Filing: Paramount sweetens compensation for its three co-CEOs ahead of its Skydance merger, expected in H1 2025; the deal protects their pay if they're demoted (Erik Hayden/The Hollywood Reporter)

Mediagazer: Filing: Paramount sweetens compensation for its three co-CEOs ahead of its Skydance merger, expected in H1 2025; the deal protects their pay if they're demoted (Erik Hayden/The Hollywood Reporter)

Top News:

Axios:

Spotify is paying hundreds of millions for audiobooks annually; US audiobook users average five more hours on the app in the 60 days after starting a book— - Without Spotify, the audiobook industry in the U.S. grew 14% in unit sales between Q4 2022 and Q4 2023, according to Bookstat.
Discussion: Spotify: Spotify Launches Audiobooks in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg—and Premium Listeners Get Instant Access

Carmen Josée /
Carmen Josée on LinkedIn: 🎧 Big news for audiobook fans! 🎧 — Spotify just launched audiobooks in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg! …

Douglas Stambaugh /
Douglas Stambaugh on LinkedIn: Simon & Schuster is excited to expand our partnership with Spotify by joining its initial launch of audiobooks in Europe. …

David Kaefer /
David Kaefer on LinkedIn: So much momentum for Audiobooks on Spotify, now available in France, Netherlands Belgium and Luxembourg where we offer 12 hours of book listening a month included in our eligible premium plans. …

Géraldine Igou /
Géraldine Igou on LinkedIn: Audiobooks are coming to Western Europe, starting today! Such an exciting time for this region - the first to welcome this new format after English-speaking markets like the US, the UK or Canada. …

Duncan Bruce /
Duncan Bruce on LinkedIn: I'm delighted that Spotify have launched Audiobooks in France, The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg! …

Carlo Carrenho /
Carlo Carrenho on LinkedIn: Spotify launches their subscription model for audiobooks in France and Benelux. Similar to the English markets, Premium users in this territories …

Videl Bar-Kar /
Videl Bar-Kar on LinkedIn: 🚀Congratulations Spotify on their first European markets for Audiobooks in Premium. So proud to be a partner. …

Steve Bennett /
Neowin: Spotify launches Audiobooks in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg

Ashley King /
Digital Music News: Spotify Launches Audiobooks in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, & Luxembourg

New York Times:

Five ex-Pitchfork journalists launch online music outlet Hearing Things, aiming to capture Pitchfork's independent spirit; subscriptions start at $70 per year— After the popular publication was folded into GQ, a group of them is striking out on its own. One of the first orders of business: doing away with album scores.

Discussion:

Mary Kate Carr /
AV Club: Former Pitchfork writers launch new music website, Hearing Things

Jill Mapes /
@jillian_mapes: finally able to mention that some pals and I started our own music publication!!!!!!!!! @hearingthingsco https://hearingthings.co/

Tom Breihan /
@tombreihan: Exactly what the game's been missing. I cannot wait to see this thing soar. @Outpost@indieweb.social: Just look at this website! — “Five former Pitchfork journalists are getting the band back together to start a new online music publication, Hearing Things. The site, which launches on Tuesday, aims to capture the original independent spirit of Pitchfork while tuning out the stan armies that worship huge artists.” https://‪hearingthings.co/ ‬ …

Damon K /
@dada_drummer: Yes please

Jeremy D. Larson /
@jeremydlarson: So stoked for this huge crew @jillian_mapes @ryandombal @CineMasai_ @cushac @jawnita and for music journalism —> https://www.hearingthings.co/

J. Escobedo Shepherd /
@jawnita: Spent my summer (and spring!) making a music and culture publication with @ryandombal @jillian_mapes @CineMasai_ @cushac and gosh wow here we are :) https://www.hearingthings.co/

Ben Mullin /
@benmullin: new: Nearly a year ago, Condé Nast gutted Pitchfork. Now, a group of alumni are teaming up to build a new music magazine for the Tiktok/Spotify era https://www.nytimes.com/...

Ben Mullin /
@benmullin: Smart idea: The founders of Hearing Things are doing e-commerce links to the songs on their initial top-100 list https://www.hearingthings.co/ ... @pellz_: Would be dope if this could be like, the next stereogum. Real ones are at work on this, so big hopes. We should all support it, i'ma subscribe next week.

Mark Richardson /
@markrichardson: some old friends from the p4k days have started an online music mag! thrilled for them & excited to be reading @jillian_mapes @ryandombal @cushac @jawnita @CineMasai_ on music https://www.hearingthings.co/

Simon Owens /
@simondowens@threads.net: I always love it when journalist coworkers peel off to launch their own independent publication. It's basically a recognition that they were producing the majority of the value for their employer and yet were reaping a tiny portion of the revenue. — https://www.nytimes.com/...

The Hollywood Reporter:

Filing: Paramount sweetens compensation for its three co-CEOs ahead of its Skydance merger, expected in H1 2025; the deal protects their pay if they're demoted— The “Office of the CEO” just got additional bonuses — and the security of knowing that if they're demoted they can take their pay and walk away without a hit.

Discussion:

Todd Spangler /
Variety: Paramount Will Allow Its 3 Co-CEOs to Resign and Receive Severance If They Are Demoted

Lucas Manfredi /
The Wrap: Paramount Sweetens Golden Parachute for Co-CEOs With $3 Million Stock Awards, Other Incentives @variety: With Paramount Global set to be taken over by Skydance Media in 2025, the three execs running Paramount as co-CEOs now have an additional provision in their employment agreements that will let them quit and receive severance benefits if they are demoted. https://variety.com/...

Jill Goldsmith /
Deadline: Paramount Grants Co-CEOs Additional Stock Awards Worth $3 Million, Other Sweeteners

Christopher Palmeri /
Bloomberg: Paramount's Co-CEOs to Get Paid Even If They're No Longer Boss

New York Times:

Sources: Will Lewis has a mandate from Jeff Bezos to grow The Washington Post, including via acquisitions; it has explored deals with Punchbowl News and others— Will Lewis has said he has a mandate from the paper's owner, Jeff Bezos, to grow the business, including through acquisitions.

Discussion:
Benjamin Mullin on LinkedIn and @benmullin

Discussion:

Benjamin Mullin /
Benjamin Mullin on LinkedIn: The Washington Post's head of corporate development met recently with buzzy Capitol Hill media startup Punchbowl News, as the company scouts for partnerships and acquisitions.

Financial Times:

Internal memo: the BBC plans to cut 155 BBC News jobs, including closing Asian Network News and the HARDtalk program, to save £24M, or 4% of BBC News' budget— Broadcaster hopes move will save £24mn from budget, according to internal memo sent to staff

Discussion:
@stephensackur, @lizsly, @stephensackur, TVNewsCheck, @dougalshaw, @j_bloodworth, @winterdakhan, @mazzucatom, @mrpmharrison, @ericlatiff, @timothy_stanley, The Guardian, @joannenadler, @doylech, @lucy_pawle, @mathewhulbert, @pankajpachauri, @oflynnsocial, @carmenkamanlau, @goldenmatonga, @john_foremancbe, @aflemingbrown, @soniasodha, @helenclarknz, Prolific North, @gideonrachman, @piersmorgan, Deadline, Press Gazette, @kimghattas, @mikehughes_, @bill_emmott, Clean Feed, @raymondsnoddy, @tmchivers, @robburl, Telegraph, @thusi_kumar, @nickbryantny, @stephensackur, @amitbasu71, @martp132, @peterboghossian, @afneil, Daily Star and Advanced Television

Discussion:

Stephen Sackur /
@stephensackur: THREAD: 1. PERSONAL NEWS: Today BBC News has announced plans to close @BBCHARDtalk after 3 decades holding the world's politicians and powerbrokers to account. This is sad news for me personally, but much more important, I think it's depressing news for the BBC🧵

Liz Sly /
@lizsly: This is such sad news. @BBCHARDtalk has been a model of journalistic excellence. A few weeks back some friends & I were discussing who we would like to be, in journalism. I said @stephensackur. His skill at asking the tough questions & getting the revealing answers is unmatched

Stephen Sackur /
@stephensackur: 2. and all who believe in the importance of independent, rigorous deeply-researched journalism. At a time when disinformation and media manipulation are poisoning public discourse HARDtalk is unique - a long-form interview show with only one mission:

Stephen Sackur /
@stephensackur: 7. Next year I'll be looking to stretch my legs and embrace new opportunities. My commitment to rigorous exploration of world affairs won't change. I hope the BBC's doesn't either.

Dougal Shaw /
@dougalshaw: Sad to hear this @stephensackur. Hardtalk is a great show. I was lucky enough to work there for 4 years, working with both Tim Sebastian and yourself (including some memorable trips!). So much research goes into each interview. Good luck with your next adventure.

James Bloodworth /
@j_bloodworth: God what a terrible decision coming hot on the heels of the Newsnight fiasco

Winter Coffee /
@winterdakhan: Stephen, you took @BBCHARDtalk to a whole new level and your unbiased and deeply researched journalism speaks for itself. I urge you to continue your brilliant work in an independent fashion, like what @mehdirhasan is doing with @zeteo_news. Maybe even partner! @stephensackur

Mariana Mazzucato /
@mazzucatom: Terrible news! And especially after already ruining @BBCNewsnight turning it into a boring sofa sitting talk show.

Phil Harrison /
@mrpmharrison: Good grief. The BBC News and Current Affairs dept is being absolutely gutted. Tim Davie is a cultural vandal. He's destroying the Beeb before our eyes.

Eric Latiff /
@ericlatiff: BBC Hard Talk will be no more. Sad.

Tim Stanley /
@timothy_stanley: Sad, bad news.

Jo-Anne Nadler /
@joannenadler: @stephensackur Sadly the evidence suggests otherwise: so many serious shows jettisoned; On the Record gone, Panorama relegated, Newsnight emasculated, World Service cut (FO's fault) - even though audience appetite for long form serious interviews evident from success of countless podcasts.

Chris Doyle /
@doylech: Politicians will be relieved. No Hardtalk. Newsnight dumbed down. Are fact based, tough interviews a thing of the past?

Lucy Pawle /
@lucy_pawle: Some sad news. At a time of huge global upheaval & uncertainty, when holding decision-leaders around the world to account is more vital than ever, it's disappointing to learn the BBC plans to close HARDtalk. We are a small but mighty team, and it's been amazing to work here. @mathewhulbert: A truly shameful decision by the @BBC/@BBCNews to axe @BBCHARDtalk. A programme I've greatly watched, listened to, enjoyed, and learned from over many years. Sometimes the BBC is its own worst enemy. #BBCNews #BBCHardtalk

Pankaj Pachauri /
@pankajpachauri: Sad news. Now even @BBCWorld is not able to talk hard to world leaders. It was a crucial intervention on British diplomacy. #RIP

Patrick O'Flynn /
@oflynnsocial: Very sad to hear this. They occasionally made some rather dry choices of subjects to interview, but it was a proper cross-examination. Good programme. Axing it is evidence of more dumbing down. @carmenkamanlau: Remember back then it was sometimes depressing but most of the time amusing seeing Hong Kong politicians went on @BBCHARDtalk. It is very effective in delivering world news / foreign affairs indeed. 😭😭😭

Golden Matonga /
@goldenmatonga: Terrible news for all who love journalism. @john_foremancbe: Get rid of Newsnight, Hard Talk and reduce the reach of the World Service. But at least we've still got The One Show, Strictly, Lineker, and Mrs Brown's Boys. ‘Nation shall speak peace unto nation’ no more.

Alex Fleming-Brown /
@aflemingbrown: HARDtalk was responsible for many of my late night iPlayer binges. Sad to see it go.

Sonia Sodha /
@soniasodha: This is such a regrettable decision by the BBC

Helen Clark /
@helenclarknz: What is going on at the #BBC? @BBCHARDtalk is appreciated around the world for its searching interviews on critical issues. Its demise would be a major loss for journalism, broadcasting, and public accountability.

Chris Newbould /
Prolific North: 155 more jobs to go across BBC news operations

Gideon Rachman /
@gideonrachman: This is a great shame. I don't understand how the BBC can rightly talk up the importance of the BBC World Service as a means to fight back against misinformation- and then shut down BBC Worlds flagship current affairs programme

Piers Morgan /
@piersmorgan: What a shame. Always enjoyed HARDtalk and your masterful interrogations, even when it once me on the receiving end! Very surprised the BBC is ending it.

Max Goldbart /
Deadline: BBC Axes ‘HARDtalk’ As Dozens Of Layoffs Hit News Division

Bron Maher /
Press Gazette: BBC News to close Hardtalk and Asian Network news service in latest round of 185 job cuts

Kim Ghattas /
@kimghattas: Yet another terrible decision by the BBC, gutting the organisation inside out, closing down the best shows and the best channels. A real shame.... @stephensackur sad we won't see you on our screens anymore, thank you for years of amazing shows, will look out for your next move.

Bill Emmott /
@bill_emmott: @stephensackur @BBCHARDtalk That's terrible news. A really excellent show, in which you deepened an already excellent format. When so much in the media has gone shallow, the BBC should cherish depth and distinctiveness, and indeed boast about it

Raymond Snoddy /
@raymondsnoddy: Totally depressing and part of a pattern that includes the evisceration of Newsnight

Tom Chivers /
@tmchivers: Watch as politicians again line up to condemn the BBC's appalling cuts and closures (correct!), then refuse to increase its public funding and leave 15+ years of destructive cuts and commercialisation in place.

Rob Burley /
@robburl: So the BBC cuts the last long- form interview show on British TV. Really awful news.

James Warrington /
Telegraph: BBC News to cut 155 jobs to ‘balance the books’

Dr. Thusiyan Nandakumar /
@thusi_kumar: This is a real shame. I remember the @BBCHARDtalk grilling of Gotabaya Rajapaksa on war crimes in Sri Lanka and the fiery exchange that followed. This journalism was sorely needed in 2010, and probably even more so now. Best of luck @stephensackur. Hope this is not the end! [video]

Nick Bryant /
@nickbryantny: If ever there ever was a historical moment when the world needed BBC Hardtalk, with the brilliant @stephensackur at its helm, it is now. He's the best inquisitor in the business....

Stephen Sackur /
@stephensackur: Me too, Piers, believe me! But we've got a few months left to run, so how about we catch up in the @BBCHARDtalk studio before they switch the lights off?

Amit Basu /
@amitbasu71: What a ridiculous decision. @BBCHARDtalk is the most distinctive and best thing on BBC World / BBC News, and does a huge amount for its reputation overseas. We need more long form interviews with the powerful and influential, not fewer.

Martin Parker /
@martp132: This is a bizarre decision, getting rid of one of the few remaining long-form interview shows and one that is so highly regarded around the world. Never underestimate the capacity of the BBC to press the self-destruct button.

Peter Boghossian /
@peterboghossian: HARDtalk is indispensable. It's the only show that truly puts people's feet to the fire. Legacy media cannot and will not duplicate it. My sincere hope is that independent media picks up the show and retains @stephensackur and his team. This is a terrible loss.

Andrew Neil /
@afneil: It is VERY depressing news indeed. Sorry to hear this Stephen. The BBC seems determined to give up so much of what makes it special and to do more of what everybody else does.

Zara Woodcock /
Daily Star: BBC scraps show after 30 years as host breaks silence and says it's ‘depressing’

Wall Street Journal:

The NYT sends a cease-and-desist letter to AI startup Perplexity to stop using its content; Perplexity says it is “interested in working with every” publisher— Publisher demands that Perplexity stop accessing its content. Startup isn't interested “in being anyone's antagonist,” CEO says.

Discussion:

Danny Gallagher /
Engadget: The New York Times tells Perplexity to stop using its content

Zaheer Kachwala /
Reuters: NYT sends AI startup Perplexity ‘cease and desist’ notice over content use, WSJ reports

Alexandra Bruell /
TVNewsCheck: New York Times To Bezos-Backed AI Startup: Stop Using Our Stuff

Jeremy Kahn /
Fortune: OpenAI's lead over other AI companies has largely vanished, ‘State of AI’ report finds

Rebecca Bellan /
TechCrunch: The New York Times has had it with generative AI companies using its content

Glenn Gabe /
Glenn Gabe on LinkedIn: You mean the robots.txt block isn't working?... :) -> The NYT sends a cease-and-desist letter to AI startup Perplexity to stop using its content …

Scott Adams /
@scottadamssays: Try the Perplexity app for five minutes and tell me Google still has a business model. You might never use Google again.

Ravikash Bakolia /
Seeking Alpha: New York Times sends Perplexity ‘cease and desist’ notice over content use: report

Barry Schwartz /
@rustybrick: Why not respect the robots.txt?

Glenn Gabe /
@glenngabe: You mean the robots.txt block isn't working?... :) -> The NYT sends a cease-and-desist letter to AI startup Perplexity to stop using its content; Perplexity says it is “interested in working with every publisher” “In its letter to Perplexity, the Times asked the startup to [image]

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: The NYT “is picking another fight in the AI world. The publisher has sent generative-AI startup Perplexity a ‘cease and desist’ notice demanding that the firm stop accessing and using its content...” https://www.wsj.com/...

Martin Peers /
The Information: NY Times Sends Perplexity a Cease and Desist Letter

Luther Lowe /
@lutherlowe: Sometimes it's easy to forget all the ways Google “competes” on the “merits” 🙄 [image]

Wes Davis /
The Verge: The New York Times warns AI search engine Perplexity to stop using its content

The Hollywood Reporter:

Condé Nast reaches a tentative deal with The New Yorker union, ending a strike threat at the mag's annual festival; the union plans a final vote in a few weeks— The company's human resources department announced a tentative deal on Monday, a little over a week after the labor group threatened a work stoppage.

Discussion:
NewsGuild of New York, Crooked Media and The Nation

Nieman Lab:

Kansas City's news nonprofit The Beacon is shutting down its Wichita newsroom, three years after its launch with support from the Wichita Foundation— “We've realized that we can't do it all, and have made the decision to no longer have a staffed newsroom in Wichita.”

Discussion:
The Beacon and @sarahscire

Discussion:

Adweek:

The Athletic names Fubo as its first streaming partner in a multi-year deal to integrate Fubo initially into live game blogs and then into newsletters and more— The partnership will see Fubo integrated throughout The Athletic's website — The New York Times sports publisher …

Discussion:

Ben Bowman /
The Streamable: Can You Watch ESPN+ on Fubo? @financewithjohn: This looks like it could be a strong partnership for both parties. The Athletic is owned by the NYT so they likely target a wealthier audience that fubo can zero in on too. I'm interested to see how this one plays out but we've already seen $fubo improving their retention metrics

Mark Stenberg /
Mark Stenberg on LinkedIn: New: The New York Times's sports division The Athletic has named the sports streaming service Fubo as its official streaming partner. …

Cory Adelson /
Cory Adelson on LinkedIn: After months of back-and-forth discussions, I'm excited to share our partnership with The Athletic! By pairing The Athletic's audience …

New York Times:

Tina Brown, who became synonymous with Manhattan media in the 1980s and 1990s, launches Fresh Hell, a weekly Substack diary newsletter in “notebook form”— Tina Brown's decision to join Substack is a coup for the newsletter company, which considers prestigious names to be magnets …

Discussion:
Business Insider, @mediaevan, @jtes and Fresh Hell

Discussion:

Peter Kafka /
Business Insider: Why best-selling novelist James Patterson loves Substack — and hates AI

Evan DeSimone /
@mediaevan: This is going to be ridiculous. That said, I am SUBSCRIBED. https://www.nytimes.com/...

Jessica Testa /
@jtes: I spoke to Tina Brown about joining Substack (and a little bit of media gossip) https://www.nytimes.com/...

Tina Brown /
Fresh Hell: Welcome to FRESH HELL: Tina Brown's Diary

Associated Press:

Taliban-run media stops showing images of living beings in some Afghan provinces to comply with morality laws, sparking press freedom concerns— Taliban run-media have stopped showing images of living beings in some Afghan provinces to comply with morality laws, an official confirmed Tuesday.

Discussion:
@natiqmalikzada, @visegrad24, Times of India, LBC, The Independent, Global Village Space, @qaisalamdar, Daily Mail, WION, Amu TV, Outlook India, Telegraph, Boing Boing and PetaPixel

Discussion:

Natiq Malikzada /
@natiqmalikzada: The Taliban announced that they are banning the publication of images of living beings in the media. According to the Taliban's morality ministry, the rule will be enforced gradually. Many reports from the northern Takhar province indicates that they have banned local TV stations [image] @visegrad24: BREAKING: The Afghan Taliban announce they are introducing a new law banning the publication of images of living beings in the media [image]

Henry Moore /
LBC: Taliban bans all images of living things in Afghanistan The Independent: Taliban media forced to stop showing images of ‘living beings’ under strict new laws

Qais Alamdar /
@qaisalamdar: Don't be surprised, the Taliban banned images of living beings back in the 90s. They are reintroducing it now; which reinforces their core belief system and that they have not changed—even slightly. That being said, the generation growing up under the Taliban is a lost one. [image]

Ed Holt /
Daily Mail: Taliban ban photographs of ‘all living things’ in Afghanistan, claiming it is forbidden under Islamic law

Mark Frauenfelder /
Boing Boing: Taliban bans all images of living things in Afghanistan

Jaron Schneider /
PetaPixel: The Taliban Bans Publishing Photos and Videos of All Living Things

St. Louis Public Radio:

Lee Enterprises' St. Louis Post-Dispatch plans to outsource printing to Gannett in Columbia, MO, in January; late sports info will not be in its print edition— Come January, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch will not be printed in the St. Louis area for the first time in its 146-year history.

Discussion:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, @hollyedgell and St. Louis Business Journal

Discussion:

Alan Achkar /
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Post-Dispatch to outsource printing operations to Columbia, Missouri

Holly Edgell /