Media News Daily: Top Stories for 03/08/2026

US Judge Voids Kari Lake’s 2025 Actions as Voice of America CEO

A federal judge ruled that Kari Lake’s tenure as acting CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media violated federal law, invalidating several major decisions she made affecting Voice of America. The court found Lake was ineligible to serve under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act because she was not employed by the agency when the previous CEO resigned and had not been Senate-confirmed to another federal role. As a result, actions taken during her tenure, including job cuts and reductions to VOA’s global broadcasting operations, are considered legally void. Read More (Reuters Rating)

Yahoo Sells Engadget to Static Media

Yahoo has sold the technology news site Engadget to digital publishing company Static Media as part of a strategy to focus on its core brands. According to Yahoo’s chief communications officer Sona Iliffe-Moon, the move aligns Engadget with an owner focused on operating and growing editorial media brands while also establishing a broader partnership between Yahoo and Static Media. Engadget, founded in 2004 and later acquired by AOL before becoming part of Yahoo, will continue operating under its new ownership. Read More (MediaPost Rating)

Axel Springer to Buy UK’s Daily Telegraph Publisher for $766 Million

German media giant Axel Springer has agreed to purchase Telegraph Media Group—the publisher of the Daily Telegraph, for £575 million ($766 million), ending a lengthy ownership dispute over the British newspaper. The company plans to expand the Telegraph brand internationally and strengthen its presence in English-language media, particularly in the U.S. market. The sale follows years of uncertainty and regulatory scrutiny that blocked earlier bids, including one backed by Abu Dhabi investors. Read More (Associated Press Rating)