Hearst has announced the launch of “Hearst News,” a fully unified, owned-and-operated programmatic network that brings together the digital scale of Hearst’s 30 daily and 50 weekly newspapers and 35 television digital sites into a single, premium media marketplace designed to deliver both brand impact and performance for advertisers nationwide. more

The Federal Trade Commission is negotiating a potential settlement with several major advertising companies to resolve a probe into whether they violated federal antitrust laws by coordinating boycotts against platforms including Elon Musk’s X, people familiar with the matter said. more

The letter warns that the deal will result in fewer jobs for creatives, along with higher costs and less choice for audiences. more

A federal judge on Friday extended an emergency restraining order on a $6.2 billion merger between Nexstar Media Group and Tegna for one week while he decides whether a longer block on the deal is needed. more

The organizing principle of the whole thing: Give audiences access — not only to the news but to those who report it. more

In an athlete’s defamation lawsuit against the newspaper, the court found journalists cannot withhold "all" discovery that could point to a confidential source, only information that would “inevitably” reveal them. more

State laws requiring disclaimers on political ads that use artificial intelligence are sowing distrust among voters, according to a new study.  more

For decades, local media relied on a simple formula: build audience, and advertisers would follow. Now, Gordon Borrell notes, that formula has quietly failed as the local business landscape and marketing decision-makers have shifted. Service businesses, in-house marketers, and AI-driven tools increasingly control ad spending. Borrell warns traditional media must rethink their sales approach to stay relevant with today’s advertisers. more

Two longtime executives of Paddock Publications Inc., publisher of the Daily Herald and other print and online products, have announced their retirements. more

Dick Broadcasting Company has announced the return of Leanne Graham to the Hot Talk Morning Show on WRNN (Hot Talk 99.5) in Myrtle Beach. more

Rock KYMT (Neon 93.1) in Las Vegas has named Sammi Tempesta as afternoon host and assistant program director. more

A federal judge on Thursday ruled that the Defense Department is violating his earlier order to restore access to the Pentagon for reporters, a setback in the administration’s efforts to impede the work of journalists. more

Federal prosecutors want to overturn a magistrate judge’s decision to review Hannah Natanson’s seized devices on behalf of the government and turn over information relevant to a leak investigation. more

In a March 10 column, Ombudsman Jacqueline Smith said Stars and Stipes has not deviated from reporting on “warfighting.” And, she wrote: “I want readers to know that there has been no interference from the Pentagon to control the news, as of this writing. This is important to note because many believe that influence on the news has been exerted and therefore, they have canceled their subscriptions.” more

The U.S. Postal Service has filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) of mailing services price changes to take effect on July 12. more

A new independent initiative, The Media Integrity Project, has officially launched with a mission to elevate the standards of public storytelling by examining how journalism is created, framed and experienced. more

The deadline to submit an entry for this year's Carmage Walls Commentary Prize (at the lowest contest fees) is April 12. Entries still will be accepted after that date, but the contest fee will increase.  This contest is open to all members of America's Newspapers. more

“Not Our Fault” could be the title of Nielsen’s latest filing in federal appeals court. The ratings company says Cumulus Media can’t blame its bankruptcy on the two companies’ ongoing ratings dispute, arguing instead that the broadcaster’s financial collapse was driven by broader industry and economic pressures. more

The newsroom’s next step in adding dynamism to the report will bring together audio and podcast video. more