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
playEchegaray: Lavia brings stability to Chelsea (1:33)ESPN FC's Luis Miguel Echegaray believes Romeo Lavia is essential for Chelsea's stability in midfield after he starred in their 3-1 victory over Liverpool
Cole Palmer hit back at "social media idiots" after ending his goal drought in Chelsea's 3-1 win over Liverpool on Sunday
Palmer scored 36 goals and registered 17 assists from his first 54 appearances
but he had just two assists and no goals in his 12 games before facing Liverpool
Palmer told Sky Sports after the win: "We played very well as a team
but it just gives me more fight and motivation to do more for myself and for the team
but it's only one and I've got to keep improving and try and reach new levels
it feels like you're letting your team down
I feel pride in helping the team and if I'm not doing that
Liverpool manager Arne Slot made six changes to his lineup after securing the Premier League title last weekend
but he denied his team had dropped its standards
we could see why we have won this league -- we brought the ball out from the back really well
"We came back after being 2-0 down and we didn't give up
In some moments a few percentages were not there."
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Connoisseur Media has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Alpha Media
The combined company will retain the Connoisseur name and continue under the leadership of Connoisseur Media CEO Jeff Warshaw
The post-acquisition footprint will make Connoisseur one of the top 10 largest radio groups in the US by both revenue and station count
including 218 stations in 47 markets such as San Antonio
The new company’s coverage will include roughly 20% of the US
The deal price has yet to be disclosed, but it is expected to close in the latter half of 2025, pending FCC approval. In the interim, the two companies have entered into a Local Marketing Agreement for Alpha’s 207 stations
which already operates digital marketing firm Ferocious Digital
plans to merge its services with Alpha Digital
expanding its capabilities in integrated marketing services
The companies say the integration will enhance their ability to serve both listeners and advertisers at the local level
“We are thrilled to welcome Alpha Media into the Connoisseur family
it has become clear that we share many of the same values — a passion for serving our local communities
supporting our colleagues and fostering a culture of integrity
“This transaction underscores our commitment to the irreplaceable role local broadcasters play in providing news
information and entertainment that truly resonates
we will build an industry-leading platform of broadcast and digital
I could not be more excited to get started.”
Guggenheim Securities is serving as exclusive financial advisor and Wiley Rein is serving as legal counsel to Alpha
Will & Emery and Wilkinson Barker Knauer are serving as legal advisors to Connoisseur
Financing for the transaction is being provided by Brigade Capital Management
One crap radio company plus another crap radio company equals a butt load of diarrhea!!!!LOL LARRY squeezing another one out
I only had one interaction with Connoisseur and that was about 10 years ago
I had a “boys week” few days in western NY
5 hours from my studio in Philly I had a computer crash and was unable to do several voiceover and content commitments
explained my issue and they couldn’t have been nicer
offering me use of their production studio at no charge as one broadcaster coming to an aid of another
I was very impressed with the whole operation
I worked for Connoisseur Media for 10 years as a GSM and ultimately a Market Manager
Warshaw and his team are very employee-focused and fair
I’ve found CM to be a great group to work for
Every merger & sale has its casualties
but I can tell you CM loves LOCAL Radio and is unusual in that it’s not ALL ABOUT the bottom line
After thirty-one on-air years with AlphaMedia and predecessors in Wisconsin and Illinois
I was made to drive 30 miles roundtrip to hear that I was fired as of that moment
and found myself escorted out with police supervision
The Shepherd Group sold their stations in Missouri (Moberly
Farmington and Festus) in 2007 to GoodRadio
Alpha Media said they were ‘live and local’
that all came to a screeching halt for most of the Alpha stations
The employees that were terminated by eliminating the entire programming department plus those who either retired or quit as a result of the shutdown of the entire programming department
what it did to the community was the worst part
Alpha ‘powers-that-be’ were not concerned at all that they had taken away a line of communication to the community that took decades to build (Local news
and the list goes on and on)….all gone immediately
The Shepherds built a great group of ‘information’ stations that Alpha Media literally tossed away
The damage done will never be able to be repaired
especially if Connoisseur Media keeps any of the staff at the corporate level
Alpha’s ‘Live and Local programming philosophy’
and they torpedoed the live and local programming we aired
Fired the whole programming department in one fell swoop – 10:25 am
they were called in for a meeting and at 10:35 am
and the station is still feeling the repercussions today
and website in this browser for the next time I comment
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Vanessa Kahn grew up in the Boston area taking videos of bugs
she learned to edit her videos on a computer
adding music and creating narratives with her friends
She watched documentaries like March of the Penguins—which inspired a lifelong interest in penguins—and the BBC’s Planet Earth
When she saw a shot of an underwater videographer on the show
floating gracefully with their camera poised in front of a whale
that image still floating in the back of her mind
Kahn earned a dual degree in communications media with a concentration in film and video production and earth and environmental science at Fitchburg State University
She spent six months as a digital media intern at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo before moving back to the Boston area and securing another internship that aligned with her passions—this time at the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium
the Aquarium rescued a massive 330-pound stranded loggerhead sea turtle
Kahn assisted freelance videographer Rob Nelson in capturing videos and photos of Munchkin for Munchkin’s Journey
a multipart series documenting the turtle’s recovery and eventual release
The Aquarium recognized Kahn’s talent and hired her full time
Kahn works closely with teams across the Aquarium to share stories about the organization’s research and mission
contributing to ocean conservation using her unique creative skill set
You can find her work everywhere from the Aquarium’s social media and website to its exhibits (and this issue of blue)
Kahn also goes on fieldwork trips with scientists to capture research stories through photo and video
She’s traveled with researchers to document North Atlantic right whales
she accompanied research scientist Kara Dodge
on a trip to Puerto Rico to photograph nesting leatherback sea turtles
“Working at the Aquarium has really refined my skills as a photographer and filmmaker
and it’s because they’ve always encouraged me to grow,” Kahn says
“I feel so lucky to get the opportunities to work alongside scientists and animals and even luckier to have a team that is so supportive and collaborative.”
Kahn has continued to expand her skills and grow as a videographer throughout her five years at the Aquarium
When she pitched the idea of investing in an underwater camera rig
her department not only budgeted for the equipment but also sponsored Kahn to get her PADI open-water dive certification
a little girl whose fascination with penguins was born from seeing a documentary
Kahn hopes her work inspires others to care about marine species and ocean conservation at large
“I used to think I needed to be a marine biologist to contribute to ocean conservation
but I realized visual media is a powerful tool for storytelling and translating science,” Kahn says
“I love that sharing photos and videos can educate and even inspire people to take part in conservation.”
This story originally appeared in the Fall 2024 issue of blue magazine
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Youngstown State University student media organizations dominated the 2024 Society for Collegiate Journalists National Contest
earning a remarkable 25 awards including eight first-place honors across multiple categories
"I'm blown away by what our student journalists continue to accomplish
It really shows how talented they are and how seriously they take their work," said Adam Earnheardt
"Whether they're covering sports or digging into investigative stories
these students aren't just checking boxes — they're practicing real journalism that matters to our campus and the entire Valley."
JambarTV and Rookery Radio collectively secured eight first-place awards
three third-place awards and eight honorable mentions
"National awards like these showcase the remarkable talent of our student journalists and their ability to implement classroom and studio knowledge in practical media contexts," said Paul Ditchey
A complete list of first-place winners is below:
YSU student media also received six second-place awards
including Television News Show Overall Excellence for The Jambar in 10 and multiple feature and sports reporting accolades
Third-place recognition came in Breaking News coverage
Eight additional entries received honorable mentions
This impressive showing builds on YSU's tradition of excellence in student journalism and highlights the real-world experience students gain through these programs
According to the Society for Collegiate Journalists website
the organization “is the nation's oldest honor society for student media leaders
Founded to promote journalism as a foundation of democracy
SCJ focuses on professional development at the collegiate level
accurate and innovative collegiate journalism nationally while creating a strong network of advocates for First Amendment education.”
2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gray Media and multiple Gray stations recently received honors from prestigious industry organizations
including the Radio Television Digital News Association
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Gray is very pleased to report that the Radio Television Digital News Association has selected Sandy Breland
Gray’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Named for the founder and first president of RTDNA
this award recognizes an individual’s contributions to journalism and freedom of the press
She will be honored at RTDNA25 in New Orleans
“Sandy Breland’s career is a testament to the power and impact of local journalism
From her early days in the newsroom to her leadership of one of the largest media companies in the country
and community connection,” said RTDNA Chair Sheryl Worsley
“Her unwavering dedication to journalism and freedom of the press makes her a deserving recipient of the John F
and we are proud to honor her at RTDNA25.”
the 2025 RTDNA Loren Tobia Leadership Award
which is given annually to a journalist who exemplifies true leadership within their company or organization
Jeff collaborated with his team to support 54 hours per week of locally produced programming and develop a newsroom dedicated to covering the southern portion of the Tampa Bay media market
The prestigious National Headliner Awards honored three Gray Media outlets for journalistic excellence
won first place in the broadcast or cable television stations documentary or series category for “In Plane Sight: The Fix,” an undercover investigation of Drug Enforcement Task Force Agents searching innocent passengers at airport gates
“This story not only examined what appeared to be an outrageous abuse of power but played a major role in fixing the problem
Through scrupulous and non-sensationalized reporting
the investigators documented abuses by airline employees and federal employees who were allowed to seize cash from innocent passengers under the guise of a practice that assumed anyone carrying a large amount of cash was under suspicion for drug offenses
This two-year investigation ended that practice.”
won third place in the same category for “23 Seconds: A Louisville Mass Shooting.” The original documentary recounts the events of the Old National Bank mass shooting through exclusive and personal interviews with officers
survivors and others connected to the tragic events
received second place honors in the broadcast television networks
cable networks and syndicators business and consumer reporting for “Data-Driven.” The report uncovered new privacy concerns about automakers’ data collection practices and tracking of operator data beyond driving habits
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences nominated two Gray stations for the 46th annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Regional News Story: Investigative category
is again recognized for “In Plane Sight.” This nomination is for the first year of the two-year investigation that revealed the DEA tactics used to seize cash from passengers with no evidence of drug trafficking and ultimately led the US Department of Justice to dismantle the whole program
is nominated for “Double Injustice.” Their investigative series uncovered that the current Louisiana Attorney General was wrongly withholding state funds from exonerated inmates
The National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation named WIBW in Topeka
Kansas the winner of its 2025 Celebration of Service to America Award for small market television stations in recognition of their “Hear me
Spurred by a study that ranked Kansas last in the nation for mental health care
WIBW launched the initiative in January 2024 with a series of public service announcements and a special edition of Eye on NE Kansas
community partners joined in furthering the PSA series
the news team was intentional about exploring mental health-related issues through in-depth pieces detailing school efforts
Gray Media is a Service to America finalist in the TV-Ownership Group category
Gray’s stations recently received other recognitions and awards for extraordinary efforts and achievements in our local markets
“Gray is immensely proud of the culture of impactful journalism and community service these awards exemplify,” said Gray’s Executive Chairman Hilton Howell
and leaders on these impressive awards and recognitions.”
Executive Vice President and Chief Legal & Development Officer
by Bobby Corser
Alpha Media Portland is home to FM News 101 KXL
This transaction underscores our commitment to the irreplaceable role local broadcasters play in providing news
I could not be more excited to get started,” said Jeff Warsaw
The new company will combine Connoisseur’s 11 stations with Alpha’s 207 stations
making it one of the largest radio companies in the United States
In the latest radio ratings released on April 24, 2025, three Alpha-owned stations placed in the top 10. KINK came in fifth, KXL in seventh, and LIVE 95.5 was eighth.
The sale is subject to FCC approval and is expected to close in the second half of 2025.
KATU News has reached out to Alpha Media for a comment. No word on any changes coming to the programming of the seven stations.
Editor's Note: Bobby Corser previously worked for Alpha Media.
Advertisers, internet giants and ad tech companies to meet as brands shift marketing strategies on the fly to account for unpredictable tariffs.
He previously covered corporate communications and public relations agencies as a reporter at PRWeek
He has worked in newspapers from Albany to New York City
He has also worked at every advertising industry trade publication that matters
and he once visited Guatemala and once rode the Budapest Metro
Gillian Follett is a general assignment reporter for Ad Age. She writes about a variety of topics including social media
influencer marketing and the creator economy
Gillian graduated from Syracuse University’s S.I
overseeing breaking news and daily coverage
He also contributes reporting on the beverage
automotive and sports marketing industries
He is a former reporter for McClatchy newspapers
where he covered business and state government and politics
He previously covered the private equity industry as a reporter for PEI Media
Lindsay Rittenhouse is a senior reporter for Ad Age
covering broad advertising industry trends
He was previously a freelance journalist and podcaster covering pop culture and entertainment as well as a Pilates instructor and a professional dancer
the “Scream” franchise and Halloween costumes
covers household and personal-care marketers
He's based near Cincinnati and has previously written for the Atlanta Journal Constitution
woodworking and graphic design industries and worked in corporate communications for the E.W
Jon Springer covers sports marketing and beverage marketing
He formerly covered the food retail industry for Winsight and Supermarket News
and is a former sports and features writer for The Cecil Whig
Adrianne Pasquarelli is a senior reporter at Ad Age
She is also a host of the Marketer’s Brief podcast and spearheads special reports including 40 Under 40 and Hottest Brands
Pasquarelli joined Ad Age in 2015 after writing for Crain's New York Business
where she also focused on the retail industry.
Bradley Johnson is Ad Age's director of data analytics
Johnson focuses on data and financial topics related to marketing
Los Angeles and New York including editor at large
Greg Hahn is co-founder and chief creative officer of Mischief @ No Fixed Address
Katie Brown is director of business strategy at Luquire
Brandon Doerrer is a brand marketing reporter for Ad Age
telecommunications and marketing trends CMOs need to know
gaming and technology at Campaign US and PRWeek and graduated from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism
Brandon Doerrer is Ad Age's brand marketing reporter
public media’s existence has become a news story
we want to be transparent about what the recent executive order means for Cincinnati Public Radio
and answer any questions the public might have about our current situation and the stations' future
let it be this: Nothing in this executive order alters why we exist
We exist to nurture and protect Greater Cincinnati’s public square
where people of differing perspectives can come together — across airwaves
and in real life — to build trust and strengthen communities
Everything we do is in the spirit of helping to create a community where everyone feels seen and heard
and we do that by consistently demonstrating our core values in all we do: building cultural bridges
and sharing power with the communities we serve in our desire for community-owned and community-driven local media that matters to all our fellow citizens
President Trump signed an executive order titled “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media.” The order instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to stop federal funding for NPR and PBS
Does this mean Cincinnati Public Radio is losing federal support
Not immediately. CPB is not under presidential authority — Congress created it to be independent
Executive orders don’t automatically change funding structures
Does the order cut total public media funding
the order hasn’t changed the overall congressional appropriation for public media yet
removing NPR and PBS could have a ripple effect on local stations like WVXU
Roughly 5% of CPR’s annual operating budget comes from CPB
Is Cincinnati Public Radio in danger of shutting down
Cincinnati Public Radio remains operational and strong
and member support continue to be the foundation of Cincinnati Public Radio’s near and long-term sustainability
the impact could be significant for local stations
CPR is doing several things to remain sure-footed in these unprecedented times:
Has Cincinnati Public Radio's mission changed
We remain committed to building a trusted public radio station in Greater Cincinnati—sharing diverse voices
and ensuring everyone feels seen and heard
Cincinnati Public Radio’s mission is to be a trusted
Further questions? Send us an email at wvxu@wvxu.org
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Google today announced that it is integrating new generative AI solutions—in addition to a retail media solution—into Display & Video 360 campaigns.
In an effort to help streamline the campaign execution process for advertisers
the tech giant is introducing an AI-powered marketplace that curates unique deal packages.
marketers can use layman’s terms to describe the kind of audiences they’d like to reach—like pet owners or people interested in cosmetics—as well as the kinds of media they’d like to buy
whether that’s Spotify audio ads or inventory on premium CTV publishers
DV360 then uses AI to spin up curated inventory recommendations.
Private Equity Firm MidOcean Partners Scoops up Retail Media and Video Ad Network GSTV
The rollout builds on Google’s audience persona offering
audience persona uses AI to produce custom audience segments for marketers based on users’ plain-spoken inputs
Marketers using Google’s audience persona tool are seeing impressive payoffs—including a 70% increase in video completion
Generative AI capabilities are also being folded into DV360 reporting
enabling users to query the system with prompts like
‘Show me the percent of impressions from this campaign that led to conversions,’ and the system will surface results.
The new AI-driven features are built on Gemini models.
The company is increasingly focused on baking AI tools into its ad stack—which is under threat after a federal judge last month ruled that Google’s adtech business violates U.S. competition law.
“The more we can continue to simplify and make the execution more simple
so [marketers] can focus on the insights and understanding
managing director for Google Marketing Platforms
“We always feel like AI has the ability to help bring more humanity into everything we do.”
Google Open to Sharing Real-Time Bids With Rivals
Google also unveiled a retail media solution for DV360
The platform will help marketers create new audience segments and is designed to bolster ROI.
The solution “will reflect how consumers are shopping and buying across different storefronts and services,” according to Martinez
Data from the retail media offering will also be integrated into YouTube via DV360
“We’re excited about what this does to redefine and open up the world of commerce media,” said Martinez
“DV360 advertisers will be able to better measure the impact on sales and use all of their audience insights on the YouTube ad buys
as they do alongside all of the other third-party inventory.”
In addition to the rollout of new AI tools and a retail media solution in DV360
the platform will also support live event inventory now
The update will enable brands to buy ads during live programming like NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube
with access to connected TV live inventory for broader reach
When asked about whether Google expects to see a substantive decrease in spend commitments at this year’s NewFront amid macroeconomic pressures
“We have a lot of experience in managing through uncertain times.”
Google Is Finally Showing Buyers Where Pmax Ads Run
Kendra Barnett is Adweek's senior tech reporter
Adweek is the leading source of news and insight serving the brand marketing ecosystem
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Deal brings Alpha’s 207 stations and digital assets into Connoisseur’s fold
At a time when notable radio station sales have slowed to a trickle, Connoisseur Media has turned up the faucet with the announcement that it will acquire the stations of Alpha Media
The combined company will retain the Connoisseur name and be led by Jeff Warshaw
Terms of the deal were not immediately available
The transaction is subject to FCC approval and is expected to close in the second half of 2025
Connoisseur and Alpha have entered into an LMA
markets will now be added to a portfolio that currently consists of 11 stations on Long Island and in Connecticut
That will place Connoisseur among the top 10 radio groups by station count
Alpha’s properties are spread across the country
When reached by Radio World for comment on plans for Alpha’s existing staff
Warshaw said that Connoisseur just signed the LMA and is now “excited to get to know the team and working with everyone with plans to grow the business.”
Warshaw highlighted the merger’s integration of Alpha Digital
which is owned and operated by Connoisseur
Connoisseur, based in Westport, Conn., sold off many of its properties in 2018 and 2019 but made two unsuccessful offers to acquire all of Cumulus Media’s stations in 2022, according to Inside Radio
The Portland-based Alpha was founded by Larry Wilson and is led by CEO Bob Proffitt
[Sign Up for Radio World’s SmartBrief Newsletter]
Nick Langan
The author is a content producer and staff writer for Radio World
He has a lifelong passion for long-distance FM radio propagation and is a faculty advisor for 89.1 WXVU(FM)
which he completed for his Villanova University graduate thesis
For more stories like this, and to keep up to date with all our market leading news, features and analysis, sign up to our newsletter here
Tags ⋅ Alpha Media ⋅ merger ⋅ Connoisseur Media
England and Wales company registration number 2008885
The wildfires that ravaged parts of Los Angeles County in January were the most catastrophic in its history. Made worse by climate change
the disaster caused as much as $131 billion worth of damage and destroyed more than 16,000 homes and other properties
In the name of a speedy recovery, LA Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat, issued a broad executive order that same month, exempting replacement structures from a city ordinance that requires new buildings to be all-electric
(The waived code only applies to communities within the city boundaries
The mayor’s move reflects a tacit assumption that has been echoed even in the State Assembly: that rebuilding with gas
which many of the affected buildings had used
must be the easiest path for recovering communities
But a new report flips that premise on its head. Citing available research and expert interviews, a team at the University of California, Berkeley’s Center for Law, Energy, & the Environment argues that all-electric construction is likely to be the fastest and most cost-effective way to rebuild after the LA fires
A key reason is that two systems are more complicated to rebuild than one
“We’re going to install electricity infrastructure in all buildings regardless,” said Kasia Kosmala-Dahlbeck
climate research fellow at the UC Berkeley center
“So it’s really about whether you also install a second system” that delivers fracked gas
Such dual-fuel construction has historically been the norm in California
but all-electric construction avoids the added time and cost of hooking up gas infrastructure
That often requires property owners to submit a separate service request to the gas utility; install gas meters
and ductwork; and coordinate gas safety checks
that potential savings for LA County’s wildfire-hit neighborhoods are likely lower since existing gas infrastructure
Kosmala-Dahlbeck points out that people going the all-electric route now will be able to avoid costly and complex retrofits in the future
according to California-based all-electric home developer Redwood Energy
The report authors recommend that policymakers — including city council members
and state legislators and agencies — support an all-electric recovery
Mayor Bass has already moved in that direction. While her office confirmed that the first executive order waiving all-electric standards remains in effect, she issued another directive on March 21: By later this month, LA departments must develop suggestions to streamline permitting for owners who rebuild with all-electric equipment
Construction has begun in LA’s Pacific Palisades neighborhood, one of the areas hit hardest by the wildfires. According to the mayor’s office, 20 addresses in the Palisades have been issued permits for rebuilding efforts. Staff noted that the permits don’t have to specify whether a project is all-electric. But some affected residents do plan to rebuild without gas appliances
All-electric new buildings are on the rise across California, according to the California Energy Commission. In 2023, 80% of line extension requests by builders to utilities Pacific Gas & Electric and San Diego Gas & Electric were electric-only
deputy director of the Energy Commission’s building standards efficiency division
and the first impulse that you have after that terrible loss is a return to normalcy” by trying to rebuild what you once had
who reviewed the UC Berkeley report before it was publicly released
But “it’s impossible to recapture that home once it’s gone.”
“there’s the possibility for creating something even superior to what you had before.”
Metrics details
Concerns about the relationship between social media use and adolescent mental health are growing
yet few studies focus on adolescents with clinical-level mental health symptoms
This limits our understanding of how social media use varies across mental health profiles
we analyse nationally representative UK data (N = 3,340
aged 11–19 years) including diagnostic assessments by clinical raters alongside quantitative and qualitative social media measures
adolescents with mental health conditions reported spending more time on social media and were less happy about the number of online friends than adolescents without conditions
We also found hypothesized differences in social media use by condition type: adolescents with internalizing conditions reported spending more time on social media
engaging in more social comparison and experiencing greater impact of feedback on mood
alongside lower happiness about the number of online friends and lower honest self-disclosure
those with externalizing conditions only reported higher time spent
These findings emphasize the need to consider diverse adolescent mental health profiles in policy and clinical practice
The rationale for doing so is that questionnaires capturing continuous clinical symptoms are informative when reasoning about social media use in relation to the whole spectrum of mental health
across types of severity and clinical presentation
this approach is not a suitable surrogate for studying links between social media and mental health in adolescents with versus without mental health conditions
it reduces the complexity of clinical presentations to the tail end of variation in selected mental health symptoms among mostly healthy individuals
it ignores the potentially important differences between those who endorse symptoms on a questionnaire and those who reach diagnostic criteria in standard clinical classifications
an adolescent can score very highly on a questionnaire measuring depressive symptoms
but not meet the criteria for a diagnosis if the queried symptoms have only been present for a short time or if they are better explained by a different condition or situation
although researchers would like to demonstrate the presence or absence of specific links between mental health conditions and social media use
the measures of psychopathology they employ might not be appropriate for these goals
Adolescents in these studies reported both positive and negative social media experiences
such as enhanced social connection and trouble downregulating their use
these experiences aligned with established risk and protective factors previously linked to mental health in offline spaces and suggest there is no clear-cut positive or negative association between mental health and social media use
The studies also raise the idea that vulnerable youth might experience heightened emotional responses to social media use
this has not been directly assessed due to the lack of non-clinical comparison groups
Such comparisons are therefore necessary to identify differences in social media use between adolescents with and without mental health conditions
Studies that assess mental health with select questionnaires cannot comprehensively account for and investigate such clinical diversity
given the need for research to understand how social media use relates to the growing number of adolescents experiencing mental health symptoms at clinical levels
time spent on social media and dimensions of social media engagement that could incur mental health risks (that is
monitoring and impact of online feedback and lack of control over time spent online) or benefits (that is
as well as opportunities for honest self-disclosure and authentic self-presentation)
By complementing quantitative and qualitative dimensions of social media use
this work provides a more solid foundation for mechanistic research aimed at informing future targeted interventions
clinical practice and policy actions benefitting adolescent mental health
We used existing literature on adolescents’ mental health in relation to both online and offline contexts (Table 2) to guide our hypotheses and analyses of the data along three lines of enquiry
we evaluated whether social media use differs in adolescents with versus without a mental health condition (Question 1)
with an internalizing or externalizing condition versus without a condition (Question 2) and with an internalizing versus externalizing condition (Question 3)
Second, we predicted social media use to vary between adolescents with different symptomatology, focusing specifically on how the social media use of adolescents with an internalizing or externalizing condition (Table 1) differed from those without a condition
since they primarily relate to symptoms of internalizing rather than externalizing conditions
this study comprehensively maps and compares different dimensions of social media use in adolescents with and without mental health conditions
it will lay the foundation for future mechanistic and translational research studying which specific social media dimensions relate to mental health in different adolescent groups
This will be a crucial first step to inform translational research and clinical practice
as well as the design of targeted interventions and policies to improve children’s and adolescents’ mental health
given that we planned to analyse those separately
Source data.
We further hypothesized that adolescents with any mental health condition would score lower than adolescents without a condition on dimensions of social media use that could incur mental health benefits
happiness about the number of online friendships (H1.2f)
honest self-disclosure (H1.2g) and authentic self-presentation (H1.2h)
we found lower happiness about the number of online friendships (H1.2f; g = −0.37 (90% CI −0.45 to −0.29); NHST: 𝛽 = −0.33
statistically significant and non-equivalent (that is
large enough to be potentially meaningful)
we did not find differences in honest self-disclosure (H1.2g; g = −0.30 (90% CI −0.38 to −0.22); NHST: 𝛽 = −0.39
P = 0.028) and authentic self-presentation (H1.2h; g = −0.19 (90% CI −0.28 to −0.11); NHST: 𝛽 = −0.24
effect sizes were negative and statistically significant but equivalent
suggesting that differences between those with and without a mental health condition were too small to be theoretically meaningful
Our second question concerned the extent to which adolescents with internalizing or externalizing conditions differed in their social media use from adolescents without a condition (Fig. 1, H2)
Our hypotheses were grounded in the mental health literature
which suggests that anxiety and depressive disorders are characterized by negative self-views
We expected these symptoms to be mirrored in adolescents’ online experiences
The results supported our hypotheses for time spent on social media (H2.1a; g = 0.62 (90% CI 0.51 to 0.73); NHST: 𝛽 = 1.12
online social comparison (H2.1b; g = 0.54 (90% CI 0.43 to 0.65); NHST: 𝛽 = 0.76
P = 0.994) and the impact of online feedback (H2.1e; g = 0.38 (90% CI 0.27 to 0.49); NHST: 𝛽 = 0.51
suggesting potentially meaningful differences between adolescents with internalizing versus no condition
the results did not support our hypothesis for monitoring of online feedback
where differences were not statistically significant and were also too small to be considered meaningful (H2.1d; g = 0.13 (90% CI 0.03 to 0.25); NHST: 𝛽 = 0.20
we also hypothesized decreased levels of happiness about the number of online friendships (H2.2f)
honest self-disclosure (H2.2g) and authentic self-presentation (H2.2h)
Our hypotheses were confirmed for happiness about the number of online friendships (H2.2f; g = −0.45 (90% CI −0.55 to −0.35); NHST: 𝛽 = −0.40
P = 0.776) and honest self-disclosure (H2.2g; g = −0.31 (90% CI −0.42 to −0.20); NHST: 𝛽 = −0.41
statistically significant and potentially meaningful differences
those with internalizing conditions scored lower than adolescents with no condition
we did not find support for meaningful differences in authentic self-presentation (H2.2h; g = −0.19 (90% CI −0.30 to −0.08); NHST: 𝛽 = −0.25
where the effect size was statistically significant but equivalent
and therefore too small to be considered meaningful
we expected no differences in lack of control over time spent online for adolescents with internalizing versus no condition (H2.0c)
The results did not support our hypothesis
statistically significant and potentially meaningful differences (g = 0.43 (90% CI 0.33 to 0.55); NHST: 𝛽 = 0.60
Externalizing conditions are characterized by impulsivity
We expected such symptoms to be reflected in how social media is used by this group
The results supported our hypotheses for time spent on social media (H2.3a; g = 0.31 (90% CI 0.13 to 0.48); NHST: 𝛽 = 0.58
where we found positive differences that were statistically significant and large enough to be theoretically meaningful
The results did not support our hypotheses for the lack of control over time spent online (H2.3c; g = 0.19 (90% CI 0.01 to 0.37); NHST: 𝛽 = 0.27
P = 0.017) and happiness about the number of online friendships (H2.4f; g = −0.16 (90% CI −0.32 to 0.02); NHST: 𝛽 = −0.12
where differences were not statistically significant and were too small to be meaningful
we expected no differences between adolescents with externalizing and no conditions in online social comparison (H2.0b)
feeling impacted by online feedback (H2.0e)
honest online self-disclosure (H2.0g) and authentic self-presentation (H2.0h)
The results supported our hypotheses for online social comparison (H2.0b; g = −0.10 (90% CI −0.28 to 0.07); NHST: 𝛽 = −0.13
monitoring of feedback (H2.0d; g = 0.09 (90% CI −0.08 to 0.27)
honest self-disclosure (H2.0g; g = −0.21 (90% CI −0.38 to −0.03)
and authentic self-presentation (H2.0h; g = −0.09 (90% CI −0.25 to 0.08)
as these effect sizes were not significantly significant and were also too small to be considered meaningful
the results did not support our hypothesis for the impact of feedback on mood (H2.0e; g = 0.27 (90% CI 0.10 to 0.45)
significant and potentially meaningful differences
Our third question focused only on adolescents with a mental health condition and specifically examined whether those with an internalizing condition use social media differently than those with an externalizing condition (Fig. 1, H3)
The results supported our hypotheses for online social comparison (H3.1b; g = 0.64 (90% CI 0.45 to 0.85); NHST: 𝛽 = 0.89
where we found positive differences that were statistically significant and large enough to be theoretically meaningful in adolescents with internalizing compared with externalizing conditions
the results did not support our hypotheses for the monitoring of online feedback (H3.1d; g = 0.05 (90% CI −0.15 to 0.24); NHST: 𝛽 = 0.07
P = 0.002) and impact of online feedback on mood (H3.1e; g = 0.12 (90% CI −0.07 to 0.32); NHST: 𝛽 = 0.16
We further hypothesized that adolescents with internalizing conditions would score lower than adolescents with externalizing conditions in lack of control over time spent online (H3.2c)
honest self-disclosure (H3.2g) and authentic self-presentation (H3.2h)
we found neither significant nor meaningful differences across these dimensions (H3.2g; g = −0.11 (90% CI −0.30 to 0.09); NHST: 𝛽 = −0.15
P = 0.004; H3.2h; g = −0.11 (90% CI −0.29 to 0.08); NHST: 𝛽 = −0.14
the results were inconclusive for lack of control over time spent online (H3.2c; g = 0.24 (90% CI 0.04 to 0.43); NHST: 𝛽 = 0.33
where we did not find statistically significant differences nor we could reject meaningfully large effect sizes
we hypothesized that adolescents with internalizing conditions would not differ from adolescents with externalizing conditions in time spent on social media (H3.0a) and happiness in the number of online friendships (H3.0f)
The results did not confirm our hypotheses
we found positive differences (internalizing higher than externalizing) that were statistically significant and potentially meaningful (H3.0a; g = 0.27 (90% CI 0.07 to 0.47); NHST: 𝛽 = 0.54
we found that adolescents with internalizing conditions reported lower happiness about the number of online friends than adolescents with externalizing conditions
statistically significant and potentially meaningful (H3.0f; g = −0.32 (90% CI −0.51 to −0.14); NHST: 𝛽 = −0.29
We note that these sensitivity analyses were exploratory and conducted on relatively small sample sizes
which limits the robustness of these findings
we analysed differences in social media use between adolescents with and without mental health conditions in a UK sample of over 3,000 participants
we found significant and meaningful differences across both quantitative (time spent) and qualitative (for example
online social comparison and happiness about the number of online friends) dimensions of social media use
This raises the question of whether those with mental health conditions perceive that they spend more time on social media or whether they actually do so
we observed that adolescents with a mental health condition reported lower satisfaction with the number of their online friends
social connections serve as a protective factor against long-term adverse physical and emotional outcomes
Our findings therefore suggest that the difficulties with peer relationships experienced by youth clinical groups offline may also be reflected in their online interactions
For the other dimensions of social media use examined
our results followed the hypothesized direction and were statistically significant (with the exception of monitoring of online feedback)
the differences were not large enough to be considered meaningful
This might be explained by the relatively high threshold set as our SESOI
which was a moderate effect size grounded in literature on sleep and physical exercise
both established markers of psychopathology
We next compared social media use between adolescents with a specific mental health condition (internalizing or externalizing) versus no condition
the results largely supported our hypotheses
whereby adolescents with internalizing conditions demonstrated higher time spent on social media
greater impact of social media feedback on mood
lower satisfaction with the number of online friends and lower honest self-disclosure compared to those without a mental health condition
we also found that adolescents with internalizing conditions reported a higher lack of control over their time spent online
an engagement dimension that we had instead hypothesized would be more pronounced in those with externalizing conditions
For adolescents with externalizing conditions
the only meaningful difference when compared with those with no condition was increased time spent online
with no notable differences across other dimensions of social media use
These results might be explained by the fact that the dimensions of social media engagement used in this study were largely framed around internal experiences (that is
they enquired about one’s emotions and thoughts) that could be more effective indicators of internalizing rather than externalizing conditions
adolescents with externalizing conditions might be less focused on social comparison and more on immediate social interactions
resulting in greater satisfaction with their online friendships
we examined both qualitative and quantitative aspects of social media use
offering insights beyond time spent into relevant engagement dimensions such as online social comparison and the impact of feedback on mood
We also acknowledge some limitations of our study
we analysed raw associations from cross-sectional data
no causal or directional inference can be drawn from these findings
including whether the onset of mental health conditions affects the examined dimensions of social media use or vice versa
given the relatively small sample size in our externalizing group (N = 104) and the relatively large number of individuals with between-group comorbidities (N = 57)
our findings concerning externalizing conditions should be interpreted with caution
our question 2 and 3 results exclude adolescents with a relatively common clinical profile of comorbid externalizing and anxiety disorders
Additional work on how young people with this clinical profile use and experience social media is needed
studies could assess differences in objective social media use
research involving adolescents with intellectual and learning disabilities is necessary to identify differences in this specific clinical group
The results have implications for clinical practice
we find key aspects of social media engagement that could inform the creation of guidelines for patient consultations and early intervention strategies
this could include psychoeducation and cognitive-behavioural reappraisal techniques specifically aimed at online social comparison or the impact of social media feedback (for example
‘likes’) on mood for adolescents with internalizing conditions
we find that young people with mental health conditions report engaging with social media in different ways from those without a condition
This highlights aspects of social media use that might present an increased risk to this already vulnerable group and provides a window for future research to ensure that the digital world is safe for all children regardless of mental health status
The MHCYP 2017 survey was reviewed and approved by the West London and GTAC Research Ethics Committee (reference: 16/LO/0155) and the Health Research Authority Confidentiality Advisory Group (reference: 16/CAG/0016) in 2016
Both parents and children provided consent to take part in data collection and were compensated with a £10 voucher for their time
Parents of children under 16 years were interviewed first and permission was sought to interview their child afterwards; the child then provided assent
17–19-year olds were directly asked for their consent
with permission subsequently sought for their parents to be interviewed
Access to the data was granted to the research team by NHS Digital (DARS-NIC-424336-T7K7T-v0.6 r)
where children and adolescents defined the dimensions of social media use most relevant to them
The measures related to mental health risks encompassed online social comparison (“I compare myself to others on social media”)
lack of control over time spent online (“I spend more time on social media than I mean to”)
monitoring of online feedback (“I monitor the amount of likes
comments and shares I get on social media”) and the impact of online feedback (“The amount of likes
comments and shares I get on social media has an impact on my mood”)
the measures indicative of mental health benefits included online friendship (“I am happy with the number of friends I have on social media”)
honest self-disclosure (“I can be honest with people on social media sites and apps about how I am feeling) and authentic self-presentation (“My social media profile is a true reflection of myself”)
We performed a sensitivity analysis to test whether examining social media use on weekdays versus weekends/holidays separately
the subsequent structured items in the DAWBA modules relate directly to diagnostic criteria in DSM-5 and ICD-10
They are close-ended questions about specific mental health symptoms (for example
have there been times when you have been very sad
If a participant responds positively to these structured items
they are subsequently asked open-ended questions about these problems (for example
“Please describe your mood—sadness or irritability—and your level of interest in things”)
interviewers transcribe open-ended responses verbatim and are also able to add personal comments beneath each response
clinical raters (1) checked that the answers to structured comments were understood by the participants accurately; (2) interpreted any conflicts between child
parent and teacher responses and decided which assessment to prioritize; and (3) identified clinically impairing disorders that did not perfectly fit current operationalized diagnostic criteria or “not otherwise specified diagnosis” such as “other anxiety disorder”
we ran additional exploratory analyses examining responses to all social media questions (a–g) separately for individual conditions (specifically
generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder)
Comorbidity data were coded into two separate variables: (1) a binary variable indicating within-group comorbidity (any two diagnoses of either internalizing or externalizing: yes or no
for descriptive purposes only) and (2) a binary variable indicating internalizing–externalizing between-group comorbidity (any comorbid internalizing and externalizing diagnoses: yes or no)
Individuals who showed between-group comorbidity were removed before the analysis of questions 2 and 3
given our goal to compare social media use between these groups
To increase the clinical utility of this work
we ran a sensitivity analysis for question 2
including people with between-group comorbidity
we tested the association between social media use and mental health conditions
we estimated linear regression models with mental health condition as a binary predictor (two levels: diagnosis versus no diagnosis) and social media use as a continuous outcome
The no diagnosis group was set as the reference level for these analyses
we report our null and directional hypotheses
first for dimensions of social media use expected to reflect mental health risks and second for dimensions expected to reflect mental health benefits in adolescents with versus without a condition
H0(1.0): adolescents with any mental health condition will not differ from adolescents without a condition in (a) time spent on social media
(c) lacking control over time spent online
(f) happiness about the number of online friendships
(g) honest online self-disclosure and (h) authentic self-presentation online
H1(1.1): adolescents with any mental health condition will score higher than adolescents without a condition in (a) time on social media
(d) monitoring of online feedback and (e) feeling impacted by online feedback
H1(1.2): adolescents with any mental health condition will score lower than adolescents without a condition in (f) happiness about the number of online friendships
To examine whether social media use varies with mental health severity
we conducted sensitivity analyses to test for a linear effect of the number of diagnoses on the social media responses using linear regression models
After assessing differences in social media use in adolescents with versus without any mental health condition
we examined whether adolescents with internalizing or externalizing conditions use social media differently than adolescents without a condition
we conducted linear regression models with diagnostic category as a categorical predictor (three levels: internalizing diagnosis
externalizing diagnosis and no diagnosis) and social media use as a continuous outcome
we examined comparisons between two levels of the diagnostic category variable
with no diagnosis set as the reference level
we reported regression coefficients for internalizing versus no diagnosis
2.3 and 2.4 we reported coefficients for externalizing versus no diagnosis
The null hypotheses marked by ‘e’ or ‘i’ indicate that
the null hypothesis was our primary hypothesis
we expected no difference between adolescents with internalizing or externalizing conditions and those without a condition
We used ‘e’ to indicate primary null hypotheses related to externalizing versus no condition and ‘i’ to indicate our primary null hypotheses related to internalising condition
H0(2.0): adolescents with internalizing or externalizing conditions will not differ from adolescents without a condition in (a) time on social media
(c) lacking control over time spent onlinei
(g) honest online self-disclosuree and (h) authentic self-presentation onlinee
H1(2.1): adolescents with internalizing condition will score higher than adolescents without a condition in (a) time on social media
H1(2.2): adolescents with internalizing conditions will score lower than adolescents without a condition in (f) happiness about the number of online friendships
H1(2.3): adolescents with externalizing conditions will score higher than adolescents without a condition in (a) time spent on social media and (c) lack of control over time spent online
H1(2.4): adolescents with externalizing conditions will score lower than adolescents without a condition in (f) happiness about the number of online friendships
we examined how adolescents with internalizing conditions differed in social media engagement compared to adolescents with externalizing conditions
we compared the internalizing and externalizing levels of the diagnostic category variable described in question 2
the null hypotheses marked by ‘c’ indicate our primary hypotheses
we expected no difference between adolescents with internalizing and externalizing conditions
H0 (3.0): adolescents with internalizing conditions will not differ from adolescents with externalizing conditions in (a) time on social mediac
(f) happiness about the number of online friendshipsc
(g) online self-disclosure and (h) authentic self-presentation online
H1(3.1): adolescents with internalizing conditions will score higher than adolescents with externalizing conditions in (b) online social comparison
H1(3.2): adolescents with internalizing conditions will score lower than adolescents with externalizing conditions in (c) lack of control over time spent online
ensuring the applicability of our study to both academic and practical domains
we assumed a 5% missingness for our power calculations
comorbid depressive and social anxiety disorder); and (c) participants with between-group comorbidity (both internalizing and externalizing conditions; for example
comorbid depressive and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
we included (1) participants with internalizing or externalizing conditions only and (2) participants with within-group comorbidity (multiple internalizing or externalizing diagnoses)
participants with other conditions or between-group comorbidity were excluded from the main analysis
given our goal to compare social media use in adolescents with externalizing and internalizing conditions
we ran sensitivity analyses to test the impact of including participants with between-group comorbidities in question 2
We calculated the power for equivalence testing to detect a SESOI of d = 0.4 given at least N ≥ 577 individuals with a condition and N ≥ 3,277 individuals without a condition
The results indicate 100% power to reject the presence of effects that are larger than d = 0.4
We calculated the power to detect a statistical effect of condition on social media responses using linear regression
The results indicate 100% power to detect the SESOI (d = 0.4) with at least N ≥ 577 individuals with a condition and N ≥ 3,277 individuals without a condition
We calculated the power for equivalence testing to detect a SESOI of d = 0.4 given at least N ≥ 370 individuals with an internalizing only condition and N ≥ 3,277 with no condition
We calculated the power for equivalence testing to detect a SESOI of d = 0.4 given at least N > 199 individuals with an externalizing only condition and N > 3,277 with no condition
The results indicate 100% power to reject the presence of effects that are larger than d = 0.4
We calculated the power to detect a statistical effect of internalizing condition type (internalizing versus no condition) on social media responses using linear regression
The results indicate 100% power to detect the SESOI (d = 0.4) with at least N ≥ 370 individuals with an internalizing-only condition and N ≥ 3,277 with no condition
We calculated power to detect an effect of externalizing diagnosis type (that is
externalizing versus no condition) on social media responses using linear regression
The results indicate 100% power to detect the SESOI (d = 0.4) with at least N ≥ 199 individuals with an externalizing-only condition and N ≥ 3,277 with no condition
We calculated the power for equivalence testing to detect a SESOI of d = 0.4 given at least N ≥ 370 individuals with internalizing only and N ≥ 199 with externalizing only conditions
The results indicate 96% power to reject the presence of effects that are larger than d = 0.4
We calculated the power to detect a statistical effect of internalizing-only versus externalizing-only condition type on social media responses
The results indicate 99.8% power to the SESOI (d = 0.4) with at least N ≥ 370 individuals with internalizing only and N ≥ 199 with externalizing only conditions
Further information on research design is available in the Nature Portfolio Reporting Summary linked to this article
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The UK Medical Research Council DTP PhD programme (RG86932) funded L.F
The Jacobs Foundation (CERES SUAI/084 G114119)
the UK Medical Research Council (MC_UU_00030/13) and a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship (MR/X034925/1) funded A.M.F.
and the ESRC (ES/Y010736/1 and ES/T008709/1) funded A.K.P
were supported by the Economic and Social Research Council (ES/T008709/1)
is supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR204413
the Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare (2022-01002_Forte)
and the Medical Research Council (MC_PC_20052)
All research at the Department of Psychiatry in the University of Cambridge is supported by the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR203312) and the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration East of England
The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care
T.J.F.’s research group receives funding from Place2Be
a third sector organisation that provides mental health training and intervention to UK schools
decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript
The MHCYP 2017 survey was funded by the Department of Health and Social Care
and carried out by the National Centre for Social Research
the Office for National Statistics and Youthinmind
We are very grateful to all the adolescents and families who took part in the study
the personnel for their help in recruiting them and the whole NHS Digital team that includes interviewers
Caldwell for their valuable advice on the statistical analyses
We present author contributions according to the CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy)
none of the authors that conceptualized the analysis previously accessed the MHCYP dataset
the author has applied a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission
The authors declare no competing interests
Nature Human Behaviour thanks Candice Biernesser, Johannes Breuer, and the other, anonymous, reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work. Peer reviewer reports are available
Protocol registration The Stage 1 protocol for this Registered Report was accepted in principle on 7 December 2023. The protocol, as accepted by the journal, is available via Figshare at https://figshare.com/s/730e3b0d4da82e9b6a46
Supplementary Methods including Tables 1–4 and Figs
1 and 2 and Results including Tables 5–22 and Figs
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in which he discusses politics with like-minded guests for his 14,000 subscribers
View image in fullscreen 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
View image in fullscreen 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
View image in fullscreen 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”
View image in fullscreen 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.”
View image in fullscreen 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
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
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
“The administration is open to all legal and constitutional remedies,” Leavitt said
adding that she “agreed with the premise” of his question
This post was created in partnership with Inmar Intelligence
The line between content and commerce is disappearing
and creators are turning attention into transactions
the challenge isn’t whether to work with influencers
but how to do it in ways that drive measurable results
That conversation took center stage at an ADWEEK House Miami Group Chat
Industry leaders discussed the evolving landscape
emphasizing the importance of authenticity and data-driven strategies
The idea that creators only build awareness is outdated
SVP of media and data platforms at Inmar Intelligence
“Creators are not just brand amplifiers anymore
They are the final point of sale.” That reality requires a smarter approach to creator selection—one that blends art with science
Inmar’s Fit Score model supports this by aligning creator content and audiences with first-party retail data to predict who is most likely to drive sales
senior director of CPG and head of beverage at Inmar
noted that in regulated categories like alcohol
an influencer’s location can be just as important as their content
you can’t work with someone based in California,” she explained
“We need data to align creators not just with brands
but with the specific type of sale we’re trying to drive.”
creators on the panel emphasized that some of the most meaningful data is personal
described launching her own product (a chrome piggy bank shaped like a brain) based on what she knew her community would love
I sold 200 brain banks at $160 each,” she shared
who previously worked in brand partnerships
added that smaller creators often outperform expectations
especially those who develop recurring content formats
“I always saw strong ROI from influencers who had their own mini shows or series,” she said
“Their followers tune in like it’s Netflix
finding different ways to incorporate product into their content series is a really good way to track ROI.”
has found that incorporating video works for her small business
“I film with real customers who match our lifestyle,” she said
CMO and strategic advisor at both Urban Stems and NOYZ
echoed the shift toward more data-informed
Consumers don’t want to see paid ads anymore
They want to hear from people who are already obsessed with your product
we’re uncovering who they are and bringing them into a more community-led strategy,” she explained
“Our approach is bringing them in and letting them be part of the brand and creation of the products
“Brands are the original creators,” said Amy Lanzi
“If you want creators to authentically represent your brand
it starts with knowing what you stand for.”] That clarity enables creators to represent brand values in ways that feel organic across channels—from press-on nails to in-store activations
shared how her team redefined their organic performance benchmarks
“We shifted our whole organic metric system to focus on total views and average views per post,” she said
“It’s not about your follower base anymore: 95% of content views come from non-followers.”
This reflects a broader truth: Content is judged by how far it travels
As platforms prioritize what’s relevant over what’s popular
brands and creators alike are learning to optimize for quality
“All you need is one piece of content,” said artist and sculptor Shawn Kolodny
a video of him inflating balloons hit 40 million views
That led from 50 to 1,000 inbound messages a day
the right content shouldn’t stay in one channel
“If you create one piece of content that creates the right kind of trust or impact
that shouldn’t be contained to one platform
Take that content and amplify it across that entire purchase journey,” she said
pointed to how quickly inspiration now leads to conversion
and how creators can accelerate the path to purchase
“The conversion window has gone from 30-day lookback to within minutes,” she said
“You need the upfront data to be really specific and precise with the who and the how.” She cited a campaign where one teaser post from Paris Hilton led to Frank’s Red Hot selling out nationally before the Super Bowl
“It didn’t take days or weeks—just the right creator with the right message
Brands are looking to influencer partners to lead them directly to that conversion
As Gen Z and Gen Alpha reshape what influence looks like
brand founders and frontline voices are becoming key content creators
“When the associates actually become the mouthpiece for the brand—it’s incredible.”
McNamara’s takeaway hit the core of the conversation: “You can’t buy relevance anymore.” The brands that succeed won’t be the loudest
and build with creators who know their audience—and can convert them
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
View image in fullscreenPatsy 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
Patsy Widakuswara did not work at a “campus” radio station as stated in an earlier version
former athletes are using their platforms to share insights and personal stories
Just months into President Donald Trump’s second term
members of the Howard community are grappling with the effects of his new policies
Jordan has long been a prime location for Palestinian refugees
straining their resources to near breaking point
President Donald Trump has signed 143 executive orders
Howard makes moves to remodel Wonder Plaza shutting down various popular campus restaurants such as Negril
From canceled internship programs to navigating working on government projects in an uncertain political climate
Howard students touch on the impact DEI rollbacks have..
The New York Times recently released an article about Black men’s declining HBCU enrollment
President Donald Trump signed an executive order with the goal to develop and advance HBCUs leaving some students in shock
As the Class of 2025 prepares to say goodbye to Howard
their memories are etched not just in yearbooks or transcripts
HUSA President Jay Jones reflected on the challenges and obstacles that shaped her as a leader
some Black women are choosing to protect their peace and find community in the “92 percent” movement
As the job market becomes more competitive
Howard University community members debate the recent expansion of the AFRO cluster course requirement
some arguing that the variety may impact the requirement’s original..
Bison, It has been the honor of my academic career to work at The Hilltop. As I type this out
Men’s golf continued their victory record at the NEC Championship where they secured another first place title
Copyright © 2021 The Hilltop: The Student Voice of Howard University
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Ronjini Joshua is CEO of Silver Telegram.
As media outlets increasingly monetize editorial real estate and social platforms erode trust
PR professionals are the last line of defense in helping brands earn authentic visibility and protect credibility at all costs
The line between earned and paid media is increasingly blurred — by emerging “media” platforms offering guaranteed placements for a fee
by social media creators who blur influence and editorial
and by shrinking newsrooms forced to prioritize revenue over reporting
The cost of PR is getting more expensive with fewer people willing to pay the price
is real journalism worth pursuing at all — or is it just easier to buy exposure disguised as credibility
What once would’ve been considered unethical or advertorial is now being quietly normalized
Outlets that position themselves as news publications are offering “editorial features” for a few hundred dollars — or in some cases
even thousands—without disclosure or clear labeling
This isn’t sponsored content as we’ve known it
PR professionals are not just strategists —we’re stewards of credibility and reputation
Here’s how you can help your brands rise above the noise:
It’s easy for a client to see a $500 pay-to-play offer and think
“Why not?” That’s where we come in
We must help clients understand the difference between reach and reputation
Visibility without trust is just noise — and noise doesn’t build long-term brand value
most clients aren’t willing to pay “extra” on top of what they are already paying an agency or PR pro to do
Do we fold it into our proposals and retainers or are PR pros now expected to take a hit
Are editorial and advertising departments separate
Does the outlet clearly label sponsored content
You can help your client understand its worthiness by referring to Domain Authority and being very clear with examples of what you are trying to accomplish
brands can reclaim storytelling through blogs
Help clients approach owned media with the same rigor as earned media — thoughtful narratives
Help clients uncover narratives with societal relevance
Journalists are still looking for meaningful content — it’s our job to guide clients to the stories worth telling
a solid earned PR strategy plays out well in the long-run
Your job is getting clients to see the benefits of reputation management and credibility
Whether it’s a contributed article or a brand podcast appearance
Clarify what’s editorial and what that means
I know most of us understand the fast-paced dynamic of real editorial opportunities and must do the best we can to stay true to the craft
Uphold ethical standards in an ecosystem that desperately needs them
Topics: Media Relations
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By Caleb WethingtonPublished: May
2025 at 12:55 PM CDT|Updated: 12 hours agoEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInMCMINNVILLE
(WSMV) - A Tennessee sheriff is imploring parents to keep a watchful eye on their children’s use of social media
is warning parents that social media platforms are being used to lure children for sexually explicit material
I am reaching out with an urgent and heartfelt reminder about the importance of talking to your children about their use of social media and the hidden dangers that can exist online,” Sheriff Matheny said
Here are instructions on how to watch WSMV4 live on various platforms.
He shared an arrest of a Snapchat user who was attempting to lure children into producing sexually explicit material
“Social media is part of our children’s daily lives — a way to connect
across the country and in our own communities
sexual predators are using these platforms to target and exploit minors
and often manipulate or coerce young people into dangerous situations
sometimes without parents ever knowing it’s happening,” Matheny said
2025\nIMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM SHERIFF JACKIE D
\n\nTO: PARENTS AND GUARDIANS OF MINOR CHILDREN\nRE:..
Cara Pratt will oversee retail and media strategies as the company’s president of global retail and media beginning later this month
In this new role on Circana’s executive leadership team
Pratt will lead the company’s retail and media strategies
including growing the firm’s role as a strategic growth partner for retailers
strengthening retail media network partnerships and improving advertising effectiveness
Pratt has over two decades of experience, Circana said. During her eight years with Kroger’s data arm, she served as vice president of customer communications, product strategy and innovation as well as vice president of commercial and product strategy before taking on the SVP role, according to her LinkedIn profile
“Cara brings proven innovation and expertise, and we’re excited to partner with her and our clients to improve their business outcomes,” Circana President and CEO Stuart Aitken said in a statement. Aitken joined Circana at the start of the year after serving as chief merchandising and marketing officer of Kroger since 2020
Pratt’s earlier career included stints at IRI prior to its merger with The NPD Group in 2022 to create Circana
She also spent a dozen years at Dunnhumby in multiple leadership roles
Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts
As marketers continue to look for inspiration in campaigns and culture of the past
the savviest will focus on brand truths to make meaningful connections
With global ad spending set to surpass $1 trillion
marketers must navigate myriad challenges, including an uncertain regulatory landscape, with finesse
The free newsletter covering the top industry headlines
Plus: TikTok faces big privacy fine in EU; lessons from the fall of the MCU
Stanislaus County is home to 500,000 residents in California’s Central Valley
traditional media has receded from this rural area
leaving inhabitants to cobble together their own news sources as best they can
The results can lead to misinformation — and even armed confrontation
An in-depth report from the New York Times examines how a powerful web of alternative media — including Facebook groups and fringe newspapers like the Epoch Times — has stepped in to fill an information vacuum
misinformation spread in one group (All Things Oakdale
a town of about 20,000 in Stanislaus County) led to the arrival of gun-toting militia members expecting Black Lives protesters arriving from the Bay Area in 2020
All Things Oakdale instituted a ban on political discussion and began more rigorous moderation
started creating their own groups with their own rules
These groups became important — Stanislaus News
has become an important communications outlet for the Modesto Police Department
as some members claim they have been banned for questioning official police investigations
While several small newspapers continue to operate in the county
they can’t compete with the large Facebook groups — and don’t try
for a more trusted news,” Hank Vander Veen
a paper affiliated with the Falun Gong religious group
has also gained popularity through simply sending free copies to local merchants
which customers can pick up and browse for free
which the Times describes as anti-China and right-leaning
has recently added California-specific news
It all adds up to a microcosm of the American media environment
particularly in non-urban areas: decentralized
fractured and largely out of the hands of professional
Why it matters: Local news matters to people
They need and want to know what’s happening in their communities
And as legacy media became increasingly unable to provide that information
this all creates both opportunity and peril
These groups can be directly seeded with messages and information for hyperlocal audiences — but choosing one group over the other could cause political difficulties
PR professionals seeking to interact with these groups need to carefully read the rules
as some allow business promotion or information
They need to understand the general culture and leanings of these groups to ensure they’re sharing information responsibly and in a way that will make their audiences most receptive
These are also groups that need to be carefully monitored for misinformation
Whether it’s rumors about the environmental impact of a new development or just the wrong date for a new store opening
proactive monitoring of these groups can be time-consuming (closed groups won’t show up in your media monitoring software) but ultimately rewarding
either in spreading your message or halting harmful ones
Allison Carter is editorial director of PR Daily and Ragan.com. Follow her on LinkedIn
Topics: Daily Scoop
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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
Clear-Com has appointed StreamPort Media as its authorised distributor in the Middle East
This partnership will expand access to Clear-Com’s communication solutions across the region
StreamPort Media will offer Clear-Com’s full range of intercom and wireless communication systems
Customers will benefit from comprehensive support
expert guidance in selecting the right solutions
and improved product availability through a trusted local partner
“This collaboration marks an important step in strengthening Clear-Com’s presence in the Middle East,” says Samer Mouwanes
“With StreamPort Media’s deep market knowledge and commitment to service excellence
we are confident that our customers will receive the highest level of support and access to our communication technology.”
© 2025 Sports Video Group. All rights reserved. Site by Brightgreen Design/Arturan/Sfera Interactive
This post was created in partnership with Kantar
We’ve entered a new era in which retailers are powering dynamic channels and blending performance marketing with brand storytelling
During an ADWEEK House Miami Group Chat co-hosted with Kantar
industry leaders discussed the rise of retail media networks and why it’s the perfect time to embrace a full-funnel approach to increase sales and build relationships
kicked off the chat with a probing question around how to capture consumers amidst economic uncertainty
suggested that becoming a media platform that combines traditional brand storytelling with new creative strategies is key for survival
“These effective strategies include leveraging AI-driven personalization
as well as integrating omnichannel approaches to create a more seamless customer journey,” he explained
Securing a competitive advantage requires a reimagining of the in-store buying experience
“If retail media can contribute to that experience in a way that gives people that idea of feeling like part of the community of the product that they’re buying
creating consumer excitement around stories
or ephemeral moments can create both brand affinity and a direct pathway to revenue
His example: Complex’s work with MLB to create products that promoted the Japan Expo games using a collaboration between top Japanese artist Takashi Murakami and baseball’s Shohei Ohtani
Fitzgibbons explained: “Everything we created told that story of the collaboration
but it all tied back to purchasing that product
It’s all about creating a moment that hasn’t taken place before
head of business development at Maximum Effort
“Figuring out how to get people to fall in love with your brand
Another topic discussed was reconceptualizing the idea of the “store.” “You’re reaching people beyond the store
and so you’ve expanded the walls of the store
and you’re using retail media as the platform for doing that,” said Smith
head of marketing and brand partnerships at LTK
cited a supporting statistic that 21% of all retail media is completely off-site
“What better way to move customers through the conversion than to reach them in all forms of media,” he said
the panelists acknowledged that retail is ultimately about in-person experiences
CEO of M&C Saatchi North America Group
“As much as we love the digital media ecosystem
While some traditionalists in retail media remain performance-focused and lower-funnel minded
the panelists agreed that ignoring storytelling and experiential elements can be a missed opportunity
VP of media and measurement for Albertsons Media Collective
declared that stores offer “the OG full-funnel experience.” At Albertsons
“The challenge in retail media,” she added
“is how do we replicate that experience in other spaces?”
SVP of digital creative and experience at Alma
noting that retail media networks should engage with people before there is purchase intent
then all of a sudden you’re not just a retail shop … you’re a content provider,” he said
Despite notable brand success stories shared throughout the session
panelists agreed that getting buy-in for creative storytelling isn’t always easy
“I want to make a film” when the response will be
“How many pairs of pants is that going to sell?”
“The challenge we have in the industry is how do you make those case studies really resonate so that you can go to leadership and say
Roche agreed that retailers tend to be risk-averse
“I think there’s a fallacy in the industry where we talk about ‘test and learn,’ but every test is expected to be a home run when exactly half of these tests should theoretically fail
right?” Roche’s concluding point was met with agreement all around: “As an industry
we all need to make a little bit of a shift and say what we know doesn’t work is just as valuable as what we know works.”
Connoisseur Media has announced it will acquire Alpha Media in a deal that will significantly expand its national footprint and position the combined company among the top 10 U.S
radio groups by both station count and revenue
The newly merged operation will retain the Connoisseur Media name and be led by current Connoisseur CEO Jeff Warshaw
Once the transaction is finalized—pending FCC approval and expected to close in the second half of 2025—the company will own 218 stations across 47 markets
“We are thrilled to welcome Alpha Media into the Connoisseur family,” Warshaw said in a release
“It has become clear that we share many of the same values—a passion for serving our local communities
The merger aligns Alpha’s “live and local” operating philosophy with Connoisseur’s community-first approach
Connoisseur will also integrate Alpha Digital with its existing Ferocious Digital platform to build a more robust digital marketing and services division
The terms of the transaction were not announced
The companies have entered into a Local Marketing Agreement (LMA) to begin collaboration ahead of closing
the combined entity is positioning itself as a next-generation local media leader with scale
Warshaw finally gets the opportunity to expand his company’s presence in the industry
In 2022, Warshaw led a consortium that made two unsolicited offers to acquire Cumulus Media for $15-17 per share
Both offers were contingent on the Warshaw group performing a certain amount of due diligence and providing proof of access to sufficient capital to do the deal
Both were unanimously rejected by the Cumulus board
Later that year, Warshaw led another consortium that made a similar move to take over Saga Communications
That bid was also rejected with Saga’s Board saying the group didn’t provide “sufficient evidence” of its ability to raise the financial backing to pull off the deal
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WHAT: The 10th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science
Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (2025 STI Forum)
World leaders will join pioneering scientists
and young people to discuss the power of science
technology and innovation to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
From mental health platforms for refugees in Türkiye to biodegradable sanitary products tackling period poverty in Kenya, ten outstanding innovators from around the globe will join this year’s Forum to demonstrate their solutions and how science
and innovation are driving tangible impacts across the SDGs
WHO: The Forum will feature the following high-level speakers:
For more information, please visit the event website: https://sdgs.un.org/tfm/STIForum2025
Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform
United Nations Sustainable Development Group
United to Reform
United Nations homepage
SDG Media Zone
A project of
Artificial intelligence is reshaping multiple industries, including journalism. In the week of World Press Freedom Day
it’s worth considering how the technology can impact media freedom
can be a powerful tool to support newsrooms
but it can also be weaponized against them
Globally, the state of press freedom was classified as a “difficult situation” in the latest RSF World Press Freedom Index
the first time this label has been used to categorize the overall state of media freedom worldwide
Against this backdrop, the U.N. notes that “AI brings new risks.” “It can be used to spread false or misleading information,” they observe, and “increase online hate speech
AI can be used to filter the viewpoints that audiences are exposed to
as well as monitor journalists and citizens
“there are growing worries that AI may make global media too similar,” the U.N
as AI-driven content may homogenize reporting
and potentially “push out smaller media outlets.”
Navigating these challenges is crucial for newsrooms, journalists, and media advocates worldwide, especially at a time when press freedom is under increasing threat. In doing this, AI can also be used to pushback against these challenges. Here’s a walkthrough of both sides of this dynamic
AI technologies are increasingly being used to monitor and intimidate journalists. As the Journal of Democracy shares
“AI-driven bots and algorithms bombard activists
Governments and other actors deploy facial recognition systems
and other AI surveillance tools to track reporters' movements
and suppress dissent and critical reporting
These tactics are not new. As far back as 2021, at least 180 journalists around the world were known to have been targeted by Pegasus
But each wave of AI enables this anti-journalistic aggression to intensify
The rise in AI-powered surveillance increases the risks faced by reporters and their sources
especially those covering investigative issues
This may have a chilling effect on the reporting of subjects such as corruption
which journalists should be able to pursue without reprisal
The spread of misinformation through AI-generated deepfakes is another area where concerns have been expressed for some time
These anxieties have only heightened as the technology that makes it possible to manipulate or fabricate videos
makes it harder than ever for journalists — and their audiences — to discern fact from fiction
making the need to safeguard their identities and reputations more important than ever
Authoritarian regimes are increasingly deploying AI-driven moderation tools to suppress independent voices online. Algorithms can quickly detect and remove politically sensitive content. China’s “Great Firewall” is the most prominent example of this, but other nations are also following suit
Freedom House observes that AI can enable this type of activity to happen “at a speed and scale that would be impossible for human censors or less sophisticated technical methods.” Moreover
this can be done in a manner that can be hard to detect
“minimizing public backlash and reducing the political cost to those in power.”
making it increasingly difficult to share content that governments do not want to see online
Some audiences appear to be alive to this threat. A 2024 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 59% of Americans say AI will lead to fewer jobs for journalists in the next two decades
with views currently mixed on what this means for the type of news that is produced and people can access
If AI accelerates the shift away from original reporting toward mass-produced content
a long-term consequence will not just be fewer newsroom jobs
both of which are issues we should all be concerned about
AI also holds promise as a tool that can potentially strengthen journalism and help defend media freedom
Although journalists should be wary of an overreliance on AI tools, the technology can support efforts to detect deepfakes and misinformation, as well as improve wider fact-checking efforts
These tools may not be as effective for lesser spoken languages at present
but that may change as the technology evolves
creating and disseminating disinformation continues
we will increasingly need to add AI to our journalist’s toolkit in order to counter it
given the growing complexity of our information ecosystems
“you can no longer solely rely on your human skills as a fact checker.”
AI is also being used by some news outlets to enhance digital security. Last year in Venezuela, independent media outlets protected the identities of their journalists by creating a show using AI-generated anchors
Meanwhile, at the International Journalism Festival in Perugia last month, an initiative called JESS (Journalist Expert Safety Support) was announced
The AI-powered tool will source security tips from different media organizations and NGOs
and distribute it to newsrooms that may not have access to this level of guidance
The tool is expected to roll out globally next year
can offer new forms of protection for journalists operating under threat
We can expect to see more advances in this space as newsrooms and NGOs consider how AI can be a friend
AI can help journalists discover stories hidden in public documents and data, or by sending alerts when something out of the ordinary has happened. U.K. academic Paul Bradshaw offers a raft of examples of AI in action in this way
Not only can AI help to identify patterns and anomalies
but it can also help to ensure that reporting on these matters reaches the widest possible audience
The ability of generative AI to create audio summaries
or translate content into different languages
are just two of the ways stories can be disseminated in fresh ways and to those who might otherwise not consume it
these efforts — uncovering important stories and getting as many eyeballs on them as possible — will be fundamental to the continued health of journalism
AI can therefore help in both the impact and distribution of journalism
both of which will be integral to its future
Given AI’s potential to both harm and help journalism
it is essential that we continue to have an active dialogue about the pros and cons of this fast-changing technology
While AI offers tools for efficiency and new products
it is not a panacea for issues of news avoidance
or the economic woes of the journalism industry
although it can present challenges for the work that journalists do and how they do it
it is essential for us to understand how AI works
Newsrooms and journalists must have access to the right training
The future of media freedom in the AI era will be shaped by choices made by governments
civil society — and by journalists and media organizations
As will voices continuing to champion media freedom at a time when AI is shaping
this critical issue and the world around us
Photo by Igor Omilaev on Unsplash
and an affiliate of the Department for Middle East and North Africa Studies (MENA)
He is also a Fellow of the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University
Damian authored the core analysis of the latest edition of World Press Trends
completely cuts funding to all Indiana PBS and NPR stations
Lakeshore Public Media will lose almost $380,000 in each of the next two fiscal years…nearly 30% of our annual budget
in Governor Braun's proposed budget and the recently accepted House and Senate versions
The total removal came with no warning…and with no opportunity for public comment
all federal funding for public media may be cut next
News reports say the White House will ask Congress
to rescind two years of PREVIOUSLY (and already budgeted by LPM) approved funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
These federal dollars make up just over $560,000
This all marks the most serious threat to public media funding in decades
Rolling it back will devastate Lakeshore’s ability to bring you local news
These cuts will mean over half our annual budget gone
Contact your federal representatives in Congress and the Senate and ask them to continue support for public media
Make certain they understand the proposed cuts hurt Lakeshore Public Media
Your voice and your financial support matter
Please do what you can to bolster YOUR Public Media station in these tough times
Help ensure Lakeshore Public Media remains available in this community
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according to December 2024 data from Toluna
Use this chart: Marketers of media content can use this chart to hone in on where to find younger viewers
They can tailor their messaging for those ad channels
and potentially decrease reliance on other channels like blogs or trending lists
Queen City News
RALEIGH, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – A bill aimed at limiting minors’ access to social media platforms is up for discussion in the North Carolina House of Representatives on Monday
The House Rules, Calendar, and Operations Committee members will consider HB 301
It’s one of several measures lawmakers considered this session concerning rules around internet usage and children
The bill would require social media platforms to purge accounts run by people younger than 14 years old
It allows 14- and 15-year-old users to join the networks with express consent from a parent
“Predators have access to our kids at unprecedented levels at this time
and one of their number one tools is social media,” Zenger said
The legislation outlines paths for platforms to be held accountable through lawsuits
Officials with the Department of Justice could fine site operators up to $50,000 if a child or young teen successfully sets up an account
Family members could sue for $10,000 if the companies violate the rule
Reighlah Collins with the American Civil Liberties Union said the measure is too broad and would take away many children’s access to information
“While protecting children online is imperative
this bill would undermine child safety and impose likely unconstitutional restrictions on young people’s ability to engage online,” she said
Zenger said the bill intends to help parents of children and young teens navigate multiple internet-related challenges
“As a parent who has fought the battle of screen time with four kids who are now all in their 20s
“The idea was to put something up to be a backstop for parents so that they can help regulate this and help stand with this battle.”
South Carolina lawmakers are considering a similar set of regulations on age verification
People younger than 18 years old must have parental consent to join social media sites
The committee is scheduled to convene at 4 p.m
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