News Corp Veterans to Launch Journalism Studio
Variety: Wall Street Journal reporters Tom Wright and Bradley Hope have teamed for Project Brazen, a multi-platform journalism studio that will uncover global true stories from the worlds of entertainment, business, crime and international politics via podcasts,...
Hearst Donates $1.2 Million to Help Out in Texas
Houston Chronicle: Hearst is donating $1.2 million to multiple Texas relief organizations in the wake of last week's crippling winter storm that left millions without electricity, heat or access to safe water. The global media company has a major presence in the state...
Conde Nast Editor Leaves for New Job at Google
Business of Fashion: Carolyn Kylstra, the editor of Self, Conde Nast's health and fitness title, is stepping down, according to a statement on her Instagram, and will join Google's editorial team as head of special projects and digital platforms. Kylstra came to Self...
New York Times Eyes Change in Diversity Report
New York Times: Top executives at the New York Times said in a note to the staff that they were committed to bringing about fundamental changes to the company's workplace culture in an effort to make the newsroom and other divisions more diverse and inclusive....
Washington Post Takes Home Most Polk Awards
Washington Post: Washington Post reporters were named the winners of four George Polk Awards, including one for a series about the life of George Floyd, the Minnesota man whose death while in police custody sparked months of protests last year. The Post's reporting...
Philadelphia Inquirer Lands $10 Million from US
Philadelphia Inquirer: The Philadelphia Inquirer has been awarded $10 million from the federal Paycheck Protection Program for businesses harmed by the coronavirus pandemic after changes to the program's rules made the newsroom and other news outlets eligible for...
Apple CEO Talks Acquisitions at Annual Meeting
MacRumors: Tim Cook said that Apple has acquired close to 100 companies over the course of the last six years. "We're not afraid to look at acquisitions of any size. Focus is on small, innovative companies that complement our products and help push them forward." Cook...
Facebook’s Tussle with Media is Just Beginning
Wall Street Journal: Facebook's battle with publishers and regulators around the world over how the social-media giant handles news is far from finished after striking an agreement this week with the Australian government to pay for content. The legislation is being...
Amazon CEO’s Top Lieutenant Exits Tech Giant
NBC News: Jeff Blackburn, Amazon SVP of business development and a key member of Jeff Bezos's inner circle, said he is leaving the company. The news comes three weeks after Bezos announced he would step down as CEO and become executive chairman, leaving Amazon Web...
AT&T Nears Deal to Sell Large Stake in DirecTV
CNBC: AT&T is nearing a deal to sell a substantial minority stake in its DirecTV, AT&T TV Now and U-Verse business to private equity firm TPG. A deal could be announced as soon as this week. The deal will value the AT&T businesses around at $15 billion....
Disney Adds R-Rated Fare to Streamer in Europe
Bloomberg: Nearly a year after Disney+'s European debut, Disney is introducing a new brand, Star, which will feature more viewing options for adults. With the new programming, the price for Disney+ is increasing, to 8.99 euros ($10.87) a month from 6.99 euros. The new...
Discovery Releases Statement About Tiger Woods
Golf Digest: Tiger Woods was in California for a two-day shoot with Golf Digest and GolfTV when he was in a car accident outside Los Angeles. The shoot involved Woods giving on-course lessons to a number of celebrities. Discovery Golf, the parent company of Golf...
Fox Corp Sponsors Political Fest Featuring Trump
Daily Beast: Fox News Media will spend $250,000 to underwrite a three-day partisan political confab featuring Donald Trump and a host of speakers on multiple panels pushing the big lie that Joe Biden was fraudulently elected. Fox News donated the money via its...
AT&T, Comcast to Distribute Black News Channel
Wall Street Journal: Black News Channel has expanded its reach more than 20-fold in about seven months, part of its new CEO's ambitious plan to shake up the cable-TV news landscape and provide an alternative that looks through the lens of Black Americans. Since he...
Al Jazeera Preps Digital Right-Wing News for US
Guardian: Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based news network that has previously sought to become a liberal media force in the US, is launching a platform to target conservatives. The new effort, called Rightly, will target Republicans who "eel left out of mainstream media,"...
Scripps to Create National Lifestyle TV Networks
Axios: EW Scripps plans to create new national lifestyle networks that will leverage its recent $2.65 billion acquisition of national broadcast company ION. The company, founded in 1878, has managed to survive by gradually spinning off its newspaper business while...
Snap Eyes 50% Revenue Growth for Many Years
AdExchanger: After revamping its self-serve advertising platform, Snap said it is now in a position to drive multiple years of more than 50% revenue growth. Over the course of two years, Snap went from 90% managed service to 90% self-service and started 2020 with the...
Thomson Reuters to Reshape for Post-Pandemic
Reuters: Thomson Reuters will streamline technology, close offices and rely more on machines to prepare for a post-pandemic world, the news and information group said. The company will spend $500 million to $600 million over two years to burnish its technology...
New York Times Slams ‘Wokeness’ at Conde Nast
Daily Mail: New York Times columnist Bret Stephens has lashed out at what he says is excessive "wokeness" in the media, taking aim at Bon Appetit's "Archive Repair Project." The magazine's project launched last July as an effort to identify and edit "problematic...
Conde Nast Under Fire for VF’s Hollywood Issue
Los Angeles Times: Vanity Fair's attempt at an inclusive Hollywood issue cover was celebrated on social media, but fell flat with a number of critics who called out the magazine for excluding Latinx stars. The brightly hued pullout cover and its splashy presentation...
Meredith Effort Aims to Make ‘Good Impressions’
WWD: Meredith is offering free media and marketing consultation services to Black, indigenous, people of color and LGBTQ majority-owned small beauty and food businesses. The “Good Impressions” initiative will provide help to between five and 10 businesses at various...
Maven Hires Hearst Veteran for Sports Illustrated
Variety: Maven Media, which runs the publishing businesses of Sports Illustrated and TheStreet, has tapped digital-media veteran Rob Barrett as president of media. Barrett reports to Maven CEO Ross Levinsohn. All of the company's media brands, including SI and...
Washington Post Names Interim Executive Editor
New York Post: The Washington Post has tapped Cameron Barr, one of four managing editors, to be its acting executive editor ahead of Marty Baron's exit on Feb. 28. "The search for the next executive editor is actively underway with a broad and diverse group of...
Slate to Suspend Podcaster After N-Word Debate
New York Times: Slate has suspended a well-known podcast host after he debated with colleagues over whether people who are not Black should be able to quote a racial slur in some contexts. Mike Pesca, the host of "The Gist," a podcast on news and culture, said that he...
Analysis: Why Are Media SPACs Hot Right Now?
Adweek: For the past six months, there's been a ballooning interest in media companies going public via special purpose acquisition companies. Why the sudden rush of interest by digital media companies like BuzzFeed, Vice, Group Nine, Bustle Digital, and Vox? Media...
Facebook Agrees to Reinstate News in Australia
Sydney Morning Herald: Facebook will reinstate news content on its platform in Australia after the government agreed to last-minute amendments to its proposed media bargaining code. The amendments include inserting a two-month mediation period into the code to give...
Microsoft to Seek Pay for News Media in Europe
Associated Press: Microsoft is teaming up with European publishers to push for a system to make big tech platforms pay for news, raising the stakes in the brewing battle led by Australia to get Google and Facebook to pay for journalism. The Seattle tech giant and four...
Google to End Pause on Political Ads After Riots
CNBC: Google is once again letting political ads run on its platform following a pause that began after the Jan. 6 riot at the US Capitol. "Starting on Wednesday, we will be lifting our Sensitive Events policy to again allow advertisers to run political ads," Google...
Netflix Inspires Hollywood to Conceal Box Office
Hollywood Reporter: More and more Hollywood studios are concealing their box office grosses amid the pandemic and ongoing theater closures, saying they don't want to be unfairly judged for numbers that, in "normal" times, would be considered anywhere from tepid to...
Disney Streamer Eyes Magic Kingdom Franchise
Hollywood Reporter: Disney is ready to bring the characters from its theme parks and classic films to life in a new way. The media giant is teaming with creator Ron Moore to develop a franchise for streamer Disney+ that is set in Disney's beloved Magic Kingdom. The...