This page hosts daily news stories about the media, social media, and the journalism industry. Get the latest Hirings and Firings, Media Transactions, Controversies, and more.
Trump Pushes to Slash Funding for Public Broadcasting and Foreign Aid
President Donald Trump has formally requested that Congress rescind $9.4 billion in previously approved federal funding, targeting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and foreign aid. The proposal includes $8.3 billion in cuts from USAID and the African Development Foundation, and $1.1 billion from CPB, which funds NPR and PBS. This move follows an executive order halting CPB’s direct funding to the broadcasters, which Trump labeled “biased.” NPR and PBS warn the cuts would devastate local journalism, rural service, and emergency broadcast capabilities. Critics, including Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), also express concern over cuts to AIDS relief programs in Africa. Read More (Axios Rating)
OAN Fires Pentagon Reporter After Criticism of Trump-Appointed Defense Secretary
Gabrielle Cuccia, a Pentagon reporter for One America News Network (OAN), was dismissed shortly after criticizing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a Trump appointee, in a Substack post. Her article condemned new access restrictions at the Pentagon and questioned Hegseth’s media transparency. Although the Defense Department denied pulling her credentials, Cuccia said OAN was made aware of her post and soon after terminated her. Media experts highlight the incident as indicative of ideological constraints within partisan outlets like OAN, which has previously demonstrated unwavering loyalty to Trump-aligned narratives. Read More (Associated Press Rating)
French Search Engine Qwant Seeks Action Against Microsoft Amid Search Engine Quality Concerns
Privacy-focused French search engine Qwant has petitioned regulators to take action against Microsoft, alleging the tech giant has degraded Bing’s data quality, impacting smaller engines dependent on Bing for syndicated content. The complaint comes amid rising tensions over Big Tech’s role in AI integration and market dominance. U.S. antitrust actions targeting Google’s search monopoly have also raised concerns among independent web players, including Mozilla, which cautions against solutions that could harm alternative browsers. A leaked OpenAI document reveals plans to make ChatGPT the default digital assistant by mid-2025, reinforcing the shift toward AI as a primary internet gateway. Read More (MediaPost Rating)
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