Media News Daily: Top Stories for 09/01/2025

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.

DHS Proposes Time Limits and Stricter Oversight for Foreign Journalist Visas

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a rule to limit the stay of foreign journalists in the U.S. to eight months, with extensions capped at the length of their assignment. This change would shift from the current open-ended renewal process. The proposal also limits foreign students and exchange visitors to a four-year maximum stay. DHS cites increased difficulty monitoring the large volume of visa holders, including over 32,000 journalists in 2023. The move, seen by critics as politically motivated, follows a trend of tightened visa scrutiny under the Trump administration. Chinese officials condemned the rule as discriminatory. (Read More) (The Hill Rating)

Elon Musk Seeks Dismissal of SEC Lawsuit Over Twitter Stock Disclosure

Elon Musk has filed a motion to dismiss a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lawsuit accusing him of delaying disclosure of his Twitter stock purchase in 2022. Musk’s attorneys argue the alleged violation was minor, unintentional, and caused no harm to investors. The SEC claims Musk’s delay cost shareholders hundreds of millions. The billionaire purchased Twitter (now X) for $44 billion later that year. This legal battle is part of a history of clashes between Musk and the SEC, including a 2018 settlement over a Tesla tweet. (Read More) (The Hill Rating)

Newspaper Decline Weakens Government Transparency, Study Finds

A new study warns that the decline of local newspapers in the U.S. is contributing to lower government compliance with public records laws. The research—”Dark deserts: Newspaper decline and its relation to government noncompliance with public records laws”—argues that fewer journalists mean fewer records requests and legal challenges to government secrecy. The authors note that states with strong nonprofit press associations tend to have more transparent governments. Alaska and Massachusetts topped the transparency rankings, according to the study. (Read More) (MediaPost Rating)