Media News Daily: Top Stories for 02/08/2026

This page hosts daily news stories about the media, social media, and the journalism industry. Get the latest Hirings and Firings, Media Transactions, Controversies, Censorship Issues, and more.

Washington Post Publisher Will Lewis Steps Down Amid Layoffs

Washington Post CEO and publisher Will Lewis has resigned just days after the company implemented sweeping layoffs that cut entire sections, including sports and books. Hired by Jeff Bezos in 2023, Lewis supported Bezos’s controversial restructuring strategy. The Washington Post Guild called his departure “long overdue” and criticized his tenure as an attack on journalism. Jeff D’Onofrio, a former executive at Tumblr, Google, and Yahoo, will serve as acting CEO. Bezos said the leadership change offers a chance to “lead The Post into an exciting and thriving next chapter.” (Read More) (The Hill Rating)

X Tests AI-Powered Collaborative Community Notes

X (formerly Twitter) is piloting a new version of Community Notes that blends AI-generated notes with human moderation. The feature allows contributors to refine AI-created fact-checks in real time, potentially reducing misinformation faster. While AI notes are generated only upon request, the new “Collaborative Notes” system enables quick human feedback to improve accuracy. However, concerns remain due to the use of Elon Musk’s Grok AI, which has a history of spreading false or biased information, particularly on politically sensitive topics. (Read More) (Social Media Today Rating)

NewsGuard Sues FTC Over Alleged First Amendment Violations

NewsGuard has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), claiming the agency’s restrictions tied to the Omnicom-Interpublic merger amount to unconstitutional censorship. The FTC’s order bars Omnicom from using third-party news ratings, which NewsGuard alleges is a response to its unfavorable ratings of conservative outlets. The company also challenges an FTC demand for sensitive internal documents, calling it retaliatory. NewsGuard, backed by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, seeks to block enforcement of both the merger restriction and document subpoena. (Read More) (MediaPost Rating)