Ben Mullin
@benmullin.bsky.social
Media reporter at The New York Times. Signal: benmullin.13
Some news: NPR is planning to discuss a reorganization of its teams next week with an emphasis on subject areas of news, music and “lifestyle.” On Friday, Nadine Zylstra, NPR’s content chief, sent this memo saying the reorg would not result in job losses.
NEWS: The Justice Department is investigating whether CNN, Fox News, CBS, ABC and NBC violated antitrust law by suspending pool coverage of President Trump. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/10/b...
Justice Dept. Is Investigating TV Networks Over Trump Pool Coverage (Gift Article)
Major TV networks were notified on Friday that the department was looking into whether they violated antitrust laws when they suspended pool coverage of President Trump.
nytimes.com
To me, the most notable answer David Ellison gave during Q-&-A was to @passantino.bsky.social, who asked whether he politicized the company over the last year. Ellison said: "We were in a transaction review process, but with that said, we are now turning the page." www.nytimes.com/2026/10/06/b...
Paramount Closes Merger With Warner Bros. Discovery to Form Skydance (Gift Article)
After a legal battle, the two Hollywood giants have become one. But the new company is saddled with debt, and in a memo to employees, its leaders hinted at cost cuts.
nytimes.com
Laurene Powell Jobs joins the Skydance board www.prnewswire.com/news-release...
Skydance Announces Board, Adding Ynon Kreiz, Laurene Powell Jobs and Bobby Kotick as Directors and Tony Blair as Advisor
/PRNewswire/ -- Skydance Corporation (NYSE: SKYD) ("Skydance") today announced the director and advisor designees for the newly combined company, formed...
prnewswire.com
NEWS: During an on-stage town hall meeting this afternoon, Skydance C.E.O. David Ellison and co-C.E.O. Ynon Kreiz were interviewed by Anderson Cooper. During the interview, Ellison pledged not to interfere with CNN. "We believe in complete editorial independence...we trust Mark, we trust the team."
news: CNN C.E.O. Mark Thompson says he will be staying on under David Ellison. "They both understand and will fully support the principle and practice of the kind of independent news that CNN has always stood for." www.nytimes.com/2026/10/05/b...
CNN C.E.O. Mark Thompson Says He Will Stay On Under New Owner Skydance (Gift Article)
Mark Thompson told the network’s employees that he had faith that David Ellison, the chief executive of Skydance, would support “independent news that CNN has always stood for.”
nytimes.com
NYT media team clears the bench to take a look at the challenges David Ellison faces as he takes over Warner Bros. Discovery. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/05/b...
5 Challenges David Ellison Faces as He Snags His Hollywood Prize (Gift Article)
The tech scion has given his combination of Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount a new name: Skydance. Now he must make tough decisions about news, movies, streaming, sports and debt.
nytimes.com
NEWS: Mark Thompson, the CEO of CNN, addresses reports of his future at Skydance on the network's 9 a.m. call (1/2) "I don’t want to add to the quite extensive speculation about me and my role at CNN and in the new company except really, like a cracked record, repeating what I’ve said in the past.”
NEWS: CNN C.E.O. Mark Thompson was spotted on the Paramount lot today, as he continues negotiations with David Ellison to stay at the network. w/ Michael Grynbaum www.nytimes.com/2026/10/01/b...
David Ellison’s Vision for CNN: Same C.E.O and No Bari Weiss, for Now.
David Ellison is negotiating to keep CNN’s chief executive, Mark Thompson, in place without oversight from Bari Weiss, the CBS editor in chief, when the networks’ parent companies merge.
nytimes.com
NEWS: CNN C.E.O. Mark Thompson addressed President Trump's press ban on a town hall meeting this morning, as well as the merger with Paramount 🧵 👇🏻
scoop: "60 Minutes" is naming two executive editors. The first is Maria Gavrilovic, currently a senior producer. The second is Chris Stewart of the WSJ, who is joining as executive editor, head of investigations
scoop: Reporters from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg have been barred from next week's G20 meeting in Asheville, N.C. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/29/b...
Treasury Bars Some Reporters From G20 Finance Meeting (Gift Article)
Specific reporters from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg were not granted credentials to cover the meeting of financial leaders next week in Asheville, N.C.
nytimes.com
my "i received $6 million in recognition of services and guidance” t-shirt has many people asking questions already answered by my shirt. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/24/b...
Research Firm’s Founder Explains $6 Million Payment to Fired Forbes Editor
RJ Shook of Shook Research said he paid Randall Lane, the former top editor at Forbes, for “services and guidance” in partnering with Forbes and later selling his research firm.
nytimes.com
NEWS: The Washington Post has been ordered to rehire @karenattiah.bsky.social , the columnist it fired last year for posts made in the wake of Charlie Kirk's shooting. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/24/b...
Washington Post Ordered to Rehire Fired Columnist Karen Attiah (Gift Article)
An arbitrator ordered the newspaper to reinstate Karen Attiah, who was fired after posting about “white men who espouse hatred and violence” following Charlie Kirk’s killing.
nytimes.com
NEW: Forbes CEO Sherry Phillips emails staff again addressing our story about Randall Lane's firing: "When we became aware of the matter, we acted immediately and decisively."
news: Axel Springer C.E.O. Mathias Dopfner just told employees that Carolin Hulshoff Pol is the new CEO of The Telegraph
scoop: Michael Gavshon, a "60 Minutes" producer who worked this season with Anderson Cooper and Jon Wertheim, is leaving the show at the end of June.
NEW: The Nick Bilton charm offensive is fully underway. Dinner with Lesley Stahl and a commitment to keep the best traditions of "60 Minutes" intact. w/ Mike Grynbaum www.nytimes.com/2026/06/04/b...
New ‘60 Minutes’ Chief Promises Independence in Bid to Reassure Staff
nytimes.com
NEWS: "60 Minutes" EP Nick Bilton emails staff, commits to editorial independence of the program, praises Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker and Jon Wertheim. Full memo:
scoop from Michael Grynbaum: Sharyn Alfonsi, who has lost her deal with CBS News, says that "the wall has come down" at "60 Minutes" between "editorial independence and corporate interests." Full interview here: www.nytimes.com/2026/05/27/b...
‘60 Minutes’ Journalist Who Accused CBS of Political Meddling Loses Her Deal
nytimes.com
scoop with @jessicatesta.bsky.social: James Murdochis acquiring roughly half of Vox Media, a dramatic expansion in American media www.nytimes.com/2026/05/20/b...
James Murdoch, Intent on ‘Thoughtful Journalism,’ Buys Half of Vox Media
nytimes.com
New investigation: a book about the future of truth in the age of A.I. contains more than a half-dozen quotes invented by A.I. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/b...
Book on Truth in the Age of A.I. Contains Quotes Made Up by A.I.
nytimes.com
Some news: Business Insider is undergoing a staff reduction today. I’m told fewer than 5% of the newsroom is being affected. Here’s the note, from Editor-in-Chief Jamie Heller
Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion, just sent a note to employees saying that lawyers for the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook mass shooting are going to seek emergency relief from higher courts tomorrow. Calls today’s ruling “newly insane, unprecedented legal stalling.”
Ben Mullin@benmullin.bsky.social · 6mo agosome late-breaking news on @theonion.com’s quest to take over Infowars: A Texas appeals court just stayed the turnover of the site to the official who inked the agreement with an affiliate of The Onion. This puts the deal in bizarre legal limbo for now. More TK.
some late-breaking news on @theonion.com’s quest to take over Infowars: A Texas appeals court just stayed the turnover of the site to the official who inked the agreement with an affiliate of The Onion. This puts the deal in bizarre legal limbo for now. More TK.
news: The FT is offering buyouts. Pay determined by length of service. However, "for this year only, we have agreement to lift the cap on individual payments in 2026 from £100,000 to £120,000."
SCOOP with Elizabeth Williamson: The Onion has a new plan to take over Infowars. It has entered into an agreement to license the Infowars brand and plans to operate it as a comedy site. A Texas judge must approve the deal. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/20/b...
The Onion Has a New Plan to Take Over Infowars
nytimes.com
Washington Post C.E.O. Jeff D'Onofrio emailed employees last week, expressing hope the company will be break-even this year and profitable thereafter. He also cited three priorities for 2026: "journalistic excellence, data, cost mastery & productivity, and disruptive growth."
