Biz buzz

The Washington Informer. With journalism under attack, it’s important to support the black press

People who read, subscribe to, or advertise in African American-owned and operated newspapers, can count on locally based stories that inform Black communities and highlight success stories often overlooked or ignored by mainstream publications. – PL

Nieman Lab. Most Americans don’t pay for news and don’t think they need to

The Pew Research Center surveyed 3,560 U.S. adults in December 2025 about their relationship to the news and how they perceive its value in everyday life. The study found “no consensus about the importance of following the news,” but there was one thing Americans seemed to agree on: they don’t pay for news. – PL

Poynter. When local news disappears, people turn to social media feeds, influencers and gossip

People without local news consume information at similar rates — and don’t believe they’re missing anything, a Medill survey found. – PL

Independent. Fresh Bari Weiss fallout as CBS Evening News producer quits over ‘ideological expectations’

Producer of four years says recent changes have prioritized news that conforms to a set of ideals rather than journalistic merit. – PL

The Hill. Gallup will no longer measure presidential approval after 88 years

The company said starting this year it would stop publishing approval and favorability ratings of individual political figures, saying in a statement it “reflects an evolution in how Gallup focuses its public research and thought leadership.” – PL

Pew Research Center. Majority of Americans express low confidence in journalists to act in public’s best interests

A majority of Americans (57%) express low confidence in journalists to act in the best interests of the public, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis from the Pew-Knight Initiative. This includes 40% who say they have not too much confidence and 17% who say they have none at all. By comparison, 43% of adults say they have a great deal or a fair amount of confidence in journalists. – PL

Variety. CBS News considering new round of layoffs, could affect at least 15% of staff

Marks the latest move by editor in chief Bari Weiss as she attempts to focus the news division on streaming video and presenting more points of view to audiences. – PL

Nieman Lab. “Terribly frustrating”: After USPS changes, more newspapers aren’t reaching subscribers on time

Newspaper delays are just one consequence of cost cuts and changes to a fraying 250-year-old system. – PL

Semafor. The Guardian debuts new flagship video podcast

The growing US outpost of the left-leaning British publication is launching a daily video podcast later this year to compete with the likes of The New York Times and NPR. — PL

Newsweek. Anderson Cooper leaving ‘60 Minutes’ amid CBS News shake‑up

After nearly two decades on the TV news magazine, Cooper’s departure marks the latest staffing change at the long‑running news magazine amid broader newsroom upheaval. – PL

Nieman Lab. A new bill in New York would require disclaimers on AI-generated news content

Senator Patricia Fahy (D-Albany) and Assemblymember Nily Rozic (D-NYC) introduced the bill, called The New York Fundamental Artificial Intelligence Requirements in News Act — The NY FAIR News Act for short. – PL

TV Tech. Sen. Cruz announces hearing on broadcast media ownership rules

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing will pay particular attention to the rule prohibiting station groups from reaching no more than 39% of TV homes. – PL

Deadline. Washington Post staff starts GoFundMe for international employees facing “serious security risks” after layoffs: “I was just laid off in the middle of a war zone”

“These workers are not eligible for protection under the Washington Post Guild and are, in many instances, being laid off with less favorable terms while also facing immense logistical challenges and, in certain cases, serious security risks,” the crowdfunding page reads. – PL

Rebuild Local News. Supporting local reporting in Illinois: Early lessons and opportunities

In 2025, the Local Journalism Sustainability Tax Incentive Program awarded $4 million in tax credits, supporting over 260 journalist jobs across more than 120 local outlets statewide. Early implementation of the policy reveals opportunities to better target funding, expand eligibility and simplify participation. – PL

Axios. Washington Post names acting CEO as Will Lewis exits

Jeff D'Onofrio was named acting publisher and CEO. He joined the Post in 2025 as CFO and previously worked at Raptive, Tumblr and Google. – PL

New Yorker. How Jeff Bezos brought down the Washington Post

The Amazon founder bought the paper to save it. Instead, with a mass layoff, he’s forced it into severe decline. – PL

Nieman Lab. ICE activity is pushing readers to nonprofit news sites that cover immigrant communities

From Somalis in Minneapolis to Nepalis in New York City, immigrant communities turn to trusted local news sources. The article ranks the top 25 nonprofit news sites in the United States. – PL

Local News Initiative. With no local news, those in news deserts turn to social media feeds, influencers and gossip

Medill Local News Initiative survey shows America’s fraying relationship to reliable information. – PL

AP. Washington Post cuts a third of its staff in a blow to a legendary news brand

It eliminated the sports section, several foreign bureaus and books coverage. The Post's executive editor, Matt Murray, called the move painful but necessary to put the outlet on stronger footing and weather changes in technology and user habits. – PL

CNN. Washington Post’s White House team urges Jeff Bezos to halt massive newsroom cuts

“If the plan, to the extent there is one, is to reorient around politics we wanted to emphasize how much we rely on collaboration with foreign, sports, local — the entire paper, really. And if other sections are diminished, we all are,” bureau chief Matt Viser wrote in one of the Post’s internal Slack channels. – PL

Hollywood Reporter. CBS offers buyouts to some ‘Evening News’ staff as Tony Dokoupil remakes show

The network told staff about the buyout plans Wednesday, a day after CBS News chief Bari Weiss outlined her vision to staff in a town hall. – PL

NY Times. David Brooks is departing

The conservative columnist, who joined Opinion in 2003, will be the inaugural presidential senior fellow at Yale, where he will facilitate lectures and host a podcast for The Atlantic. – PL

Columbia Journalism Review. A Veteran of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette—and its long strike—prepares for what’s next

“We didn’t go on strike to put the paper out of business. We went on strike to keep it good,” says Bob Batz, Jr. – PL

E&P. FT Strategies’ new report reveals how younger audiences find and trust news

Reveals how younger audiences actually discover and share news today — and where publishers are losing visibility, breaks down what drives trust, habit, and value for next-gen consumers across platforms and formats. – PL

TV News Check. Should broadcasters produce news that looks more like YouTube?

KSHB Kansas City offers an intriguing case study in producing YouTube-style news videos that are platform portable and striking chords with audiences. – PL

E&P. Bloomberg Media launches new digital video experience and reports strong FY2025

The redesigned one-stop home for premium live and on-demand content will allow viewers globally to access all of Bloomberg’s video on its site and at the new “Stream” tab on the Bloomberg mobile app. The updated hub will arrive on streaming platforms in Q3 2026. Additionally, Bloomberg Media closed the second half of FY2025 with strong results that reflected the company’s dual mission: broadening influence across all of Bloomberg’s businesses and diversifying revenue through advertising, subscriptions, events, and partnerships. – PL

Axios. Axios, OpenAI expand partnership to scale local news

This expansion brings Axios Local to a total 43 communities and is made possible through its multi-year partnership with OpenAI. – PL

KSRO. New Journalism: Can nonprofit media save local news?

Will Press Onward, a nonprofit, community-based digital newsroom, be able to deliver on its ambitious promise: “To restore robust local news, strengthen civic engagement and safeguard democracy right here at home.” – PL

A Media Operator. Apple News: Is it worthwhile? Enders analysis dug into the UK market

Apple News is something of a black box for publishers. It can deliver exposure to new readers and, in some cases, incremental revenue, but the data is limited: publishers receive aggregated performance analytics, not first-party reader data. – PL

University of Northern Colorado. New artificial intelligence in media production course prepares the next generation of journalists

New course teaches students to experiment with AI tools, navigate ethical challenges and prepare for rapidly evolving careers in journalism and media. - PL

Sun Gazette. Independent publishers join forces to support news industry

California Independent News Alliance hosts inaugural conference in Visalia, works to keep local news alive. – PL

NY Times. Public media holds its apocalypse at bay, for now

Though Congress cut $500 million from NPR and PBS stations, vanishingly few have closed their doors. Angst about their long-term future remains. – PL

E&P. Trib Total Media announces new weekend publication and strategic expansion

The Pittsburgh edition of the Tribune-Review will provide original, local reporting focused on news that matters to communities in the Pittsburgh region, including city government, education, transportation and public safety. – PL

LA Times. Newsom plans no new journalism funding despite $175-million funding deal with Google

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal includes no money for a fund formed last year to boost the state’s local newsrooms, casting doubt on whether a heralded effort to help California journalists will amount to anything and how serious Newsom is about supporting the struggling industry. – PL

Semifor. Politico announces layoffs, new product

Politico is planning to launch a paid subscription product aimed at finance and investment professionals; it also informed staff that the publication would cut about 3% of its 750-person global staff, a reduction that included well-known bylines like Michael Schaffer and several former top editors. –  PL

Poynter. Opinion | CBS News’ reset raises a hard question: Who is this for?

A right-of-center approach and Jan. 6 both-sides framing test whether CBS can grow under new leadership without losing trust. – PL

Guardian. Publishers fear AI search summaries and chatbots mean ‘end of traffic era’

Media bosses expect web referrals to plunge and want journalists to emulate content creators, report finds. – PL

Poynter. How journalists should cover ICE’s fatal shooting of a civilian in Minneapolis

Editors face high-stakes ethical decisions on video, transparency and protest coverage — and those choices will be closely scrutinized. – PL

E&P. The Journalism Support Exchange (JSX) connects the dots: A new tool helps local newsrooms find the support they need

This centralized database helps local newsrooms more easily locate resources — from business training and technology tools to legal guidance and grants. – PL

CJR. John Cusack wants to talk about paywalls

The movie star says that by selling their public-records-based reporting, news outlets are compromising one of journalism’s essential civic roles. – PL

E&P. The Atlantic hires Adam Harris to host new weekly video podcast

Harris was previously a staff writer covering education. The podcast is currently in development. – PL

E&P. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette owners couldn’t bust the union, so they shut down the paper

PG to shut down 240-year-old paper after SCOTUS slaps down company’s bid to evade court order. – PL

E&P. Center for Media Innovation leader says Post-Gazette’s impending closure should be ‘a call to arms’

“The crisis in local news has been framed as a ‘media problem.’ The reality is, healthy communities require easy access to reliable local news,” said Andrew Conte, assistant vice president and managing director of the Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University. – PL

Storybench. From Slack Bots to Story Tools: Hearst’s Tim O’Rourke on the future of AI in journalism

O’Rourke, vice president of editorial Innovation and AI strategy at Hearst, said that combination, curiosity, technical fluency, and exposure to strong newsroom culture, will help new journalists thrive as the industry evolves. – PL

Guardian. How independent journalism is a form of resistance: ‘I’m not answering to anyone’

Trump’s attacks on mainstream media have opened a window for journalists who want to operate independently. – PL

E&P. Baltimore Sun Guild files new labor charges amid rising tensions

The Baltimore Sun Guild announced via Instagram that it has filed additional unfair labor practice charges against The Baltimore Sun, accusing management of abandoning contract negotiations and attempting to impose unilateral decisions without bargaining in good faith. – PL

The New Yorker. What a viral YouTube video says about the future of journalism

A streamer’s investigation of fraud in Minnesota garnered millions of views. His content was questionable, but his methods will likely inspire scores of imitators. – PL

The News Guild. Guild joins other unions and media justice groups in petition urging FCC to reject Nexstar’s takeover of TEGNA

In their filing the petitioners state that the merger would result in an illegal broadcast conglomerate, exceeding the 39-percent audience-reach “National Cap” set by Congress. – PL

The Zebra. Publisher’s Note: Using AI for Images Isn’t a Crime. It’s Local Journalism Keeping Pace.

The publisher has addressed their use of AI for illustrative images in an effort to keep up with the demands of local journalism, emphasizing transparency and distinguishing illustrations from actual photographs. – PL

AP. Corporation for Public Broadcasting votes itself out of existence

Leaders of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private agency that has steered federal funding to PBS, NPR and hundreds of public television and radio stations across the country, voted Monday to dissolve the organization that was created in 1967. – PL

NY Post. Roll out the red carpet! The California Post to launch on January 26: ‘A game-changer’ for the Golden State

The sister publication to the New York Post brings its sensationalism, bold headlines, and a focus on celebrity gossip and crime to the West Coast. – PL

The News Guild. South Florida Sun Sentinel journalists ratify historic first contract

The two-year contract, ratified on Tuesday, is the first for Sun Sentinel journalists in the newspaper’s 115-year history. It will provide two years of raises, a $1,500 bonus and job protections from artificial intelligence, among other benefits. – PL

E&P. Can rural newsrooms win over Gen Z?

Journalism Professor Teri Finneman of the University of Kansas and Instructor Tyler Nagel of Southern Alberta Institute of Technology surveyed 183 local mass communication students in their late teens to early 20s to determine how they felt about working in rural communities. – PL

Irish Times. Message from the editor: We’ve hit a milestone – our journalism is fully funded by subscribers

The Irish Times has more paying readers than at any point in its history, and revenue generated by subscribers for the first time fully funds its journalism. – PL

The Detroit News. End of Detroit Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) heralds new era of newspaper competition in Detroit

A nearly four-decade-long business partnership between The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press ended Sunday, pitting the newspapers against each other financially at a time when few other U.S. cities support two major papers. – PL

Newscast Studio. Dak’s Take: Investigative journalism is leaving television behind

Investigative journalism works. The demand exists. What’s missing is the institutional commitment, according to Dak Dillion, editor-in-chief of Newscast Studio.

ProPublica. Our reporters reached out for comment. They were accused of stalking and intimidation.

Journalists reached out to people they’re writing about to ensure fairness. But in this environment, they’ve found their efforts to do so are more likely to be vilified than appreciated. – PL

Local News Initiative. Troubled local news outlets face a new risk: climate change

New research identifies the U.S. communities facing the double jeopardy of climate disaster and a lack of news sources. – PL

E&P. Entries are now being accepted for 2026 Pulitzer Prize journalism competition

The deadline for entry is Jan. 26, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PT. The 2026 Pulitzer Prize winners and nominated finalists in Journalism and the Books, Drama & Music categories will be announced on Monday, May 4, 2026 at 3 p.m. ET. – PL

E&P. The Atlantic adds four journalists to its staff

Joining in January as part of a continued newsroom expansion: Henry Grabar and Judith Shulevitz as staff writers; Chris Suellentrop as a senior editor; along with Uzodinma Iweala as a contributing writer. – PL

University of Florida. The Department of Journalism celebrates its 100th anniversary

For the past century, the department has grown from a single class in the basement of Anderson Hall into a robust network of 22 faculty and more than 550 students, all working together to mold the next generation of journalists and communicators. – PL

NYT. Brian O’Keefe joins DealBook

As managing editor, he will work on expanding coverage to newsletters, events, and audio/video/social efforts. – PL

E&P. Katie Pavlich joins NewsNation as 10 p.m. ET primetime host

The journalist and political analyst will focus on large news stories for the fast-growing cable-news network starting in the new year. – PL

E&P. The Villages Daily Sun names Dan Sprung as new publisher

Former general manager of the tenth-largest daily printed newspaper in America since 2020, he succeeds Philip J. Markward, who is assuming an executive consultant role. – PL

NYT. A California newspaper prints its last edition

The Palisadian-Post was published for 97 years, but the twice-monthly community newspaper couldn’t survive the Los Angeles wildfires. – PL

Poynter. How journalists covered weekend of mass shootings across globe

Coverage of the Bondi Beach and Brown University attacks grappled with terror, trauma, and accountability. – PL

The Guardian. It’s the media’s job to hold power to account. This year, too many got into bed with it instead

The lines between advertising, public relations, and journalism have become dangerously blurred. – PL

NiemanLab. The year journalism goes underground in America

We’re slipping beneath the radar in our news habits, sometimes because there is no local news organization to provide the information we need — and sometimes because it’s not safe to do otherwise. – PL

Arkansas Advocate. Veteran Associated Press political reporter takes helm of Arkansas Advocate 

The nonprofit, online-only Advocate covers Arkansas state government and public policy, and Andrew DeMillo brings his two decades as AP’s Capitol correspondent to the task. – PL

E&P. The Boston Globe names Brian McGrory as editor

Veteran newsroom leader returns to lead the Globe beginning Jan. 5. – PL

E&P. Alyssa Katz named next editor-in-chief of the Forward

Award-winning journalist will assume editorial leadership of the nation’s foremost Jewish media outlet. – PL

Nature. Effectiveness of citizen journalism: evaluating the credibility, bias, and impact of user-generated news content in the digital age

This research investigates the shift of citizen journalism during the 21st century with special attention to how new technologies affected the whole process of news production, distribution, and public participation. – PL

E&P. Changes to Pulitzer Prize Journalism categories

Among the changes, the board is reintroducing a Beat Reporting category that was last awarded in 2006, and a new Opinion Writing category will combine the previous Editorial Writing and Commentary categories. – PL

JournalismUK. The Guardian hires Netflix executive to lead product development

Allan Donald, former director of product at Netflix, has joined the Guardian in a newly created position of vice-president of product. He will lead the development its user experiences. – PL

A Media Operator. AI Firm ProRata Strikes Licensing Agreement With Almost All Danish Publishers

The country’s publishers will get paid revenue when they appear in ProRata’s AI search results. – PL

Editor & Publisher. Daily Mail to buy The Telegraph, consolidating conservative media in Britain

This $500 million move would merge two of Britain’s biggest news publications, raising concerns over antitrust laws in the country. -acs

The Independent. Sinclair to take 8.2% stake in E.W. Scripps

According to leadership, Sinclair’s purchase of Scripps’ common stock could be a first move in hopes to acquire the company. This partnership has raised concerns amongst critics who feel the media is already becoming too homogenized. -acs

Editor & Publisher. Adams Multimedia acquiring Cedar Rapids Gazette and 11 others

With a focus on independent, local, and family-run news, Adams Publishing has acquired over 120 newspapers and more than 220 media-related and associated digital products across the US. -acs

Nieman Lab. Introducing the Journalism Support Exchange (JSX)

Last week JSX launched, creating a “user-friendly, searchable database” for journalists. JSX features resources, tools, and access to experts in the field, hoping to make the modern journalism experience more streamlined. -acs

Gannett. Gannett renames itself to USA TODAY Co

Gannett, one of the United States’ biggest news companies, announced it will be changing its name to USA TODAY Co. According to CEO and Chairman Mike Reed, the name change is meant to reflect their biggest masthead, USA TODAY, which is dedicated to “delivering fact-based news, unbiased coverage and essential content” for all Americans. -acs

Local News Initiative. How independent newsrooms can survive consolidation

Typical symptoms of consolidation include combined roles and content, staff cuts, less diverse voices and stories, and content becoming more vulnerable to big donor national interests. This has prompted independent newspapers to explore various methods to survive, such as worker ownership, innovation labs, and community donations, with keeping news local as their top priority. -acs

CJR. The end of Teen Vogue

Teen Vogue is being folded into Vogue's website by its publisher, Condé Nast, a move accompanied by layoffs and the elimination of its dedicated politics team, sparking concern from former staffers and unions about the silencing of youth-led, underrepresented voices. Teen Vogue has historically been an essential publication in empowering young communities to stand up for themselves and others, blending pop culture with the realities of coming-of-age in a rapidly modernizing world. -acs

Editor & Publisher. The Center Square launches investigative reporting project

The Center Square launched a new investigative reporting project to analyze and expose public interest and government accountability issues. The initiative aims to deepen state and local coverage by dedicating resources to in-depth investigations and bolstering its role as a watchdog in under-covered communities. -acs

CJR. A new generation of journalists is emerging from the Amazon

The Mycelium-Sumauma Forest journalist co-training program supports young people from Indigenous and other traditional Amazon communities, providing resources for them to become reporters. Centered on cultural and scholarly exchange, the program's second cohort is preparing to cover COP30, which will take place in the affected region for the first time in its history. -acs

NYT. The new era of Pentagon press reporting

The Pentagon announced a new "press corps" of over 60 journalists from non-traditional, largely conservative outlets who agreed to its updated media access policy. Simultaneously, dozens of reporters from legacy outlets (including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Associated Press, Reuters, and major TV networks) returned their Pentagon credentials and left their workspaces rather than sign the new rules. -acs

Poynter. Poynter launches AI literacy program

MediaWise has launched a new AI-literacy program in collaboration with the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, offering toolkits, videos and lesson plans designed for audiences from youth to seniors to help them navigate generative AI responsibly. -acs

Editor & Publisher. SUNY starts student collaboration with local newsrooms

The State University of New York (SUNY) has launched the Institute for Local News to connect around 20 of its campuses with nearby news outlets, enabling students to publish real-world reporting while supplying understaffed community newsrooms with fresh coverage. -acs

Poynter. NBC lays off 150 employees as they prepare for network recalibration

These cuts will result in the termination of 150 employees, a byproduct of budget cuts and spinoffs at the network. With the full split of NBC News and MSNBC, significant changes and cuts are expected in the coming months. -acs

Editor & Publisher. Thomas Reuters Foundation discusses guidelines for AI in journalism

Many newsrooms are already using AI in their reporting. The Thomas Reuters Foundation says these three steps can help newsrooms become AI-ready: Identify your AI tools, map the risks and solutions, and integrate AI guidelines into your editorial policies. -acs

The Guardian. Leading news organizations say they will not agree to Hegseth's new press policy

The proposed policy requires journalists to pledge not to obtain unauthorized materials and to be accompanied by an official in certain areas. Critics say the proposal violates the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of the press. -acs

Nieman Lab. Bari Weiss and MSNBC lay out their journalistic principles

Weiss’ values reflect a “fair, fearless, and factual” approach with an emphasis on criticism of both political parties. MSNBC’s principles reflect ethics, advocacy, the first amendment, and also feature an AI transparency agreement. -acs

Reuters Institute. How do people think about AI's role in journalism and society?

Reuters survey of six countries (Argentina, Denmark, France, Japan, the UK, and the US) examines AI's inner workings and societal impact, finding significant increases in AI use and knowledge, with exponential growth in AI for summarizing and explaining the news. -acs

ProPublica. ProPublica Names Five New Local Reporting Partners for Its 50-State Initiative

ProPublica has announced five new newsroom partners as part of its long-term goal to collaborate with at least one local news organization in every U.S. state by 2029. The latest cohort includes: Holly McDede of KQED (San Francisco, California), Alex Acquisto of the Lexington Herald-Leader (Kentucky), Samantha Melamed of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Pennsylvania), Nichole Manna of The Tributary (Jacksonville, Florida), and Richard A. Webster of Verite News (New Orleans, Louisiana), whose partnership is being renewed for another year. Their work is expected to cover issues ranging from criminal justice and public health to structural equity and government accountability. -acs

Washington Post. CBS to make Bari Weiss new Editor in Chief

Paramount-Skydance is set to acquire Bari Weiss’s publication, The Free Press, for around $150 million and install her as editor-in-chief of CBS News, marking a striking turn for both her independent media venture and the broadcast network. This development comes after the network's capitulation to the Trump administration with a $60 million 60 Minutes settlement and the installation of Kenneth Weinstein as the network’s ombudsman. -acs

AP. AP President and CEO Daisy Veerasingham states: the future of news is in the facts

In a recent interview, AP President and CEO Daisy Veerasingham highlighted that in this era of division and lack of trust, The Associated Press's main strength lies in providing unbiased, impartial reporting rooted in factual accuracy. AP maintains clients in nearly 150 countries who all rely on the news agency for the same thing: independent, nonpartisan, and accurate journalism. -acs

WHYY.org. There is still hope for NJ public television

New Jersey’s public television station, NJ PBS, will cease operations next summer due to financial struggles, prompting State Sen. John Burzichelli to call for a “rescue plan” and a reimagined public media model focused on government coverage. Burzichelli has suggested that public programming could be converted to something more akin to C-SPAN, allowing for continued coverage of the state house. -acs

IPI. Introducing IPI's 2025 Local News Accelerator cohort

The International Press Institute (IPI) has announced the 2025 cohort of its Local News Accelerator, welcoming ten news organizations into a four-month program designed to bolster editorial innovation and financial sustainability. Selected participants will receive tailored coaching, peer support, and training in audience development, digital formats, and revenue diversification as they navigate the challenges of sustaining local journalism in an evolving media ecosystem. -acs

Editor & Publisher. Dallas Morning News and Hearst merger approved

Following the approval at a special shareholders’ meeting, The Dallas Morning News and its marketing arm Medium Giant are slated to become part of Hearst’s media portfolio. As soon as the deal closes, Hearst is set to pay $16.50 in cash per share and take the company private, ending its public trading status. -acs

NPR. NPR's 2025-2026 budget, and where public media stands right now

NPR has gained significant financial support from its listeners, but executives say the future is still very unclear. NPR plans to shed $5 million of its budget over the next fiscal year, tough they do not plan on any large staffing cuts like the company saw in 2023. -acs

CNN. Inside the American monopolies that could control Tiktok

Donald Trump announced the app’s American takeover will be led by Larry Ellison, Michael Dell, and the Murdochs. This change in control will shift algorithms in the country, potentially altering the app's landscape, especially for American users. Ellison and the Murdochs already exert significant control over the media landscape, further fueling American citizens' concerns about censorship and information consumption. -acs

Editor & Publisher. Wired magazine's newest political issue examines big tech's involvement in American politics

WIRED’s latest Politics Issue explores how Silicon Valley has moved from its outsider roots to becoming deeply embedded in U.S. political life. The magazine reports that many industry leaders are adapting to the Trump administration by cultivating political connections and regulatory leverage, signaling a shift from open opposition to strategic concession. -acs

Investigative Journalism Foundation. News outlets team up to confront the big tech stronghold

The IJF has joined a consortium of 17 international news outlets in a nine-month investigation, titled “The Invisible Hand of Big Tech,” which reveals how major tech companies have lobbied to influence policy by delaying, weakening or killing regulation across Canada and twelve other countries. -acs

Financial Times. Paramount-Skydance prepares to make bid on Warner Bros

If Larry Ellison successfully acquires Warner Bros. Discovery, he would gain control of major news outlets like CBS and CNN, potentially altering the information flow and create further news biases for the American public. -acs

Reuters. Newsmax sues Fox Corp over exclusion policies

Newsmax has filed a new lawsuit in Wisconsin against Fox Corp and Fox News after a Florida judge dismissed its earlier case on technical grounds, accusing Fox of using antitrust violations to coerce distributors into excluding or limiting Newsmax. -acs

NPR. Rupert Murdoch to hand off media control to son, Lachlan, buying out other heirs

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch has handed control of his empire to his son Lachlan, solidifying plans to buy out the shares of his other children, costing $1.1 billion a head. Murdoch wanted to secure a conservative ideological legacy for News Corp. and Fox Corp., as several of his children have been critical of the media companies' recent editorial direction. -acs

NYT. PBS will cut 15% of its staff

Federal funding cuts to public broadcasting have forced PBS to cut around 100 staff positions. According to CEO Paula Kerger, this decision followed travel restrictions, hiring freezes, and a halt to pay raises. While PBS faces challenges due to these budget cuts, smaller stations are especially vulnerable, with "dozens of TV and radio stations in danger of shutting down, and many are applying for grant funding to stay afloat.” -acs

Nieman Lab. Le Monde is giving AI revenue to its staff, could that happen in the US?

Newsrooms are rapidly licensing content to OpenAI, leaving many unsure how to navigate the shift towards LLMs in writing. France is leading the way in this new battle; organizations like Le Monde are offering journalists 25% of revenue from licensing deals with OpenAI and Perplexity, potentially paving the way for a new standard of ethical journalism in the US and beyond. -acs

Semafor. Investors want to make the NYT the "Netflix of news"

Investors in The New York Times have unveiled a new strategy for legacy media: expanding non-editorial operations. This includes using AI to translate articles into French and Japanese, aiming to broaden the consumer base and boost readership. The plan's goal is to make "The Grey Lady" a global, premier news source, raising the question: what must be sacrificed to achieve this? -acs

Editor & Publisher. RSF and Avaaz call for global newsroom mobilization against violence in Gaza

Nearly 300 publications from all over the world have come together to stand up against violence in Gaza. Since the start of the war, over 200 journalists have been killed. This is a result of unprecedented, and unchecked violence against protected parties during times of conflict. In an effort to highlight this unnecessary violence, these publications are calling for an “end the killing of journalists, open Gaza to the press and protect Palestinian reporters working under fire.” Several publications also participated in a media blackout to simulate what the world would look like without protections for journalists. -acs

Poynter. Atlanta Journal-Constitution to transition to digital-only reporting

AJC has been publishing print journalism for over 150 years, but a sustained change in the way consumers get their news has caused them to shift focus and quit print all together. This change will fully go into effect starting in 2026, ushering in a new, future-focused business model that will ultimately better serve the interests of their audience. -acs

International Press Institute. Lithuanian outlet, Siena, successfully puts sustainability first

Siena is Lithuania’s only platform focused exclusively on investigative journalism. After a plateau in viewership, the team knew they had to shift focus. What they landed on? An exclusive collection of articles via a premium newsletter. According to IPI, “the newsletter combines three sections: Siena’s latest investigation, updates on the impact of past reporting, and investigations from international partners whose work rarely reaches Lithuania. The format allows Siena not only to showcase its own work, but also to highlight the value of collaboration and cross-promotion in an otherwise fragmented media landscape.” -acs

The Tennessean. Tennessee wants to see the First Amendment in action

According to a survey by The Tennessean, "more than 96% of Americans have heard of the First Amendment, but only 6% can name the five freedoms it protects." In a time when these freedoms may be at risk, especially in places like Tennessee where they are often brought into question, critics believe the best way to solidify them is to see them in action. That's why The Tennessean, along with other publications, has launched the First Amendment Reporters initiative to report on the usage of the First Amendment across the country. -acs

The Oklahoman. University of Central Oklahoma closing their print publication, The Vista

In an effort to save $12,000 of their annual $170 million budget, University of Central Oklahoma will end 122 years of its print publication, The Vista. Critics of the decision say they do not have the student’s best interests in mind, “colleges and universities are supposed to be embracing policies and programs that provide skills and experiences that set their students up for success in the professional workplace,” not shutting them down. -acs

Pew Research Center. The American journalist in 2025

Americans disagree on what constitutes a journalist today. The rise of "new media" has blurred the lines of journalism, forcing Americans to reconsider that news and commentary extends beyond traditional newspapers and broadcasts. Modern American journalism now thrives in newsletters, podcasts, and social media, reflecting a shift in how people consume news. -acs

KSAT. UT San Antonio to offer a Bachelor of Arts in journalism this fall

In the wake of newspaper closures and university degree changes, UTSA offers us proof that the industry is still alive and well. The new degree will expand on the multitude of communications offerings already available, and will “emphasize community journalism, multimedia news production, and hands-on experiential learning, while also focusing on journalistic integrity and ethical reporting.” -acs

Editor & Publisher. Wyoming news executives band together to save 8 of the states publications after News Media Corporation Announcement

Robb and Jen Hicks and Rob Mortimore announced an agreement with News Media Corporation to purchase all of its Wyoming newspapers. This effort has helped save countless jobs throughout the state and ensure Wyoming's news landscape remains strong and informed. -acs

CNBC. MSNB to change name to MS Now, abandoning association with legacy media NBC

After Versant and Comcast-NBCUniversal announced their split, it seemed that no major changes would be made. Now, MSNBC has announced a significant change: it will change its name and remove the iconic peacock logo to further differentiate itself from the parent network. The Versant CEO has stated that this won't alter the news organization's goals, noting that "MSNBC has been undergoing aggressive hiring for about 100 new positions to stand up its own newsroom independent from NBC News.” -acs

Editor & Publisher. Adapt or die: 54% of Americans go to social media for their news, reflecting a breaking point in consumption

According to a 2025 Reuters report, "54% of U.S. adults turned to social or video platforms for news in the previous week, compared to 50% who used TV and 48% who accessed news via websites or apps." While not a new trend, this represents a compounding effect. For publications that don't utilize social media, the question is: how do they capture readers' attention, or must they adapt? -acs

Axios. https://www.axios.com/2025/08/05/trump-murdoch-lawsuit-epstein-birthday-book-deposition

President Trump and media mogul Rupert Murdoch agreed on August 5, 2025, to pause Murdoch's deposition in Trump's $10 billion libel lawsuit over a Wall Street Journal report about an alleged "Epstein birthday book" until after the court rules on the defendants' motion to dismiss the case. The motion for expedited deposition cited Murdoch's advanced age and health, but discovery, including questioning and document exchange, is now on hold pending the dismissal decision. -acs

Mitchell Republic. News Media Corporation abruptly shuts down, effectively closing dozens of papers across several states

On August 6, 2025, the CEO of News Media Corporation sent out an email announcing the immediate closure of the company and its newspapers. This decision ended the employment of hundreds of staffers with no notice, leaving them without jobs or healthcare. NMC has been in operation since 1975, and owns small papers in Arizona, Illinois, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. -acs

NPR. Corporation for Public Broadcasting to shut down by January

Following cuts to public broadcasting, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced it will lay off staff and close its doors around January of next year. This is the first time in 60 years the government has refused to fund CPB, citing liberal bias and a waste of tax dollars. The CPB shutdown will impact more than just staff, also meaning a large cut to small, community-serving stations funded by the non-profit, which offer services like weather reporting. -acs

Editor & Publisher. Fulda Free Press & Murray County News publish their final issues

Multiple Minnesota publications are closing after over a century of reporting. Despite its necessity, the news industry faces endless barriers to survival. Small newspapers, once the backbone of the nation, are disappearing daily. -acs

CJR. AI search threatens web traffic for online publishers

A decline in clicks can make our break an online publication’s visibility. The introduction of AI in Google searches has made getting customers to the right page an even bigger struggle as studies show traffic is being majorly diverted from info pages themselves, to AI generated summaries which can be rife with errors. A CJR report found that “in May 2024, the proportion of news searches in Google where people didn’t click on a single link rose from 56 percent to nearly 69,” over a year out, the results could be even higher. -acs

Poynter. Gannet reevaluates business plan amidst falling revenue

Despite business being up from 2024, the country’s biggest newspaper chain is looking to make $100 million in cuts. It’s no secret that newspapers just aren’t making as much as they used to, the result of this will “include closing two of the company’s largest print facilities, shifting some of its markets to mail delivery and automating and outsourcing certain parts of its business” to AI. -acs

NYT. NPR's Editor and Chief is stepping down

As NPR awaits with uncertainty, certain players within the company have plans of their own. Edith Chapin is also chief content officer, having greatly affected what changes were made after ex-staffer, Uri Berliner, published a piece criticizing NPR’s liberal bias. -acs

Editor & Publisher. The press should be for the people

News publications are facing a severe funding crisis, but there's much debate about the remedy. States like California are responding with bills, such as the Keep News Independent Act, which would require publications to inform their employees of a potential sale. -acs

Editor & Publisher. DallasNews Corporation refuses unsolicited buyout

DallasNews Corporation's Board has rejected an unsolicited, non-binding offer from Alden Global Capital affiliate MNG Enterprises that proposed $16.50 per share in cash. The Board opted instead to uphold its existing merger agreement with Hearst. This decision comes alongside a new shareholder rights plan designed to ensure shareholders will benefit from the Hearst deal (a move the Alden proposal attempted to block). -acs

Axios. Fox news licenses “Ruthless” podcast

In the first of many installments in the networks “new media plan,” Fox has licensed its first podcast. Hosted by “veteran republican staffers,” this show has been a favorite of conservatives since 2020. -acs

NYT. LA times plans to go public amidst money loss and layoffs

In an effort to transform the paper, owner Patrick Soon-Shiong said he would make the paper public, thus allowing Americans to have a stake in the news. No details have been released so far. -acs

Nieman Lab. Public media turns to its audience for financial aid

After the Trump Administration slashed funding for public broadcasting, major public resources like NPR and PBS have posted remarks online asking for continued support. The big names, however, are not in the most danger “local stations — from New York City to Indigenous communities — will be the most impacted by the rescission and will likely have to lay off staff, reduce programming, and more.” -acs

Editor & Publisher. Alden Global Capital puts in a bid for the Dallas Morning News

MediaNews Group, the newspaper operator owned by Alden, made an $88 million offer on the long-time locally owned paper on July 22. -acs

Week of July 14, 2025

NPR. Senate approves $9 Billion recision from public broadcasting

This decision will have a greater impact than just closure of local stations, it will affect weather warnings and other emergency broadcasts in rural areas potentially putting these communities at high risk for tragedy. Republicans, like senator Ted Cruz, defend their votes by claiming public broadcasting '"has long been overtaken by partisan activists,”’ and our tax dollars should not be used to fund such networks. -acs

Axios. Chicago Tribune staff declines buyouts

According to the union, not a single Chicago Tribune staffer applied for a buyout. The publication’s owner, Alden Capital was using the buyouts as an attempt to avoid mass layoffs. -acb

Columbia Journalism Review. New York Newsday has been out of print for 30 years, its legacy is everlasting

“Truth, Justice and the Comics,” New York Newsday’s dedication to diverse young voices in the newsroom created a profit-giant that died before its time. Despite it all, news publications just cannot seem to take its place. -acb

Courthouse News. Consumer protection lawsuit against Denver Post/Alden tossed

Boulder judge dismisses entrepreneur's suit against Denver Post and Alden Global Capital on technical grounds. -gjw

Axel Springer. Press release says AI and clear values as the foundation for the future.

Company leaders talk three strategic pillars of Axel Springer’s future: “AI-based journalism, expanding media marketing platforms, and developing new growth areas.” -acs

Newsjunkie. Pulitzer website fail.

It came to our attention while attempting to verify a Public Service Pulitzer for Amarillo Globe News that the Pulitzer.org site was down. The Pulitzer awards are administered by Columbia University. Further investigation revealed a substantial outage across the spectrum of columbia.edu webpages. The error page that offers users the option to create a trouble ticket did not function. A review of pulitzer.org pages on Internet Archive's Wayback Machine revealed at least 11 substantial website outages in the calendar 2025 year. As of 9:45 PDT June 25th the site was back online. -gjw

Editor & Publisher. Digital out-of-home marketing is the next big thing for small businesses

A fast-growing form of marketing is expanding right under those noses of those who need it most. According to Editor & Publisher “DOOH is growing at 10%+ annually through at least 2027,” taking four primary forms: Digital Billboards, Transit DOOH, Street Furniture, and Retail/Place-Based advertisements. -acs

NiemanLab. DEVELOPING: White House launches Drudge-like “REAL NEWS” site

The linked coverage is uniformly Trump-friendly, and heavy on outlets such as Breitbart and Fox News. -acb

Nieman Lab. Silence and belt-tightening: Environmental Journalism under threat

Society of Environmental Journalists’ annual conference update: Gone are the major sponsors under the Biden Administration: the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative, Deloitte, The Ocean Conservancy, and US government experts. - acb

Variety. Yahoo sells TechCrunch to investment firm Regent

TechCrunch publishes news, podcasts, newsletters and videos hosts events throughout the year, including the well-known Disrupt conference. -gjw

Press Gazette. British trade the Press Gazette launches industry job cuts tracker

Job cuts in the journalism industry in the UK and US slowed in February compared to January 2025. More than 900 jobs were cut in the journalism industry in the UK and US in January compared to about 210 in February. -gjw

TalkingBizNews. Dow Jones launches custom news feed for client

The Press Gazette reports “news and data from Dow Jones publications the Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, Market Watch and Investor’s Business Daily will appear in a customized dashboard, curated by company journalists.” More customized feeds are expected to follow. -gjw

NiemanLab. FiveThirtyEight is shutting down as part of broader cuts at ABC and Disney
Disney is shutting down FiveThirtyEight (a comprehensive public polling database), The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday night. - acb

NiemanLab. Aggregator for independent news has shut down
OptOut Media Foundation was unable to raise enough money to maintain the app and the organization, which also published its own investigative journalism. The app shut down on January 1 and has been removed from the Apple App Store. - gjw

The NewsGuild of New York. WALKOUT AVERTED: NewsGuild of NY-represented Gannett journalists win tentative two-year contract deals
Two unions, poised to walk off the job, achieve life-changing agreements that lift wages, provide job security and strengthen local news. Improvements in pay and job security helped avoid a walkout by journalists represented by NewGuild. Newsroom staff represented by APP-MCJ Guild also came to an agreement with employers as well. - dg

SEMAFOR. Reporters launch new TikTok-like news platform
Vereran journalists and publishers are launching a new site designed to bundle the work of top independent journalists. Noosphere is a platform for news that will charge less than $20 a month to users in exchange for unlimited access to content produced by independent journalists. - acb
NiemanLab. Remember Nuzzel? A similar news-aggregating tool now exists for Bluesky
Aggregates news shared by accounts you follow on Bluesky and Mastodon. - acb

NiemanLab. Dow Jones negotiates AI usage agreements with nearly 4,000 news publishers
Dow Jones (News Corp) sues Perplexity, an AI startup, for “a massive amount of illegal copying of publishers’ copyrighted work." In November Factiva, Dow Jones' AI tool, announced it had signed generative AI usage agreements with nearly 4,000 publishers around the world. Factiva targets professionals in finance, academia, government, and business. - acb

Politico. UC Berkeley backs out of Google's California news-use compromise
UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism will not host the News Transformation Fund, the arrangement  between Google and California to compensate news organizations for use of their stories in Google News. The reason was lack of authority to direct the use of funds. This leaves California without a venue for the controversial program, which has been challenged for being monetarily insufficient and tilted toward AI. - acb

Editor & Publisher. Lenfest Institute and Knight Foundation launch Knight Communities Network to support local journalism funders
Eight local Press Forward chapters will benefit from peer-to-peer workshops to test and develop new funding mechanisms for local and regional news markets. Initial cities include Philadelphia, Lexington, Miami, Wichita, Charlotte, Gary, and State College, Pennsylvania. - acb

CJR. In a volatile landscape for AI vs. labor rights, journalists at ABC secure a win

ABC News journalists approve a contract with protections against AI-related job losses and management transparency requirements. - jy

E&P. Hearst Connecticut Media purchases Waterbury’s Republican-American

Hearst Connecticut Media Group has acquired the Republican-American and Citizens News to boost local journalism in the state. - jy

Cities Today. Abilene named as launchpad for $500-billion AI project

Abilene, Texas, has been announced as the site of the first AI development center under a new $500 billion artificial intelligence initiative. President Trump revealed this plan on January 22, 2025, during the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure press conference. - jy

NiemanLab. The National Trust for Local News keeps buying local newspapers. Here’s what they’ve learned.

The National Trust for Local News has grown significantly under Ross McDuffie, now managing 65 newspapers across three states with $50 million in revenue and 100,000 paying subscribers. Focused on revitalizing community journalism, the Trust balances traditional print products with digital innovation to serve “news deserts.” - jy

NYT. Washington Post Lays Off 4% of Its Work Force 

NYT. Inside Disney’s Decision to Settle a Trump Defamation Suit

The Atlantic. The End of News: Legacy media has a trust problem, but it’s not too late to solve it.

CJR. Spyware Is Spreading—And It’s Cheaper Than Ever

CJR. The Sentencing of Carlos Watson

Republican-American. Hearst Connecticut Media Group is negotiating to buy the Republican-American

CBC. Looming closure of Thompson newspaper 'a huge loss' for northern Manitoba: culture minister

JSTOR. Can We Build a Better Facebook?

Guardian. LA Times owner says AI meter will show article ‘bias’

HP. Taylor Lorenz Exits Washington Post to Launch ‘User Mag’ on Substack

AP. The Future of Data Journalism in Local News

The Walrus. Tech Titans Should Pay to Save Canada’s Newsrooms

Axios. Minnesota's Oldest Black Newspaper Turns 90

Guardian. Canadian media companies sue OpenAI in case potentially worth billions

HP. Los Angeles Times Owner Plans to Launch Tech-Driven “Bias Meter” On Articles Next Year

WP. Liberal media bias no longer helps Democrats. It’s hurting them

NYT. Meet David Hoffmann, the Florida Billionaire Buying Up Print Newspapers

PND. INN Index shows nonprofit news growth stable

WVXU. Cincinnati nonprofit online newsroom 'Signal' launching in 2025

CalMatters. A powerful next-stage journalism venture: CalMatters acquires The Markup

Nieman. The Salt Lake Tribune, profitable and growing, seeks to rid itself of that “necessary evil” — the paywall

Nieman. Midwestern news nonprofit The Beacon shuts down its Wichita newsroom

Tennessee Lookout. ProPublica selects Tennessee Lookout for newsroom partnership

AP. AP to launch sister organization to fundraise for state, local news

AP. AP announces content collaborations with 5 nonprofit news outlets

Guardian. Guardian will no longer post on Elon Musk’s X from its official accounts

Guardian. Associated Press to cut 8% of staff through layoffs and buyouts

BBC. Trump defence pick paid accuser to save Fox News job, but denies claim

BBC. Trump names 'big tech' critic Brendan Carr to head US comms regulator

CNN. Nearly 40% of young Americans get their news from influencers. Many of them lean to the right, study finds

CNN. Polish radio station replaces journalists with AI ‘presenters’

Al Jazeera. What Joe Rogan, Washington Post dramas say about the US election and media

Guardian. New Jersey’s largest paper ends daily print editions but will continue online

St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Hoffmann has an eye on the Post-Dispatch after big spend in Augusta

Guardian. Olivia Nuzzi leaves New York magazine after revelation of RFK Jr relationship

Poynter. Crane slams into Tampa Bay Times building during Hurricane Milton

NPR. Taylor Lorenz leaves 'Washington Post' after rift with editors

Hollywood Reporter. Taylor Lorenz Exits Washington Post to Launch ‘User Mag’ on Substack

Guardian. Executive resigns at Trump Media, Truth Social’s parent company

Columbia Journalism Review. Sewell Chan named executive editor of Columbia Journalism Review

Portland Press Herald. Maine Trust for Local News names Carolyn Fox executive editor