Media News Daily: Top Stories for 09/03/2025

CPB to Receive Governors Award as It Winds Down After Federal Defunding

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) will be honored with the Television Academy’s Governors Award at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on September 7, as it prepares to shut down operations. Founded in 1968, CPB played a critical role in funding PBS, NPR, and over 1,500 local stations, as well as iconic programs like Sesame Street. Its closure follows a $1.1 billion defunding move by the U.S. government, signed into law by President Donald Trump, who cited political bias and cost concerns. Most CPB staff will be let go by September 30. The award will be accepted by Patricia de Stacy Harrison, CPB’s longest-serving CEO. Read More (Associated Press Rating)

Judge Limits DOJ Remedies in Google Search Monopoly Case

A federal judge has sided mostly with Google in the penalties phase of its search monopoly case, declining the DOJ’s request to force a breakup of the tech giant’s services, including the sale of the Chrome browser. While Judge Amit Mehta upheld the finding that Google held an illegal monopoly, he deemed a breakup “incredibly messy and highly risky.” However, the judge imposed restrictions, barring exclusive agreements and mandating Google provide certain data and services to competitors. The case highlighted how AI, particularly generative AI, has shifted the competitive landscape. Google plans to appeal the decision. Read More (The Hill Rating)

Instagram Outpaces Facebook Growth in the EU, Meta Reports

Meta’s latest DSA compliance report reveals Instagram is growing nearly 10 times faster than Facebook across the EU. From January to June 2025, Instagram reached 281.8 million monthly active users, compared to Facebook’s 263.6 million. Facebook saw only a 0.65% growth in EU users, while Instagram rose 6.17%, with Facebook even losing users in countries like The Netherlands, Greece, and Germany. Despite Meta’s pivot to AI and a new Community Notes model in the U.S., it has retained its 40,000-strong moderation team. The report also noted decreased spam removals but increased enforcement on bullying and harassment. Read More (Social Media Today Rating)