Source: Oracle founder Larry Ellison will invest ~$6B into the Paramount-Skydance deal, with RedBird Capital Partners contributing the remaining $2B (Axios)

Mediagazer: Source: Oracle founder Larry Ellison will invest ~$6B into the Paramount-Skydance deal, with RedBird Capital Partners contributing the remaining $2B (Axios)

Top News:

Reuters:

Paramount Global and Skydance Media announce a merger of the two companies, ending months of chaotic talks; a memo says the deal is expected to close in H1 2025— Skydance Media and Paramount Global (PARA.O) agreed to merge, the companies announced late Sunday evening, opening a new chapter for one of Hollywood's oldest studios.
Discussion: Skydance Media, New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Los Angeles Times, Business Insider, Adweek, Bloomberg, Variety, Deadline, The Drum, The Desk, Wall Street Journal, Variety, @jbflint, Associated Press, @richlightshed, Financial Times, @lucas_shaw, The Hollywood Reporter, B&T, The Media Leader, @loudmouthjulia, @mattnicholas, MediaPost, @andykleinman, The Verge, The Information, @benmullin, @lucas_shaw, SlashFilm, The Streamable, @jbflint, @mattbelloni, The Guardian, The Wrap, Mumbrella, @btmcclure, Fast Company, The A.V. Club, StreamTV Insider, Newser, CNBC, @benmullin, CNN, @xpangler, @harrisharrisev9, @aepstein_, @xpangler, @pkafka, New York Times, @lkimmasters@threads.net, Ad Age, CBS News, Sara Fischer on LinkedIn, Axios, @lucas_shaw, Los Angeles Times, Cord Cutters News, The Information, Media Play News, Reuters, The Hollywood Reporter, The Wrap, The Daily Beast, r/boxoffice, r/wallstreetbets, r/MediaMergers and r/startrek

Discussion:
Skydance Media: Skydance Media and Paramount Global Sign Definitive Agreement to Advance Paramount as a World-Class Media and Technology Enterprise

Samantha Masunaga /
Los Angeles Times: David Ellison's goal for Paramount: Make it a ‘media and technology’ company

Peter Kafka /
Business Insider: Paramount's new owner says he's building a tech company. Come again?

Lucas Shaw /
Bloomberg: Source: Paramount board's special committee approves Skydance merger; the board is set to approve the deal today, with an announcement coming as soon as Monday

Matt Donnelly /
Variety: David Ellison Meets the Press, Talks Paramount and CBS Vision With Gerry Cardinale, Jeff Shell

Dade Hayes /
Deadline: Skydance Media Gets Board Committee Approval For Control Of Paramount Global After Lengthy Chase

Kendra Barnett /
The Drum: Skydance merger will ‘inject new life’ into Paramount as streaming wars heat up, pros say

Jessica Toonkel /
Wall Street Journal: Paramount Global Agrees to Skydance Deal

Cynthia Littleton /
Variety: David Ellison Set as Chairman-CEO, Jeff Shell as President of Paramount; Shari Redstone to Sell Family Empire to Skydance Media in $8 Billion Deal

Joe Flint /
@jbflint: Paramount Global co-head Chris McCarthy says the success is all possible because of the people associated with Paramount. ((Ed. Note: Now lets move onto that cost-cutting and layoff agenda)) @richlightshed: Most telling paragraph of the @Skydance merger with @paramountco release $PARA Speaks to “why” this deal won for Shari Redstone (beyond the 💰💰💰) “Importantly, the transaction preserves the over 100-year-old legacy of Paramount as one of Hollywood's most iconic production

Lucas Shaw /
@lucas_shaw: I take reader questions and pose one of my own. Such as: Would you pay $25 a month for Spotify? https://www.bloomberg.com/...

Etan Vlessing /
The Hollywood Reporter: Movie Theater Owners to “Look Closely” at New Paramount-Skydance Deal Terms

Arvind Hickman /
B&T: Paramount Global And Skydance Agree To Merge

Ella Sagar /
The Media Leader: Paramount ends merger saga after reaching ‘definitive’ Skydance agreement

Julia Alexander /
@loudmouthjulia: If I'm to understand what just happened between Paramount and Skydance — the selling of one former mogul family's declining media empire to a wealthier new mogul family who got a strong boost from the patriarchal tech lord — then this guy is about to be CEO. [image]

Matt Nicholas /
@mattnicholas: Skydance officially bought NA & with that, full control of Paramount Global. I hope David Ellison keeps Paramount + and some of their core linear assets, but I know changes will come. Hoping for the best for all of my friends still working there per the upcoming layoffs 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽.

Wayne Friedman /
MediaPost: Paramount Global, Skydance Media To Merge In $8B Deal

Andy Kleinman /
@andykleinman: I'm personally excited and intrigued about the Skydance and Paramount merger. The growing, disruptive studio absorbing the large (but shrinking) legacy studio. I like that combination much better than Amazon/MGM or WBD/Discovery. Let's see what they do.

Jess Weatherbed /
The Verge: Paramount agrees to sweetened Skydance merger deal

Martin Peers /
The Information: Skydance and Paramount Unveil Merger

Ben Mullin /
@benmullin: Shari Redstone emails Paramount employees: “My father was governed in all of his decisions by his belief that content was indeed king. That has never been more important than it is today...” [image]

Lucas Shaw /
@lucas_shaw: Shari Redstone has agreed to sell her company to David Ellison. Paramount's special committee has agreed to merge with Ellison's Skydance. Neither one blessed this deal last month. What changed? https://www.bloomberg.com/...

Ryan Scott /
SlashFilm: The Paramount Merger Is Finally Official - And It Could Have Been So Much Worse

David Satin /
The Streamable: Paramount Global's Deal with Skydance Gets Board Approval, Set to Close by 2025

Joe Flint /
@jbflint: Paramount Global incoming president Jeff Shell says essentially company will sell content to all vs hoarding for Paramount+.

Matthew Belloni /
@mattbelloni: Money wins! [image]

Kayla Cobb /
The Wrap: Paramount Global Will Pay Skydance $400 Million Breakup Fee If It Accepts a Stronger Offer

Brandon T. McClure /
@btmcclure: Well... this is honestly the best case scenario for Paramount if they were so determined to sell. At least it wasn't to another giant media company. Small buying big is the better of two evils 🤷 ♂️

Michael Grothaus /
Fast Company: Everything you need to know about the Paramount Skydance merger

Mary Kate Carr /
The A.V. Club: Paramount is finally welcoming their new Skydance overlords

Bevin Fletcher /
StreamTV Insider: Paramount to merge with Skydance Media

Jenn Gidman /
Newser: Say Hello to the ‘New Paramount’ — And goodbye to the reign of the Redstone family, as Paramount plans its merger with Skydance

Lillian Rizzo /
CNBC: Paramount agrees to merge with Skydance, ending monthslong negotiations and Redstone era

Ben Mullin /
@benmullin: The Paramount investor call about the Skydance merger is a big Avengers team up. Basically everyone except Shari Redstone is on the call.

Todd Spangler /
@xpangler: Shari Redstone, Paramount Co-CEOs Tell Employees Skydance ‘Has a Clear Strategic Vision for the Future’ https://variety.com/... via @variety

Evan /
@harrisharrisev9: This is BEST case scenario and I'm so glad the deal got approved. From everything I've heard, yhe people at Skydance respect the legacy and work from Paramount Global and won't drastically change things moving forward.

Adam Epstein /
@aepstein_: The demise of Paramount+ is the canary in the coal mine for subscale streaming platforms. Most will cease to exist in 2-3 years. There will be a concentration of all streaming TV ad revenue to 5-6 sizeable big tech / big media co's. The winners will be decided by their

Todd Spangler /
@xpangler: David Ellison, son of billionaire Oracle founder Larry Ellison, and his investors are blaring the message that the new Paramount will be a “confluence of art, first and foremost, working hand in hand with technology.” https://variety.com/...

Peter Kafka /
@pkafka: Paramount is going to compete with tech companies by becoming a tech company, says its owner-to-be. Which is what his team was whispering about back in April, when it also didn't really make sense. Drumroll for the link!

Benjamin Mullin /
New York Times: Meet David Ellison, Paramount's Future Boss and Hollywood's Newest Mogul

Kim Masters /
@lkimmasters@threads.net: So we're on the cusp of a deal for Skydance to end up with Paramount. The Skydance guys really hung in there. David Ellison gets his dream: running a studio. (Beware what you wish for?) Jeff Shell gets back in the game after that little contretemps at NBC Universal. …

Sara Fischer /
Sara Fischer on LinkedIn: #Breaking: It's a done deal. Paramount's board has approved a deal to merge with Skydance Media. — The deal breathes new life …

Lucas Shaw /
@lucas_shaw: The deal still needs to be formally signed. Considering everything that has happened in this negotiation... it's official when it's announced.

Lucas Shaw /
@lucas_shaw: News: Paramount's board has approved a merger with Skydance. Link TK. A deal should be announced officially tomorrow. Los Angeles Times: Paramount and Skydance agree to merge, marking a new chapter for the storied media company

Luke Bouma /
Cord Cutters News: The Sale of Paramount+ & Pluto TV to Skydance Gets Several Major Approvals to Move Forward

Martin Peers /
The Information: Ellison's Skydance Gets Closer to Paramount Deal

Erik Gruenwedel /
Media Play News: Paramount Agrees to Tentative Merger With Skydance Media

Reuters:
Special committee of Paramount Global endorses plan to merge with Skydance Media, source says

Alex Weprin /
The Hollywood Reporter: New Paramount-Skydance Deal Nears Finish Line As Board Special Committee Signs Off

AJ McDougall /
The Daily Beast: Paramount Board OK's Merger Deal With Skydance After False Start: Report

RELATED:

Axios:

Source: Oracle founder Larry Ellison will invest ~$6B into the Paramount-Skydance deal, with RedBird Capital Partners contributing the remaining $2B— - The Ellisons and RedBird have transactional covenants that require they be consulted on any major business decisions by Paramount in the interim, RedBird's Jeff Shell tells Axios.

Discussion:
The Wrap, @tvgrimreaper, @danprimack, New York Post and Deadline

Discussion:

Dan Primack /
@danprimack: Small scoop on Paramount deal: Larry Ellison and his fam are investing $6 billion of the $8 billion purchase price, w/ RedBird contributing the remainder. KKR not putting in new $$. Earlier reporting on that was wrong. $PARA https://www.axios.com/...

Alexandra Steigrad /
New York Post: Skydance CEO David Ellison — and scandal-scarred media exec Jeff Shell — signal $2B in cost cuts for Paramount

Variety:

Jeff Shell, set to become “New Paramount” president, says Skydance executives have identified $2B+ in cost cuts, much of it from its linear media operations— To help Paramount Global to grow, its new owner needs to make cuts. — Skydance executives who are set to take over the owner of CBS …

Discussion:
The Wrap, Deadline, @jbflint, Sportico, @jbflint, @alexweprin, Sanjay Raina on LinkedIn, IndieWire, The Hollywood Reporter and CBS News

Discussion:

Dade Hayes /
Deadline: Paramount President-To-Be Jeff Shell Says Linear TV Will Remain “A Strong Business For Decades To Come”

Joe Flint /
@jbflint: Sky Dance has a $400 million breakup fee if Paramount finds another buyer in next 45 days. (I think I got that figure right)

Anthony Crupi /
Sportico: Paramount and Skydance Will Beef Up CBS' Sports Portfolio

Joe Flint /
@jbflint: “We know we're getting a lot of great, talented people at Paramount,” says incoming Paramount SKD president Jeff Shell. (some reason animal house “There's a lot of great guys here...” scene playing in my head.

Alex Weprin /
@alexweprin: Skydance would get a $400 million breakup fee if Paramount finds another buyer in the next 45 days.

Sanjay Raina /
Sanjay Raina on LinkedIn: Same story being played over and over again. It started with the ‘mouse’ gobbling Fox and we all know what has subsequently been the state of affairs. …

Brian Welk /
IndieWire: It's Official: Paramount and Skydance Are Merging

Alex Weprin /
The Hollywood Reporter: Jeff Shell and David Ellison Dish on Paramount Plans: It'll Be “Creator-Friendly Again”

Variety:

A look at Skydance's vision for “New Paramount”, of which David Ellison will be the CEO: a $1.5B cash infusion to help woo creatives, a focus on tech, and more— Now that Shari Redstone has signed on the dotted line to sell her father's media empire to Skydance and RedBird Capital, what future awaits?

Discussion:
Deadline, @colbyhall, Radio & Television …, The Wrap, @jbflint, Broadband TV News, @alexweprin, @jbflint, Next TV and The Hollywood Reporter

Discussion:

Dade Hayes /
Deadline: Top Of The Mountain: David Ellison's Skydance Taking Over Paramount After $8 Billion Investment

Colby Hall /
@colbyhall: I'm having a very hard time not seeing this guy as the real life Kendall Roy.

Adam Chitwood /
The Wrap: Theater Owners to ‘Look Closely’ at Details of Skydance-Paramount Deal, Stress Need for More Movies in Cinemas

Joe Flint /
@jbflint: Incoming Paramount Global - Sky Dance head David Ellison says better user experience needed at Par+ to continue to build and scale it. “We are also open to partnership,” Ellison says, including sharing licensing (of content).

Joe Flint /
@jbflint: Jeff Shell says, “you would literally spit out David Ellison” if you went into a lab to create an entertainment executive for the future of the biz.

Julian Clover /
Broadband TV News: Paramount signs agreement with Skydance Media

Alex Weprin /
@alexweprin: Jeff Shell: “If you went into a lab and designed the perfect executive for the next-generation Hollywood company, you would literally spit out David Ellison.”

Joe Flint /
@jbflint: “There is going to have to be some form of bundled solution,” to streaming says Jeff Shell, incoming president of Paramount Global-SKD. To hard to “sort through the muck” of how streaming is delivered.

Daniel Frankel /
Next TV: Paramount Global Agrees to Merge with David Ellison's Skydance, Jeff Shell Named President

Reuters:

Memo: Paramount's co-CEOs say Paramount will continue reducing the size of its workforce and look to divest some of its assets until the Skydance deal closes— Paramount Global (PARA.O) will continue reducing the size of its workforce until its merger with Skydance Media closes …

Discussion:
Deadline, @jimmy_stick, @tvgrimreaper and Business Insider

Discussion:

Anthony D'Alessandro /
Deadline: Paramount Global Co-CEOs Tell Staff “It's Business As Usual” Until Skydance Deal Closes

Codename Dutchess /
@jimmy_stick: Paramount was worth like 10 billion and they've found a way to cut 1/5 of their value there's going to be an insane amount of layoffs. I'd imagine it be more on the cable side of things but It's gonna be pretty shocking if I survive the next year and half at this company. @tvgrimreaper: Bad news: Lots of you will be fired. Good news: The new owners can't do anything until 2025.

Variety:

Memo: Shari Redstone says Skydance “have a clear strategic vision for the future”; Paramount co-CEOs say “it's business as usual” until the deal closes in 2025— Cheeks, McCarthy and Robbins say they will continue carrying out their restructuring plan, including layoffs and asset sales

Discussion:
IF Magazine, Deadline and The Wrap

Discussion:

Sean Slatter /
IF Magazine: Paramount Global to merge with Skydance Media

Anthony D'Alessandro /
Deadline: Shari Redstone Tells Staff That Skydance Has “Resources To Build On Paramount Global's Competitive Advantages” The Hollywood Reporter:

The Paramount-Skydance deal has a “go shop” policy, where Paramount would pay Skydance a $400M breakup fee if Paramount finds another buyer within 45 days— The Skydance Media team and Paramount's three CEOs spoke to the investor community early Monday morning …

Discussion:
IndieWire, Fast Company, Reuters, Business Insider, Deadline, Los Angeles Times, Slate, Variety, Next TV, The Wrap, Media Play News and WORLD SCREEN

Discussion:

Chris Morris /
Fast Company: Now that Paramount has found a buyer, what's next?

Dawn Chmielewski /
Reuters: Skydance's David Ellison describes Paramount's tech-media hybrid future

Paige Bruton /
Business Insider: Meet David Ellison, Larry Ellison's son who is about to take over at Paramount

Dade Hayes /
Deadline: Skydance Deal Will Help Paramount “Double Down On Core Competency” And Embrace Technology, David Ellison Tells Investors

Samantha Masunaga /
Los Angeles Times: David Ellison is taking control of Paramount. Now the real work begins

Alex Kirshner /
Slate: The Slow-Motion Paramount Saga Is Over. A New Rich Kid Will Take Control of the Iconic Brand.

Todd Spangler /
Variety: Paramount Global Will Pay Skydance $400 Million Breakup Fee if It Lands a Better Offer

Jon Lafayette /
Next TV: David Ellison Spells Out Goals for ‘New Paramount’

Lucas Manfredi /
The Wrap: David Ellison and Jeff Shell Outline Plan for New Paramount: Tech, Animation and Rebuilding Paramount+

Thomas K. Arnold /
Media Play News: Skydance, Paramount Global Agree on Deal; David Ellison, Jeff Shell to Lead ‘New Paramount’

Mansha Daswani /
WORLD SCREEN: Paramount & Skydance Clinch Merger Deal

Entrepreneur:

OpenAI last week requested NYT documents, including reporters' notes and interview memos, to show that its articles are original; NYT calls it harassment— Key Takeaways … Now OpenAI is asking for proof that NYT articles are actually original — and the NYT is calling the request “irrelevant, improper, and harassing.”

Discussion:
@loudmouthjulia, Ianka Fleerackers on LinkedIn, @rahll and @bobbyallyn

Discussion:

Julia Alexander /
@loudmouthjulia: Completely missed OpenAI was demanding to see NYT reporters' “notes, interview memos, records of materials cited or other ‘files’” to prove articles are original as it pertains to the copyright suit. And cites the WBD/The Batman copyright case as precedent https://storage.courtlistener.com/ ...

Ianka Fleerackers /
Ianka Fleerackers on LinkedIn: Monday thought: Is the end of the copyright era near? — The Context: — In December, the “New York Times” became the first major U.S. media company …

Reid Southen /
@rahll: OpenAI is making wild demands in the NYT lawsuit, in an effort to try and claim after the fact that the articles they stole weren't protectable IP. It's cartoonishly absurd.

Bobby Allyn /
@bobbyallyn: OpenAI's legal team trying to get all “reporter's notes” in discovery in NYT lawsuit. [image]

RELATED:

The Intercept:
Leaked code: NYT tested using OpenAI tech to generate article headlines and help apply its styleguide; NYT says the “experiment was not taken beyond testing”

Discussion:
@mvario1

Sydney Morning Herald:

Memo: Nine's Pedestrian Group restructures as CEO departs, staff faces cuts, and licensing deals to publish Vice, Gizmodo, Kotaku, others in Australia get axed— The chief executive of Nine-owned Pedestrian Group, Matt Rowley, will leave the youth publisher as part of a major restructure …

Discussion:

Lee Constable /
@constababble: So many youth-focus media outlets have gone by the wayside while youth are most likely to gain news from social media. Young people deserve quality information within the platforms and media landscapes where they spend their time. What's the solution? https://www.smh.com.au/...

Ben Grubb /
@bengrubb: Gizmodo, Lifehacker and Kotaku will no longer be published in Australia as part of a major restructure and cost-cutting effort by Nine-owned Pedestrian Group Up to 40 jobs will go across the business https://www.smh.com.au/...

Sarah Creelman /
@screelman: This makes me mad, sad and just so disappointed that traditional media business models are falling to pieces. We're poorer for not having a fourth estate to report on tech categories/experiences that are increasingly part of our everyday life😧 https://www.smh.com.au/...

George Dunford /
@hack_packer: Sorry to hear of job losses at ⁦⁦@pedestriandaily⁩. As well as putting great people out of work, it also means fewer media outlets for Australian audiences and less opportunities for writers and creatives. https://www.smh.com.au/...

Arvind Hickman /
B&T: Matt Rowley Leaves Pedestrian As Nine Cuts Titles & Up To 40 Staff

Alex Choros /
@a_choros: Absolutely devastating news. Australia's tech media landscape is worse off without Gizmodo, Kotaku, and Lifehacker, and the talented writers behind them https://www.smh.com.au/...

Luke Hopewell /
@lukehopewell: Vale, Gizmodo Australia. Gave years of my life to make the best, most fun, informative and innovative place to read tech news. Go scoop up their people if you're hiring. https://www.smh.com.au/...

Stephen Totilo /
@stephentotilo: Kotaku Australia was a really cool operation, with writers who consistently took pride in making it more than just a licensor of U.S. Kotaku stories. I'm bummed to see it go and wish the staff of all of today's shuttered Pedestrian sites that best.

Cameron Wilson /
@camwilsonreporter@threads.net: with all the media layoffs, i don't want to be a complete doomer. there are new media companies popping up: newsletters, podcasts, app-native publications. it's never been a better time to be a niche, indie publication. on the other hand, i think the disappearing middle — broader outlets, typically free, that produce for a wide audience — is a real loss. …

Nathan Jolly /
Mumbrella: Refinery29, Gizmodo, Vice, Kotaku closed, dozens of Pedestrian employees made redundant

Josh Taylor /
The Guardian: Vice, Kotaku, Refinery29 to no longer publish in Australia after Pedestrian Group announces restructure

Washington Post:

LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman invests in Smartmatic, in part to help the company sustain its costly litigation against Fox News and Newsmax— LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, a longtime funder of left-leaning causes, has invested in Smartmatic, the election technology company suing …

Discussion:
New Republic, @jeffjarvis, Mediaite, CNN and @jeremymbarr

Discussion:
@jeffjarvis: G'bless @reidhoffman, investing in Smartmatic to bolster its finances while it goes after Murdoch's Fox. God's work. A billionaire is boosting a major defamation lawsuit against Fox News https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Diana Falzone /
Mediaite: Billionaire Reid Hoffman Invests Millions in Smartmatic to Help Blockbuster Defamation Lawsuit Against Fox News CNN: LinkedIn billionaire bankrolls voting firm Smartmatic as it fights Fox News in 2020 election defamation case

Jeremy Barr /
@jeremymbarr: Some news: LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman has a made a multi-million dollar investment in Smartmatic to help fund its suits against Fox & Newsmax. “This was a way to provide capital that would allow the truth to be found in the courts,” an advisor said https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Financial Times:

How Saudi media group MBC's Shahid has become the biggest streaming service in MENA with a 22% share, ahead of Starz Play Arabia at 18% and Netflix at 17%— Wide range of Arabic-language shows and films helps media group compete with Netflix — Media group MBC is competing hard with Netflix …

Discussion:

Maria Rua Aguete /
Maria Rua Aguete on LinkedIn: Great to see our Omdia research quoted in the Financial Times this week :-) — Media group #MBC is competing hard with #Netflix to become …

Natasha Matos-Hemingway /
Natasha Matos-Hemingway on LinkedIn: We at Shahid are proud that so many want to hear our story and be a part of it! — I'm ecstatic that our impact has been covered by the Financial Times. …

Financial Times:

A profile of French TV presenter Cyril Hanouna, who has played an important role in boosting billionaire Vincent Bolloré's Fox News-like media empire in France— Cyril Hanouna is a key player in Vincent Bolloré's Fox News-like media empire — One way to understand …

Discussion:
@borisnajman and Columbia Journalism Review

Discussion:

Boris Najman /
@borisnajman: “French society is no longer infused with the nuanced spirit of Voltaire, Hugo, or Zola,” he said in reference to France's emblematic philosopher and writers. “It is infused with Hanouna.” https://www.ft.com/...

Washington Post:

The Washington Post's managing editor Krissah Thompson will step back from some duties to form and lead the task force building the newspaper's “third newsroom”— Thompson will form a task force with input from across the newsroom colleagues from the commercial side and will helm …

Discussion:
@michellemanafy, The Wrap and @corbinbolies

Discussion:

Michelle Manafy /
@michellemanafy: Krissah Thompson will run the newsroom process building the third newsroom, which will focus on developing new products and formats, and deepening our capabilities particularly to deliver the Post's journalism to different audiences https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Natalie Korach /
The Wrap: Washington Post Taps Krissah Thompson to Build ‘Third Newsroom’ Digital Initiative

Corbin Bolies /
@corbinbolies: NEW: Washington Post managing editor Krissah Thompson is in charge of building the “third newsroom,” executive editor Matt Murray tells staff in an email this morning. She'll step back from some ME duties as she forms a task force, which Murray says should be in place this week. [image]

The Philadelphia Inquirer:

WURD says Biden's interview, with questions provided by his aides, was conducted without management knowledge and is parting ways with Andrea Lawful-Sanders— The Philadelphia radio host who admitted to using questions prepared by President Joe Biden's campaign in one of his first postdebate interviews …

Discussion:

Isabella Ramírez /
Politico: Radio station parts ways with Biden interviewer for using questions sent in advance

Azi Paybarah /
Washington Post: Radio station parts ways with host who interviewed Biden with questions from his aides

Simon J. Levien /
New York Times: Radio Host Resigns After Asking Biden Questions His Campaign Had Provided

Rachel Treisman /
NPR: A radio host resigned after interviewing Biden with questions provided by his campaign

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: “WURD Radio is not a mouthpiece for the Biden or any other Administration,” the station says. “Internally, we will commit to reviewing our policies, procedures, and practices to reinforce WURD's independence and trust with our listeners. But mainstream media should do its own

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: Host Andrea Lawful-Sanders “and WURD Radio have mutually agreed to part ways, effective immediately,” because Lawful-Sanders used “pre-determined questions provided by the White House,” the station says (statement via @AlexThomp) [image]

Alex Thompson /
@alexthomp: Update: WURD, which had Biden's first interview post debate but used q's drafted by the Biden team, says they have parted ways w/ the host. Adds: “practice of de-legitimizing Black voices continues today. WURD Radio is not a mouthpiece for the Biden or any other Admin” [image]

Rebecca Falconer /
Axios: Radio host resigns after asking Biden questions sent by his campaign

Brian Niemietz /
New York Daily News: Radio host resigns after Biden interview using questions provided by his team Fox News: Radio station ‘parts ways’ with host after admitting White House gave her questions before Biden interview

Stephanie Kaloi /
The Wrap: Black-Owned Station Parts Ways With Host Who Asked Biden Questions Provided by the Campaign

Ashanti Maya Martin /
Ashanti Maya Martin on LinkedIn: WURD Radio had an exclusive interview with Joe Biden that aired last Thursday. It was his first post-debate interview. …

Eva Rothenberg /
CNN: Radio host who interviewed Biden leaves station after admitting campaign aides gave her pre-selected questions

Ryan King /
New York Post: Radio station cuts ties with host who revealed she only asked President Biden questions fed to her by campaign

Joe DePaolo /
Mediaite: JUST IN: Philadelphia Radio Station Parts Ways With Host Who Asked Biden Questions Supplied in Advance By His Team

Chris Mautner /
PennLive: Pa. radio host who interviewed Biden using questions given by aides steps down

RELATED:
New York Times: Biden aides provided questions for radio interviews on The Source on Philadelphia's WURD, on July 3, and The Earl Ingram Show on Wisconsin's WAUK, on July 4

Discussion:
WURD Radio, New York Post, @micchiato@mastodon.social, Newser, Deadline, HuffPost, @justinbaragona, Variety, Fox News, Mediaite, @charlesarthur, @jonkarl, @jabeale, @victorblackwell, @alexthomp, @aghamilton29, ABC News, TMZ.com, @ethank@threads.net, CNN, CBS News, Axios and The Wrap

Discussion:

Ariel Zilber /
New York Post: NY Times' Maureen Dowd says Biden campaign aide pressed her to scrub ‘goodest’ gaffe @micchiato@mastodon.social: “On July 3, the first post-debate interview with President Joe #Biden was arranged and negotiated independently by WURD Radio host Andrea Lawful-Sanders without knowledge, consultation or collaboration with WURD management. …

Kate Seamons /
Newser: Radio Host Resigns After Asking Questions From Biden Camp

Glenn Garner /
Deadline: Philadelphia Radio Host Resigns After Revealing Biden Team Gave Her Questions To Ask

Josephine Harvey /
HuffPost: Radio Station Parts Ways With Host Who Interviewed Biden After Debate

Justin Baragona /
@justinbaragona: After it was revealed that her interview with Joe Biden featured questions drafted and fed to her by Biden aides, WURD Radio announced today that they've “mutually agreed to part ways” with host Andrea Lawful-Sanders. https://wurdradio.com/... [image]

William Earl /
Variety: ‘Black Media Matters’: Philadelphia's WURD Parts Ways With Radio Host Involved in Biden Interview Questions Flap

Fox News:
FLASHBACK: Biden has history of coordinating ‘scripted’ interviews, press conferences with media ahead of time

Joe DePaolo /
Mediaite: Second Biden Interviewer Confirms He Too Was Given Questions in Advance By Biden's Team: 'Didn't Get a Chance' to Ask Everything ‘I Wanted’

Charles Arthur /
@charlesarthur: This is pitiful, on both sides. You dictate the questions? You accept the questions?

Jonathan Karl /
@jonkarl: This is malpractice. When you give the interviewer questions, it is no longer an interview. Why did the White House do this?

Jason Beale /
@jabeale: The radio host who interviewed Biden two days ago - Andrea Lawful-Sanders - just told @CNN that the White House sent her 8 questions in advance and she picked four of the 8 WH questions to ask Biden during the interview. @victorblackwell: A radio host who interviewed President Biden Wednesday tells me the White House sent her the questions before the interview. [video]

Alex Thompson /
@alexthomp: New: Biden's team drafted the questions for his 2 first post-debate interviews (both on Black radio). The WH was involved in drafting the q's, per person familiar WH Black media director wasn't part of the process Biden campaign denies WH's involvement. https://www.axios.com/... @aghamilton29: Holy smokes. The Biden camp has been pointing to the local radio interviews he did after the debate as evidence that he's fine, but the radio hosts who conducted those interviews told CNN this morning the questions were scripted and provided by the White House. [video]

Olivia Rubin /
ABC News: 2nd local radio host says they were given questions ahead of Biden interview

Ethan Kaplan /
@ethank@threads.net: Quick: everyone who has ever worked with a publicist, hide your media briefs you've received or given. What in the ever fuck is going on with the beltway media right now?

Ethan Kaplan /