Evan DeSimone
@mediaevan.bsky.social
Media Writer/Complainer
Previously: Digiday, IntegralAds, Tubefilter, DCNorg
Currently: https://mediahappyhour.substack.com/
Previously: Digiday, IntegralAds, Tubefilter, DCNorg
Currently: https://mediahappyhour.substack.com/
Pinned
Evan DeSimone
@mediaevan.bsky.social
· Nov 26
Title TK is now Media Happy Hour
New name, same lack of commitment to posting on time.
mediahappyhour.substack.com
I regret to inform you that I have relaunched my newsletter (ugh). It is called Media Happy Hour and, because I am broken in very specific ways, it would please me if you subscribed. https://mediahappyhour.substack.com/p/title-tk-is-now-media-happy-hour
“The settlement amounts to about $3,000 per book and is believed to be the largest ever recovery in a U.S. copyright case” variety.com/2025/digital...
Anthropic to Pay $1.5 Billion to Settle Book Piracy Class Action Lawsuit
Anthropic has agreed to pay $1.5 billion to settle claims that it illegally downloaded a massive trove of pirated books to train its language models.
variety.com
September 5, 2025 at 9:52 PM
“The settlement amounts to about $3,000 per book and is believed to be the largest ever recovery in a U.S. copyright case” variety.com/2025/digital...
Also very interested in the various ways public media is experimenting with tactics to survive these lean times. www.niemanlab.org/2025/09/with...
With public media under siege, High Plains Public Radio builds a blueprint to cover more rural news with fewer resources
To expand regional coverage while keeping costs down, HPPR aims to build out a “contributors network” of part-time and volunteer community members coordinated by a lean central editorial team.
www.niemanlab.org
September 3, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Also very interested in the various ways public media is experimenting with tactics to survive these lean times. www.niemanlab.org/2025/09/with...
FeedMe is staffing up. I'm very interested in how these essentially solo media ventures are going to scale their teams in the next few years. www.status.news/p/john-malon...
September 3, 2025 at 2:48 PM
FeedMe is staffing up. I'm very interested in how these essentially solo media ventures are going to scale their teams in the next few years. www.status.news/p/john-malon...
Interesting partnership. I'd have to assume most Economist readers are also Times readers, not sure that cuts equally in the other direction... www.semafor.com/article/09/0...
New York Times teams up with Economist in play for worldwide readers
The US paper quietly rolled out the bundled subscription with the UK-based finance and business-focused publication earlier this year.
www.semafor.com
September 3, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Interesting partnership. I'd have to assume most Economist readers are also Times readers, not sure that cuts equally in the other direction... www.semafor.com/article/09/0...
It's genuinely fascinating how long this has gone on. www.businessinsider.com/group-black-...
www.businessinsider.com
September 3, 2025 at 2:10 PM
It's genuinely fascinating how long this has gone on. www.businessinsider.com/group-black-...
To designate Google as a monopoly, but impose no actual remedies, makes this whole trial seem like a huge waste of time and taxpayer money. www.cnbc.com/2025/09/02/g...
Google stock jumps 8% after search giant avoids worst-case penalties in antitrust case
The ruling comes nearly a year after a U.S. judge ruled that Google holds an illegal monopoly in its core market of internet search.
www.cnbc.com
September 2, 2025 at 9:16 PM
To designate Google as a monopoly, but impose no actual remedies, makes this whole trial seem like a huge waste of time and taxpayer money. www.cnbc.com/2025/09/02/g...
Like the new Vaniry Fair the vision here seems to be smaller. Less print, more direct, and Anna still steering the ship at a high level. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/b...
Vogue Names Chloe Malle as Its New Editor
www.nytimes.com
September 2, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Like the new Vaniry Fair the vision here seems to be smaller. Less print, more direct, and Anna still steering the ship at a high level. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/b...
After losing an appeal against CNN, Alan Dershowitz plans to ask the Supreme Court to overturn New York Times v. Sullivan, the 1964 case that protects journalists and others from weaponized lawsuits.
www.cnn.com/2025/08/29/b...
www.cnn.com/2025/08/29/b...
Lawyer Alan Dershowitz loses appeal in CNN defamation case | CNN Business
Retired Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz lost his bid on Friday to overturn a ruling that dismissed his defamation lawsuit against CNN over the news channel’s coverage of remarks he made during P...
www.cnn.com
August 31, 2025 at 1:55 PM
After losing an appeal against CNN, Alan Dershowitz plans to ask the Supreme Court to overturn New York Times v. Sullivan, the 1964 case that protects journalists and others from weaponized lawsuits.
www.cnn.com/2025/08/29/b...
www.cnn.com/2025/08/29/b...
Many such cases. www.thecut.com/article/aaro...
August 31, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Many such cases. www.thecut.com/article/aaro...
Reposted by Evan DeSimone
Kari Lake, the Trump administration official tasked with dismantling the Voice of America, sent termination notices to more than 500 employees at the broadcaster and its parent agency Friday night.
Kari Lake lays off more than 500 staff at Voice of America parent agency
Amid a contentious court battle, the Trump administration official sent long-awaited termination notices to staffers who have been waiting on administrative leave for months.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 30, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Kari Lake, the Trump administration official tasked with dismantling the Voice of America, sent termination notices to more than 500 employees at the broadcaster and its parent agency Friday night.
Reposted by Evan DeSimone
Nick Davies - who broke UK tabloid hacking scandal wide open - puts Wash Post's Will Lewis once more under a spotlight
He asks: was Lewis involved in cover up for Murdoch & executives rather than cleaning up? via Air Mail
airmail.news/issues/2025-...
He asks: was Lewis involved in cover up for Murdoch & executives rather than cleaning up? via Air Mail
airmail.news/issues/2025-...
A New Twist in the U.K. Phone-Hacking Scandal
Was Will Lewis—now publisher of The Washington Post—complicit in covering up the crimes that brought down an infamous British tabloid?
airmail.news
August 30, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Nick Davies - who broke UK tabloid hacking scandal wide open - puts Wash Post's Will Lewis once more under a spotlight
He asks: was Lewis involved in cover up for Murdoch & executives rather than cleaning up? via Air Mail
airmail.news/issues/2025-...
He asks: was Lewis involved in cover up for Murdoch & executives rather than cleaning up? via Air Mail
airmail.news/issues/2025-...
It's a long list, but using OAN to create leverage in a carriage fight with Fox might be the most cynically irresponsible thing YouTube has ever done. variety.com/2025/tv/news...
YouTube TV Inks Deal With Pro-Trump Outlet OAN as Contract for Fox News Is Set to Expire
YouTube inked a deal to launch Herring Networks' One America News (OAN) on YouTube TV in the fourth quarter of 2025. The news comes just hours before YouTube TV's current agreement with Fox Corp. to c...
variety.com
August 28, 2025 at 6:18 PM
It's a long list, but using OAN to create leverage in a carriage fight with Fox might be the most cynically irresponsible thing YouTube has ever done. variety.com/2025/tv/news...
"Customers will be able to access subscriptions to NBCUniversal’s Peacock on the Prime Video and Fire TV, while Prime Video content will be available on Xfinity X1 devices" www.wsj.com/business/med...
Comcast, Amazon Expand Streaming Distribution Agreements
The companies said that customers will be able to access subscriptions to NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming app on the Prime Video platform and Fire TV, while Prime Video content will be available on N...
www.wsj.com
August 28, 2025 at 6:02 PM
"Customers will be able to access subscriptions to NBCUniversal’s Peacock on the Prime Video and Fire TV, while Prime Video content will be available on Xfinity X1 devices" www.wsj.com/business/med...
Limiting access from foreign journalists is the next logical step once you've brought the domestic media to heel. www.reuters.com/business/med...
Trump administration moves to tighten duration of visas for students and media
The Trump administration aims to tighten the duration of visas for students, cultural exchange visitors and members of the media, according to a proposed government regulation issued on Wednesday, part of a broader crackdown on legal immigration.
www.reuters.com
August 28, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Limiting access from foreign journalists is the next logical step once you've brought the domestic media to heel. www.reuters.com/business/med...
I’m less concerned that some dark money Dems are paying influencers (about time) than I am about the fact that I’ve never heard of most of these people.
An initiative aimed at boosting Democrats online offers influencers up to $8,000 a month to push the party line. All they have to do is keep it secret—and agree to restrictions on their content. www.wired.com/story/dark-m...
A Dark Money Group Is Secretly Funding High-Profile Democratic Influencers
An initiative aimed at boosting Democrats online offers influencers up to $8,000 a month to push the party line. All they have to do is keep it secret—and agree to restrictions on their content.
www.wired.com
August 28, 2025 at 4:37 PM
I’m less concerned that some dark money Dems are paying influencers (about time) than I am about the fact that I’ve never heard of most of these people.
Reposted by Evan DeSimone
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has announced it will stop publishing a print newspaper at the end of the year, and divert all of its resources into its digital news operation. The company has published in print since 1868
Atlanta Journal-Constitution to Quit Print Cold Turkey
The publication says the time is right to pour all of its resources into its online news operation and get its journalism “in front of the most people.”
www.nytimes.com
August 28, 2025 at 3:36 PM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has announced it will stop publishing a print newspaper at the end of the year, and divert all of its resources into its digital news operation. The company has published in print since 1868
There’s no way this HK kangaroo court will free Jimmy Lai, but other governments should apply pressure. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/w...
Jimmy Lai’s Freedom May Now Hinge on Beijing and Trump
www.nytimes.com
August 28, 2025 at 4:35 PM
There’s no way this HK kangaroo court will free Jimmy Lai, but other governments should apply pressure. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/w...
"As senators gathered at the Capitol last month to debate legislation to allow President Trump to zero out funding for public broadcasting, a siren and public service message rang out more than 4,000 miles away in this small town in the Aleutian Islands." www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/u...
Public Broadcast Cuts Hit Rural Areas, Revealing a Political Shift
www.nytimes.com
August 27, 2025 at 12:45 PM
"As senators gathered at the Capitol last month to debate legislation to allow President Trump to zero out funding for public broadcasting, a siren and public service message rang out more than 4,000 miles away in this small town in the Aleutian Islands." www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/u...
None of these AI pay schemes really point toward longterm sustainability for publishers. www.wsj.com/business/med...
Perplexity Is Launching a New Revenue-Share Model for Publishers
Media companies will get paid out of a $42.5 million pool when their articles are used by Perplexity’s web browser.
www.wsj.com
August 27, 2025 at 12:26 PM
None of these AI pay schemes really point toward longterm sustainability for publishers. www.wsj.com/business/med...
Recession indicator. www.businessinsider.com/mrbeast-beas...
August 27, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Recession indicator. www.businessinsider.com/mrbeast-beas...
"Noisy Creek appears to have helped stabilize its acquired publications. The Stranger and the Mercury both resumed publishing print editions this past April, five years after they’d halted issues due to pandemic-induced advertising revenue loss." www.niemanlab.org/2025/08/nois...
Noisy Creek, owner of alt-weeklies in Seattle and Portland, acquires the Chicago Reader
After years of financial struggles and narrowly avoiding closure at the start of 2025, the Chicago Reader is getting another lifeline.
On Tuesday, the nonprofit alt-weekly known for covering arts and...
www.niemanlab.org
August 27, 2025 at 12:15 PM
"Noisy Creek appears to have helped stabilize its acquired publications. The Stranger and the Mercury both resumed publishing print editions this past April, five years after they’d halted issues due to pandemic-induced advertising revenue loss." www.niemanlab.org/2025/08/nois...
"Peter will assume editorial leadership of a news team of more than 60." www.themarshallproject.org/2025/08/26/j...
The Marshall Project Names Jennifer Peter New Editor-in-Chief
Peter, of The Boston Globe, will lead the national criminal justice outlet’s news operations.
www.themarshallproject.org
August 27, 2025 at 12:15 PM
"Peter will assume editorial leadership of a news team of more than 60." www.themarshallproject.org/2025/08/26/j...
Reposted by Evan DeSimone
Time promotes Alex Altman, previously deputy Washington bureau chief and executive features editor, to executive editor (Ray Schultz/MediaPost)
Main Link | Mediagazer Permalink
Main Link | Mediagazer Permalink
August 27, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Time promotes Alex Altman, previously deputy Washington bureau chief and executive features editor, to executive editor (Ray Schultz/MediaPost)
Main Link | Mediagazer Permalink
Main Link | Mediagazer Permalink
“This offer was necessarily contingent on the FCC approving the deal and does not appear to present any legitimate value to the public, only to President Trump” thehill.com/homenews/med...
thehill.com
August 21, 2025 at 5:03 PM
“This offer was necessarily contingent on the FCC approving the deal and does not appear to present any legitimate value to the public, only to President Trump” thehill.com/homenews/med...
You've got to feel some sympathy. Lobbying for years to win the Olympics only to have to deliver them with the country in this condition. www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/bus...
Lord of the Rings: Casey Wasserman’s Olympic Odyssey
Can the hard-driving Hollywood scion navigate political land mines, relentless fundraising and a showboating president to deliver Games glory to L.A.?
www.hollywoodreporter.com
August 21, 2025 at 4:54 PM
You've got to feel some sympathy. Lobbying for years to win the Olympics only to have to deliver them with the country in this condition. www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/bus...