The Profile

The Profile: The Sports Arena Surveilling You & the Billionaire Building the Newsroom of the Future

Robert Allbritton, a media‑savvy billionaire, is pouring $10 million into a new Washington‑focused outlet called “The Star,” planning to double its newsroom staff to challenge established D.C. publications. Meanwhile, Madison Square Garden under James Dolan has deployed an extensive facial‑recognition system that tracks fans, employees and critics, blurring the line between security and corporate surveillance. The newsletter also highlights United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby’s ecosystem strategy and Katie Couric’s independent media venture, but the spotlight remains on the newsroom bet and the arena’s biometric monitoring. Both stories illustrate how capital is reshaping information and privacy landscapes.