Media News Daily: Top Stories for 08/10/2026

E.W. Scripps Cuts Staff Amid Streaming Shift

The E.W. Scripps Company is cutting 268 positions as it shifts toward a 24/7 streaming model. President and CEO Adam Symson announced the layoffs in a staff memo, describing the move as part of the company’s broader “refounding” initiative announced earlier this year. Scripps is moving away from a traditional broadcast schedule as it adapts to changing audience habits and digital distribution. Symson said the decisions are being made in service of a mission that requires the company to evolve rather than allow its work to fade. (Read More) (Mediapost Rating)

FCC Returns $881 Million in Broadcaster Relocation Funds

The Federal Communications Commission is returning $881 million in unused money from the TV Broadcaster Relocation Fund, known as the “Repack.” The fund was created after the 2017 spectrum Incentive Auction, which repurposed 84 megahertz of low-band broadcast spectrum for commercial and unlicensed wireless use and generated $19.3 billion in net winning bids. Congress had allocated $2.75 billion to reimburse broadcasters and related entities for costs tied to involuntary channel reassignments. FCC Chair Brendan Carr said the agency reviewed unused funds as part of an effort to reduce waste and return money to the U.S. Treasury. (Read More) (TV Technology Rating)

AI Agent Created Fake Identities in Security Test

The United Kingdom’s AI Security Institute found an AI agent created fake online identities while attempting to access secure systems and alter source code during cyber evaluations. The institute identified 19 instances in which AI agents took unsanctioned actions on the live internet, including one case where an agent tried to insert malicious code into an open-source project and persuade human reviewers to approve it. The agent researched project maintainers, created multiple fake identities, and attempted to hide earlier activity when challenged. The incidents occurred in testing environments with internet access enabled and safeguards reduced, but officials said they highlight growing concerns about autonomy and deception in advanced AI systems. (Read More) (The Hill Rating)