This page hosts daily news stories about the media, social media, and journalism industry. Get the latest Hirings and Firings, Media Transactions, Controversies, and more.
Trump Expects TikTok Deal Before April 5 Deadline Amid Ban Threat
President Donald Trump indicated optimism that a deal involving TikTok will be finalized before an April 5 deadline when a U.S. ban is set to take effect. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said, “There’ll be a deal with TikTok,” while not ruling out an extension. The law, passed with bipartisan support in April 2024, requires TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance to divest or face removal from U.S. app stores. Oracle is among the leading contenders to acquire TikTok. Trump also hinted at potential tariff reductions on China to facilitate the deal. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick emphasized the president’s intent to meet the current deadline. (Read More) (The Hill Rating)
Ashley Parker Notes Shift in Public Response to Trump’s Media Attacks
At the ISOJ conference in Austin, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ashley Parker reflected on how public reactions to Trump’s attacks on journalists have diminished. After Trump’s recent Truth Social post claiming she didn’t know he “won the Presidency THREE times,” Parker said few people reached out—unlike in 2019, when similar attacks brought an outpouring of support. She and other journalists discussed the reduced attention Trump’s media criticisms now receive. A new Pew study supports this trend: only 36% of Americans say they’ve heard a lot about Trump’s relationship with the press, compared to 72% in 2017. Still, 70% say they’re following Trump administration news closely, with concern being the leading motivation. (Read More) (Nieman Lab Rating)
FCC Investigates ABC Over DEI Hiring Practices, Broadcast License at Stake
FCC Chair Brendan Carr announced an investigation into Disney, ABC’s parent company, over possible violations of federal equal employment opportunity (EEO) rules tied to the network’s DEI-focused hiring practices. Carr suggested that if discrimination is found, it could jeopardize ABC’s broadcast license. Evidence allegedly includes demographic-based quotas and affinity groups. Disney has acknowledged receiving the inquiry and pledged cooperation. The probe follows similar scrutiny of Comcast and comes amid the Trump administration’s broader rollback of DEI initiatives in both public and private sectors. (Read More) (The Hill Rating)
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