Media News Daily: Top Stories for 01/18/2026

Wikimedia Signs AI Access Deals with Major Tech Companies

The Wikimedia Foundation has struck new commercial access agreements with Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Mistral AI, and Perplexity, granting them enhanced API access to Wikipedia data. Wikipedia is one of the top ten global websites, generating nearly 15 billion monthly views across 300 languages. The deals will help sustain the nonprofit financially while offering tech companies reliable data for training AI systems. The competition for trusted information could challenge smaller AI developers and elevate the importance of quality journalism in the AI era. (Read More) (Social Media Today Rating)

Wave of Media Antitrust Lawsuits Hits Google

Vox Media, The Atlantic, and Penske Media have filed antitrust lawsuits against Google, alleging its ad tech monopoly has suppressed competition and hurt publisher revenues. Filed in New York, the suits follow the U.S. Department of Justice’s successful case against Google’s ad practices. The publishers argue Google’s control over ad servers has devalued their advertising inventory and limited alternatives. Additional lawsuits were also filed by McClatchy Media and Advance Publications, joining a growing list of media companies and ad tech firms challenging Google’s dominance in digital advertising. (Read More) (The Verge Rating)

Trump Campaign Manager Quietly Drops Defamation Suit Against Daily Beast

Chris LaCivita, a senior figure in Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign, has dropped his defamation lawsuit against the Daily Beast, nearly a year after claiming its reporting damaged his professional reputation. The story in question suggested LaCivita personally profited from millions in campaign spending. Although the outlet later revised its reporting to reflect the money went to his consulting firm, LaCivita argued it was still misleading. No settlement, apology, or retraction was issued. The case is part of a broader trend of Trump allies using litigation to challenge negative press coverage. (Read More) (The Guardian Rating)