfontay.com, The Wrap, @creativeboulder, @fuadxiv, @andrewcurran_, @kylebrussell, @maxwelltani, @dowellml, @yashalevine, @tszzl, @michaeljlev, @corbinsmithnfl, @nwilborn19, @alexandrascaggs, @timgrieve, @semaforben, @jarjour.bsky.social and @ernie.tedium.co
New York Times:
Iran's official TV networks and aligned social media accounts are blending fact and fiction about the war, often using unproven claims and fake AI videos — State media and online propagandists are striking a confident posture, despite heavy losses. Some of the content was generated by artificial intelligence.
Discussion:
HotAir, @brianstelter.bsky.social and Tasnim News Agency
Tess Patton / The Wrap:
Netflix CFO Spencer Neumann says the company's new podcast division saw high mobile engagement in Q1, and video podcasts overindex on mobile vs. shows and film — Spencer Neumann adds that Netflix subscribers consume video podcasts during the day more than the streamer's TV and film offerings
Discussion:
Variety, Deadline and Media Play News
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
Filing: Trump added between $600K and $1.25M in Netflix bonds to his portfolio in January; he also bought between $600K and $1.25M of SiriusXM bonds — New financial disclosures released Wednesday show that the President acquired Netflix bonds as Paramount was trying to pry WBD away from the streaming giant.
Discussion:
Deadline, @nitishpahwa.com, Joe.My.God., @croyle@wandering.shop, The Wrap, Mediaweek and Just Jared
Ana Monteiro / Bloomberg:
Canal+ plans to discontinue the loss-making Showmax streaming service developed by South African pay TV operator MultiChoice, which Canal+ bought in 2025 — Canal+ SA will discontinue the loss-making Showmax streaming service developed by South African pay-TV operator MultiChoice Group, which the French firm bought last year.
Discussion:
Advanced Television, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline and BusinessDay
Miles Klee / Wired:
Grammarly is offering an AI-powered tool called “Expert Review” that simulates feedback from famous writers, dead and living, without their permission — The tool, offered by the recently-rebranded company Superhuman, gives feedback based on the work of famous dead and living writers—without their permission.
Murray Stassen / Music Business Worldwide:
Apple Music introduces Transparency Tags, a metadata system for music distributors and labels to disclose AI-generated creative elements like artwork or lyrics — Apple Music is introducing a new set of metadata requirements designed to bring greater transparency around AI-generated content to the music industry.
Discussion:
Tech in Asia, TechCrunch, CNET, 9to5Mac, Happy Mag and AppleInsider
Kendra Barnett / Adweek:
WPP names Nancy Hall as CEO of WPP Media US; Brian Lesser, WPP Media's global CEO, served in the role on an interim basis after the departure of Sharb Farjami — The appointment arrives a week after WPP announced a substantial reorg designed to recover steep financial losses
Discussion:
Mediaweek, Variety and campaignlive.com
Ken Doctor / Nieman Lab:
Authoritative national news is shrinking, maybe faster than local news did; supporters of trustworthy news need to move quickly past grief toward solutions — “The sweep of changes we see has one main cause: the political effort to stifle robust national journalism.” — Anderson Cooper may be running out of lily pads.
Matthew Keys / TheDesk.net:
Memo: Philo CEO Andrew McCollum is stepping down and will be replaced by COO Mike Keyserling; source: McCollum will become executive chairman of Philo — Philo CEO Andrew McCollum is stepping away from the role after more than a decade, handing the keys to the wallet-friendly streaming service …
Silvia Sciorilli Borrelli / Financial Times:
A look at the upheaval in Italy's media as established broadcasters and publishers struggle to defend their authority and business against digital creators — Legal battle with controversial YouTuber echoes broader tussle — Even in Italy's sometimes raucous media landscape …
