Media News Daily: Top Stories for 12/13/2024

Nexstar Media Group to Cut 2% of Workforce

Nexstar Media Group has announced plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 2%, translating to about 260 positions, mainly at local TV stations. The company described the layoffs as part of a broader effort to streamline operations and reduce expenses while focusing on growth opportunities. Nexstar stated, “These changes will allow us to accelerate collaboration across the company.” (Read More) (Adweek Rating)

Australian Government to Enforce New Social Media Payments for News

Australia has proposed updates to its News Media Bargaining Code to ensure digital platforms like Meta and Google continue compensating local publishers. This policy would mandate payments even if platforms exclude news content, aiming to protect journalism amid declining ad revenue for publishers. The government suggests a “bargaining incentive” with charges for platforms that do not renew commercial deals. Meta and other tech companies, previously opposed to similar rules, are likely to contest this measure. (Read More) (Social Media Today Rating)

Meta Launches AI Watermarking Tool for Video Deepfakes

Meta has released “Video Seal,” an open-source tool designed to apply imperceptible watermarks to AI-generated videos. The technology resists compression, cropping, and other common alterations, making it harder to manipulate or obscure video origins. This initiative aims to combat the growing prevalence of deepfakes, which now account for 7% of global fraud cases. Meta plans to foster industry collaboration through a public leaderboard and workshops to promote adoption. (Read More) (Techcrunch Rating)