Hearst
OpenAI
Hearst became the latest big media brand to ink a deal with OpenAI for cited integration of its content on platforms including ChatGPT. The agreement, whose details were not disclosed, covers 20 magazine titles and 40 newspapers including Esquire, Cosmopolitan and the San Francisco Chronicle. The news follows similar deals Axel Springer, the Associate Press and Le Monde made in a bid to not let the preeminent Ai developer’s swiftly improving technology leave publishers in its wake.
Fox News
Reviews for Kamala Harris’ interview with Fox star Brett Baier predictably split along party lines. But love or hate the network, its ratings in the final stretch of the election are impossible to argue with. It had its second highest-rated third quarter ever, according to Nielson; aired 70 of the top 100 shows on cable TV; and averaged 2.6 million viewers in primetime, outpacing broadcast rivals CBS and ABC.
Clearly, among those many viewers are a decent number that Democratic politicians see as potential supporters. Hence the recent appearances by Harris, Pete Buttigieg and even Elizabeth Warren.
Tina Brown
Taylor Lorenz
Substack
The buzz around Substack seemed to dim for a bit after revving up in the early days of the pandemic. The very high profile arrivals Tina Brown and Taylor Lorenz are part of a wave of notable moves that’s changed that. It’s especially interesting given the distinct profiles of two of the blog and newsletter publisher’s biggest gets.
Brown, formerly of Vanity Fair and the New Yorker, is probably the reigning avatar of the bygone ‘90s heyday of glossy magazines. Lorenz is leaving a legacy outlet, the Washington Post, but cut her teeth as a social media editor for the Daily Mail and has carved out a reputation as a wry chronicler of all things viral and online.
Substack isn’t paying new contributors signing bonuses like back in its salad days, but clearly remains a big draw for media luminaries young and old.
TMZ
The notorious celebrity gossip rag somehow managed to hit a new low by publishing photos of ex-One DIrection star Liam Payne’s body shortly after his fatal fall from a Buenos Aires hotel balcony. The Harvy Levin-run website took down the pictures after an online uproar, but didn’t bother to issue an explanation or apology.
Netflix
The dominant streamer had another stellar quarter, with revenue up 15% to $9.8 billion and global subscriber numbers hitting 282.7 million, leagues ahead of its competitors. Users opting for the lower-priced, ad-supported subscription tier jumped 35%. Big questions now include whether Netflix will raise its prices in the US and if an unusually weak fall/winter movie slate will dent growth.
New York
Politico
Olivia Nuzzi and New York magazine parted ways this week, a month after the Status media newsletter reported on the star political journalist’s “personal relationship” with Robert F. Kennedy. Both parties deny the relationship ever turned physical, and an outside law firm contracted by New York found no bias in Nuzzi’s coverage. Still, New York said in a note to staffers that the relationship “created at the very least the appearance of a conflict of interest.”
The scandal extends to Politico and its chief DC correspondent Ryan Lizza. Lizza was previously engaged to Nuzzi, who following their breakup filed a protective order against him, citing threats of violence and his handing over “damaging information” to her employer. Politico continues to investigate Lizza´s case.
Amazon
Brian Williams
The tech giant will wade into live news coverage for the first time when veteran broadcaster Brian Williams hosts a special offering analysis of the November 5 results. Amazon, like other streamers, has been eager to enter the live sports fray, but Williams’ program will be a litmus test of its interest in streaming news.
