Bari Weiss was set to speak at the Seminar — an off-the-record gathering of senior PR and communications professionals — but has dropped out, I'm told.
New: Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner and Politico's CEO, incoming EIC met with staff today to discuss a recent letter from employees saying Döpfner's “repeated use of POLITICO to promote his political agenda” risked “taking on the appearance of editorial slant.” www.semafor.com/article/04/2...
From last night's @semafor.com media newsletter: New York Times Styles is getting rid of honorific titles in the coming days...
From the @semafor.com media newsletter: The controlling investor in Letterboxd is looking to sell its stake in the company. They've solicited interest from Versant, and last year approached the Ankler about purchasing it. www.semafor.com/article/04/2...
Infantino also told me that FIFA plans on giving out the FIFA Peace Prize again next year and that "a lot" of people want it... www.semafor.com/article/04/1...
Global fans should be able to visit US for World Cup, FIFA president says
The head of soccer’s governing body said at Semafor World Economy that he remains optimistic about the World Cup amid geopolitical tensions and Trump administration policies.
semafor.com
max tani @maxtani.bsky.social · 4mo agoBefore my interview with FIFA President Gianni Infantino last week, I caught an interesting interaction backstage between him and Sen. Alex Padilla, who talked to the FIFA president about ICE and the FIFA Peace Prize...
Before my interview with FIFA President Gianni Infantino last week, I caught an interesting interaction backstage between him and Sen. Alex Padilla, who talked to the FIFA president about ICE and the FIFA Peace Prize...
New: CNN decided against airing a potential segment interviewing Mark Ruffalo over his advocacy against the Paramount/WBD merger. A producer privately said there were “legal considerations around what we can and cannot cover or say while the merger is ongoing.” www.semafor.com/article/04/1...
Paramount is pulling its ads from @theankler.com, I'm told. The decision seems to stem from columnist Richard Rushfield's opposition to the Paramount/WBD merger. Rushfield was one of the signatories of yesterday's letter from 1k Hollywood players opposing the deal...
Fascinating conversation with @bsky.app's @rose.bsky.team about what they are thinking and how they feel about you, dear user www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZbd...
Bluesky COO Rose Wang On Building a Better Social Network
YouTube video by Semafor
youtube.com
Loved talking shop with @semaforben.bsky.social and @maxtani.bsky.social! Surreal to finally meet two people whose voices I’ve logged so many hours with.
Ben Smith@semaforben.bsky.social · 4mo agoFascinating conversation with @bsky.app's @rose.bsky.team about what they are thinking and how they feel about you, dear user www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZbd...
New: Democratic senators sent a letter to the Pentagon and Stars & Stripes yesterday, questioning the new, more restrictive rules imposed on the paper. They also questioned whether the Defense Department had killed any stories since the new rules were implemented... www.semafor.com/article/04/0...
Stars and Stripes@starsandstripes.bsky.social · 4mo agoPete Hegseth doesn’t want you to see cartoons in this newspaper anymore. And loyal readers of Stars and Stripes are hopping mad. You don’t mess with Sunday color comics. Read the words of our ombudsman: www.stripes.com/opinion/2026... #Flashes
In an email to Fortune's editor shared with me, WSJ EIC Emma Tucker praised Fortune's use of AI in its journalism, saying "anyone who doesn't get what you are doing at Fortune, or thinks it is 'wrong', should get out of journalism fast!"
The Wall Street Journal@wsj.com · 4mo agoJournalist Nick Lichtenberg produced more stories in six months than any of his colleagues at Fortune delivered in a year. His work involves what some view as the third rail of journalism: AI playing a leading role in writing stories. 🔗 on.wsj.com/3PyDukm
New: I wrote about the battle between Gov. Wes Moore and the Baltimore Sun. The paper has been investigating Moore's record/past for misstatements/exaggerations. But in an unusual move, the owner of the Sun appears to be directly involved in the reporting process... www.semafor.com/article/04/0...
From last night's @semafor.com media newsletter : LinkedIn discussed acquiring the newsletter company Beehiiv late last year
In a note to staff this morning shared with me, Business Insider said it is giving out a new quarterly AI Award for best use of AI at the company. Winner gets $400…
NPR CEO Katherine Maher: "The court made clear that the government cannot use funding as a lever to influence or penalize the press, whether as a national news service or a local newsroom."
The Associated Press@apnews.com · 4mo agoBREAKING: A judge blocks a Trump administration order to end federal funding for NPR and PBS.
From the @semafor.com media newsletter: Beehiiv is preparing to launching podcasting tools. The company has been trying to recruit podcasters from Substack, Patreon to come over for the official launch. www.semafor.com/article/03/2...
From last night's @semafor.com media newsletter: Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner courting the right in the UK, meeting privately earlier this month with Badenoch, Farage, and Boris (among others) www.semafor.com/article/03/2...
After nearly 100 years, CBS News Radio is being dissolved, per a note from Bari Weiss and Tom Cibrowski to CBS staff today
Per a note to NYT staff this afternoon, T magazine EIC Hanya Yanagihara will be stepping down “to pursue opportunities in theater.”
"What is the end goal? Is it to get the president on the phone, make a video about it, and everyone retweets it? Or is to hold powerful people to account. Is it access or truth?” @schultzny.bsky.social @maxtani.bsky.social www.semafor.com/article/03/1...
Exclusive: Why (and how) everyone is cold-calling the president
Plus, what happened when Semafor’s Max Tani gave him a ring.
semafor.com
One of the most bizarre stories I've seen in a while. THR published this writeup full of typos, errors, and fragments. Some appear to now be fixed but the original version from Apple News is wild... www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...
From last night's @semafor.com media newsletter: At a meeting last week with WaPo staff, Jeff Bezos was asked about the Post's AI-generated podcasts. He suggested that if no one is listening to them, maybe the Post should stop producing them.
max tani @maxtani.bsky.social · 8mo agoNew: When the Washington Post ran tests on its AI personalized podcasts, the paper found that between 68% and 84% (!!) of the pods had potential issues. Still, the paper decided to release the product anyway, saying it would “iterate through the remaining issues” www.semafor.com/article/12/1...
I went on a journey to get Trump's personal cell phone number. It took me about five minutes. My piece on the media's new favorite Trump gimmick, and how the White House feels about the endless stream of "exclusive" 30 second phone interviews w/Trump www.semafor.com/article/03/1...
Exclusive: Why (and how) everyone is cold-calling the president
Plus, what happened when Semafor’s Max Tani gave him a ring.
semafor.com
Talked to Gavin Newsom briefly yesterday about the California AG probe of the Paramount/WBD deal. Newsom, who noted that he's known David Ellison for years, argued that he was concerned about the likelihood that Paramount would lay off thousands of Hollywood workers.
As we first reported in last night's @semafor.com media newsletter, NOTUS is rebranding/dramatically expanding. In a memo to staff this morning, the organization said it plans to "launch this new version of NOTUS under a new name" and double staff from 50 to 100.
Why (and how) everyone is cold-calling the president www.semafor.com/article/03/1...
Exclusive: Why (and how) everyone is cold-calling the president
Plus, what happened when Semafor’s Max Tani gave him a ring.
semafor.com