Links

Rt. Media – Nothing to See Here!

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Article in Media Matters by Allison Fisher, 9/17/26

Headline: “Gas and diesel prices are soaring. Right-wing media figures promised that wouldn’t happen.”

Subhead: “Right-wing media knew that soaring gas prices would be trouble for the midterms — and assured their audiences repeatedly that they’d come back down”

“Since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s war with Iran, right-wing media have attempted to downplay, dismiss, and deflect from the resulting pain at the pump, including by repeatedly claiming that elevated prices would be temporary. Some right-wing media personalities have even gone so far as to predict exactly when prices would fall back to prewar levels or to speculate about precisely what deadlines prices would need to drop by in order for the Trump administration and Republican Party to avoid suffering severe political fallout. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.mediamatters.org/us-iran-relations/gas-and-diesel-prices-are-soaring-right-wing-media-figures-promised-wouldnt

Spiteful Media Exit?

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Article in The Wrap by Lucas Manfredi, 9/16/26

Headline:  “Paramount Preps California Exit Amid State AGs’ Warner Bros. Merger Battle”

Subhead:  “The David Ellison-led media giant has informed AG Rob Bonta and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ offices of the plans”

“Paramount has informed the offices of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Attorney General Rob Bonta that it is preparing to leave the state amid a legal battle over its $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.

“A Paramount spokesperson had no comment when asked about the plans, while a spokesperson for Bass told TheWrap she is ‘focused on protecting and fighting for jobs in L.A., including critical jobs in the entertainment industry that have been a vital part of Los Angeles’ economy.’. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.thewrap.com/industry-news/business/paramount-david-ellison-california-exit/

Local News, New Flight Path

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Article in Poynter 9/16/26,by Stephanie Edgerly and Tim Franklin

Headline:  “Local news audiences aren’t disappearing, but their habits are changing fast”

Subhead:  “A three-year Medill survey found declining TV and radio use, growing reliance on smartphones and creators, and deep skepticism about AI in news”

“In 2024, the Medill Local News Initiative at Northwestern University conducted its first in-depth survey of Chicago-area news consumers to understand how smartphones and social media were remaking the relationship between audiences and local news. . .”

“This article was originally published by Northwestern University’s Medill Local News Initiative. . .”

Read the full  article at:

https://www.poynter.org/business-work/2026/medill-survey-local-news-consumption-2026/

Some Citizens Think Press Control OK?

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Article in Poynter by Jon Greenberg, 9/15/26

Headline:  “Americans give their take on press freedom. You should worry”

Subhead:  “A new Pew-Knight study finds broad support for press freedom but also surprising support for giving the government power over the press”

“Fresh off the presses from a Pew Research Center and Knight Foundation collaboration, a new report shows solid support for a free press. Just about three-quarters of the public say a free press is extremely or very important to society.

“But under some circumstances that would make many journalists bristle, large shares of Americans think it’s OK to limit the press. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.poynter.org/ethics-trust/2026/americans-press-freedom-pew-knight-study/

 

Rt. Media Says “A.I is No Problem”

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Article in Media Matters 9/15/26 by Helena Hind, Jane Lee & Evlondo Cooper

Headline: “Right-wing media downplay AI safety concerns as a hoax by comparing them to climate change and “COVID hysteria”

“Right-wing media are following President Donald Trump in dismissing calls to slow down AI development in the wake of multiple hacking incidents as a ‘hoax,’ comparing concerns over AI to ‘climate change apocalyptic talk’ and ‘COVID hysteria’ including support for vaccines. . .”

“Trump vehemently rejected the idea of an AI slowdown in a series of Truth Social posts on September 14, calling the push for caution a ‘hoax,’ ‘scam,’ and a ‘SICK conspiracy.’ . . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.mediamatters.org/sean-hannity/right-wing-media-downplay-ai-safety-concerns-hoax-comparing-them-climate-change-and

NBC Interviews a Bot, Really!

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Article in Mediaite by Ahmed Austin Jr., 9/14/26

Headline: “‘How Bizarre Is This?’ NBC News Airs Interview with AI-Generated Actress”

“NBC News aired an interview Monday that entertainment correspondent Chloe Melas conducted with an AI actress named Tilly Norwood.

“The interview premiered on Monday morning’s edition of 3rd Hour of Today. While introducing the interview, co-host Al Roker remarked, ‘How bizarre is this?’ Melas then added it was ‘quite an assignment’ before the segment began.

“Melas effectively did the interview like she would with any other virtual interview, with her speaking to Norwood via video call. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/how-bizarre-is-this-nbc-news-airs-interview-with-ai-generated-actress/

How Do Media Cover “Name Change”

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Article in Poynter by Matthew Crowley, 9/14/26

Headline:  “Trump renamed Lake Ontario. Newsrooms still have to decide what to call it”

Subhead:  “The AP is sticking with Lake Ontario, as it did with Gulf of Mexico. Its decision shows why changing a name doesn’t necessarily change common usage.”

“For the Associated Press stylebook, Gulf of Mexico stayed. Lake Ontario will, too.. . .”

“But the AP kept Gulf of Mexico, saying the name had stuck for four centuries and that, as a global news agency, it needed to keep place names and geography easily recognizable to all audiences.

“On Tuesday, the AP again cited longevity when explaining why it will keep Lake Ontario. The new guidance, uploaded to the online stylebook, says, ‘Lake Ontario has carried that name for more than 400 years. Refer to it by its original name. If it is relevant to the story, acknowledge and explain the name Trump has chosen.’. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.poynter.org/ethics-trust/2026/trump-lake-ontario-lake-america-ap-style/

Hen in a Foxhouse

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Article in The Guardian by Jeremy Barr, 9/14/26

Headline: “She’s Donald Trump’s least-favorite Fox News host. But Jessica Tarlov remains undeterred”

Subhead: “The 42-year-old liberal commentator regularly co-hosts the network’s 5pm talk show, taking flak from her conservative colleagues and harsh insults from the president.”

“. . .The US president regularly bashes Tarlov on his Truth Social platform, in April calling her “one of the Least Attractive and Talented People on all of Television”, and demanding that Fox “GET HER OFF THE AIR.”

But, as a rotating co-host of political talkshow The Five, the 42-year-old former pollster and Democratic strategist has carved out a prominent role for herself as the network’s most capable messenger for the left, regularly doing battle with conservative co-panelists like Jesse Watters and Greg Gutfeld. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/sep/14/jessica-tarlov-fox-news-liberal

New Way to Spin the News

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Article in Status by Brett Giurato, 9/11/26

Headline:  “The Prediction Market Predicament”

Subhead:  “Prediction markets are making inroads with major news organizations, but at the Status Summit, two of the industry’s most influential leaders raised questions about whether embracing them could undermine reader trust.”

“As you might’ve heard, we held our first summit earlier this week in New York. I’m a little biased, but I’ve been to many media conferences like this, and honestly? They’re usually kind of boring. Wednesday’s affair at The Times Center was anything but—a day full of candid conversations about the state of the industry and its future. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.status.news/p/the-prediction-market-predicament

Political Threat to Licenses

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Article in Free Press by Staff, 9/10/26

Headline:  “Latest Kimmel Censorship Is Part of the Trump FCC’s Lawless Crusade Against a Free Press”

“On Wednesday’s broadcast of Jimmy Kimmel Live, Kimmel told viewers that ABC would not air his scheduled interview with James Talarico, the Democratic Senate nominee from Texas.

Kimmel indicated that the broadcast cancellation of the interview is a result of Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr’s ongoing campaign against ABC. After President Trump repeatedly demanded that ABC lose its broadcast licenses over Kimmel’s jokes, Carr retaliated by forcing all ABC broadcast stations into a highly unusual early license-renewal process. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.freepress.net/news/latest-kimmel-censorship-part-trump-fccs-lawless-crusade-free-speech