Mediagazer: Just the News founder John Solomon says he is being vetted for a short-term White House role; a source says he would lead a task force to declassify documents (New York Times)

Brooks Barnes / New York Times:

A24's Backrooms and Focus' Obsession join a wave of breakout films from young directors who started on YouTube; Backrooms opened to $82M in North American sales — “Backrooms,” a psychological horror flick opening this weekend, is part of a wave of breakout films from fledgling directors who honed their instincts on YouTube.

Sherry Su / Bloomberg:

Sky ends its UAE joint venture with IMI amid criticism of Sky News Arabia's Sudan war coverage; IMI will take full ownership, and Sky will license the brand — Sky UK is ending a news joint venture with International Media Investments in the United Arab Emirates that has come under criticism for its coverage of the civil war in Sudan.

Discussion: The Guardian

Brian Steinberg / Variety:

NBC News launches Meet the Moment Live, a new live-event franchise for Meet the Press, its latest show to try to develop new revenue through live events — Soon people will have an opportunity to really meet “Meet the Press.” — Kristen Welker, the current moderator of the long-running …

Discussion: @bristei.bsky.social and NBC News

Sukhman Singh / The Athletic:

Inside JioStar's Mumbai-based production facility, the nerve center for IPL cricket streams that have attracted 1.1B+ viewers across TV and streaming in 2026 — The humidity hits on a Mumbai summer afternoon. — The cab was headed to Urmi Estate in Lower Parel, a skyscraper home …

Discussion: The Indian Express

Max Tani / Semafor:

NYPR's new CEO Christy Tanner, a CBS News veteran, has eliminated many senior figures, surprising staff and unsettling some of its remaining leaders — THE SCOOP — In her first four months on the job, the new CEO of New York Public Radio has swiftly eliminated many of its seniormost figures …

Brian Welk / IndieWire:

After backlash, animator Jorge R. Gutierrez drops plans to make an AI-generated animated series called Punky Duck for Amazon MGM Studios' GenAI Creators' Fund — “My intent was to showcase artists, both new and seasoned, both inside and outside the studios, driving this new tech,” the director said on X.

Lucas Manfredi / The Wrap:

Analysis: the top 18 Hollywood executives received $746M in combined compensation in 2025, a 51% YoY increase, as their pay gap with employees remains massive — One Los Angeles nonprofit is pushing for an “Overpaid CEO” tax — The top 18 Hollywood executives raked in a combined $746 million …

Discussion: People Matters

Jem Aswad / Variety:

UMG rejects the $64B acquisition offer from Bill Ackman's Pershing Square, saying the deal is not in the best interests of UMG, shareholders, and stakeholders — The board of Universal Music Group has rejected an unsolicited $64 billion takeover offer from Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Capital, the company announced on Friday.

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, Music Technology Policy, @sharonwaxman, @lucas_shaw, Music Business Worldwide, Financial Times, Inc.com, Barron's Online, Billboard, Bloomberg, The Hollywood Reporter, Barrett Media and Forbes

New York Times:

Just the News founder John Solomon says he is being vetted for a short-term White House role; a source says he would lead a task force to declassify documents — John Solomon said he was being vetted for a role as a “special government employee,” a status given to part-time, outside advisers to the federal government.

Discussion: Raw Story and @pbump.com

John Koblin / New York Times:

Antenna: bundles make up 33% of new major streaming service subscriptions in the US, and 28% of all subscriptions, up from just 10% of new subscriptions in 2024 — Warner Bros. and Disney have been fierce rivals for decades. But like other entertainment companies, they both struggled …

Discussion: Dow Jones Newswires, How-To Geek, @ben_kaplan, @antennadata, The Streamable and Mashable

CNBC:

Q&A with FCC Chair Brendan Carr, who discusses Disney's claim that the FCC's early TV license renewal orders chill free speech and says the orders are about DEI — Following is the unofficial transcript of a CNBC interview with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr on CNBC's “Squawk on the Street” (M-F, 9AM-12PM ET) today, Friday, May 29.

Discussion: The Daily Signal, The Wrap, Breitbart, Mediaite, Barrett Media, Grabien and Financial Times

Michael Calderone / New York Magazine:
Q&A with the FCC's Anna Gomez on the FCC's “policymaking by mob”, the high likelihood of a Disney win against the FCC, the risks of foreign investment in media

Discussion: CNBC, @gypsyrights.bsky.social, @calderone.bsky.social, TV Tech, NewsMax.com, Wall Street Journal and Radio & Television …

McKinley Franklin / The Hollywood Reporter:

2026 News & Documentary Emmys: HBO/CNN's Prime Minister won best documentary; ABC won the most news awards at eight, followed by Nat Geo's seven and CNN's four — The documentary winners were handed out at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall on Thursday night, where Michael Ian Black hosted.

Michael Crowley / New York Times:

China ordered the expulsion of NYT reporter Vivian Wang in February; a source says the US revoked the visa of a Chinese national working for Xinhua in response — The Trump administration ejected a Chinese journalist amid fresh concerns about Beijing's growing pressure on foreign correspondents.

Discussion: Semafor, Taipei Times, Bloomberg, Associated Press and Mediaite