Media News Daily: Top Stories for 02/05/2025

This page hosts daily news stories related to the media and journalism industry. Check back often, as new stories may be added throughout the day.

TEGNA Lays Off Entire VERIFY Fact-Checking Team

TEGNA has laid off its VERIFY fact-checking team, which was created to combat misinformation. The team, consisting of about 20 journalists and producers, produced content for TEGNA’s local stations and digital platforms. The company has not provided a reason for the layoffs. The move follows TEGNA’s recent restructuring of its marketing group, which also led to job cuts. Senior Digital Editor Sara Roth publicly shared the names of affected employees to help them find new positions. VERIFY had collaborated with 49 newsrooms across the U.S. to provide fact-checking on a range of topics. (Read More – Adweek Rating)

Trump’s Foreign Aid Freeze Disrupts Global Journalism Funding

President Donald Trump has frozen billions of dollars in foreign aid, including $268 million allocated to support independent media worldwide. The move has created uncertainty for NGOs and journalism organizations that rely on U.S. funding, with media outlets in Ukraine, Iran, and Cameroon among those affected. USAID, which administers the funds, has been effectively shut down, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been named its acting director. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) warns that the freeze could weaken press freedom, as struggling outlets may turn to politically motivated donors. In Ukraine, where most independent media rely on U.S. funding, some have already halted operations. The freeze is officially set to last 90 days, but concerns are growing that it could be permanent. (Read More – Reporters Without Borders)

Doctors for America Sues Federal Agencies Over Removal of Health Information

Doctors for America, a physicians’ advocacy group, has filed a lawsuit against multiple federal agencies for removing key health information from government websites. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court of D.C., names the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The removals followed President Trump’s executive order restricting government recognition of gender identities beyond male and female, which led to the scrubbing of web pages covering public health topics like HIV/AIDS and adolescent health. The lawsuit argues that these actions violate federal law and put public health at risk by eliminating vital medical resources for clinicians and researchers. (Read More – The Hill Rating)