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.
Educational Disparities Among News Audiences Revealed in Pew Study
A new Pew Research Center survey highlights sharp contrasts in the educational backgrounds of U.S. audiences across 30 major news sources. Outlets such as The Atlantic, Axios, NPR, and The New York Times have the highest proportion of college-educated consumers, with more than 50% holding a bachelor’s degree, compared to a national average of 36%. Spanish-language networks Univision and Telemundo report the lowest educational levels, with just 15% and 16% of their viewers being college graduates. Major networks like NBC, ABC, and CBS hover just below the national average. Meanwhile, right-leaning sources such as Fox News, Newsmax, and The Joe Rogan Experience also trail in audience education levels. (Read More) (Pew Research Center Rating)
Trump’s White House Debuts Official TikTok Account Despite Security Concerns
The Trump administration has launched an official White House TikTok account, targeting the platform’s 170 million U.S. users to amplify the president’s messaging. President Trump credits TikTok for bolstering youth support during his 2024 campaign against Kamala Harris. However, concerns remain in Washington over potential data access by the Chinese government, given TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance. Trump is reportedly negotiating a sale of the platform to U.S. investors to mitigate these concerns. (Read More) (Reuters Rating)
xAI’s “Companion” Chatbots Stir Controversy Over Content and Safety
Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, is testing a series of provocative chatbot personas under its Grok platform, including one described as a “crazy conspiracist” based on 4chan and conspiracy content. Internal code reviewed by 404 Media reveals other experimental personas, including NSFW characters like a deranged comedian and sexualized anime figures, alongside more traditional roles such as a doctor and therapist. Critics warn of the psychological and developmental impact these bots could have on young and vulnerable users, especially as xAI looks to capitalize on the booming companion AI market. xAI has already faced backlash for prior antisemitic outputs and lost federal contracts earlier this year. (Read More) (MediaPost Rating)
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