A banjo player and a Black Maga influencer now attend Trump administration press briefings These are just some of the “new media” personalities courted by the White House to take part in a series of alternative briefings championed by Donald Trump’s press secretary An extraordinary gallery of Trump-promoting characters has paraded through the West Wing in recent days answering Leavitt’s call for “independent journalists” and “influencers” to attend her press gatherings Some of their fawning, softball or otherwise baffling questions have provoked derision and concern conspiracy and other extremist talking points Since quitting Mumford & Sons the double Grammy winning folk rock band he co-founded four years ago following his controversial endorsement of a conservative journalist’s book guitarist and banjoist Marshall has found his place in the rightwing ecosystem The 37-year-old British son of GB News co-owner and hedge fund tycoon Sir Paul Marshall now hosts his own podcast in which he discusses politics with like-minded guests for his 14,000 subscribers Photograph: Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesHe showed up in the West Wing on Tuesday in a sharp black suit to first congratulate “Madame Leavitt” for inviting him then try to gauge her position on the “quarter of a million” Britons he insisted had been penalized in the UK for social media posts or perceived speech infractions “Would the Trump administration consider political asylum for British citizens in such a situation?” he asked said the question was “a very good one” and she would “see if it’s something the administration would entertain” The host of several conservative podcasts was linked last year to a US content creation company the justice department said was paid almost $10m by Russian state media operatives to publish videos promoting Moscow’s interests and agenda was another attack on the mainstream media: “I’m wondering if you can comment on their unprofessional behavior as well as elaborate if there’s any plans to expand access to new companies?” “We want to welcome all viewpoints into this room,” Leavitt replied Bleached blond, and with a striking resemblance to the Harry Potter character Draco Malfoy Lauren is a previously unknown musician and content creator who served as a social media adviser to Robert F Kennedy Jr during the new health secretary’s failed presidential campaign last year His recent wild claims include informing his 875,000 TikTok followers that the Biden administration was a “cesspool of topless trans people on the White House lawn” and was responsible for countless suicides Photograph: The Washington Post/Getty ImagesOne of the leading sycophants at Leavitt’s alternative briefing “You’re a very high-profile young mother who seems to juggle and balance it all beautifully What advice do you have to young parents out there who are starting their careers having kids building families and trying to find that balance so desperately?” but was keen to point out that “there are so many new moms and dads on our senior staff but also across the entire administration” Under the pseudonym Dom Lucre, election denier McGee was booted briefly from X (then Twitter) in 2023 for posting a video depicting child sexual abuse but allowed back on at the insistence of the platform’s owner the self-styled Black Maga influencer has disseminated numerous conspiracy theories on social media including amplifying Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election he lost was fraudulent and promoting the QAnon fiction that the so-called deep state was conspiring to usurp the president Photograph: Dom Lucre TwitterHis question during his brief appearance at the new media briefing was thus: “Is there any possibility for names such as Barack Hussein Obama to ever possibly get investigated for … any of the wrongdoings they might have done?” Leavitt said it was “refreshing” to hear McGee’s question “The legacy media would never ask [it],” she said Billing herself as “just a crazy nonlib girl in a crazylib world” Maga newcomer Wexler claims to have grown up “as one of few conservatives on the outskirts of the very blue New York City” “The left doesn’t know what to do with me,” she opines in a self-aggrandizing biography that expresses her fixation on “smashing the status quo and redefining what conservative commentary can be” Photograph: Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+Her first attempt at “stirring things up in the realm of political commentary” having been granted the honor of the opening question at Leavitt’s alternative briefing was a racially dubious statement praising the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown “I can attest to the deportations in Florida my Uber drivers finally speak English again Her subsequent question demanded to know what action would be taken against “trans men … masquerading as women in girls’ sport” Leavitt replied: “Obey the law or you will be prosecuted.” Photograph: Jason Davis/Getty ImagesWith more than 7 million followers across several social media platforms, O’Handley was warmly welcomed by Leavitt to the new media seat during a briefing that included Trump’s border enforcer, Tom Homan. He used his opportunity to deliver a lengthy monologue endorsing Trump’s policy of deporting scores of migrants without due process, and excoriated judges who had issued orders trying to stop it. “In Trump’s first 99 days, we’ve seen a coordinated assault on the rule of law by radical judges,” he said. “These judges are providing more due process to violent MS-13 and Tren de Aragua illegal aliens than they did for American citizens who peacefully protested on January 6.” Would Trump consider suspending the writ of habeas corpus for such migrants? O’Handley wondered. “The administration is open to all legal and constitutional remedies,” Leavitt said, adding that she “agreed with the premise” of his question. while others did not respond to requests for comment.Entertainment attorney Stephen Weizenecker said producers financiers and film offices were trying to figure out how tariffs would be implemented but said it could lead to a notable shift in production back to the United States."If you get any sort of significant tariff it takes away whatever production incentive there was for filming outside the United States," said Weizenecker who advises producers and financiers on production incentives.However like customs inspections at ports of entry will not work for movies that are licensed streamed or distributed on global platforms using a borderless cloud infrastructure The "risks to putting digital goods and services on the table in trade negotiations/wars are overwhelmingly tilted against the U.S.," he noted.Hollywood brings in most of its box office revenue from overseas about 70% of the roughly $30 billion in global ticket sales came from outside the United States and Canada senior vice president at The Boxoffice Company.Production spending in U.S decreased by 26% compared to 2022Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski and Lisa Richwine in Los Angeles Harshita Mary Varghese and Aditya Soni in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Michael D Kahn in Prague and Muvija M in London; Writing by David Gaffen; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. The president praised Fox News media critic Joe Concha — whom Sean Hannity has long advocated to get his own show — while simultaneously urging MediaBuzz host Howard Kurtz to ‘retire’ for not defending him strongly enough, writes Justin Baragona I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice With the president’s poll numbers cratering amid a spate of self-imposed crises and accusations of authoritarianism, Trump has increasingly lashed out at Murdoch world for allowing some form of criticism against him to seep through Fox and News Corp’s pages and airwaves it appears that the president is urging one Fox News host to “retire” so he can be replaced with a more servile and sycophantic commentator who recently wrote a book about how Trump had the “greatest comeback ever.” Notably that same MAGA pundit has been pushed by Trump confidant Sean Hannity to take over the network’s weekly media show for years now which has been highly critical of his economic policies and chaotic first 100 days in office.) At the same time, he also took to Truth Social to bash Fox News media host Howard Kurtz claiming that the MediaBuzz anchor had done an insufficient job of coming to the president’s defense during a segment about the ouster of national security advisor Mike Waltz “It is time for Howie Kurtz to retire!” Trump blared on Sunday night with all really negative and fake statements and then I am weakly “defended” by Howie and his group (although Ben Domenech has been strong!) The case Howie makes for me is so pathetic that it would be a lot better if he didn’t say anything Notably, though, the post that preceded the president’s takedown of Kurtz featured Trump highly praising a Fox News media critic who has largely been seen as the heir apparent of the MediaBuzz chair once the 71-year-old Kurtz decides to hang it up – or is forced to do so “Joe Concha has written an incredible new book, ‘THE GREATEST COMEBACK EVER: Inside Trump’s Big Beautiful Campaign.’ Joe has been studying our Movement from the very beginning and understands, far better than the many other so-called ‘experts,’ the Iconic Moments that contributed to our truly Historic Election,” the president wrote on Truth Social and exposed the TRUTH of the many challenges our Nation is facing — and WON BIG The juxtaposition of the two Fox News analysts is likely no accident Hannity – a close friend of the president’s who has been described as the White House shadow chief of staff – has made it clear within the halls of Fox News that he would like to see Concha take over the reins of the network’s Sunday media show “So the ‘inside scoop’ is that Sean Hannity has long wanted Joe Concha to host Fox’s show about media, which is currently hosted by Howard Kurtz,” the Washington Post’s Jeremy Barr reported in late 2021 Indeed, several Fox News insiders told me at the time that the Fox News primetime star had been championing Concha – a right-wing media columnist who has now written multiple pro-Trump books – to supplant Kurtz behind the scenes which is why he finally began making those pleas on air “I think he’d have a great TV show here on Fox on media,” Hannity said while introducing Concha for an October 2021 segment, prompting the two to debate what the name of the show should be “I think Joe Concha: Setting the Record Straight After Concha said the title was a “bit chunky,” Hannity quipped: “OK I’m going to stop advocating for the show.” A Fox News source told The Independent on Monday that “Hannity still wants Concha to replace Howie,” though they hadn’t heard anything about the Fox News star coordinating with the president on his social media posts During the final weeks of the 2024 presidential campaign, for instance, Kurtz scored a wide-ranging interview with Trump that featured the Fox News host repeatedly inserting a number of fact checks – something that infamously gets under the president’s skin. Besides correcting the record on Trump’s comments about the January 6 attack and the 60 Minutes interview of Kamala Harris, Kurtz also contrasted Trump’s campaign with that of the Democratic presidential nominee. Fox News and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies govt and politics"},{"score":0.796062,"label":"/news/national news"},{"score":0.776932,"label":"/law govt and politics/politics/elections/presidential elections"},{"score":0.750646,"label":"/business and industrial/business news"},{"score":0.643249,"label":"/art and entertainment/shows and events"},{"score":0.629668,"label":"/law govt and politics/government"},{"score":0.595105,"label":"/law govt and politics/politics/foreign policy"},{"score":0.550155,"label":"/law most legendary LGBTQ celebration in the world in 2023 Honoring those in the media who have shown exemplary achievements for fair and inclusive representation of the LGBTQ community and the issues that affect our lives the 34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards promises to deliver a sparkly mix of red carpet arrivals and an impactful message that demonstrates the value of representation and inclusion of LGBTQ people within all forms of media the GLAAD Media Awards have grown to be the most visible annual LGBTQ awards show in the world sending powerful messages of acceptance to audiences globally GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change Broadband TV News May 5, 2025 13.55 Europe/London By Thousands of public and private news media around the world have joined an initiative by the European Broadcasting Union and WAN-IFRA calling on AI developers to help ensure that Artificial Intelligence is safe reliable and beneficial for the news ecosystem and the public The initiative – News Integrity in the Age of AI – proposes five key principles for a joint code of practice inviting technology platforms to open dialogue and cooperation with media companies to counter the misinformation crisis and protect the value of trusted news “We believe in actively shaping the future by focusing on innovation public values and responsibility for the ecosystem of public service media private media and our audiences,” said Delphine Ernotte EBU President and CEO of France Télévisions policymakers and tech companies – and plenty of positive action.” “Organisations and institutions that see truth and facts as the desirable core of a democracy and the foundation of an empowered society should now come together at one table to shape the next era,” said Ladina Heimgartner President of the World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) Head of Media Ringier AG and CEO of Ringier Media “We can make this work – but only together.” The five steps to preserve news integrity in the age of AI – made public on 5 May during the three-day World News Media Congress 2025 in Kraków dialogue and other areas of engagement with tech companies: 1) News content must only be used in Generative AI models and tools with the authorization of the originator high-quality news content must be fairly recognized when it’s used to benefit third parties The original news source underlying AI-generated material must be apparent and accessible to citizens 4) Harnessing the plurality of the news media will deliver significant benefits for AI-driven tools 5) We invite technology companies to enter a formal dialogue with news organizations to develop standards of safety gained extra reach with endorsements from the North American Broadcasters Association (NABA) Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) and the media association FIPP these organizations represent thousands of public service media and private publishers providing news across broadcast print and online formats on all continents “The integrity of the news has never been so important in keeping people informed and democracies healthy,” said Ernotte from the EBU we must always assess the benefits and risks for reliable news The principles also reflect how news media have become more involved and innovative with AI all while safeguarding news integrity in a complex environment “A functional media space that contributes value to society and can be shared is a common good It must be supported and encouraged,” said Heimgartner from WAN-IFRA “If the rules of the game ensure fair play for everyone Generative AI can become a catalyst for trust also thanks to professional media content.” Filed Under: Newsline Tagged With: , Edited: 5 May 2025 13:55 Today, consumers are increasingly using bandwidth-intensive and latency-sensitive workloads, such as 4K and 8K streaming, online gaming, and AR/VR applications. As a result, Internet Service Providers must update their networks and by extension Wi-Fi experiences and performance. … [Download the White Paper ...] Copyright © 2025 Broadband TV News LLP · Log in Our goal: to leave no breach of freedom of information unreported our latest investigation reports as well as our publications produced every day by our regional offices in connection with our network of correspondents in 115 countries around the world we carry out in-depth work with governments and institutions We offer concrete solutions and launch international initiatives We are on the ground to assist journalists in danger Do you believe there can be no freedom of conscience without freedom of the press Do you want to help free and independent journalism Do you want to defend the right to information There are several ways to support RSF: find the one that suits you and join the fight Go behind the scenes of RSF and discover in detail our operations our governance… but also our favourite picks projects and events we support and who act in their own way to advance our commmon ideal President Donald Trump marked World Press Freedom Day 2025 by announcing his intention to drastically cut funding for public media in the United States his administration launched the White House Wire Reporters Without Borders (RSF) urges Congress to reject any attempt by the Trump administration to eliminate duly appropriated funds for public media while using public funds to produce its own politically biased propaganda President Trump has made public media a target throughout his first months in office in 2025 he took matters further by signing an executive order instructing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to cease all direct funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) the country’s two national public broadcasters Trump unveiled the “White House Wire,” a website that looks like a news outlet yet only publishes Trump’s talking points as part of the White House’s strategy to bypass or replace professional journalism.  “Donald Trump is celebrating World Press Freedom Day by expanding his war on the press trying to eliminate the funding for independent reliable public media while using taxpayer dollars to fund his propaganda narrative on a government website This one-two punch makes it clear that Trump’s main motivation here is to control the press He has shown a longstanding pattern of punishing independent outlets that cover his administration objectively while rewarding the voices that parrot his talking points Copying the aesthetics of the news media to disguise state propaganda is a common tactic of authoritarian regimes If Congress values the American people’s First Amendment right to a free press it will not stand for the president’s despotic tactics which is one of the only reliable sources of information reporting from countries under strict authoritarian regimes The United States ranks 57th out of 180 countries and territories in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index We depend on you in order to be able to monitor respect for press freedom and take action worldwide You support our activities when you buy our books of photos: all of the profits go to Reporters Without Borders Warner Bros Discovery and Paramount shares fall as studios reel from announcement Shares in US streamers and production companies fell on Monday, after Donald Trump said he would introduce 100% tariffs on films made abroad a move that couldsharply raise costs for Hollywood studios Trump’s announcement on his Truth Social platform revived worries about the US president’s trade policy and its impact on the world economy Netflix shares were down 1.7% by early afternoon on Wall Street, Amazon fell 1.5%, while Warner Bros Discovery and Paramount dropped by 1.1% and 1% respectively. The tech-heavy Nasdaq index lost 0.6%. The president said he had already ordered the commerce department and the US trade representative to begin instituting such a tariff, but his post did not say whether the levies would apply to films on streaming platforms as well as theatrical releases, nor did it detail whether tariffs would be based on production costs or box office revenue. Free daily newsletterOur US morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it matters Read morePaolo Pescatore, a media analyst at PP Foresight, said: “It doesn’t feel like something that will happen in the short term as everyone will be grappling to understand the whole process. Inevitably costs will be passed on to consumers.” Most of this year’s Oscar best picture nominees were filmed outside the US, and a survey by ProdPro of studio executives, asking them about their preferred production locations for 2025 to 2026, showed that the top five choices were overseas. Read moreForcing a return to US soil would push up production budgets and disrupt a global production supply chain that includes shooting in Europe post-production in Canada and visual effects work in south-east Asia “The problem is that pretty much all the studios are moving tons of production overseas to reduce production costs,” said the Rosenblatt Securities analyst Barton Crockett “Raising the cost to produce movies could lead studios to make less content.” The UK media union Bectu urged the government to protect the country’s “vital” film sector, warning tens of thousands of freelance jobs were on the line. Reporting by Raphael Satter and AJ Vincens; Editing by Michael Perry lead plaintiff in lawsuit fighting order to dismantle Voice of America says US government is becoming more aggressive “I never in a million years thought I would have to fight for freedom of the press in the United States of America. And yet here we are,” says Patsy Widakuswara, the White House bureau chief for the broadcasting network. “As journalism is under attack, it feels empowering to fight back. We need more people to resist and fight back.” Read moreKicked out of press conferences on multiple continents for asking pointed questions Widakuswara is not the type to balk at challenging powerful leaders In her three decades as a journalist those instincts have served her well The White House reporter is now leading the charge to save VOA, which the US president has described as “anti-Trump” and “radical”. In March, Trump signed an executive order that effectively cut off its funding via its parent company VOA is a federally funded international broadcasting network produced in dozens of languages that reach about 350 million people around the globe with virtually all of VOA’s staff of 1,300 placed on immediate administrative leave and about 600 contractors terminated The lawsuit filed by Widakuswara and several of her colleagues follows lawsuits the Trump administration has taken out against ABC News and CBS’s 60 Minutes in the US, and attempts to expel some press from the White House. Those backing the case argue that VOA has for decades provided an important source of objective information, especially in illiberal environments. Read more“These are not just women in Afghanistan or farmers in Africa,” said Widakuswara of VOA’s audience “They’re also activists in Russia and decision makers all around the world who are also facing the onslaught of disinformation and propaganda from Russia and extremist organisations like [Islamic State] and al-Qaida.” At home having a quiet Saturday when she received the email about VOA’s demise Widakuswara says to do nothing was inconceivable In a matter of days she had rallied a team to fight against it “It’s just the way I’m wired,” she says over the phone from Washington “Congress gave us a mandate to tell America’s story to the world through factual Patsy Widakuswara began her career at a campus radio station in Jakarta at the time the Suharto dictatorship was being toppled Photograph: Instagram/@pwidakuswara‘Holding autocratic governments to account’Starting her career in Jakarta in the late 90s just as Indonesia’s decades-long dictator Suharto was being toppled the Indonesian-born journalist has seen first-hand the impacts of authoritarian regimes and later as a fixer for foreign journalists when they flooded in to cover the event as mass student protests inundated the parliament building and forced Suharto to step down Free newsletterGet the most important US headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning “That was my first taste in media,” she says “Holding autocratic governments to account.” The experience led to a career in television and a British Foreign and Commonwealth Office scholarship to obtain her master’s in journalism at Goldsmiths she was named VOA’s White House bureau chief in 2021 she finds herself pushing against fascistic tendencies in her adopted home “I grew up in 80s Indonesia where there was no press freedom and newspapers had to be careful what they printed to avoid government closure,” she says Her lawsuit, backed by Reporters Without Borders and four unions, argues the Trump administration and the government’s special adviser Kari Lake are attempting to unlawfully dismantle VOA’s operations because they deem it contrary to the government’s agenda Widakuswara argues that Trump’s executive order is a violation of press freedom Another motivating factor is to support her 47 colleagues at VOA on J-1 or journalist visas in the US who could be sent back to countries such as Russia Vietnam and Myanmar which have previously jailed journalists Widakuswara’s efforts to save VOA appeared to score an early win, with a judge in April ordering the Trump administration to restore funding to VOA and other US-funded media. But the preliminary injunction was only a temporary measure On Saturday, just as VOA staff were preparing for a “phased return” to work, a court of appeals issued a stay on that ruling saying the court did not have the authority to block Trump’s executive order regarding employment matters Keenly aware of the unfavourable political climate she is up against Widakuswara says it is hard to know if their case will ultimately prevail “Even if it’s just like a 5% chance or even a 1% chance began with items on medical-research funding Islamist terrorism and Japan’s population crisis But its biggest story was delivered in the final 60 seconds is trying to complete a merger,” the correspondent Paramount began to supervise our content in new ways.” This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline “For “60 Minutes” Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents The coffee chain’s new boss is struggling to fix its problems The two e-commerce darlings are caught between China and America A hacker has breached and stolen customer data from TeleMessage, an obscure Israeli company that sells modified versions of Signal and other messaging apps to the U.S The data stolen by the hacker contains the contents of some direct messages and group chats sent using its Signal clone TeleMessage was recently the center of a wave of media coverage after Mike Waltz accidentally revealed he used the tool in a cabinet meeting with President Trump The hack shows that an app gathering messages of the highest ranking officials in the government—Waltz’s chats on the app include recipients that appear to be Marco Rubio and JD Vance—contained serious vulnerabilities that allowed a hacker to trivially access the archived chats of some people who used the same tool The hacker has not obtained the messages of cabinet members but the hack shows that the archived chat logs are not end-to-end encrypted between the modified version of the messaging app and the ultimate archive destination controlled by the TeleMessage customer Data related to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other financial institutions are included in the hacked material according to screenshots of messages and backend systems obtained by 404 Media military censorship in Israel reached the most extreme levels since +972 Magazine began collecting data in 2011 the censor completely banned the publication of 1,635 articles and partially censored another 6,265 the censor intervened in about 21 news reports per day last year — more than double the previous peak of about 10 daily interventions recorded during the last war in Gaza in 2014 (Operation Protective Edge) and over three times the non-war-time average of 6.2 per day These figures were provided by the military censor in response to a joint request from +972 Magazine and the Movement for the Freedom of Information in Israel While the military censor does not disclose the reasons behind each intervention Israel’s ongoing war of destruction in Gaza is likely the main reason behind this record surge in censorship The escalation is reflected not only in the sheer volume of activity by the censor but also in higher rejection rate of submitted materials and in the increased frequency of outright bans (as opposed to partial redactions) any article dealing with the broadly-defined category of “security issues” must undergo military censorship review and editorial teams are responsible for deciding which piece to submit based on their own judgement media outlets are forbidden from indicating that censorship has taken place meaning most of its activity remains hidden from the public No other self-described “Western democracy” has a comparable institution It should be noted that, under this law, +972 Magazine is legally compelled to submit materials for review. For more on our stance regarding military censorship, click here In 2024, Israeli news organizations submitted 20,770 news items to the military censor for review — nearly double the previous year’s total The censor intervened in 38 percent of these cases a full seven percentage points higher than the previous peak recorded in 2023 Blanket rejections of entire news articles accounted for 20 percent of all interventions Israeli news outlet i24 reported on Sunday that Chief Military Censor Brigadier General Kobi Mandelblit asked the Attorney General to investigate Israeli journalists who allegedly circumvented censorship law by sharing restricted information with foreign media outlets The military censor is not obligated by law to respond to Freedom of Information requests and it voluntarily provided the figures above it refused to provide additional data we requested including: a breakdown of the data by month and by reason for intervention; details about cases where it proactively ordered media outlets to remove content that hadn’t been submitted for review; and any records of administrative or criminal proceedings against censorship violations no enforcement action of this kind has been taken so far.) the State Archives submitted 2,436 documents for censor review While the censor stated that “the vast majority” were approved for publication unchanged it consistently refuses to disclose how many archival documents it “re-concealed” from the public an attorney from the Movement for the Freedom of Information and the director of the Freedom of Information Clinic at the College of Management Academic Studies told +972 that while he was not surprised by the surge in censorship last year he was hopeful that “the publication of this data would help minimize the use of censorship tools which are also dangerous when it comes to the public’s access to information “Even if certain information cannot be published during an emergency the public deserves to know what has been hidden from them,” he explained “Censorship means the concealment of information that a journalist believed the public had a right to know many people already feel that they’re not being told everything and therefore it is appropriate to review censorship decisions retrospectively.” Beyond the unprecedented spike in military censorship, this year’s World Press Freedom Day  arrives as a grim milestone for Israeli journalism. In 2024, Israel ranked a dismal 101 out of 180 (a drop of 4 places from the previous year’s ranking) in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index; that ranking has now dropped even further to 112 This evaluation only reflects the state of journalism within Israel without factoring in the mass killing of journalists in Gaza But journalists in Gaza don’t just have to contend with the constant threat of death from Israeli bombardment, while also often suffering hunger, thirst, and displacement. They also face suppression from Hamas itself which pressures journalists who criticize the organization or cover protests against it Israel has compounded this dire situation by blocking all foreign journalists from entering the Gaza Strip for over a year and a half — a move upheld by the Israeli Supreme Court that many journalists around the world condemned as both a severe blow to press freedom and a deliberate effort to conceal what is happening in Gaza This repression has accelerated during the war as seen in the banning of media outlets such as Al-Mayadeen and Al-Jazeera from operating in Israel The government has simultaneously come after Israel’s own free press: moving to shut down public broadcaster “Kan,” financially strangling the liberal daily Haaretz, and making deliberate efforts to weaken long-established media outlets, all while bankrolling new pro-government outlets like Channel 14 with public funds the government has imposed severe restrictions on publishing the identities of soldiers suspected of war crimes and ongoing incitement against journalists by lawmakers and public figures affiliated with the Netanyahu government have led to several violent attacks on reporters the most devastating blow to Israeli journalism hasn’t come from government censorship but from the newsrooms’ betrayal of their core mission: to inform the public of the truth about what is happening around them even those who once expressed remorse for not covering what was happening in Gaza in previous wars have been deliberately obscuring the bombed hospitals Instead of bearing witness to the truth of the war, or amplifying the voices of Gaza-based journalists (let alone showing solidarity with colleagues targeted by their state’s army), most Israeli journalists have enlisted in the war propaganda effort — to the point of joining combat troops and actively participating in demolishing buildings — and freely platform direct calls for genocide The censor didn’t erase Gaza’s horrors from Israeli screens — the journalists and editors did A version of this article was first published in Hebrew on Local Call. Read it here Haggai Matar is an award-winning Israeli journalist and political activist and is the executive director of +972 Magazine Our team has been devastated by the horrific events of this latest war The world is reeling from Israel’s unprecedented onslaught on Gaza inflicting mass devastation and death upon besieged Palestinians as well as the atrocious attack and kidnappings by Hamas in Israel on October 7 Our hearts are with all the people and communities facing this violence We are in an extraordinarily dangerous era in Israel-Palestine The bloodshed has reached extreme levels of brutality and threatens to engulf the entire region are seizing the opportunity to intensify their attacks on Palestinians The most far-right government in Israel’s history is ramping up its policing of dissent using the cover of war to silence Palestinian citizens and left-wing Jews who object to its policies one that +972 has spent the past 14 years covering: Israeli society’s growing racism and militarism We are well positioned to cover this perilous moment – but we need your help to do it This terrible period will challenge the humanity of all of those working for a better future in this land Palestinians and Israelis are already organizing and strategizing to put up the fight of their lives Can we count on your support +972 Magazine is a leading media voice of this movement a desperately needed platform where Palestinian and Israeli journalists and thinkers can report on and analyze what is happening Support responsible news and fact-based information today 2025) — Poynter is pleased to announce 23 executives from across the nation selected for the 2025 Public Media Executive Editorial Integrity and Leadership Initiative a six-month fellowship developed by the Poynter Institute and funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) will equip public media leaders with support tools and individualized training to help build stronger stations reflecting the goal shared by CPB and Poynter to bolster local journalism “Local journalism is essential to the civic health of our nation fact-based information to respond to the information needs of the communities it serves reflecting and respecting local voices and perspectives,” said Kathy Merritt CPB executive vice president and chief operating officer “These station leaders know their communities and work every day to serve local audiences CPB supports the Executive Editorial Integrity and Leadership Initiative because we know their communities trust these leaders to make the right decisions on editorial ethics and standards.” Designed to be effective across experience levels and station types the program brings together public media executives whose stations serve audiences that range from rural markets to regional networks The Executive EILI program builds on the Editorial Integrity and Leadership Initiative a CPB-supported program that has graduated 150 editors in the past six years “Local public media is becoming more and more important in every market as commercial media shrinks,” said Kelly McBride Poynter’s senior vice president and chair of the Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership “These executives are doing work that is critical to democracy and I’m thrilled that Poynter can support their work.” Fellows chosen for the 2025 Executive Editorial Integrity and Leadership Initiative are: Fellows will focus on implementing a leadership action plan built from their newsroom’s vision and informed by the frameworks gained during their week spent at Poynter in St supportive space where executives learn together and build lasting bonds with Poynter’s signature training in leadership and ethical decision-making at the core “This is the right time to bring these leaders together,” said Kerwin Speight “The landscape for local journalism keeps changing Beyond their week spent together in person fellows will continue to engage in virtual sessions including one-on-one and group coaching small-group work and live executive training The program is led by McBride and Poynter faculty Cheryl Carpenter and Kerwin Speight Media Contact Jennifer Orsi Vice President Publishing and Local News Initiatives The Poynter Institute jorsi@poynter.org The Poynter Institute is a global nonprofit working to address society’s most pressing issues by teaching journalists and journalism covering the media and the complexities facing the industry improving the capacity and sustainability of news organizations and fostering trust and reliability of information The Institute is the gold standard in journalistic excellence and dedicated to the preservation and advancement of press freedom in democracies worldwide big tech corporations and citizens convene to find solutions that promote trust and transparency in news and stoke meaningful public discourse The world’s top journalists and emerging media leaders rely on the Institute to learn new skills scale operations and improve the 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Learn more at poynter.org With the exception of the Houston Chronicle this year’s Pulitzers largely left legacy metro papers behind the Pulitzers recognize outstanding journalism The Pulitzer board honored ProPublica for a second year running this time for exposing the fatal consequences of vague abortion exceptions The winning series — produced as part of a New York Times local investigations fellowship — explores Baltimore’s fentanyl crisis university professor and co-founder of NABJ You must be logged in to post a comment This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed Get the Poynter newsletter that's right for you A bill that would ban social media for minors has gained traction in the Texas Legislature as lawmakers prepare to take a tougher stance on online safety Lawmakers have suggested several initiatives this session to address the online dangers affecting Texas children, but among those progressing through the lower chamber include House Bill 186 filed by Rep. Jared Patterson It would prohibit minors from creating accounts on social media sites and require age verification for new users the bill would grant parents the right to request the deletion of their child’s social media account “This legislation will allow today’s kids to be kids again,” Patterson told lawmakers on Tuesday calling this bill "one of the most important pieces of legislation” he has carried Patterson’s bill passed the House on Tuesday with 116 votes, the same day as lawmakers passed House Bill 499, by Rep. Mary González which would require social media platforms to have a warning label concerning the association between a minor’s social media usage and significant mental health issues “We do know warning labels have an effect,” Gonzalez told lawmakers on Monday “We are using the same concept for social media.” Both of these bills are expected to receive support from the more conservative Senate meaning new rules on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram might be implemented later this year or early next year it is expected to face lawsuits from tech companies who have consistently challenged government mandates on the industry saying it’s unconstitutional under the First Amendment free speech right House Bill 4456, which would require social media platforms to verify the age of account holders, and House Bill 4338 which would require social media platforms to create and maintain third-party safety software to manage online interactions for children These bills are part of a larger effort that Texas and other states have undertaken over the past few years to mitigate the harmful effects of social media “The harms we are seeing in today’s children will only be exacerbated if steps are not taken,” Patterson said Studies show that 95% of youth aged 13 to 17 report using social media with more than a third stating they use social media “almost constantly.” Nearly 40% of children aged 8 to 12 use social media despite most platforms requiring a minimum age of 13 to sign up This has created a generation of chronically online children and the medical community is still unsure of their long-term effects The same year, in an attempt to hold social media companies more accountable, Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law House Bill 18 known as the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act The SCOPE Act requires covered digital service providers to provide minors with certain data protections prevent minors from accessing harmful content and give parents tools to manage their child’s use of the service It also required school districts to obtain parental consent for most software and social media applications used in the classroom and to look for alternatives to the internet for instruction For 24/7 mental health support in English or Spanish, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s free help line at 800-662-4357. You can also reach a trained crisis counselor through the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 Tickets are on sale now for the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival Texas’ breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase Choose an amount or learn more about membership During an April 14 news conference urging Gov Jared Polis to sign a bill seeking to impose new child-safety protections on social-media companies Chelsea Congdon said it appeared only two groups were opposed to the bill — social-media platforms and Polis On not just that bill but on least two others this session that sought to make web-based platforms take policing or age-verification steps the Democratic governor stood up against large numbers of bipartisan legislators calling the proposals violations of Colorado law He also characterized the bills as measures that would inhibit innovation both of online companies and of the small businesses that rely on those platforms to succeed and on Monday the House sponsors of Senate Bill 86 conceded that they didn’t have the votes to override it Polis’ veto warnings also led sponsors of a porn-site age-verification bill to kill their Senate Bill 201 despite overwhelming initial support which would require websites to offer supervisory tools to parents to disappear from the calendar with eight days left in the session The seventh-year Democratic governor has stood up more to his party recently clashing with more liberal legislators on business issues ranging from oil-and-gas regulation to labor protection to local governments getting a first right of refusal on apartment sales But never has Polis gone out on such a limb as this against bipartisan coalitions to defend a technology sector that launched his business and public careers — and been able to win battles for that sector against seemingly long odds “Social media platforms do more than provide a platform for free expression and engagement These platforms are also inextricable from the successes of small businesses and individuals who make a living online,” the governor wrote in his veto letter for SB 86 “Removing users as this bill demands will have devastating consequences on the livelihoods of many Coloradans that use social-media platforms with the largest economic impact being felt by content creators and small businesses that cannot afford web platforms or professional marketing campaigns.” Jared Polis speaks to the Colorado Chamber of Commerce board meeting on April 24 All three of the bills in question stemmed from the idea that children are being exposed to harmful elements — be it criminal activity addiction-generating algorithms or pornography — online and need the state to step in and protect them more Each would have required websites and social-media platforms to limit children’s exposure to these elements sometimes by requiring their identification as minors — limitations that the companies called excessive or contrary to existing Colorado privacy law SB 86 Lindsey Daugherty of Arvada and Republican Sen sought to require social-media platforms to remove users who sold drugs trafficked guns illegally or engaged in child pornography within 24 hours of being flagged by other users It would have required tech companies to respond to law-enforcement warrants for information within 72 hours and it would have mandated they provide annual reports to the Colorado Attorney General’s office on illegal activity HB 1287 Jarvis Caldwell of Monument and Democratic Rep would require social-media companies to determine if users are minors and offer them protections like daily-usage time limits and the ability to disable personal recommendations They also would have to offer supervisory tools to parents such as management of account settings and restrictions on purchases and the biill would ban use of algorithms to sustain a minor’s engagement with the platform SB 201 sponsored by Daugherty and Republican Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen of Monument would have required pornography sites to perform age-verification measures and prevent children from accessing the material The bill sought to ensure people would not have to disclose identities to access the material and required platforms to destroy any personal data acquired during verification but it too was fingered as running counter to Colorado privacy law and hurting businesses On April 14 — the same day as the news conference supporting SB 86 — Lundeen and Daugherty killed SB 201 in the Senate though both pledged to hone it and bring it back next year after a committee passed it 8-1 HB 1287 cleared its first committee 9-4 on April 2 but it’s lingered since in the House Appropriations Committee as industry leaders have called the age-verification system impossible to implement and warned it could disable algorithm-based sites like YouTube SB 86 passed the Senate 29-6 and the House 46-18 despite Polis’ veto threats gathering support from Attorney General Phil Weiser all 23 district attorneys in the state and both public-safety and parental organizations supporters argued that the state needs to rein in criminal activity that the social-media platforms refuse to stop and said that the activity the bill targeted were it being done on the street rather than online “There are no 1st Amendment rights to sell guns and drugs to anyone whose son died after ingesting fentanyl that he purchased on Snapchat believing it was Percocet that would help him cut the pain from an injured shoulder “And I believe I stand for all parents when I say we are not willing to trade our children’s lives for social-media innovation.” Lindsey Daugherty speaks at an April 14 rally for a bill to boost social-media protections for children But while supporters of the bill spoke loudly for it tech companies approached Polis with concerns that they could be forced to violate privacy law to conform to the new provisions could be put into position to get sued or could simply not do what the bill required Colorado executive director for industry group TechNet said the requirement to nix someone from a platform within 24 hours of a reported violation could encourage targeting of members of marginalized communities and set platforms up for lawsuits The 72-hour compliance window with warrants also wouldn’t provide social-media companies ample time to ensure the warrant is legitimately court-ordered leaving them without time to carry out due process Polis and members of his administration also have told committees that the proposals clash with the 2021 Colorado Privacy Act which lets people demand immediate deletion of their personal data by websites rather than requiring sites to keep and report such data he called the mandatory metadata collection required by the bill “costly” and warned that sensitive information like user age and content viewed could be made public at the discretion of the attorney general people receive due process when they are suspected of breaking the law conscripts social media platforms to be judge and jury when users may have broken the law or even a company’s own content rules,” Polis wrote “This proposed law would incentivize platforms to simply deplatform a user in order to comply with this proposed law.” Senators overrode the veto on April 25 by the same 29-6 margin by which they gave final approval to SB 86 three weeks earlier — though with several people switching their votes to come up with the final number considered one of the more pro-business moderates in her caucus made it clear that she believed business interests should take a distant backseat to public-safety concerns on the bill It is about standing up for the safety and dignity of our most vulnerable,” she intoned we are choosing to protect the business interests of billion-dollar tech companies over the safety of Colorado kids despite having passed SB 86 originally by a veto-proof margin failed to muster the 44 votes they needed to override the bill a Parker Republican who sponsored the bill with Democratic Rep said they’d reached the point in the process where they could push no further Anthony Hartsook chokes back tears on the House floor Monday as he announces that sponsors don’t have the votes to override Gov he’s been reluctant to regulate disruptive sectors Example: Yes, I would like to receive emails from The Sum and Substance. (You can unsubscribe anytime) Support non-profit journalism and perspectives from around the world. See all those languages? The Lingua project at Global Voices works to bring down barriers to understanding through translation. This year, the concern being explored in the World Press Freedom Day signature event is the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the media Discussions will centre around how to ensure that AI enhances while transformative in terms of efficiency AI-generated misinformation and disinformation and surveillance threats to journalists represent just some of the risks not to mention their potential effects on the industry's business model and what it may mean for the media's long-term viability Understanding the pressing nature of these issues, Global Voices recently shared its own policy on the use of AI in the newsroom. The Media Institute of the Caribbean (MIC) issued a press release in which it underscored the “urgent” need to address the transformative impact of AI on journalism within the context of the region’s unique challenges of “media viability The natural disasters angle also fed into the theme of the 2025 World Press Freedom Day, which dealt with journalism in the face of the global environmental crisis. To this point, the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT) noted that “the press is not only a defender of democracy but also a guardian of our collective future.” That future must undoubtedly include the use of AI but the question remains how to manage it ethically and responsibly regional collaboration is critical to “harness AI’s potential while safeguarding democratic discourse”: but its implications are acute in the Caribbean where media ecosystems face structural vulnerabilities While AI tools offer opportunities for automated reporting they also risk deepening existing inequities Caribbean newsrooms are already strained by shrinking advertising revenues (It is noteworthy that between 15 and 25% of such revenues are diverted to platforms like Meta and Google Ads) There also exist fragile economies to which we now add the need to grapple with AI-driven content saturation Algorithmic curation on social media platforms poses a further threat human-produced news.” Will Caribbean newsrooms with their smaller markets operating within vulnerable island economies President of the MIC Kiran Maharaj suggested it may erode the financial sustainability of Caribbean media We must advocate for equitable AI governance that prioritises public interest journalism.” The MIC statement went on to note that “the Caribbean is not immune to AI-fuelled misinformation which exacerbates social divisions and undermines trust in institutions.” In 2023, the organisation, in conjunction with the Association for Caribbean Media Workers (ACM) conducted a study about the ways in which disinformation targeted regional elections and public health campaigns MIC Vice President and ACM Co-Founder Wesley Gibbings suggested that “Caribbean media must adopt AI-driven verification tools and invest in digital literacy programs,” adding “Our survival depends on retaining public trust through accuracy and transparency.” which the MIC said laid bare “the fragility of media infrastructures and the urgent need for disaster preparedness and resilience planning.” Whereas “blending traditional knowledge with AI-enhanced forecasting and real-time alerts can be pivotal in disaster response,” misuse of AI via misinformation, etc., can also make such situations worse. The solutions the MIC proposed include policies aimed at taxing tech giants and reinvesting the proceeds into journalism, exploring AI-driven revenue models, and, as per UNESCO’s AI Road Map Policy establishing a regional AI Ethics Task Force would “audit algorithms for bias and promote content verification standards [to] provide needed insight for key regulatory and policy making decisions.” As far as disaster preparedness goes — a pressing issue for small island developing states (SIDS) like the Caribbean that are at the frontline of the climate crisis — the MIC suggested integrating AI tools into national emergency protocols and expanding community media networks by offering training and support and a commitment to truth,” and flagging issues that “threaten journalistic independence and integrity and barriers to accessing public information.” Current challenges include “the rapid spread of misinformation and disinformation on social media which undermines public trust and complicates the work of professional journalists.” While the association seeks to advocate for high ethical standards and foster trust between the media and its audiences MATT cited an “urgent need to strengthen protections for journalists and support open dialogue between media practitioners This post is part of Advox, a Global Voices project dedicated to protecting freedom of expression online. All Posts ERROR: SECURITY TIMEOUT - Please copy your message to a backup location Global Voices stands out as one of the earliest and strongest examples of how media committed to building community and defending human rights can positively influence how people experience events happening beyond their own communities and national borders Please consider making a donation to help us continue this work Donate now Authors, please log in » Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Stay up to date about Global Voices and our mission. See our Privacy Policy for details. Newsletter powered by Mailchimp (Privacy Policy and Terms) Global Voices is supported by the efforts of our volunteer contributors, foundations, donors and mission-related services. For more information please read our Fundraising Ethics Policy Special thanks to our many sponsors and funders OCHA has a network of public information officers based at our New York and Geneva Headquarters and across our regional and country offices to ensure there is a global understanding of the realities faced by people experiencing humanitarian crises Our work helps the media and others access the facts and make sense of complex situations escalating conflict and intensified M23 attacks in North and South Kivu worsening the humanitarian crisis and straining already scarce resources Lebanon is facing the largest escalation of conflict since the 2006 Lebanon War with more than 1,000 people killed between 16 to 27 September according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health The Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) faces a protracted political crisis characterized by more than 55 years of Israeli military occupation Afghanistan is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis with a serious risk of systemic collapse and human catastrophe Burkina Faso continues to face the worst humanitarian crisis in its history with one in four Burkinabè now in need of humanitarian assistance Nine out of 10 regions in Cameroon are affected by three complex humanitarian crises: the Lake Chad basin conflict and the Central African Republic (CAR) refugee crisis The humanitarian crisis in Chad is becoming more entrenched due to growing food insecurity and malnutrition Following a border conflict with Ethiopia from 1998 to 2000 no-peace" situation and faced international sanctions for a decade Ethiopia is facing multiple humanitarian emergencies due to climate change and high commodity and food prices due to inflation Haiti is enduring a severe crisis with political The President's assassination in July 2021 left the country without a leader and the economy has suffered from four years of negative growth the impacts of climate change and limited access to basic social services all of which are causing severe humanitarian need An estimated 945,000 people have been internally displaced by the armed conflict in Cabo Delgado Province in northern Mozambique which continues to increase humanitarian needs the humanitarian outlook for Myanmar remains bleak public services are in disarray and inflation is having a devastating effect on people’s financial situations Niger continues to face an acute and complex humanitarian crisis marked by the impact of persistent insecurity There has been no reprieve in the humanitarian crisis in north-east Nigeria’s Borno where armed conflict is now in its thirteenth year Somalia is facing a rapidly unfolding humanitarian catastrophe driven by the longest and most severe drought in at least 40 years The humanitarian situation in South Sudan is worsening driven by the cumulative and compounding effects of years of conflict the climate crisis and public health challenges Clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces erupted in Khartoum on 15 April 2023 Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands injured due to the conflict Fourteen years since the onset of the crisis Syria is grappling with a catastrophe of unprecedented magnitude with new developments adding to the existing crises and taking a heavy toll on the people living in Syria Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces in February 2022 Millions were forced to leave Ukraine and become refugees with more than 21 million people — two thirds of the population — in need of humanitarian assistance View all Press Releases For press enquiries and interview requests please contact the media relations team at OCHA’s Headquarters in New York and Geneva SpokespersonNew YorkEmail: kaneko@un.org Deputy SpokespersonGenevaEmail: laerke@un.org Public Information OfficerGenevaEmail: huguenin@un.org Public Information Officer New York Email: amanda.price@un.org Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker We use cookies to improve your experience Please click Accept or read our Privacy Policy The role of media in contemporary society is constantly expanding the world of digital media is growing exponentially new technologies to make and distribute that content Elmhurst University’s digital media programs will equip students with the knowledge and skills they need for a dynamic career in film Students learn a core set of media skills and then work with their advisor to create a unique program tailored to their own interests With its combination of digital storytelling instruction journalism courses and media production skill-building this major gives students specifically interested in this field a dedicated plan of study Prepare for the commercial production and social media opportunities of today’s media-driven workplace with a hands-on education in interactive campaigns For students who want to go deeper into the areas of audio and video production For students with an interest in the digital arts associated with game design and animation This degree not only provides digital media skills but gives students a deeper understanding of story structure and the skills to write and develop stories for film and television Studying digital media is a smart way to play a key trend Read More Advances in digital media have opened up new opportunities for employment and artistic expression From commercial video and audio production to the multibillion-dollar film and gaming industries a creative career has never been more accessible or more attractive The core competencies students will learn in Elmhurst’s digital media programs will make them more employable—even in non-media-focused jobs as employers are increasingly looking to hire job employees who are well versed in digital media technologies Recent studies show that liberal arts students who possess such skills double their chances of being hired and boost their base salaries Now you can uncover the right solution for your business within a few clicks Measure Demand We measure demand so our clients understand where they have risks and opportunities Analyze sales performances across channels See actual behaviors for actionable results Consumption — in and away from home Accelerate Demand We help our clients accelerate demand by focusing on the best opportunities for the greatest impact on their business Reach the right audience at the right time Improve retailer-supplier efficiency & effectiveness CPG Consumer Spend TrackerDownload our weekly U.S consumer packaged goods sector monitoring report Learn Deep expertise from global industry leaders Perspectives from our industry and thought leaders Solving challenges that matter to your business Podcasts and market disruptions will impact your business Case Studies Discover the stories behind your favorite consumer packaged goods brands with the new online mini-series sponsored by Circana Industries Resources We are delighted to welcome Cara to Circana’s leadership team CHICAGO – May 1, 2025 – Circana LLC today announced that Cara Pratt will join its executive leadership team as President Pratt will drive Circana’s retail and media strategies Pratt’s principal focus will be deepening Circana’s position as a strategic growth partner to retailers with an evolved service model strengthened retail media network partnerships and enhanced capabilities Pratt will also lead the company’s media strategies leveraging the industry’s most comprehensive data science and technology to improve advertising effectiveness “We are delighted to welcome Cara to Circana’s leadership team,” said Stuart Aitken “Cara joining underscores the immense opportunity we see for our retail and media businesses and our commitment to delivering innovative growth and media solutions that best serve our retail partners Cara brings proven innovation and expertise and we’re excited to partner with her and our clients to improve their business outcomes.” and our clients need to stay ahead,” added Jeremy Allen “Cara’s deep knowledge and forward-thinking approach will strengthen our ability to deliver impactful results and help our clients navigate an increasingly dynamic and competitive landscape.” Pratt brings two decades of expertise that will further position Circana as a leader in delivering innovative retail and media solutions that drive measurable value for retailers insights and media company and wholly owned subsidiary of Kroger overseeing Kroger’s integrated retail media consumer insights and loyalty marketing business Pratt was instrumental in the creation of Kroger Precision Marketing to connect media exposure with in-store sales creating a more effective media landscape for brands and elevating the consumer shopping experience Pratt served as a Retail Client Solutions Executive at Circana predecessor Pratt also spent more than a decade at dunnhumby “Circana is poised to revolutionize the retail and media landscape as a strategic growth partner delivering impactful insights and trusted advisory counsel,” said Pratt I have a distinct appreciation for Circana’s unparalleled data I am honored to join the company and look forward to influencing retail decision-making and helping the retail ecosystem win in today’s dynamic operating environment.” Automotive, Retail Home, Retail Retail Circana transforms complexity into clarity with the most complete view of the consumer inspiring actions that unlock business growth Sign up today for the new CNBC Sport Newsletter A version of this article first appeared in the CNBC Sport newsletter with Alex Sherman, which brings you the biggest news and exclusive interviews from the worlds of sports business and media. Sign up to receive future editions the world of politics collides with the world of sports One of those moments is on deck next week – Tuesday That's when the Senate Committee on Commerce Science and Transportation will convene a full committee hearing on the future of sports broadcasting will hear testimony from top executives at three of the biggest U.S the National Basketball Association's President of Global Content and Media Distribution; David Proper the National Hockey League's Senior Executive Vice President of Media and International Strategy; and Kenny Gersh Major League Baseball's Executive Vice President of Media and Business Development The CNBC Sport newsletter with Alex Sherman brings you the biggest news and exclusive interviews from the worlds of sports business and media Subscribe here to get access today Many rules surrounding sports broadcasting are arguably woefully antiquated Live sporting events are often still blacked out in certain regions due to contractual broadcast rights either at the local or national level who can be trapped in areas of the country where they simply can't watch certain games despite technology allowing easy access to all other entertainment at any time Streaming services – the clear future of media distribution – have given fans some relief by offering games in certain leagues (such as Major League Soccer) without blackouts Any subscriber to Apple TV+'s MLS Season Pass gets every game in every market for $14.99 per month NBA and NHL still own the local rights for most teams which forces fans to pay for either cable or a litany of streaming services to watch most games One issue that's certain to come up at the hearing is the increasing proliferation of these streaming services As leagues carve up their rights into smaller bundles the onus falls on consumers to pay for more and more services – Apple TV+ WBD's Max and Disney's ESPN all own different packages of MLB games not to be confused with the NHL team from Ottawa) are likely to question league executives on their plans to bundle these streaming services to ensure that costs don't continue to balloon "Catching your favorite team on TV shouldn't feel like solving a puzzle," Cruz said in a statement this week "Games that used to be free or easy to find are now scattered across pricey apps and exclusive deals This hearing will explore how leagues intend to keep sports accessible and affordable for the fans who make it all possible." Another issue likely to surface next week: There is some fear that the National Football League may be getting too aggressive with its growing streaming strategy to offer games on new nights the NFL hasn't broadcast on Friday and Saturday nights This has protected high school and college football audiences which created an exception to the Sherman Act allowing for sports leagues to make TV deals directly with networks on behalf of all of their teams the NFL agreed not to broadcast on Friday and Saturday nights after 6 p.m from the second Friday in September until the second Saturday in December I'm told Congress (and the courts) may consider extending that provision to account for streaming as further protection for high school and college football "The way Americans watch live sports, including the NFL, has changed dramatically in recent years," Cruz wrote in an open letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on April 17 once broadly available for free or through basic cable packages are now distributed through subscription services and other fragmented models that have left some fans confused about where and how to watch their favorite teams potentially outdated rules raise questions about accessibility and the long-term implications for fan engagement." Cruz asked the NFL to testify alongside the other three sports leagues according to people familiar with the matter The NFL did offer to send the committee information and communicate outside the hearing The league's absence from the hearing – especially when executives from the other three leagues will be there – may make for a prime punching bag opportunity for Cruz and others There are 15 Republicans and 13 Democrats on the committee Christmas falls on a Thursday this year and on Friday next year I'm told some members of the committee are fearful the NFL could eventually try to take over more territory by using streaming services as a platform to move games to Fridays and Saturdays earlier in the season if proper protections aren't installed I'm also told from league sources that this idea has never really come up before internally the whole notion of the NFL moving in on high school and college football may be more grandstanding than anything based in substance let's just say this wouldn't shock me If you're interested in watching the hearing, the committee will be taking advantage of the wonders of modern technology and streaming it live on its website. With NBC Sports President Rick Cordella ... Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox and more info about our products and services © 2025 CNBC LLC. All Rights Reserved. A Division of NBCUniversal Data also provided by Europe has the freest media in the world according to Reporters Without Borders’ annual press freedom ranking — though Southern and Eastern Europe are lagging behind the rest of the continent and the world overall is struggling The RSF World Press Freedom Index released its yearly report and map on Friday and it’s particularly good news for journalists in the Nordics and Baltics Norway frequently tops press freedom rankings with robust legal protections and a thriving media market France (25) and Italy (49) both dropped several places compared to 2024 while the United Kingdom (20) improved slightly and Poland (31) leaped more than a dozen spots Greece recorded the worst result in the European Union for the fourth year in a row, coming in at 89. The main reasons for its lackluster score include wiretapping of journalists by intelligence agencies using Predator spyware intimidatory lawsuits and inadequate legal guardrails Serbia (96) and Kosovo (99) all among the worst in Europe For the first time since the index’s inception in 2002 the average score out of 100 fell below 55 with journalism conditions classified as “difficult” or “very serious” in more than half of all countries assessed RSF cited economic instability and media concentration as factors contributing to a worsening press freedom climate dozens of reporters have been killed during Israel’s military assault in Gaza North Korea and Eritrea were ranked the five worst countries in the world to be a journalist President Donald Trump’s administration is bringing about a “troubling deterioration” through funding cuts to public media and foreign aid The hard right cruised to victory in Sunday’s presidential election first round sparking the stunning announcement from socialist PM Marcel Ciolacu TikTok and ultranationalism propels hard-right chief to cult status among Romania’s diaspora The nationalist chief vociferously supports Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni — and he leads the presidential race ahead of May 18’s critical second round “I urge both sides to show restraint,” the bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says after discussions with senior New Delhi and Islamabad officials playCould Verstappen take a sabbatical once he becomes a father (2:00)ESPN F1's "Unlapped" podcast team wonder if the birth of his first child could push Max Verstappen into taking a break from F1 Max Verstappen will not attend Thursday's media day at the Miami Grand Prix as he is expecting the birth of his first child Verstappen's partner Kelly Piquet announced her pregnancy on social media ahead of last year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with a post that said "Mini Verstappen-Piquet on the way We couldn't be happier with our little miracle." A Red Bull statement on Thursday said the reigning champion will skip his pre-race media sessions but is due to arrive in Miami in time for the opening practice session of the sprint weekend on Friday The statement added "all is well" and asked for "respect towards the privacy of Max and his family." Verstappen is third in the drivers' standings after five races of the 2025 season, with a 12-point gap to championship leader Oscar Piastri Piquet, daughter of three-time F1 champion Nelson Piquet has a daughter, Penelope, from her previous relationship with former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat there are warnings that US attempts to withdraw from promoting independent journalism will have far-reaching effects Illustration: Hello Von/The GuardianAs Donald Trump’s executive order in March led to the shuttering of Voice of America (VOA) – the global broadcaster whose roots date back to the fight against Nazi propaganda – he quickly attracted support from figures not used to aligning themselves with any US administration Trump had ordered the US Agency for Global Media the federal agency that funds VOA and other groups promoting independent journalism overseas to be “eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law” The decision suddenly halted programming in 49 languages to more than 425 million people Press freedom is in worrying decline in many parts of the world, with widespread attacks on journalists - last year was the deadliest on record - and the shutting down of news outlets due to economic hardship We are running a series of pieces exploring the threats and challenges faced by media around World Press Freedom Day on 3 May created to remind governments of their duty to uphold freedom of expression.  Three-quarters of countries around the world don’t have free media – and that figure is getting worseJonathan Munro former editor of the Boston Globe and Washington Post says: “It used to be that the United States would put pressure on countries for undermining free expression and for limiting freedom of the press It was something that the United States government actually stood for and it was also seen as a model for free expression have recognised that they’ll receive absolutely zero pressure from the United States It’s basically given licence to other countries to be far more aggressive in attacking the press “I think there is no question that it’s emboldened other leaders around the world we’re seeing the rise of authoritarianism,” he adds The BBC’s Mark Lowen reporting from Istanbul in March Eleven local reporters were among 1,850 people detained in Turkey’s protests Photograph: BBCVOA’s chief national correspondent points out that VOA was often the only connection to the US in some countries “In the more repressive societies where there is absolutely no alternative to get news and you can’t get on the internet I wonder what they think happened in the United States Herman describes the drive to shut down VOA and other media bodies as a “constitutional emergency” adding that he has heard from former listeners that they have already experienced Chinese broadcasts on some of the frequencies it formerly used While a federal judge has blocked the attempt to dismantle VOA the uncertainty continues and a government appeal is expected the EU has been unable to step in to replace the lost funding Jonathan Munro, global director of BBC News , says: “Three-quarters of countries around the world don’t have free media, and that figure is getting worse, not better. “It’s not just the lack of free media. It’s the proactive and aggressive march of disinformation and misinformation, which arrives on people’s phones 24 hours a day. That’s a cocktail for a very badly informed, or misinformed, global population.” Read moreMunro says authoritarian regimes were already reacting to the withdrawal of the west and growing their own presence “There’s a real ambition from China and Russia in particular,” he says “Iran and Turkey are growing players in this space the Chinese are very active in African markets the Russians are very active in the Middle East They’re both increasingly active in Latin America Some of that is space that we’ve had to vacate over the years because of financial decisions.” Given Trump’s early determination to push back against media at home and defund US-backed free media overseas some of the damage being done could be irreversible with no good rationale whatsoever and it will be very hard to recover “Trump has proven to be really skilled at destroying things and he clearly is on a campaign to destroy an independent press.” This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Home » Academics » Academic Schools and Departments » Digital Media » Programs of Study » Major in Digital Media Digital media is playing an ever-increasing role in our daily lives from the content on our mobile devices to the websites we visit the films and shows we watch to the digital games we play New developments and advances are being made at a rapid pace in areas such as virtual reality and human-computer interaction The production of all of this digital content opens up numerous employment opportunities as well as outlets for artistic expression This degree helps prepare students for the digital media world The core transferable skills learned in the degree will also make the students more employable even in non-media focused jobs as employers are increasingly incorporating digital media related tasks into job roles that previously required no media knowledge This degree also creates opportunities for students who have an interest in pursuing the cinematic arts to do so in a way that fosters their original creative voice but also provides them with practical skill sets This combination opens up the range of employment opportunities to students after graduation This interdisciplinary degree in digital media provides students with a core set of digital media production skills and knowledge of various narrative and story structures Students then will be able to select courses based on their interests The list of courses they can select from include numerous courses in digital audio and video production All students will complete a digital media capstone project tailored to their unique interests in Digital Media is designed for students who wish to pursue a path that combines art and technology allowing for both artistic expressions as well as preparation for a variety of digital media careers What careers do digital media majors land in Explore Careers The minor in digital media is designed for students who wish to learn tools techniques and skills for the creation of digital media Students can then customize their studies through a comprehensive set of electives The coursework provides them with opportunities for artistic expression while broadening their career options by teaching them to be critical and effective content creators Recent studies have shown that possessing digital media skills increases employability in non-media fields How many minutes a day do people spend watching content on screens of various sizes The minor in film studies will help students become critical consumers of the media that saturate our daily lives including its evolution from earlier forms of media as well as the impact other art forms have had on its development They will consider multiple critical and theoretical approaches to film and media analysis and how film has both impacted and been impacted by advances in technology Other areas of exploration include various narrative structures used in film and television the ever-changing role that cinematic storytelling plays in contemporary society and cinema’s role in local and international cultures Hear from forward David Perron following the Senators game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Canadian Tire Centre Jackson Starr breaks down Steve Staios and Travis Green's end of season interviews Steve Staios and Travis Green speaks with the media following the Senators 2024-25 season Jackson Starr recaps the players exit interviews at CTC Travis Hamonic speaks with the media following the Senators 2024-25 season Thomas Chabot speaks with the media following the Senators 2024-25 season Nick Jensen speaks with the media following the Senators 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following the Senators game against the Leafs Browse Departments & Services Communications & Marketing Home Media Relations Home Our Experts News and Announcements Media Advisories & Statements Interview Requests Filming on Campus Directions to Campus Media Relations Staff aumedia@american.edu 4401 Connecticut Avenue - 6th Floor, Room 1 on a map Back to top University Communications is here to help journalists Contact Media Relations by phone at 202-885-5950 or email aumedia@american.edu Staff Directory Join the Sine Institute of Policy & Politics for events with Spring 2024 Fellows Spring 2024 Fellows AU has launched a resource guide for reporters and editors who seek to interview experts and attend events to inform their reporting Learn More Read More Read More Go to News The Trump administration has drafted a memo to Congress outlining its intent to eliminate nearly all federal funding for public media – which includes NPR and PBS – according to a White House official who spoke to NPR on condition of anonymity the administration accused both networks of spreading "radical The administration plans to send the memo to Congress when it reconvenes from recess on April 28 which will open a 45-day window in which the House and Senate can either approve the rescission or allow the money to be restored This comes in the wake of a House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee hearing in late March which called PBS CEO Paula Kerger and NPR CEO Katherine Maher to testify on what Republican lawmakers say is biased and woke programming Both public broadcasting heads emphasized their mission to provide free nonpartisan news and programming across America NPR has not been formally notified by the White House about the rescission which would include all the funds for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 including public television; public radio would receive $250 million Maher spoke with All Things Considered host Mary Louise Kelly to talk about the memo NPR's policy is to cover itself as we would any other organization had no input on the questions for this interview NPR has asked the White House to comment on their goal with pulling back funding This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and length Mary Louise Kelly: To the central question: what would be the effect on NPR of losing government funding Katherine Maher: The biggest effect would be on the NPR network which are the 246 stations around the country that [our audience is] probably listening to us on and they receive about 100 million of the 121,122 million that goes to public radio every single year So the big impact would be on rural stations stations in geographies that are quite large or complex in order to be able to receive broadcast or infrastructure You could see some of those stations really having to cut back services or potentially going away altogether Kelly: So we're throwing around a lot of big numbers here because I think a lot of people may not understand: NPR – the network you and I work for – gets around one percent of our annual budget directly from the federal government You're making the point that a lot of our member stations would be hit considerably harder So we receive about one percent of our budget It goes to support things like body armor for journalists covering conflict overseas extra support for our presidential national elections all the sorts of things that we want to invest in to ensure that we're able to report on issues that matter to the public most of our operating budget comes from our membership fees and that's what allow our members to be able to receive programming And that same thing is true for member stations except federal funding makes a much bigger percentage of their total budget Kelly: If all government funding goes away Maher: I think the question is "Would we be able to thrive as a national network?" That is what I am focused on is we get so much value as public media by being part of a 50-state network that covers 99.7 percent of the American population people who live in what would otherwise be news deserts there's no question that NPR would not be able to pull from that richness of our national coverage if those local newsrooms – Kelly: So it would be local newsrooms that would be going away And often in places where local newspapers have already been decimated Why should any tax dollars support public broadcasting when there are plenty of other news organizations around these days can produce programming on their iPhone And I think that it's important for public media to be able to continue to be relevant in a time where there is a lot of coverage of different issues and areas of interest I think it's very easy to say that there's universal coverage because there's so much content being produced But the reality is there are many places in this country that do not have that kind of access to either cell phone service or high speed broadband where radio may be the only way to reach communities with regular access to news Public media also supports local news coverage in places we've already mentioned About 20 percent of Americans live in an area without any other local news coverage other than their local public radio station This is tremendously important as a public service and just because not every single person uses it every day – you know I don't drive on our interstates every day Kelly: Just to put the question to you quite bluntly to quote the words of Marjorie Taylor Greene the Georgia congresswoman who was running the subcommittee hearing where I know you were just summoned to testify last month you can hate us on your own dime." To which you say Maher: We don't hate anyone in public media and we encourage that we are reaching out to people from all different backgrounds And we want to be able to hear the voices of the American public reflected on public media in the same way Kelly: Just to put one more challenge question to you because this is a question I get and I want to let you respond to it But if one of the goals is to avoid even the appearance of government influence Maher: I actually think public funding ensures that we hold tight to a mission that means reflecting all Americans Most commercial outlets are able to target certain audiences that they want to reach we have an actual obligation in our mission and in our funding model to try to serve everyone across the country but we need to serve as broad an audience as possible is to be able to put the public in conversation with one another and to operate off a shared set of conversations about what's going on in the world Disclosure: This story was adapted for the web by Mallory Yu It was edited by Managing Editors Gerry Holmes and Vickie Walton-James Under NPR's protocol for reporting on itself no NPR corporate official or news executive reviewed this story before it was posted publicly Become an NPR sponsor U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced it will begin screening immigrants' social media for evidence of antisemitic activity as grounds for denying immigration benefit requests The screenings will affect people applying for permanent residence status as well as foreigners affiliated with educational institutions The policy will go into effect immediately the Department of Homeland Security said it will "protect the homeland from extremists and terrorist aliens including those who support antisemitic terrorism violent antisemitic ideologies and antisemitic terrorist organizations such as Hamas "There is no room in the United States for the rest of the world's terrorist sympathizers and we are under no obligation to admit them or let them stay here," said DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin The announcement comes following the highly publicized arrests and detentions of pro-Palestinian student activists such as Mahmoud Khalil and Rumeysa Ozturk who the government alleges engaged in antisemitic activities the national deputy director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said: "The spirit of Joseph McCarthy is alive and well in the Trump administration which has spent months dishonestly mischaracterizing legitimate criticism of the Israeli government's war crimes in Gaza as antisemitic pursuing witch hunts into American colleges and threatening the free speech rights of immigrants." a Washington group which describes itself as pro-Israel "The fight against antisemitism won't be advanced by attacks on 250-year-old cherished American rights like free speech," said the group's president Jeremy Ben-Ami "The Trump administration's own appointees have social media accounts riddled with antisemitism demonstrating how insincere they are in claiming their totalitarian attacks on higher education and immigrants will make Jewish Americans safer and that they are motivated by genuine concern for our wellbeing." The administration has doubled down on its enforcement in educational spaces in recent weeks."It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live & study in the United States of America," Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted on X last month "When you advocate for violence and terrorism that privilege should be revoked and you should not be in this country." Become part of the largest racing community in the United Kingdom Christian Horner has supported how Max Verstappen conducted himself in the aftermath of his controversial penalty at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Christian Horner believes the way Max Verstappen handled himself through his media duties after the contentious Saudi Arabian Grand Prix showed "great maturity" from the Dutchman After getting out of his RB21 in second place the Red Bull driver limited his answers when being interviewed by David Coulthard unwilling to risk opening himself up to punishment from the FIA if he were to criticise the governing body and its overseeing of the race at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit The four-time F1 drivers' champion was unhappy with the penalty the stewards handed down to him for this first corner incident with Oscar Piastri The five-second time penalty proved to be race-defining as he came home just 2.8 seconds behind the Australian Because Red Bull decided not to give the position back to the McLaren driver had the advantage Verstappen gained not been deemed punishment-worthy the 64-time grand prix winner likely would have added another victory to his tally - and taken the lead of the drivers' championship fight but still shut down ones pertaining to the incident and subsequent penalty It was an approach his team principal found admirable especially given how difficult the immediate aftermath of a race - and the accompanying media duties - is for a driver to be honest with you," Horner told the BBC's The Inside Track podcast and they get rammed a microphone under their nose and I'm not going to expose myself to criticism here' Join RacingNews365's Ian Parkes and Nick Golding as they discuss Miami Grand Prix media day and the absence of Max Verstappen Sign up for the daily digest and/or weekly newsletter and we'll make sure that you are fully up to date with the latest news from the Formula 1 world Find the latest F1 news and news from other motorsport series at RacingNews365.com the world's leading independent F1 website providing daily F1 coverage Check out the 2025 F1 calendar for an overview of all the races with extensive background and real-time information.  Follow RacingNews365 on your favorite social media channels Banana Ball, The Bachelorette, Hershey chocolate and zoo animals — all these and more are set to be featured at Clemson’s third annual Social Media Week hosted by the Department of Communication’s Social Media Listening Center (SMLC) staff and faculty will have the opportunity to gain insight from and network with social media professionals in various fields of marketing “We started Social Media Week by only bringing people from Clemson who work in the social space we have broadened the scope to include social media professionals from different industries,” said Brandon Boatwright director of the Social Media Listening Center faculty and staff to learn more about the professional aspects of social media across industries.” The purpose of the week is to showcase the many avenues of a career in social media and teach attendees how to navigate such a dynamic “The Social Media Listening Center is a leader in social media research and analytics nationwide This week-long event provides incredible opportunities for Clemson students and employees to learn from industry professionals and social media experts at globally recognized brands.” students can enjoy a “Content and Coffee Chat” with Madison Cockfield and Tim Morrison who serve as senior social media lead and vice president manager of social media listening and analytics at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is also slated to offer insight regarding information and risk management on social media especially in the wake of Hurricane Helene and the Los Angeles wildfires a social media listening professional who spent over six years as a social media intelligence manager at Chegg will discuss how to achieve professional growth in the social media realm associate manager of consumer insights at The Hershey Company will round out the day by sharing the secrets of Hershey’s consumer marketing success strategies CEO and co-founder of Social Intelligence Lab to explore the future of the social media listening industry followed by a social media influencing masterclass led by influencers Terry and Kaniyia social media marketing coordinators of the Savannah Bananas will take the stage to discuss the social branding of “The Greatest Show in Sports” and share how their strategy has contributed to the ever-increasing popularity of Banana Ball will begin the day with “Threads that Connect: Mastering Social Media Storytelling.” Then it is all about taming the feed with Brooke Fortune communication and social media strategist for Zoo Atlanta who will share tips for planning and creating effective social content those hoping to achieve greater social wellness will have the opportunity to learn from Marshall Anthony Jr. advocacy and government relations for the Jed Foundation in their session titled “Balancing Mental Health and the Online Experience.” Amanda Jeppson associate director of research and insight at Fetch will conclude Thursday’s sessions with a discussion on social media’s growing position in the marketing world Clemson alumna Whitney Sullivan returns to campus to discuss the role of social media in news reporting and breaking news coverage Sullivan now works as a morning anchor and multi-platform producer for WLTX Columbia and will be joined by FOX Carolina’s Brookley Cromer fans of The Bachelorette television show will have the opportunity to meet former contestants Sam McKinney and Thomas Nguyen McKinney and Nquyen are professional influencers and will offer advice about creating strong personal brands in a growing online space Clemson alumnus and former running back Darien Rencher alongside Coralie Bertrand and Chizorom Okoronkwo will share their expertise as innovators in social media All three panelists bring years of experience in content creation will discuss the vital role social media plays in the entertainment industry and how a corporation should cut through the noise of the internet to effectively utilize trends to build their success Social Media Week offers opportunities to establish a host of professional connections and learn more about a successful career in social media — one with endless possibilities social media professionals would always say they ‘fell into this,’ but now we have formalized training based on what we know about communication branding and the experiences of folks who are doing this professionally,” Boatwright said “You may think a career in social media is only about content creation and we host Social Media Week to broaden students’ understanding of a career in social media as well as provide best practices and tips for success in the field.”  Students, faculty and staff who would like to learn more about Social Media Week can visit the website for more information Or email us at news@clemson.edu Clemson News is the go-to source for stories and news about the innovations research and accomplishments of the Clemson Family Deloitte Insights and our research centers deliver proprietary research designed to help organizations turn their aspirations into action Media and Telecommunications Industry leader With over 25 years of professional experience Media and Telecommunications Industry and offers a unique point of view on the future of this industry and its sectors China brings a strong perspective on industry convergence and is passionate about the need for trustworthy AI She has co-authored articles on use of technology frameworks in the enterprise China also serves on the Board of Directors she has also led clients through technology-enabled business transformations and operating model optimizations to achieve performance outcomes and competitive advantage leading multiple National Communities and local Inclusion Councils in support of all professionals Principal | Deloitte Risk & Financial Advisory Jana is a senior global client leader on a Fortune 100 TMT client and a principal in Deloitte and Touche’s Risk and Financial Advisory (RFA) practice Jana specializes in leading complex engagements for technology and digital platform companies helping them navigate evolving regulatory requirements and business transformations Jana's career has focused on empowering clients to achieve compliance and operational excellence She has built worldwide engagement teams to serve several Fortune 500 technology companies across the Americas She has served as the Advisory practice leader for the Technology and Telecom (TMT) industry as well as the US Telecom she worked closely with lead client service partners of the firm’s largest TMT clients and drove market eminence and go-to-market strategy Media & Entertainment Sector leader | Deloitte With more than 30 years of experience in U.S Media & Entertainment Sector Leader at Deloitte he collaborates closely with lead client service partners to support the firm’s largest and most complex TMT clients driving the eminence agenda for the practice Doug is a seasoned expert in tax planning strategies corporate and international tax strategies His extensive expertise encompasses large multinational operations With a particular focus on interactive gaming he provides innovative solutions that help clients navigate complex landscapes and capitalize on growth opportunities In addition to his responsibilities as a lead client service tax partner and overseeing the sector he holds several key roles within Deloitte Global Interactive Gaming & Esports Leader and National Tax Offerings and Innovation Leader he’s worked closely with clients expanding globally leveraging their intellectual property and supply chain I have also consulted on international expansion Chris Arkenberg is a research manager with Deloitte’s Center for Technology He has 20 years of experience focusing on how people and organizations interact with transformational technologies Chris is also an avid video game enthusiast stomping the virtual grounds since the days of the 2600 Bree Matheson is a research manager with Deloitte’s Center for Technology She holds a PhD in technical communication and rhetoric from Utah State University Brooke Auxier is a research manager with Deloitte’s Center for Technology in journalism from the University of Maryland will they be held to higher standards of quality the streaming on-demand video (SVOD) revolution has fragmented pay TV audiences imposed higher costs on studios now operating direct-to-consumer services and delivered thinner margins for their efforts yet the premium video experience offered by streamers often sets the bar for quality storytelling Are there stronger points of collaboration that can benefit both streamers looking to reach global audiences and social platforms that lack high-quality franchises This year’s Digital Media Trends lends data to the argument that video entertainment has been disrupted by social platforms and advanced modeling for content recommendations and advertising Such platforms may be establishing the new center of gravity for media and entertainment drawing more of the time people spend on entertainment and the money that brands spend to reach them Our survey of US consumers reveals that media and entertainment companies—including advertisers—are competing for an average of six hours of daily media and entertainment time per person (figure 1). And this number doesn’t seem to be growing.2 Not only is it unlikely that any one form of media will command all six hours but each user likely has a different mix of SVOD and potentially other forms of digital media that make up these entertainment hours preferences among respondents appear to be shifting away from pay TV and toward streaming video services Although TV once dominated video entertainment time we now see US audiences—and especially younger generations—engaging more evenly with SVOD companies and even audio entertainment like music and podcasts And they are using different devices to consume media (figure 2) This can further fragment the landscape of entertainment and make it more challenging for services and brands to reach audiences, and for providers to gather more people onto their services. With growing production and marketing costs, traditional studios and streamers are responding with more bundles and aggregations seeking to bring together disparate audiences, offer them lower prices for multiple services, and sell access to advertisers.3 many households may have considered pay TV an essential cost the number of digital entertainment options has grown significantly but the amount of time and money available for it have not Cable and satellite television7 remain significant players in media and entertainment, though subscriptions continue to decline. We found that 49% of consumers surveyed currently have a cable or satellite TV subscription, down from 63% three years ago.8 The primary reasons subscribers report paying for these services are to watch live news (43%) and sports (41%) likely because SVOD services now offer more live sports options and social media provides free sports clips and news recaps Older generations are more likely to maintain cable or satellite TV subscriptions but 23% of Generation Z and 18% of millennial cable subscribers intend to terminate their subscriptions within the next 12 months Cost is likely a factor for these younger subscribers looking to cancel: Subscribers report spending an average of $125 per month on their cable or satellite TV subscriptions, which is significantly higher than the $69 on average subscribers report spending for four paid streaming services combined, according to our Digital Media Trends data. Subscribers also feel frustration with the number, and quality, of ads they’re required to watch at this higher price point.9 Although cable and satellite subscriptions are falling and live-streaming TV subscriptions appear stagnant some in younger generations still show interest in live programming: Forty-three percent of Gen Z and millennials surveyed indicate a willingness to pay more for streaming video subscriptions that include access to live sports although their engagement with live content remains to be seen When asked about the types of content they spend the most time watching on SVOD and just 8% said live events like music concerts This may be due to a lack of options for those categories on SVOD along with the ability to watch this content in other places: a third of Gen Z respondents say they don’t subscribe to an SVOD service to watch sports because they watch the clips and highlights on social media One challenge is that traditional studios still draw considerable revenues from their pay TV businesses.12 As they bring advertising to their streaming services, they may be hoping to migrate those pay TV ad revenues along with their audiences. However, global ad revenues for TV, including streaming video, are expected to see slow growth of around 2.4% in coming years, significantly less than overall advertising.13 A similar tension seems to exist with streaming video services, which have subscription costs that may outweigh their perceived value. Fifty-three percent of consumers surveyed say their SVOD subscriptions are the paid media and entertainment services they use most frequently. However, 41% percent of consumers overall say the content available on SVOD isn’t worth the price, up five percentage points from our 2024 report.14 At the same time roughly half (47%) of consumers say they pay too much for the streaming services they use suggesting there is an imbalance between cost and perceived value while the average number of paid SVOD services has remained the same the overall cost subscribers surveyed say they pay has gone up 13% in the past year Currently, the average price for a premium, ad-free SVOD service subscription is around $16 per month, though the leading services can be significantly higher.15 However consumers surveyed say that $14 is “just the right price” to pay for an ad-free subscription to their favorite SVOD service with $25 being deemed too expensive (figure 4) Keeping in mind that not all SVOD services on the market have the same pricing power,16 the current average SVOD price is inching toward a critical price threshold beyond which subscribers may be unwilling to pay Respondents say that a price hike of $5 would make the majority (60%) of them likely to cancel their favorite SVOD service Even their favorite services may be getting too expensive for the value a few leading services have been able to raise prices significantly without losing subscribers This can put more pressure on smaller services with less pricing power These rising service costs and widespread price sensitivities may be contributing to persistent—and high—SVOD churn rates among consumers. According to the survey, 39% of consumers say they have cancelled at least one paid SVOD service in the last six months (the measurement for churn)—a number that has remained relatively stable for the past several years.17 However these churn numbers jump to above 50% for both Gen Zs and millennials who are also more likely to be strong social media users and gamers Churn and return—or the percentage of consumers who have cancelled a service only to renew that same service in the past six months—also remains stable at 24% shifting their businesses more towards advertisers looking to reach large audiences this may be leading them into more challenging territory we found that more than two-thirds of younger generations subscribe to a free ad-supported TV service—streaming video services that are free to watch and fully subsidized by advertising We also found that most respondents believe there is too much repetition of ads on streaming video services and cable Studios may hope they can migrate pay TV ad dollars to their streaming services, and that cheaper ad-supported tiers will make it easier to acquire and retain subscribers. However, the advertising landscape—and ad tech especially—is more mature outside of pay TV, and most digital ad dollars are now going to social platforms.21 the technological advantage that social platforms have built becomes apparent are much more likely to say that ads or product reviews on social media are most influential to their purchasing decisions Ads on streaming video services are a distant second (28% and 25% 54% of these younger generations surveyed say that social media ads are more relevant to them than those on streaming video services or cable TV it may be unsurprising that 56% of Gen Zs and 43% of millennials surveyed report that social media content is more relevant to them than traditional content like TV shows and movies (figure 7) Gen Zs lead the trend: These respondents spend 54% more time—or about 50 minutes more—than the average consumer per day on social platforms and watching UGC; and 26% less time—or about 44 minutes less per day—than the average person watching TV and movies trending social videos are often like the new hit TV shows and creators are the new reality stars. Despite (and sometimes because of) their success some creators have made the leap to network television or major streaming video platforms—where they can secure lucrative and stable contracts This approach is met with mixed reviews: Some consumers surveyed say they’d be more willing to watch TV shows or movies starring their favorite creators (29% of consumers overall) while others say that creators lose the authenticity they had on social media when they’re featured on TV shows (30% of consumers overall) (figure 8) that this cross-medium success can work in both directions consumers surveyed say they often follow reality stars or athletes on social media after seeing them on a reality show or playing in a game—a behavior that is common for around 40% of both Gen Zs and millennials In the same way that creators are amplifying their fame in TV and movies more traditional celebrities are establishing themselves as brands These last points suggest a deeper cultural shift: The definition and value of “celebrity” seem to be changing Younger generations are spending more time on social platforms engaging with independent content creators who may seem more familiar and authentic and spending less time with traditional celebrities who may seem distant while platforms can benefit from the premium storytelling that is the strength of studios Good TV can be touching and engrossing. Good cinema can be deeply impactful and moving. There is still value and demand for premium video content, but the economics likely need to be reset. Production costs are high and production times long. Fewer shows and films get produced and far fewer become big enough to cover their costs.39 This can make creativity risky: The safety of known successes is often preferred many households are under financial pressure Adding another paid subscription is not trivial It likely either needs to deliver real ongoing value to justify the cost or the cost needs to come down The former path requires more spending on content and the latter more spending on advertising solutions At a time when studios are looking to cut costs facing the competition with social video is likely going to require significantly more spending It may be that only hyperscale and diversified media companies can compete in the new landscape Strong studio streamers—only a handful—are global and AI-enabled and may operate multiple other lines of profitable businesses Should smaller studios downsize and sell content to the winners Should they entice influencers and produce more content for social platforms Or come together to form more competitive and capitalized alliances studios will likely need to aggregate larger addressable audiences and secure much better ad tech The deeper challenge may be about mindsets Traditional studios and streamers still seem organized around the same concepts and business models of TV and film that shaped entertainment for many decades But costs and risk have narrowed cinema to very expensive and safe franchises and if studios asked kids and teenagers what they think about the future of TV These insights are based on an online survey of 3,595 US consumers that was conducted in October 2024 Our generational definitions are as follows: Generation Z (1997-2010) The survey was fielded by an independent research firm and all data is weighted back to the most recent Census to give a representative view of US consumers Change your Analytics and performance cookie settings to access this feature Yorman Wurmser, “Social media and streaming apps drive rapid growth in video ads,” eMarketer Deloitte’s analysis of Digital Media Trends data from 2024 to 2025 Gloria Guzman and Melissa Kollar, “Income in the United States: 2023,” United States Census Bureau US Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Consumer price index: 2024 in review,” Jan Financial well-being data from Deloitte Insights’ ConsumerSignals Cable and satellite television services deliver programming through set-top hardware vs live streaming television services that deliver live programming through an internet connection Kevin Westcott, Jana Arbanas, Chris Arkenberg, Brooke Auxier, Jeff Loucks, and Kevin Downs, “2022 Digital media trends, 16th edition: Toward the metaverse,” Deloitte Insights Deloitte Insights, “2024 Digital Media Trends,” March 20 Ed Bott, “Is your live TV streaming service still worth it? I review options for every budget,” ZDNET Georg Szalai, “Streaming to overtake pay TV subscription revenue in the U.S. this year,” The Hollywood Reporter Kate Scott-Dawkins and Nidhi Shah, 2024 global end-of-year forecast Deloitte Insights, “2024 Digital Media Trends.”  Based on Deloitte analysis of the top 12 SVOD services on the market This average includes only those services that currently (as of February 2025) offer both an ad-free and ad-supported tier to consumers If a service had multiple ad-free or ad-supported tiers the lowest priced option was used in the calculation Deloitte surveyed 2,328 US consumers (ages 18 to 65) who reported being the sole decision maker around the SVOD service subscriptions in their household Respondents were asked questions about the services they subscribe to and their content preferences and participated in a survey method where they selected their preferred streaming video service profiles based on varying attributes (a conjoint analysis) Churn figures for individual services are significantly lower than this aggregate number but Deloitte reports churn as the percentage of consumers who have canceled any SVOD service in the last six-month period (rather than an average across services) Bruce Gil, “Even a grocery store is offering free streaming perks now,” Quartz the lowest-priced option was used in the calculation Scott-Dawkins and Shah, “2024 global end-of-year forecast.” Mazumder, Patel, and Auxier, “Memorable vs. annoying”; Spotify, “An interview with Eric Seufert about the current state of digital advertising,” podcast Based on recent earnings announcements from leading providers Todd Spangler, “Six biggest companies to spend record $126 billion on content in 2024, up 9% led by Disney,” Variety Andrew Hutchinson, “YouTube adds more AI assistance tools for creators,” SocialMediaToday, June 4, 2024; Meta, “Meta’s AI products just got smarter and more useful,” Sept Brooke Auxier and Dennis Ortiz, “The future of shoppable media can build on the success of social shopping,” Deloitte Insights Lucas Shaw, “Film and TV profits have collapsed over the last decade,” Bloomberg Meaghan Yuen, “US marketers favor social media and TV for ad spend,” eMarketer, July 26, 2023; What awaits advertisers in 2025: More inventory, lower CPMs, eMarketer Benjamin Mullin and Lauren Hirsch, “Media moguls set the stage for deal mania,” The New York Times Todd Spangler, “Warner Bros. releases 31 full-length movies on its YouTube channels, streaming for free,” Variety Deloitte analysis of market caps for leading traditional studios and hyperscale service providers that also compete in media Nielsen, “TV viewing trends in the U.S.,” January 2025 Interactive Advertising Bureau, “Digital video ad spend growing nearly 80% faster than media overall, according to IAB video ad spend and strategy report,” press release Paul Lee, Eliza Pearce, Rupert Darbyshire, and Kevin Westcott, “Reevaluating direct-to-consumer: The shift towards video aggregators,” Deloitte Insights Lillian Rizzo, “Comcast to launch Universal Ads in bid to win smaller advertisers over from tech,” CNBC Winston Cho, “Why Los Angeles is becoming a production graveyard,” The Hollywood Reporter, Oct. 23, 2024; Doug Shapiro, “Power laws in culture,” Medium Henry Chandonnet, “From Quibi’s ashes, new short-form streamers are thriving,” Fast Company Wallenstein, “How short-form video can help, not hurt, Hollywood.”  The authors would like to thank Akash Rawat for his significant contributions to the data analysis along with Gautham Dutt for his design and visualization support Many thanks also go to Andy Bayiates and Molly Piersol for their editorial and design contributions The authors also extend appreciation to Danny Ledger and Marc Weiner for their contributions to the co-creation and review of the questionnaire they would like to give sincere thanks to Kevin Downs and Alison Zink for their support and guidance throughout the process Media & Telecommunications | Deloitte Services LP Jeff Loucks is the executive director of Deloitte's Center for Technology He conducts research and writes on topics that help companies capitalize on technological change An award-winning thought leader in digital business model transformation Loucks is especially interested in the strategies organizations use to adapt to accelerating change and entertainment; semiconductor; telecommunication; and sports sectors Discover how US consumers engage with and spend on media and entertainment over time with Deloitte's Digital Media Monitor The media and entertainment landscape is constantly evolving alongside consumer preferences Find out what’s next in media and entertainment by exploring our latest on digital media trends Rising entertainment costs are often a concern for consumers may present a path to growing monetization Streaming services may need bundling to reach their total addressable market © 2025. See Terms of Use for more information Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL") DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms © 2021. See Terms of Use for more information. 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Douyin’s popularity has led to the platform releasing an international version of its network: a little app called TikTok social networks and messenger/chat app/voip included; figures for TikTok does not include Douyin ¹Platforms have not published updated user figures in the past 12 months figures may be out of date and less reliable ²Values for Facebook Messenger use may be underrepresented due to some ad formats being unavailable in certain countries Instagram accounts with the most followers worldwide 2024 Number of global social network users 2017-2028 Countries with the most Facebook users 2024 Average daily time spent on social media worldwide 2012-2024 Sign In Register Glacier Media is thrilled to announce the creation of Lodestar Media Meanwhile, Business in Vancouver has been B.C.’s go-to business platform since 1989 — delivering daily news, in-depth analysis, industry events, and must-read publications like the BC500 and Book of Lists. Under the BIV umbrella is Western Investor covering commercial real estate across Western Canada and the company’s recruitment marketing agency BIV connects B.C.’s business community Lodestar Media’s portfolio also includes Vancouver Is Awesome. V.I.A restaurant recommendations and in-depth Canucks coverage “Lodestar Media unifies all the components of our media business under one brand,” said Daniel La Porta Lodestar Media’s newly appointed president “It’s a place where we can showcase all of the value we provide our communities.” Lodestar Media is also home to REW.ca (Real Estate Works) a leading platform for residential real estate listings and property insights in B.C A key aspect of Lodestar Media is its organization around three core pillars: Live reflecting its mission to serve British Columbians in all aspects of their lives REW anchors the "Live" pillar empowering British Columbians in their property journeys BIV provides key business news and analysis under the "Work" pillar while V.I.A fosters connection under the "Play" pillar “This structure will allow Lodestar Media to deliver targeted content and advertising solutions that resonate with the diverse needs and interests of our audiences,” said La Porta will lead the ‘Live’ pillar while Lara Graham will be at the helm of ‘Play.’ a full-service digital agency that specializes in implementing strategies to help businesses improve their online presence through an extensive range of services: everything from website design Spearheading the Lodestar rebrand is Justin R “Our goal was to take a collection of community media brands—rich in heritage and trust—and turn it into a dynamic modern media outfit that connects brands with audiences through the publications “‘Lodestar’ literally means a guiding light and that’s exactly what we want to be: the ultimate guide for millions of Canadians navigating the news An internal launch of Lodestar Media was hosted at the end of February 2025 The company is now going through the process of showcasing the brand to the public