Top News:
Mitchell Armentrout / Chicago Sun Times:
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signs a state budget that levies taxes on social media giants, digital advertising, and prediction and crypto markets — The eighth state spending plan of Pritzker's tenure includes additional funding for food assistance in the wake of deep federal funding cuts under President Donald Trump.
Ben Fritz / Wall Street Journal:
A profile of Silk White, whose movies and TV shows, which have grossed ~$2M in the year to February, are distributed by Filmhub to online platforms like Tubi — Silk White's D.I.Y. movies and TV shows are profiting from growing audiences on free streaming services like Tubi and Roku
Matt G. Southern / Search Engine Journal:
Kapwing: in tests, ~60% of the first 500 TikTok For You videos shown to a new account were AI slop, ~3x the slop shown to a new user in the YouTube Shorts feed — In a fresh-account test, Kapwing found 59% of TikTok For You videos were AI slop, roughly three times the rate on YouTube.
Discussion:
Tubefilter, more at Techmeme »
Rebuild Local News:
The 2026 Local Journalist Index shows a persistent shortage of local journalists; states with fewer local journalists face higher municipal borrowing costs — MIAMI and BROOKLYN — The 2026 Local Journalist Index, a landmark annual study by Muck Rack, the AI communications platform …
Discussion:
Poynter, Tim Franklin on LinkedIn, Steven Waldman on LinkedIn and Washington Monthly
Lucas Manfredi / The Wrap:
Netflix says it is “not interested” and has no plans to pursue Lionsgate; Lionsgate shares closed up 13.85% on Tuesday before falling ~4% after hours — Shares of the Hollywood studio jumped 13% after Semafor reported the streamer was interested in a potential acquisition
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
WordPress survey: 60% of US consumers say “AI” in a brand's messaging is a turnoff, 86% always or sometimes check the original source after seeing an AI summary — Getting cited by AI is easier than earning consumers' trust, according to a new report from WordPress VIP …
Discussion:
TechRadar, @socialmedialab.ca, @drbarnard, PYMNTS, @mattnavarra@threads.com and @Sarahp@mastodon.social
Mark Sweney / The Guardian:
Analysts: UK social media ban is likely to cause £1.3B in digital ad cuts in 2027, with streaming services poised to benefit as advertisers seek to reach teens — TV streamers and family shows set to benefit as brands cease marketing to teenagers on sites such as YouTube
Discussion:
City A.M. and Moneycontrol
CBC News:
Canada's CBC, which began televising NHL games in 1952, will no longer show NHL games after it was unable to reach a new sublicense deal with Rogers Sportsnet — CBC Sports will launch new Saturday night prime time show focused on Olympic-oriented competition
Discussion:
Associated Press, @viewfromtherog.bsky.social, @plnear.bsky.social, @thoughtsnations.bsky.social, @strayarc.bsky.social, @canada-dry.bsky.social, @sportsnetpr, @ithx1138.bsky.social, @puzzled@coales.co, Awful Announcing, @lisafellaantifa.bsky.social, @trapdinawrpool.bsky.social, @scottinmontreal.ca, The Detroit News, The Athletic, @rhinestonecanuck.bsky.social, @fiverdrive.bsky.social, @allanis.gay, New York Times, @rachelgilmore.bsky.social, @rachelgilmore.bsky.social, MobileSyrup, Defector, @chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca, @njiska.com, Barrett Media, Sports Business Journal, Canadian Press, iPhone in Canada, @lukelebrun.ca and Telecompaper
Nieman Lab:
RISJ's 2026 Digital News Report: social media and video networks are now more popular as a source of news than TV and owned and operated news websites and apps — Facebook for news is on the rebound, impartial news isn't dead, and other findings from RISJ's 2026 Digital News Report
Discussion:
University of Canberra, Reuters Institute, Reuters Institute, Press Gazette, Reuters Institute, Inside Radio, Social Media Today, Mediaweek, @sorayanadiamcdonald.com, Dow Jones Newswires, @dankennedy.net, MediaPost, @abramjee, The Guardian, @ifanmj, @ianguider, The Rebooting, @risj_oxford, @risj_oxford, @risj_oxford, @risj_oxford, @risj_oxford, @risj_oxford, @risj_oxford, @risj_oxford, Election Law Blog, Reuters on YouTube, @rationaldoge@hachyderm.io, @claeshs.bsky.social, @damon.kiesow.net, GMA News Online, MediaPost, Reuters Institute, Reuters Institute, Reuters Institute, DutchNews.nl, Press Gazette, Agenzia ANSA, Advanced Television, WAN-IFRA, BBC, Australian Financial Review, The Hindu, Doc Searls Weblog, Gamereactor UK, The Japan Times, Journalism.co.uk and VERA Files
Kerry Flynn / Axios:
New York Post Media Group is launching its first FAST channel with 150 hours of programming from across the NY Post, California Post, Page Six, and more — New York Post Media Group is launching its first free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel, head of video and audio Warren Cohen exclusively tells Axios.
Discussion:
TheDesk.net, Cord Cutters News, Media Play News and ExchangeWire.com
Sara Fischer / Axios:
People Inc. acquires Hot Luck, an Austin-based food and music festival, as part of a push to bring live experiences to lifestyle brands — - It also gives People Inc. access to a younger live audience within its food vertical. … - The event drew more than 10,000 attendees in 2025 …
Sara Fischer / Axios:
USA Today adds 1,000 Marvel comics and an exclusive weekly, vertically formatted Spider-Man series to USA Today Play, expanding the app beyond puzzles and games — USA Today is adding 1,000 Marvel digital comics and an exclusive new, vertically formatted Marvel Infinity series, “Spider-Man TODAY …
Discussion:
Comic Book and @dude.computer
