Jack Benjamin
@jackcarterbenjamin.bsky.social
Senior reporter and podcast producer for The Media Leader, a trade publication focused on all things commercial media.
Writer, journalist, American in London.
Writer, journalist, American in London.
Former OpenAI researcher says in NYT today she has “deep reservations” about the company’s ad model.
“The company is building an economic engine that creates strong incentives to override its own rules.”
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/o...
“The company is building an economic engine that creates strong incentives to override its own rules.”
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/o...
February 11, 2026 at 11:58 AM
Former OpenAI researcher says in NYT today she has “deep reservations” about the company’s ad model.
“The company is building an economic engine that creates strong incentives to override its own rules.”
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/o...
“The company is building an economic engine that creates strong incentives to override its own rules.”
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/o...
Reposted by Jack Benjamin
Exclusive: OpenAI fired executive Ryan Beiermeister in January, citing sexual discrimination, after she opposed the planned AI erotica feature in ChatGPT, sources said.
OpenAI Executive Who Opposed ‘Adult Mode’ Fired for Sexual Discrimination
Ryan Beiermeister, who served as the vice president leading OpenAI’s product policy team, had raised concerns about the upcoming launch of erotic content.
on.wsj.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:59 AM
Exclusive: OpenAI fired executive Ryan Beiermeister in January, citing sexual discrimination, after she opposed the planned AI erotica feature in ChatGPT, sources said.
Tough jobs figures out of UK advertising agencies.
- Total employment at agencies declined 6.8%, driven by a 14.3% fall in employees at creative agencies.
- Just 11.8% of employees are now under-25s, down from 17.4% in 2022.
- Open vacancies were down 40.8%
uk.themedialeader.com/agency-emplo...
- Total employment at agencies declined 6.8%, driven by a 14.3% fall in employees at creative agencies.
- Just 11.8% of employees are now under-25s, down from 17.4% in 2022.
- Open vacancies were down 40.8%
uk.themedialeader.com/agency-emplo...
February 11, 2026 at 10:33 AM
Tough jobs figures out of UK advertising agencies.
- Total employment at agencies declined 6.8%, driven by a 14.3% fall in employees at creative agencies.
- Just 11.8% of employees are now under-25s, down from 17.4% in 2022.
- Open vacancies were down 40.8%
uk.themedialeader.com/agency-emplo...
- Total employment at agencies declined 6.8%, driven by a 14.3% fall in employees at creative agencies.
- Just 11.8% of employees are now under-25s, down from 17.4% in 2022.
- Open vacancies were down 40.8%
uk.themedialeader.com/agency-emplo...
New: Sky is bringing together Disney+ (with ads), HBO Max (with ads), Netflix, and Hayu into a single Sky TV subscription.
The Sky Ultimate TV subscription will cost £24/month, beginning 1 April.
The Sky Ultimate TV subscription will cost £24/month, beginning 1 April.
February 11, 2026 at 9:45 AM
New: Sky is bringing together Disney+ (with ads), HBO Max (with ads), Netflix, and Hayu into a single Sky TV subscription.
The Sky Ultimate TV subscription will cost £24/month, beginning 1 April.
The Sky Ultimate TV subscription will cost £24/month, beginning 1 April.
"The prospect of a paper that flatters its readers by regurgitating what they already click is familiar and depressing. It puts me in mind of Bezos’s other marquee product, another service that dealt a disastrous blow to books." www.newyorker.com/books/page-t...
The End of Books Coverage at the Washington Post
Becca Rothfeld, a former critic at the Washington Post, on the death of the paper’s books section.
www.newyorker.com
February 10, 2026 at 7:11 PM
"The prospect of a paper that flatters its readers by regurgitating what they already click is familiar and depressing. It puts me in mind of Bezos’s other marquee product, another service that dealt a disastrous blow to books." www.newyorker.com/books/page-t...
The problem with media in a nutshell: media tracking firm Meltwater concluded after the Super Bowl that Dunkin's widely panned ad "generated more engagement than any other celebrity spot".
Success! You won the attention economy. Doesn't matter that everyone hated it. www.wsj.com/articles/ai-...
Success! You won the attention economy. Doesn't matter that everyone hated it. www.wsj.com/articles/ai-...
AI Fumbles Its Big Super Bowl Investment as Viewers Opt for Laughter and Tears
The biggest names in technology joined little-known startups in using this year’s Super Bowl to showcase their latest artificial intelligence products. The tech giants may, however, be disappointed in...
www.wsj.com
February 10, 2026 at 10:59 AM
The problem with media in a nutshell: media tracking firm Meltwater concluded after the Super Bowl that Dunkin's widely panned ad "generated more engagement than any other celebrity spot".
Success! You won the attention economy. Doesn't matter that everyone hated it. www.wsj.com/articles/ai-...
Success! You won the attention economy. Doesn't matter that everyone hated it. www.wsj.com/articles/ai-...
"These companies built machines designed to addict the brains of children, and they did it on purpose."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Instagram and YouTube owners built 'addiction machines', trial told
The tech giants are under scrutiny over social media addiction in a landmark jury trial in Los Angeles
www.bbc.co.uk
February 10, 2026 at 10:55 AM
"These companies built machines designed to addict the brains of children, and they did it on purpose."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
New: Channel 4 is cutting and outsourcing dozens of sales operations roles.
Details: uk.themedialeader.com/channel-4-to...
Details: uk.themedialeader.com/channel-4-to...
Channel 4 to cut and outsource 51 sales operations roles
The changes will impact Channel 4 Sales' Account Management Hub, Campaign Operations, and Traffic teams.
uk.themedialeader.com
February 10, 2026 at 10:48 AM
New: Channel 4 is cutting and outsourcing dozens of sales operations roles.
Details: uk.themedialeader.com/channel-4-to...
Details: uk.themedialeader.com/channel-4-to...
Reposted by Jack Benjamin
This is literally what CURRENT LAW requires. It’s in the Constitution! www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
February 10, 2026 at 3:18 AM
This is literally what CURRENT LAW requires. It’s in the Constitution! www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Reposted by Jack Benjamin
U.K. might lose a prime minister because a guy who worked for him knew another guy who hung out with Epstein. Meanwhile the U.S. opposition party is telling our President, who was Epstein's best friend, that his secret police should get better training so their public street murders look less messy.
February 9, 2026 at 4:07 PM
U.K. might lose a prime minister because a guy who worked for him knew another guy who hung out with Epstein. Meanwhile the U.S. opposition party is telling our President, who was Epstein's best friend, that his secret police should get better training so their public street murders look less messy.
Reposted by Jack Benjamin
So uh Ring just up and said they've got a huge centralized private surveillance network they can leverage all at once huh
February 9, 2026 at 2:10 AM
So uh Ring just up and said they've got a huge centralized private surveillance network they can leverage all at once huh
Reposted by Jack Benjamin
Reposted by Jack Benjamin
No Kings includes Draft Kings
February 8, 2026 at 11:49 PM
No Kings includes Draft Kings
Reposted by Jack Benjamin
According to the Financial Times, it was the Super Bowl photos.
Will Lewis steps down as Washington Post publisher and CEO after job cuts
British journalist’s tenure was controversial after being appointed by Jeff Bezos to turn around the newspaper
www.ft.com
February 8, 2026 at 12:09 AM
According to the Financial Times, it was the Super Bowl photos.
The drones at the Winter Olympics are giving Nier Automata.
February 7, 2026 at 8:02 PM
The drones at the Winter Olympics are giving Nier Automata.
Reposted by Jack Benjamin
Grok users prompted the AI chatbot to identify victims from redacted Epstein Files images. Of 31 requests reviewed, Grok generated images for 27, spanning 18 images and one video. X did not respond to requests for comment on Grok's behaviour by time of publication. www.youtube.com/shorts/dhD8O...
Grok Users Are Attempting To Identify Epstein Victims
YouTube video by Bellingcat
www.youtube.com
February 7, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Grok users prompted the AI chatbot to identify victims from redacted Epstein Files images. Of 31 requests reviewed, Grok generated images for 27, spanning 18 images and one video. X did not respond to requests for comment on Grok's behaviour by time of publication. www.youtube.com/shorts/dhD8O...
How to ruin a decade of good will in a single post.
How the hell is this allowed? Where is Adam Silver? The NBA is a joke to let this happen.
Kalshi and Polymarket are peak late capitalist dystopia and I can’t believe they aren’t being regulated.
How the hell is this allowed? Where is Adam Silver? The NBA is a joke to let this happen.
Kalshi and Polymarket are peak late capitalist dystopia and I can’t believe they aren’t being regulated.
February 7, 2026 at 12:00 AM
How to ruin a decade of good will in a single post.
How the hell is this allowed? Where is Adam Silver? The NBA is a joke to let this happen.
Kalshi and Polymarket are peak late capitalist dystopia and I can’t believe they aren’t being regulated.
How the hell is this allowed? Where is Adam Silver? The NBA is a joke to let this happen.
Kalshi and Polymarket are peak late capitalist dystopia and I can’t believe they aren’t being regulated.
'Melania' earned a paltry £57,608 box office gross in the UK and Ireland in its first week.
UK cinemas will also be dramatically reducing the number of showings available for the title going forward.
“It’s not going to get to £100k." uk.themedialeader.com/january-box-...
UK cinemas will also be dramatically reducing the number of showings available for the title going forward.
“It’s not going to get to £100k." uk.themedialeader.com/january-box-...
January box office up 18% as four films exceed £10m
'The Housemaid', 'Hamnet', 'Avatar: Fire and Ash', and 'Marty Supreme' all performed well in UK cinemas. 'Melania' did not.
uk.themedialeader.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:58 PM
'Melania' earned a paltry £57,608 box office gross in the UK and Ireland in its first week.
UK cinemas will also be dramatically reducing the number of showings available for the title going forward.
“It’s not going to get to £100k." uk.themedialeader.com/january-box-...
UK cinemas will also be dramatically reducing the number of showings available for the title going forward.
“It’s not going to get to £100k." uk.themedialeader.com/january-box-...
Reposted by Jack Benjamin
NEW: NewsGuard, a company that rates the credibility of online news sites and tracks misinformation, just filed a federal First Amendment lawsuit against Trump's FTC, alleging that the agency is strangling its business because it disagrees with the low ratings of right-wing outlets. wapo.st/4a28gdd
A company that rates news sites says the Trump administration is strangling it
NewsGuard sues Trump’s FTC alleging censorship after Chairman Andrew Ferguson barred a major ad agency from using its ratings
www.washingtonpost.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:35 PM
NEW: NewsGuard, a company that rates the credibility of online news sites and tracks misinformation, just filed a federal First Amendment lawsuit against Trump's FTC, alleging that the agency is strangling its business because it disagrees with the low ratings of right-wing outlets. wapo.st/4a28gdd
Reposted by Jack Benjamin
“It’s higher than we would like it to be,”...
Great wrap of this LEAD panel from @jackcarterbenjamin.bsky.social - well worth a read.
Great wrap of this LEAD panel from @jackcarterbenjamin.bsky.social - well worth a read.
Meta admits revenue from fraud and scam ads 'might' have accounted for 3-4% of total revenue
At LEAD, Meta's Rima Amin disputed a November Reuters report of an internal document that said Meta earned 10% of its 2024 revenue from scam ads. The lower figure would still account for $5bn to $7bn in revenue.
uk.themedialeader.com
February 6, 2026 at 9:48 AM
“It’s higher than we would like it to be,”...
Great wrap of this LEAD panel from @jackcarterbenjamin.bsky.social - well worth a read.
Great wrap of this LEAD panel from @jackcarterbenjamin.bsky.social - well worth a read.
Just 55% of Meta’s 2024 ad revenue derived from verified advertisers. Meta claims that figure increased to 70% in 2025 and hopes to further increase that to 90% in 2026.
But it's a remarkable admission from a company with such a mature advertising model. uk.themedialeader.com/meta-admits-...
But it's a remarkable admission from a company with such a mature advertising model. uk.themedialeader.com/meta-admits-...
Meta admits revenue from fraud and scam ads 'might' have accounted for 3-4% of total revenue
At LEAD, Meta's Rima Amin disputed a November Reuters report of an internal document that said Meta earned 10% of its 2024 revenue from scam ads. The lower figure would still account for $5bn to $7bn in revenue.
uk.themedialeader.com
February 6, 2026 at 8:57 AM
Just 55% of Meta’s 2024 ad revenue derived from verified advertisers. Meta claims that figure increased to 70% in 2025 and hopes to further increase that to 90% in 2026.
But it's a remarkable admission from a company with such a mature advertising model. uk.themedialeader.com/meta-admits-...
But it's a remarkable admission from a company with such a mature advertising model. uk.themedialeader.com/meta-admits-...
"It's like somebody making a documentary in which Eva Braun feels sad about war whilst Hitler invades Poland."
This @kermodeandmayo.bsky.social #Melania review from @kermodemovie.bsky.social is
ABSOLUTELY BLISTERING!!
ABSOLUTELY BLISTERING!!
Mark Kermode reviews Melania
YouTube video by Kermode and Mayo's Take
youtu.be
February 5, 2026 at 9:17 PM
"It's like somebody making a documentary in which Eva Braun feels sad about war whilst Hitler invades Poland."
Reposted by Jack Benjamin
This year's Super Bowl ad theme seems to be: AI is here, now what?
What I find interesting is that big actors from Chris Hemsworth to Matthew Broderick are starring in AI commercials, while their union, the Screen Actor's Guild went on strike in 2023 in large part to put in guardrails on AI use.
What I find interesting is that big actors from Chris Hemsworth to Matthew Broderick are starring in AI commercials, while their union, the Screen Actor's Guild went on strike in 2023 in large part to put in guardrails on AI use.
February 5, 2026 at 8:26 PM
This year's Super Bowl ad theme seems to be: AI is here, now what?
What I find interesting is that big actors from Chris Hemsworth to Matthew Broderick are starring in AI commercials, while their union, the Screen Actor's Guild went on strike in 2023 in large part to put in guardrails on AI use.
What I find interesting is that big actors from Chris Hemsworth to Matthew Broderick are starring in AI commercials, while their union, the Screen Actor's Guild went on strike in 2023 in large part to put in guardrails on AI use.
@ruthmarcus.bsky.social: Jeff Bezos' fortune is such that WaPo could lose $100m/year and he could still afford to keep it funded on his own dime for 2,000+ years.
A great and terribly depressing read: www.newyorker.com/news/annals-...
A great and terribly depressing read: www.newyorker.com/news/annals-...
February 5, 2026 at 7:15 PM
@ruthmarcus.bsky.social: Jeff Bezos' fortune is such that WaPo could lose $100m/year and he could still afford to keep it funded on his own dime for 2,000+ years.
A great and terribly depressing read: www.newyorker.com/news/annals-...
A great and terribly depressing read: www.newyorker.com/news/annals-...
At today’s LEAD conference in Westminster, Meta was asked to respond to @justinhorowitz.bsky.social’s reporting in November than Meta internally estimated about 10% of its overall annual revenue in 2024 (equivalent to $16bn) from running ads for scams and banned goods.
I live blogged the response:
I live blogged the response:
February 5, 2026 at 2:24 PM
At today’s LEAD conference in Westminster, Meta was asked to respond to @justinhorowitz.bsky.social’s reporting in November than Meta internally estimated about 10% of its overall annual revenue in 2024 (equivalent to $16bn) from running ads for scams and banned goods.
I live blogged the response:
I live blogged the response: