MediaPost | Around the Net In Media

Deal Reached With Hackers In Canvas Learning Systems Attack

Wed, 13 May 2026 08:44:45 -0400

Instructure, the company that operates the Canvas learning system, has made a deal with hackers to delete data they took in a cyberattack, ABC News reports. No details were provided on the agreement. A group called ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for last week's attack, which disrupted colleges and other institutions nationwide. Ir threatened to leak data on nearly 9,000 schools worldwide and 275 million individuals if schools did not pay a ransom by May 6.

Government Subpoenas 'Wall Street Journal' In Probe Of Media Leaks

Wed, 13 May 2026 08:26:12 -0400

The Wall Street Journal was subpoenaed in March in a Justice Department probe of leaks regarding the Iran war, The Washington Post reports. The subpoenas were dated March 4 and concerned a February 23 article that described internal Pentagon fears about extended action in Iran, prior to the war’s start. Acting Attorney General Todd Blance defended the action, saying prosecuting leakers is a “priority for the administration.” A Dow Jones spokesperson said the subpoenas “represent an attack on constitutionally protected newsgathering. We will vigorously oppose this effort to stifle and intimidate essential reporting.”

Cate Blanchett Co-Founds AI Permissions Registry

Wed, 13 May 2026 08:21:05 -0400

Cate Blanchett has co-founded RSL Media, a non-profit firm to help provide a consent framework for use of creative work, name, image and likeness by artificial intelligence, Variety reports. In June, the company will launchRSL Human Consent Standard, a free, public registry that will allow individuals to declare their AI permissions. The effort is supported by numerous Hollywood stars. “AI technologies are expanding rampantly, essentially unchecked and unregulated,” Blanchett says. “In order for humans to remain in front of these technologies, consent must be the first consideration.”

iHeartMedia Expects Strong Programmatic Gains In 2026

Wed, 13 May 2026 08:14:57 -0400

IHeartMedia, riding its strongest quarterly growth in five years during Q1, has made programmatic advertising a centerpiece of its strategy going forward,Inside Radio reports. The company sees programmatic as one of its biggest long-term opportunities as it integrates its broadcast inventory into the same buying systems it uses for digital campaigns, CEO Bob Pittman says. The company expects programmatic revenue to reach roughly $200 million in 2026, up about 50% from the roughly $135 million the reported in 2025.

Many Marketers Boost Their Upfront TV Buying As Budgets Hold Steady

Tue, 12 May 2026 08:57:41 -0400

Most marketers expect their 2026 budgets will increase or stay the same, according to a survey by iSpot, Martech Cube reports. Of those polled, 31.5% expect to boost their spending, while 41.5% will hold steady. On average, they plan to allocate more than 37% of their 2026 TV budgets to Upfront buying, and 37% expect Upfronts to take up at least half of their budgets. And, 50% anticipate spending increases in Social Video and Streaming/National CTV.

California County Sues Meta For Allegedly Profiting From Scam Ads

Tue, 12 May 2026 08:54:05 -0400

Santa Clara County, California has sued Meta Platforms, accusing it of tolerating fraudulent advertising on a global basis, Reuters reports. The suit filed on Monday alleges that Meta profited from Facebook and Instagram ads promoting scams, and seeks restitution, civil damages and an order barring Meta from engaging in unfair business practices.

Morse Steps Down At 'Atlanta Journal-Constitution'

Mon, 11 May 2026 22:14:13 -0400

Andrew Morse is stepping aside as head of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution after the publication has achieved only modest results by killing its print edition and going all digital, Nieman Lab reports The AJC, one of two newspapers still owned by the Cox family, now has 101,000 digital subscribers, far below the half million Morse was aiming for by the end of 2026, although he says it will ultimately reach it. It had started with 53,000. Moore said his decision to step down was based on family concerns.

Byron Allen's Firm Is Buying BuzzFeed For $120M

Mon, 11 May 2026 18:41:39 -0400

Byron Allen’s Allen Family Digital is buying a 52% stake in BuzzFeed for $120 million, The New York Times reports. Allen, a comedian turned entrepreneur, will become chief executive of BuzzFeed. He replaces Jonah Peretti, who will assume the title of president of artificial intelligence. Allen will remain as chief executive of Allen Media, owner of the Weather Channel and a TV production unit.

Penske Media Seeks To Measure Dark Traffic

Mon, 11 May 2026 09:16:38 -0400

Penske Media Corporation is working with Ad-Shield to find new ways of measuring dark traffic from its direct channels, AdExchanger reports. Typically, these visitors use virtual private networks (VPNs) and ad blockers to limit their exposure to cookies and tracking pixels.

ABC Claims FCC Has Violated Its First Amendment Rights

Mon, 11 May 2026 09:06:51 -0400

ABC has accused the Federal Communications Commission of violating its free speech rights, claiming the agency has had a “chilling effect” on free speech in its efforts to punish political content it opposed, The New York Times reports. This signals a shift from the compliance shown to the Trump administration under the corporate leadership of Walt Disney Company.

Trump Media Posts Q1 Net Loss Of $405.9M

Mon, 11 May 2026 09:01:07 -0400

Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent company of Truth Social, reported a $405.9 million first-quarter net loss on $871,200 in revenue, CoinDesk reports. The loss, which is up from $31.7 million in the same period last year, is due to $244 million in unrealized losses on its cryptocurrency holdings. Also posted was a $108.2 million loss tied largely to equity securities.

News Media Are Increasingly Focusing on Celebrities

Mon, 11 May 2026 08:56:44 -0400

Legacy news media are making celebrity proximity the centerpiece of their content strategy, according to an analysis by Jacobin. The result is that journalism looks more like an exercise in cozying up to the rich and famous than an effort to hold them to account.

AMC Reports Uptick In Streaming Revenue But Slight Decline In Subscribers

Fri, 08 May 2026 09:03:41 -0400

AMC Global Media, formerly AMC Networks, posted Q1 streaming sales of $174 million, an 11% increase YoY, Variety reports. However, paid subscriptions fell by 1% YoY to 10.1 million. U.S. ad sales declined by 5% to $113 million, and content licensing sales by 2% to $53 million. The company has also reported a $4 million restructuring charge.

New York Media's 50 Most Powerful People

Fri, 08 May 2026 08:59:43 -0400

New York remains an unrivaled media stronghold, The Hollywood Reporter writes in presenting its roster of “The 50 Most Power People in New York Media.” The city is populated by “more stars than ever before.” But A.G. Sulzberger, chairman of the New York Times Co., offered this caveat: “The internet is overflowing with aggregators and commentators, but there are fewer people doing actual original reporting than ever before.”

Cinema Pros Call On European Union To Maintain Support Of Film Industry

Fri, 08 May 2026 08:54:24 -0400

More than 4,700 cinema professionals have signed an open letter calling on the European Union to “future proof” its MEDIA program, which has supported thousands of films during its 35 years, Deadline reports. They are concerned that a proposed mega-program, AgoraEU, will bring spending for culture, media and civil society under one group. Those expressing concern include Juliette Binoche, Francis Ford Coppola Joachim Trier, Ruben Östlund, Stellan Skarsgård, Sandra Hüller and Vicky Krieps.

Brendan Kinney Named CEO Of Vermont Journalism Trust

Fri, 08 May 2026 08:50:23 -0400

Brendan Kinney, a veteran of more than 15 years in leadership roles in Vermont public media, has been named as chief executive officer of the Vermont Journalism Trust, publisher of VTDigger, a nonprofit news organization, VTDigger reports. Kinney currently serves as the chief executive of Vermont Public, the public television and radio broadcaster. He will have authority over the business and operations of VTDigger.

Climate Coverage Fell In 2025 As Weather Disasters Increased: Report

Thu, 07 May 2026 08:43:43 -0400

Corporate broadcast networks aired just eight hours of climate coverage throughout the entire year of 2025 -- a 35% decline from the prior year, according to an analysis by Media Matters for America, Nonprofit Quarterly reports. This occurred as climate disasters intensified across the United States and federal climate policy was rolled back.

Meta Asks Court To Toss Social Media Addiction Verdict

Thu, 07 May 2026 08:36:41 -0400

Meta Platforms has asked a Los Angeles judge to throw out a $4.2 million addiction verdict reached against it in March and to order a new trial, Reuters reports. The jury found Meta and YouTube parent Google were negligent in designing their platforms, and that they failed to warn users about the dangers. Google was hit with $1.8 million in damages.

Kismet Media, Wheelhouse Reach Partnership Deal

Thu, 07 May 2026 08:34:05 -0400

Kismet Media has formed a partnership with Wheelhouse as it prepares to launch the reality series Calabasas Confidential, Deadline reports. The arrangement will combine Kismet’s producing and casing expertise with Wheelhouse’s production, investment and brand-building strengths.

Gray Media Completes $80 Million Purchase Of Block Communications

Thu, 07 May 2026 08:30:14 -0400

Gray Media has closed its $80 million acquisition of Block Communications, Stock Titan reports. The previously announced deal brings television stations in Louisville, Kentucky, Springfield-Decatur, Illinois and Lima, Ohio. Gray claims to reach 37% of television households in the United States.

Sports Teams Must Take A Holistic Approach To TV Advertising: Nielsen

Wed, 06 May 2026 09:26:16 -0400

Sports teams advertising in today’s three-pillared television scene should take a holistic approach where linear TV, free ad-supported TV (FAST), and other ad-supported streaming (Non-FAST AVOD) are seen as a single, scalable ecosystem. Nielsen states in a new guide. The guide explores the gap between the ways diverse audiences consume media and where many brands allocate ad spend and how to close it.

Under California Bill, State Agencies Would Spend 40% Of Ad Budgets On Ethnic Media

Wed, 06 May 2026 09:09:16 -0400

A new bill in California would require state agencies to commit 40% of their annual advertising and marketing budgets to ethnic and community media outlets, Calo News reports. Authored by State Senator Susan Rubio (D – Los Angeles), SB 1358 would move California away from a top-down, volume-driven planning model that prioritizes audience reach to an approach that embraces hyperlocal, in-language media. This follows a 2024 bill signed by Governor Newsom that calls for state agencies to emphasizes ethnic and community media outlets, but does not specify a percentage. California is home to 1,270 distinct ethnic groups.

FTC Signs Deal Dropping Its Probe Into Media Matters

Wed, 06 May 2026 09:03:16 -0400

The Federal Trade Commission has entered into a legal settlement with Media Matters that would end its investigation into the a progressive media watchdog according to a press release from Media Matters, Huffington Post reports. The settlement ending the months-long legal battle was signed on Monday.

Murdoch Scion In Talks To Buy 'New York" Magazine And Vox Podcasting Unit

Tue, 05 May 2026 19:40:39 -0400

James Murdoch, the youngest so of Rupert Murdoch, is in talks to buy Vox Media’s New York magazine and the Vox podcast division, according to sources familiar with the talks, The Wall Street Journal reports. But the purchase by Murdoch’s Lupa Systems, an investment company, is not yet final. Rupert Murdoch owned New York magazine from the late 1970 to 1991. In 2019, it was acquired by Vox for $105 million.

Ocean State Media Launches Statewide Signal In Rhode Island

Tue, 05 May 2026 09:24:39 -0400

Rhode Island’s Ocean State Media has launched a more powerful signal at 103.7 WVEI-FM, facilitating consistent statewide coverage, Inside Radio reports. The statewide frequency is designed to replace a patchwork of signals the organization has historically used to reach listeners throughout the state.

Wikipedia Founder Denounces Social Media Ban In Australia

Tue, 05 May 2026 08:47:44 -0400

Wikipedia’s founder, Jimmy Wales, calls Australia’s social media ban an “unmitigated disaster” that is teaching kids to accept surveillance from tech companies, the Guardian reports. Wales, who founded Wikipedia, in 2001, says many ills of social media existed even in the early stages of the internet.“Before social media, before Wikipedia, there was Usenet, which was like a giant, unmoderated message board,” he said. “It was unbelievably toxic: flame wars constantly and personal attacks and just general horribleness.

Commerce Media Moves Toward Convergence With Social

Tue, 05 May 2026 08:43:32 -0400

Commerce media is expanding and moving toward greater convergence, Beet TV reports from the IAB Connected Commerce Summit. Michael Foulkes, head of customer success, retail media, at Pacvue, said that in the old model, brands treated social media as brand advertising and turned to retail media for conversion. “The next phase of shopper media that we’re seeing is that there’s a real convergence of social and commerce,” he said.

Abuse Of Amazon Simple Service For Phishing On The Rise

Tue, 05 May 2026 08:38:44 -0400

The Amazon Simple Email Service (SES) is being used to send phishing emails that can bypass standard security filters and render reputation-based blocks ineffective, Bleeping Computer reports. Kaspersky researchers say in a report that there has been “an uptick in phishing attacks leveraging Amazon SES” to deliver links that redirect to a malicious site.The spike in this abuse may be due to a large number of AWS Identity and Access Management access keys exposed in public assets.

Pope Honors Slain Journalists During World Press Freedom Day

Mon, 04 May 2026 09:01:06 -0400

Pope Leo paid tribute to journalists who have died reporting from combat zones while marking World Press Freedom Day on Sunday, Reuters reports. "Today we celebrate World Press Freedom Day ... unfortunately, this right is often violated, sometimes in blatant ways, sometimes in more hidden forms," the Pontiff said, speaking at Saint Peter’s Square.

Gray Media Finalizes Purchase Of 10 Local TV Stations

Mon, 04 May 2026 08:51:54 -0400

Gray Media has completed the acquisition of 11 local television stations owned by Allen Media Group at a cost of $171 million, TheDesk.net reports. Included are three TV stations that were approved by the Federal Communications in March and another seven that were more recently approved.