MEDIA
Dylan Byers
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January 4, 2022
News on the Ben Smith News
Despite the sudden, and seemingly out-of-nowhere news that Ben Smith was leaving the Times, and that Justin Smith was stepping down as C.E.O. of Bloomberg Media, the Two Smiths had been quietly discussing their new media ambitions, on and off, for years. And it may take a decade to pull off. I chatted with the Smiths on the day of their big reveal.
Dylan Byers
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December 30, 2021
The Great Post-Trump Cable News Correction
The inside conversation (and a few burning questions) about CNN’s impending pivot, the trouble at "The View," and the ballad of Suzanne Scott.
Brian Morrissey
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December 23, 2021
The Rebooting: The Biggest Digital Media Stories of 2021
An uneven recovery and a flight to focus.
Dylan Byers
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December 22, 2021
Iger’s Next Act & The Times-Athletic Tango
Deal murmurs, M&A rumblings, the Zaz rumor mill, Iger’s next moves, and other insights into the media in-crowd’s inside conversation.
Dylan Byers
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December 17, 2021
The Times & The Athletic Are Getting Hot and Heavy
The Athletic has now entered into exclusive talks with The New York Times about a sale. Here’s the logic.
Dylan Byers
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December 15, 2021
The Chris Wallace Tea Leaves & Jim vs. Jonah
Is Zucker’s poaching of Chris Wallace a harbinger of CNN+’s centrism and maturity, or a trophy hire to buy time for a new streamer. Or (hint!) both, and then some?
Dylan Byers
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December 10, 2021
Zaz Moves, A Kotick Question & BriWi Speculation
Three questions, predictions, and some insider gossip about potential media moves and acquisitions in the new year.
Dylan Byers
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December 8, 2021
Notes on the Cuomo Scandal
The existential crisis of cable news extends beyond the firing of Chris Cuomo and the exit of Rachel Maddow. Their replacements in the 9 p.m. hour will indicate how CNN and MSNBC can reposition their brands in the streaming era.
Dylan Byers
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December 3, 2021
Can Jake Tapper Get 9 P.M.?
Inside the post-Cuomo, post-Maddow primetime parlor game at CNN and MSNBC as the talent well runs dry amid the new streaming order.
William D. Cohan
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December 2, 2021
Carlos Watson Has a Cold
A tale of the embattled Ozy founder, a turkey club sandwich, and a misadventure in crisis management.
Dylan Byers
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December 1, 2021
In the Room… At Iger’s Goodbye Dinner
As Disney’s charismatic leader completes his choreographed exit, the mood inside Burbank approaches a state of dread. Plus: Is Chris Cuomo finito at David Zaslav’s CNN?
Dylan Byers
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November 26, 2021
ESPN’s Future, Aryeh’s Book & Laurene’s Portfolio
A conversation with Puck editor-in-chief Jon Kelly about the rapid evolution and cutthroat future of the media-technology business.
William D. Cohan and Dylan Byers
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November 24, 2021
MSNBC Panic, The Reign of Redstone & The Murdochs’ ‘Succession’ Drama
Inside the dynastic politics, boardroom dramas, and M&A land-grabs that are reshaping the media-tech-financial landscape.
Julia Ioffe
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November 23, 2021
Murdoch’s Big Lie & Putin at the Gates
Pre-Thanksgiving reflections on the Tucker Carlson-ification of Fox News, Russia’s designs on Ukraine, and more.
Dylan Byers
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November 19, 2021
Bob Chapek’s Master Plan Is Doubling Down on Hulu
Plus: Could Joe Scarborough be the next loose-in-the-saddle talent to put the screws to MSNBC?
Dylan Byers
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November 12, 2021
Bloomberg’s Davos & Some Disney Dish
Can Bloomberg remake the global hobnobbing and policy circuit in its image? Seems like it. Also, some internal Disney deliberations.
Dylan Byers
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November 10, 2021
The Brian Williams Guessing Game Begins
By sticking around to write a second act at MSNBC, Williams has positioned himself to write a third act somewhere else, and seemingly everything is on the table—except the CBS Evening News.