Media News Daily: Top Stories for 09/15/2025

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.

JD Vance to Host Charlie Kirk Show in Tribute

Vice President JD Vance will guest-host The Charlie Kirk Show on Monday, following the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk last week during a campus event in Utah. Vance, a longtime friend of Kirk, announced the move on X, sharing a photo of his desk and expressing plans to honor Kirk’s memory. The episode will stream on Rumble at noon. Kirk’s widow confirmed that the show will continue, with the first posthumous episode featuring an empty chair in remembrance. (Read More) (News Facts Network)

Britannica, Merriam-Webster Sue Perplexity AI for Copyright Infringement

Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster have filed a lawsuit against Perplexity AI, alleging the company is profiting from their content without permission. The suit claims Perplexity’s AI engine generates summaries that reduce website traffic and revenue for content creators (FACT). Filed in the Southern District of New York, the suit seeks damages and injunctive relief. This is the latest in a series of legal challenges Perplexity faces, including similar claims by Dow Jones, Conde Nast, and Japanese publishers. Despite this, Perplexity has signed content deals with some outlets and introduced a subscription model aimed at compensating journalists. (Read More) (MediaPost Rating)

Study: GPT-4 Outperforms Humans in Persuasive Debates with Personalized Info

A recent Nature Human Behavior study finds that GPT-4 is more persuasive than human debaters in 64% of cases when provided with opponents’ demographic data. The AI tailored arguments to individuals’ profiles more effectively than humans and influenced participants’ beliefs more when identified as an AI opponent. A separate 2024 Science study revealed that AI dialogues could reduce belief in conspiracy theories by 20%, with effects lasting up to two months. While researchers see potential for responsible AI use in information correction, they warn about its misuse in disinformation campaigns. (Read More) (Reason Rating)