Top News:
Ted Johnson / Deadline:
In a memo to CBS News staff, Bari Weiss and Tom Cibrowski announce layoffs; source: cuts will affect about 6% of staff, or around 60 to 70 employees — CBS News announced a new round of layoffs on Friday, the latest for the news division under the network's new parent Paramount Skydance.
Discussion:
The Wrap, The Hill, Wall Street Journal, Raw Story, Fox News, New York Times, New York Post, Reuters, Mediaite, Advanced Television, Axios, San Francisco Chronicle, Business Insider, The Hollywood Reporter, ZeroHedge News, Daily Caller News Foundation, @gigibsohn, @huntermw, @byjoelanderson, The Independent, Variety, NewsMax.com, Washington Times, Cord Cutters News, @maxwelltani, @alexsteigrad, @brianstelter, @jeremymbarr and Barrett Media
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Ted Johnson / Deadline:
In a memo, Bari Weiss and Tom Cibrowski announce the closure of CBS News Radio on May 22 and attendant layoffs; CBS News Radio was founded in 1927 — CBS News Radio, with origins that trace back to the founding of the network nearly a century ago, will be shut down on May 22.
Discussion:
CNN, Los Angeles Times, Radio & Television …, The Guardian, The Wrap, Mediaite, New York Post, @treycallaway.bsky.social, @harrymccracken@mastodon …, Cord Cutters News, @willmckinley.bsky.social, @brianallenc.bsky.social, Radio Ink, Washington Post, Newser, @dilanesper, @brianstelter, WTOP News, @cmclymer, @jaredlholt, Showbiz411, @mccarrennews, @karenattiah.bsky.social, @paholder@mastodon.social, @jbarro, @tvreporter, @maxwelltani, @brianstelter, Barrett Media and Bloomberg
The Hollywood Reporter:
Nexstar says it has closed its Tegna acquisition after the DOJ and FCC approved it; CEO Perry Sook says Nexstar is grateful to Trump and the FCC's Brendan Carr — The megadeal is being challenged by eight states, but DOJ and FCC approval Thursday allowed the deal to close.
Discussion:
Variety, Associated Press, TV Tech, MediaPost, Columbus Business Journal, Seattle Business Journal, Washington Post, Dallas Business Journal, CNBC, Poynter, St. Louis Business Journal, TheDesk.net, @acosta, Policyband, NewsMax.com, Newser, @_newsbae, Inside Radio, @agomezfcc, @brianstelter, @brianstelter, Advanced Television, Nexstar Media Group, Inc., Washington …, NewsBlues.com, Reuters, Texas Monthly, MarketWatch, Barrett Media, Los Angeles Times, TheDesk.net, Newsweek, Politico, The Hill, Barrett Media, The A.V. Club, The Wrap, Reuters, @notaaroncraig.bsky.social, NPR, KHOU-TV, Bloomberg and New York Times
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Ted Johnson / Deadline:
The FCC approves the sale of certain local broadcast TV stations from Tegna to Nexstar, granting a waiver from a cap limiting how many stations can be owned — Nexstar said on Thursday that they had closed their acquisition of Tegna following approvals from the FCC and the Justice Department.
Discussion:
NBC News, Pressing Issues, Reporters Without Borders, Committee to Protect …, NY State Attorney General, C21Media, @superwuster, @mrsdeborahlynn.bsky.social, TVNewsCheck, @fcc, @brendancarrfcc, Daily Press, New York Times, CBS News, UPI, TheDesk.net, TheDesk.net, @agomezfcc.bsky.social, Reuters, Cord Cutters News, Bloomberg, Radio & Television …, @agomezfcc.bsky.social, WVEC, Los Angeles Times and Free Press Action Fund Feed
David Shepardson / Reuters:
Eight US states, including CA, CO, and NY, sue to block Nexstar's proposed $3.54B merger with Tegna on antitrust grounds; DirecTV files a separate suit
Eight US states, including CA, CO, and NY, sue to block Nexstar's proposed $3.54B merger with Tegna on antitrust grounds; DirecTV files a separate suit
Discussion:
Press Association, The Streamable, MS NOW, Washington Examiner, @upbeachbum.bsky.social, @dorismatsui.bsky.social, CNN, Telecompaper, @jeffjacksonnc, @jeffjacksonnc, NBC News, CNN, @davidshepardson, US District Court, Eastern District of California, TV Tech, Bloomberg, @agrobbonta.oag.ca.gov, Deadline, BIG by Matt Stoller, @agrobbonta, Cord Cutters News, All Rise News, The Wrap, Yahoo Finance, Blockonomi, Bloomberg Law, Associated Press, Deadline, Barrett Media, The Hollywood Reporter, Radio & Television …, doj.state.or.us, Variety, @ddayen.bsky.social, The Wrap, WXIA-TV, TheDesk.net, Cord Cutters News, The Hill, State of California, Free Press Action Fund Feed, @notaaroncraig.bsky.social, @nateraymond.bsky.social, Fingerlakes1.com, Wall Street Journal and Reuters
Benjamin Mullin / New York Times:
In an interview, Jonah Peretti discusses using subscriptions to AI products, events, the sale of some of BuzzFeed's assets, or a joint venture to save BuzzFeed — Jonah Peretti, the founder of BuzzFeed, created a viral hitmaker for the millennial generation.
Discussion:
The Hill, @hshaban, @dankennedy.net, @jtes and @anupkaphle
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
WordPress.com says it will now allow AI agents to draft, edit, and publish content on customers' websites, as well as manage comments, update metadata, and more — Web hosting platform WordPress.com is embracing AI agents, a decision that could change the look and feel of the web.
Discussion:
WordPress.com News and CNET, more at Techmeme »
Alexandra Alter / New York Times:
Hachette cancels the US release of the novel Shy Girl and is discontinuing its UK edition after readers claimed the author relied heavily on AI to write it — Its publisher, Hachette, will not release the novel in the United States and will discontinue its U.K. edition, citing its commitment to …
Sean Hollister / The Verge:
Google is running a “small” experiment replacing news headlines in search results with AI-generated ones, after adding the feature in Google Discover in January — We're seeing Verge headlines rewritten by Google AI. … Since roughly the turn of the millennium, Google Search has been the bedrock of the web.
Discussion:
Digital Trends, Search Engine Land, @ashleybardhan.bsky.social, @bobbyallyn.bsky.social, @seamoosi.bsky.social, @munin@infosec.exchange, @wtfis2bdone.bsky.social, @jtemple.bsky.social, @grigs@front-end.social, @kleinman.bsky.social, @davidnir.com, @thomaswilburn@hachyderm.io, @theverge.com, @reckless.bsky.social, @seanokane.bsky.social, @mhoye@cosocial.ca, @seanhollister.bsky.social, @miasato.bsky.social, BMI, EasternEye, MediaNama and SmartCompany, more at Techmeme »
Alyssa Ray / The Wrap:
The ProPublica Guild, representing ~150 employees, voted 92% in favor of a strike authorization after negotiating for over two years for its first contract — “Our union stands united in supporting ProPublica Guild's efforts to win a fair and just contract,” Susan DeCarava, president of The NewsGuild of New York, adds
Discussion:
Publishers Weekly and NewsGuild of New York
New York Times:
A review of Polymarket's social media feeds found it has published hundreds of false and misleading posts, as the betting market presents itself as “News 2.0” — A review of the betting market's social media feeds found it has published hundreds of false and misleading posts.
Arthur Mensch / Financial Times:
Mistral CEO proposes a revenue-based levy for AI model providers in the EU, to be invested in “new content creation and supporting Europe's cultural sectors” — A revenue-based charge would protect the livelihoods of copyright holders and bring legal certainty
Discussion:
@justinhendrix.bsky.social, France 24 and Le Monde, more at Techmeme »
Bron Maher / A Media Operator:
The UK's Observer offers a new round of buyouts almost one year after its acquisition by Tortoise Media; ~33% of staff reportedly took the buyout offers in 2025 — The Observer, the historic Sunday newspaper that was acrimoniously acquired by start-up Tortoise Media from The Guardian last year …
Discussion:
Telegraph
Stuart Dredge / Music Ally:
Sony Music exec Dennis Kooker says the company has sent 135K+ takedown notices for deepfakes of its artists, but sees opportunities in AI with proper licensing — - Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email — The IFPI launched its latest Global Music Report this morning in London …
Discussion:
TechRadar, BBC, CMU and Digital Music News
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Murray Stassen / Music Business Worldwide:
IFPI: global recorded music revenues hit $31.7B in 2025, up 6.4% YoY, total streaming revenue surpassed $22B, and users of paid music subscriptions reached 837M
IFPI: global recorded music revenues hit $31.7B in 2025, up 6.4% YoY, total streaming revenue surpassed $22B, and users of paid music subscriptions reached 837M
Discussion:
@aramsinn.bsky.social, @aram@aoir.social, Ricardo Castanheira on LinkedIn and Billboard
