Media Consolidation

Press Freedom Groups Warn

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Article in The Wrap by Josh Dickey, 6/2/26
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Headline:  “Next After ’60 Minutes’ Amid ‘Existential Threat’ of Paramount Merger”

Subhead: “The coalition of nine journalism advocacy groups calls the ’60 Minutes’ firings ‘a grotesque effort … to appease a sitting president’ “

“A group of nine press freedom advocacy groups on Tuesday warned that the impending Paramount merger with Warner Bros. represents an ‘existential threat to the free press, independent media and free speech,’ suggesting CNN will be the next to suffer the drastic firings and turmoil that ‘60 Minutes’ has been going through in recent days. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.thewrap.com/media-platforms/journalism/press-freedom-groups-paramount-merger-threat-cnn-60-minutes/

Journalists Waking Up

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Article in Status by Oliver Darcy, 5/27/26

Headline:  “The Press Mobilizes Against Ellison

Subhead:  “A coalition of journalists, academics, and documentarians have signed a letter opposing Paramount’s acquisition of CNN’s parentco, Status has learned—voicing concern over the ramifications it will have for the news landscape.”

“Last month, thousands of Hollywood actors, directors, and producers signed an open letter vehemently opposing Paramount’s proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. The letter focused largely on the consequences the tie-up would have for the entertainment industry and consumer choice.”

Read the full article at:

https://www.status.news/p/david-ellison-paramount-cnn-journalists-letter

Slicing the Post

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Article in Status by Natalie Korach, 5/25/26

Headline:  “Bezos’ Subdivided Post”

Subhead:  “The Washington Post is preparing to significantly shrink its K Street headquarters, Status has learned, marking a stark reversal for the building once touted as a symbol of Jeff Bezos’ vision for the paper’s future.”

“. . .The Post is preparing to slash a significant portion of the very headquarters Bezos once championed as a symbol of the paper’s future, Status has learned. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.status.news/p/washington-post-offices-sublease-jeff-bezos

Another Media Empire?

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Article in The Washington Post by Scott Nover, 5/25/26

Headline:  “The creation of a new Murdoch empire”

Subhead:  “James Murdoch is taking over New York magazine and Vox, building a different media company than his father’s.”

“The name Murdoch hardly evokes a progressive sensibility for many American news consumers. It is most often associated with the right-wing editorial stance of Rupert Murdoch’s most prominent U.S. media properties: the cable giant Fox News, broadsheet the Wall Street Journal and city tabloid the New York Post. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/05/25/james-murdoch-is-building-different-kind-media-empire/

Murdoch Grabbing More Media?

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Article in Reuters by Dawb Chmielewsk & Edumnd Lee, 5/20/26

Headline:  “James Murdoch to acquire New York Magazine and Vox Media Podcast Network”

“James Murdoch agreed to acquire New York ‌Magazine and the Vox Media podcast network in a deal that will significantly expand his portfolio and stands to boost his influence over news and entertainment.
The deal, valued at more than $300 million, gives Murdoch control of a storied magazine brand, known for its coverage of culture, politics and fashion, along with a podcast division . . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/james-murdoch-acquire-three-major-units-vox-media-2026-05-20/

Gobbling-Up Media Quickly Now?

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Article in Status by Oliver Darcy, 5/19/26

Headline:  “Ellison’s Fast and Furious Takeover”

Subhead:  “Paramount is hoping to close its deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery much sooner than the company has publicly stated, Status has learned.”

“Earlier this month, David Ellison addressed investors on Paramount’s quarterly earnings call, in which he reiterated his talking points regarding the company’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. During his remarks, the 43-year-old said again that the media conglomerate believes it is on track to clear the requisite regulatory hurdles and close its mammoth Warners deal by September. . .”

Behind the scenes at Paramount, however, the company has embraced a much more aggressive timeline, Status has learned. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.status.news/p/paramount-warner-bros-discovery-closing-date-david-ellison

Let Corporate Media Decide

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Article in Columbia Journalism Review by Jem Bartholomew, 5/4/26

Headline:   “Corporate Meddling and Editorial Fear”

Subhead:  “The Ellisons are closing in on CNN.“

“. . .On Thursday, Alfonsi, of 60 Minutes, spoke publicly for the first time about the delay in airing her CECOT story. It was the result of ‘an aggressive contagion: the spread of corporate meddling and editorial fear,’ she said, while receiving an award from the National Press Club in Washington. ‘Right now, our industry is afraid of the wrong things. We’re afraid of offending power. We’re afraid of losing access. We’re afraid of another baseless lawsuit.’ ”

Read the full article at:

https://www.cjr.org/the_media_today/corporate-meddling-editorial-fear-ellison-warner-bros-discovery-paramount-skydance-takeover-fcc-trump-carr.php

Vanishing Ghostly Newsrooms

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Article in AP by David Bauder, 4/30/26

Headline:  “Disappearing before our eyes: One photographer’s passion project of capturing local newsrooms”

“NEW YORK (AP) — If you think the life of a journalist is glamorous, take a look at Ann Hermes’ photograph of Tom Haley from a winter day in Rutland, Vermont. . .”

“Hermes is fascinated by things that evoke a time gone by or are about to pass into history. She has photographed the last Morse code station operating in North America and department store photo booths. Lately, she’s spent a lot of time in newsrooms like Haley’s Rutland Herald. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://apnews.com/article/newspapers-newsrooms-photographing-media-f0d0939e04bb66f8d340f6f43df5bf5e

Grabbing Radio

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Article in the New York Times by Lauren Hirsch and Benjamin Mullin

Headline:  “SiriusXM Said to Be in Early Talks to Acquire iHeartMedia”

Subhead:  “A deal, which was described by two people familiar with the discussions, would unite two major providers of traditional and satellite radio.”

“SiriusXM is in early-stage discussions to acquire iHeartMedia, a deal that would create an audio giant with a foothold in traditional and satellite radio and podcasts, two people familiar with the discussions said Friday.

“Should a deal come to fruition, it would be the culmination of years of speculation about a tie-up. Liberty SiriusXM Group, once an affiliate of John Malone’s media empire, formerly held significant stakes in both companies. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/24/business/media/siriusxm-iheart-radio.html

More Media Consolidation

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Article in Slashdot by BeauHD, 4/23/26

Headline: “Warner Bros Shareholders Approve Paramount’s $81 Billion Takeover”

“Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders have approved Paramount Skydance’s takeover bid, moving the massive Hollywood merger a step closer to completion. It’s not a done deal quite yet, though, as it still faces regulatory scrutiny and fierce opposition from critics who warn it will further concentrate media power. The Associated Press reports. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://entertainment.slashdot.org/story/26/04/23/1940241/warner-bros-shareholders-approve-paramounts-81-billion-takeover