AI Can Now Fabricate Reality, Eroding Visual Trust
I had to look twice at this image. It looks like a secret AI founder summit in a messy dorm room. Famous faces. Cheap lamp. Pizza box on the floor. Impressive. Except it never happened. The entire scene is AI generated. That’s what makes this different. We are no longer editing reality. We are fabricating it. If AI can convincingly create a “room where it happened,” it can create credibility, consensus, even history. Are we ready for a world where seeing is no longer believing? #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #GenerativeAI #DigitalTrust #Deepfake
Left Ignoring Data Privacy as AI Surveillance Bills Loom
Yes but effectively NO ONE on the left is talking about data privacy & the House is abt to go into markup on a package of 19 “child safety” bills that would enact unprecedented levels of mass AI surveillance/fully remove...
Judge Salas Defends Democracy on 60 Minutes
Pls share. This is Judge Salas, speaking truth, defending democracy, to 60 Minutes audience which still is approx 10mm Americans across every minute of segment. I think people forget nothing else approaches that on any other media format especially here....
Federal Judge Calls Out AG for Dangerous Rhetoric
Let the work speak for itself. 60 Minutes was strong tonight. Pelley had a fast turn on Iran. But watch 2nd segment, at least this 110s where a federal Judge speaks truth to power calling out AG and DepAG for...
AI Catches My Tangents, Keeps Presentations On Track
I'm speaking to LIV Sotheby’s International Realty this week and ran my talk track through Claude I asked it to point out anywhere I went off on a tangent or lost the flow (probably the most common mistake I make) Maybe...
Sar
Ted Sarandos to @Lucas_Shaw: "Once it was clear that we weren’t in the CNN business, it was a lot less interesting. He didn’t care that much more about our deal." https://t.co/0CAfEi37Ws
Netflix Quit Warner Bid After Paramount's Final Offer
Ted Sarandos says Netflix knew it would pull out of the Warner Bros bidding as soon as it saw the final Paramount offer. We spent 40 minutes on Saturday discussing why Netflix didn’t match and what the Paramount deal means...
No Role Modelz
No Role Modelz is now the 3rd most streamed 2014 song on Spotify. The song has became more and more valuable over time. It’s the type of song that catalog investors would love to own.
Bar Talk Revealed Iran Bomb Plot Before Explosion
Good heavens. This may be worse than the @JeffreyGoldberg Signal chat. At least in that case it was entirely accidental and a journalist who understood the sensitivity of the information and how to handle it in the moment.
History’s Weight Demands Rigorous Journalism on Iran
A brief thread on the Wash Post, Iran, the weight of history and the importance of rigorous journalism.
Publishers Stagger Writer Signings and Panels at Conventions
If you squint some publishers do a version of this when they send 3-4 of their writers to Comic Con or another major trade event (I've done this with Del Rey) and they're signing at the booth at different times...
CNN Faces Moral Test Under MAGA‑Friendly Leadership
Will anyone at CNN take a principled stand as David Ellison reshapes the network to be more MAGA friendly? Or will everyone just go along with the new direction? Watch the full episode of Power Lines on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nWEG5jUrP2Q?si=H_0XcKiJMFeLe3fe
Twitter's Messy Redesign Demands Stronger Journalist Verification Support
I haven’t seen my Twitter feed this bad since start of Musk era. All the bad design choices front and center. It’s messy. Please amplify journalists with sources, resources and incentives to verify and get at the truth.
Warner & Paramount Skydance Deliver 200 Shows, Boost Market Leverage
Warner Bros makes roughly 80 shows a year for internal/external destinations. Paramount Skydance makes roughly 120 shows a year for internal/external destinations. Massive combined leverage as a third-party content supplier on the open market.
Democracy Needs Truthful Governance and Respect For
Where the hyperbole and attacks on a free and plural press go off the credibility rails. Not a comment on either military operation but would be good for democracy if we got back to admin truth telling and respect for...
Kari Lake Praises VOA Persian Broadcasts Echoing Trump’s Regime
After seeking repeatedly to shutter network, USAGM self proclaimed acting CEO Kari Lake celebrates Voice of America Persian broadcasts into Iran during conflict VoA echoes Trump call for regime change; previously would report as news & convey in clearly labeled editorials...
Town Economies Suffer when Local Newspapers Shut Down
Good thread by Farrow on the impact (read: costs $) to towns when the last newspaper closes. Independent, local press brings sunlight and integrity and efficiency.
MSnow Aims to Replace CNN’s War Coverage
MSnow sees the opportunity to step into what has been CNN's territory with a war, now that CNN will become state media. As the liberal alternative to Fox and CNN, they should have woken up Rachel Maddow. Instead, they woke...
Tech CEOs Shouldn’t Dictate Policy in American Government
Letting tech CEOs “play politics and dictate policy” … are you aware of how the American government functions
Seeking Date for Kids Online Safety Bill Markup
Does anyone know what day the markup of the “kids online safety” bills is supposed to start next week?
Court Finds Facebook Likely Knew of 40M Profiles
wow. NdCal just denied Facebook's attempt to dismiss securities suit for Cambridge Analytica cover-up. Court says plaintiffs credibly alleged Zuckerberg and Sandberg knew it "possessed over 40mil user profiles" way earlier. 4th amended complaint added/redacted cited evidence. /1 https://t.co/Fm91ZEmOre
Ellison Vows Unchanged DCU Creatives, Marketing Faces Shake‑up
Too early to tell, although #DavidEllison made a commitment to keep the creative heads of both WB and Paramount as they are, so if he keeps his promise, nothing changes to the #DCU or #DCStudios at least on the short...
Hollywood's $81B Takeover Sealed in Six Months
Six Months, 9 Offers and $81 Billion. How Hollywood’s Nasty Takeover Was Won. W/@jtoonkel @laurenthomas @davidamichaels https://t.co/TFOmN7A5Zq
Video Success Mirrors Audio's Catalog‑First Strategy
We used to think audio was all about the catalog, but it turns out that might be just as true when it comes to video... h/t @michaelbeach https://t.co/RhM8t8AN6c
Netflix Forces Paramount Debt, Secures Streaming Dominance
"Netflix’s real triumph was driving up the price Paramount had to pay and saddling the newcomer with enough debt to hobble any challenge to Netflix’s streaming dominance." -- @HolmanJenkins https://t.co/4V3TUD31y8
CBS Producer Leaves Amid Pressure to Target Political Bias
Veteran CBS News producer Mary Walsh takes leave (first reported by Guardian) "We've been told to aim our reporting at a particular part of the political spectrum. Honestly, I don't know how to do that." https://t.co/9gLno7bgkf
Paramount's Survival Hinges on Deal, Ellisons' Influence
There is always a chance when government is involved, never rule this out. But I still see the odds in #Paramount’s favor for 2 reasons: 1- the Ellisons are one of the richest and most well connected families in the U.S. 2-...
Paramount's Bold Move Beats Netflix, Secures Warner Bros.
‘David Ellison Scares the Shit Out of Me’: How Paramount Beat Out Netflix, Won Warner Bros. and Will Change Hollywood Forever https://t.co/Pt6DwlK7fc
Anderson Cooper Quits 60 Minutes, Then Returns to Same Team
So @andersoncooper quits 60 minutes over dissatisfaction with new ownership and now works for the same team again https://t.co/pyHkrAMNUP
Reporter Denies Defamation Suit, Cites Rally Ejection Evidence
“Let’s get a few things straight. I’ve never been sued for defamation, let alone successfully. I did write a profile of the Rep last year that she didn’t like. Most important, I was thrown out of her rally. There is...
Zaslav’s Deal Hands Media to Authoritarian Hands
Lord. The #BrokenTimes treats handing important and cultural and journalistic assets over to fascist factotums as an unalloyed triumph, with not a yes-but for democracy. How David Zaslav Pulled Off the Deal of a Lifetime https://t.co/pSsWNsFsaF
CNN Journalists Fear Paramount Takeover, Still Committed
Journalists at CNN are fearful for what's ahead if Paramount takes over - but want to just do the job My conversation with @ailsachang on NPR's All Things Considered, coming up at 4.35/6.35p
From Hollywood’s Most Hated to $790M Dealmaker
Three years ago, David Zaslav was called "the most hated man in Hollywood." Now he's pulled off one of the biggest deals in media history, engineering a bidding war that earned him $790.5 million. How it all happened, with @LaurenSHirsch: https://t.co/jaz2VIbdCe
David Ellison Secures Warner Bros Deal After Netflix Backs Out
Last Saturday, Netflix was the heavy favorite to buy Warner Bros. What changed? How did David Ellison pull it off? Why did Netflix back off? Behind the scenes of one of the biggest deals in business history with @MichelleF_Davis and @joshua_sisco...
Jargon‑Heavy X Threads Mask Inexpertise—Verify Sources
Big thing I am seeing on X is super authoritative sounding accounts doing long threads, on defense tech etc, that use tons of jargon and acronyms so as to look like the account is 'in the know,' when really they...
Paramount‑Warner Merger Unites Film, News, and Social Media
Paramount, Warner Bros deal would unite film, news and social media forces in the age of Trump My analysis for NPR: https://t.co/zsdkP7wB8K
Albania Lifts TikTok Ban After Safety Upgrades
TikTok returns to Albania after government-imposed ban Albania has lifted its government-imposed ban on TikTok. The suspension followed the death of a teenage boy, with officials citing online bullying concerns. The Albanian government says TikTok has introduced stronger safety and moderation measures. The platform...
CNN Staff Fear Warner‑Paramount Merger Will Damage Journalism
CNN Staffers Fear Warner Bros.-Paramount Deal Will Hurt Their Journalism and Network’s Financial Health https://t.co/c3LvI7Hj7N via @variety
J. Cole's 2014 Track Beats Pop Giants in Streams
J Cole’s “No Role Modelz” is the third-most-streamed song from 2014 on Spotify. More daily and total streams than “Blank Space”, “Uptown Funk”, “Sugar”, and “Shake It Off.” Great example of why it’s hard to know in the moment which songs will...
Meta Claims Data Scandal Immaterial; FTC Sees Antitrust Evidence
For those still doubting antitrust and privacy law don't intersect, Meta just argued in DC privacy suit its biggest data scandal in its history wasn't material as users didn't exit whereas FTC has argued users sticking when its reputation was...
From Boise: 24k Subscribers, Lessons for Local Media
A few years ago Marissa Lovell and I had an idea for a local newsletter. From Boise now has 24,000+ subscribers. On March 4th we're doing a fireside chat about how it grew, what we learned, and where local media is headed. Join...
California May Counter Warner‑Paramount Merger with Robust State Law
California legislators could hit back at the Warner-Paramount deal by passing a strong state level merger law.
Warner Bros' Debt Curse Threatens Media Conglomerate Survival
If you need something to look forward to, remember that Warner Bros. is Cootie Corp. It poisons all who swallow it: Time Inc. AOL, AT&T, Discovery. The only question is how long it will take the Warner curse--and debt--to kill...
Threads Adds Rich Link Previews for Podcast Clips
🚨 NEW 🚨 Threads now supports rich link previews for podcast video clips, making it easier for creators to drive viewers from short clips to full episodes. Podcast creators can upload a video clip and add a link that directs audiences...
Washington Hasn't Demanded Station Sales for Nexstar‑TEGNA Merger
D.C. Memo: Nexstar CEO Sook – Washington Has Not Said Company Needs to Sell Stations to Close TEGNA Deal | $NXST @NXSTMediaGroup $TGNA @TEGNA https://t.co/md3Cz4tI5F
Paramount+ Can’t Recover $7.7B UFC Deal With Subscriptions
How Can Paramount+ Recoup Its $7.7 Billion UFC Bet? Subs Won’t Do It 👇https://t.co/zU9AQ6MVr4 via @sportico
CNN's Ownership Shift Signals Media's Legitimacy Crisis
Nothing uncertain about it: CNN is fucked. This is the last nail in the coffin of American mass media as a legitimate actor. For CNN, a Change in Ownership Means a Suddenly Uncertain Future https://t.co/JFGHcIaQYc
Times' Sensational Headline Misrepresents Article Content
As often happens the more aggressive Times home-page headline conflicts with the article headline --and neither represents the article. https://t.co/9esgycuoXm
Warner Bros. Gains 78% Stock Surge After Hollywood Merger Battle
Hollywood's mega-merger battle ends with Warner Bros. as the real winner with a 78% stock bump since September - https://t.co/Ue55w8GTQk
Sarandos Missed Industry‑changing Deal, Netflix Still Ahead
I’d say yes overall, but arguments can be made to the opposite as well. In #TedSarandos case for instance, truth is that #Netflix didn’t need WB, it’s already miles ahead of everyone else even without WB. And he walks away with...