Media News Daily: Top Stories for 01/08/2026

CBS Anchor Ends Newscast with Praise for Marco Rubio

CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil ended Tuesday’s broadcast with an unusual “salute” to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, praising the former Florida senator’s growing role in the Trump administration. Rubio currently holds multiple titles, including Secretary of State, interim national security adviser, and acting national archivist. Dokoupil referenced viral memes that humorously imagine Rubio in a variety of roles, calling him “the ultimate Florida man.” The segment was shared by a White House account with enthusiasm, but it also comes amid controversy at CBS. (Read More) (The Hill Rating)

Philadelphia Inquirer’s Julia Terruso Joins Time Magazine

Veteran reporter Julia Terruso is leaving the Philadelphia Inquirer after 13 years to become Time magazine’s senior national political correspondent. Starting January 20, Terruso will continue to be based in Philadelphia. She played a key role in shaping the Inquirer’s 2024 election coverage and was part of a team that won the Toner Prize for Excellence in Local Political Reporting. Terruso’s departure also affects the Inquirer’s NewsGuild union, where she was recently elected president. Investigative reporter Max Marin will serve as interim union head, with a decision on permanent leadership expected later this month. (Read More) (Axios Rating)

X Expands Creator Payments and Long-Form Access to Win Back Journalists

X (formerly Twitter) is increasing creator payouts and broadening access to its long-form Articles feature in a bid to entice more authoritative content, including journalism, onto the platform. All X Premium subscribers can now post long-form content directly to the app. This move aligns with the data needs of Elon Musk’s xAI project, which powers tools like Grok. The strategy appears to be part of a broader effort to improve content quality on the platform, though Musk’s fraught relationship with journalists may undermine these efforts. Despite past hostility toward the media, X hopes financial incentives will help rebuild engagement and data volume. (Read More) (Social Media Today Rating)