Oliver Darcy
Media/business reporter; analyzes leadership, ownership, and strategy inside major news and tech companies.
Paramount Nears Deal to Acquire CNN Parent, Executives Meet
A delegation of CNN executives, led by network boss Mark Thompson, recently convened with Bari Weiss and Paramount COO Andy Gordon, among others, as Paramount inches closer to purchasing the network's parent company, @statusnews has learned.
Lesley Stahl Signs Two-Year Extension with CBS News
Scoop: Lesley Stahl has finalized a two-year deal with CBS News to remain on "60 Minutes." Details in @statusnews: https://link.status.news/3Q6F5yt
CBS Turmoil: New 60 Minutes Boss Meets, Ellison Intervenes
Scoop: CBS TV boss George Cheeks met with new "60 Minutes" Executive Producer Nick Bilton for dinner on Monday—just as David Ellison personally intervenes to assuage concerns at the newsmagazine. Meanwhile, Bari Weiss is holed up in a bunker at...
Three ‘60 Minutes’ Correspondents Meet to Weigh Resignation
Scoop w/ @nataliekorach: The three remaining "60 Minutes" correspondents huddled together on Wednesday to discuss next steps as they contemplate whether to resign from the show.
200 Media Professionals Oppose Paramount's Warner Bros. Deal
Scoop: Nearly 200 journalists, academics, and documentarians have singed a letter objecting to Paramount's takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery. They voice concerns about what David Ellison might do to CNN and HBO's documentary offerings.
Washington Post Set to Cut Iconic Bezos‑backed Headquarters
The Washington Post "is preparing to slash a significant portion of the very headquarters [Jeff] Bezos once championed as a symbol of the paper’s future," @nataliekorach reports.
Axel Springer Ousts Business Insider CEO Barbara Peng
New in @statusnews: Senior executives at Business Insider parentco Axel Springer started to sour on chief executive Barbara Peng last summer. On Wednesday, her time leading the digital outlet ran out.
Paramount Aims to Close Warner Bros. Discovery Deal by July
Scoop: Paramount is racing to complete its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by July, I'm told by multiple sources.
Bari Weiss Snags Netanyahu Interview, Upsets Lesley Stahl
Scoop: Bari Weiss upstaged Lesley Stahl—who I'm told had spent months trying to secure an interview with Netanyahu for "60 Minutes"—and booked the Israeli prime minister herself, handing the sit-down to Major Garrett. Suffice to say, it hasn't gone over well.
Andrew Morse Departs as AJC President and Publisher
Scoop: Andrew Morse is leaving Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where he has served as president and publisher.
Huge Investment, Tiny Audience: Just 182 Subscribers
"So far, the investment has produced an astonishingly small audience: just 182 YouTube subscribers, with many videos attracting only a few dozen views." More from @nataliekorach: https://www.status.news/p/washington-post-opinion-video-adam-oneal
First Amendment Lawyer Warns FCC's Disney Attack Violates Constitution
Famed First Amendment attorney Floyd Abrams told @passantino that the FCC's attacks on Disney are "so clearly politically rooted" that basic Constitutional protections should protect the company from the agency's attacks. More in @statusnews: https://www.status.news/p/the-mouse-bites-back
CBS Evening News Falls Below 4M Viewers, Fourth Week
For the fourth *consecutive* week, Bari Weiss' revamped "CBS Evening News" averaged less than 4 million viewers—a once unthinkable situation.
Advocacy Groups Demand Records on Alleged CNN Compromise
Scoop: Two press advocacy organizations that hold Paramount stock have sent a letter to the company's chief legal officer demanding to inspect records over concerns the Ellisons have agreed to compromise CNN to secure approval of its WBD merger.
Top Substack Creators Question Long‑term Platform Commitment
Scoop: Several of Substack's top publishers have privately weighed whether it makes sense to be on the platform longterm, raising questions about the company's ability to retain its most prominent creators.