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Facebook is dropping the “Trending” section from its site next as well as the products and third-party partner integrations that rely on the Trends API (or application programming interface). While the company says the tool is outdated and unpopular, its problems extended to the onslaught of fake news as well as the limitations of artificial intelligence to manage the unpredictable flow of messages. Replacements for the section are to include a dedicated section for news videos on its video hub Facebook Watch, a breaking news icon publishers can use on their posts, and “Today In,” a section which connects people to news and information from local publishers. The company says that more than 80 news publishers are currently testing the “breaking news” label. The “Today In” feature is testing in 33 U.S. cities, and 10 to 12 U.S. publishers are planning to launch news shows in Watch. “We are committed to ensuring the news that people see on Facebook is high quality, and we’re investing in ways to better draw attention to breaking news when it matters most,” Alex Hardiman, head of news products at Facebook, said in a statement.
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Three top Hulu executives—chief content officer Joel Stillerman, senior VP of partnerships and distribution Tim Connolly and senior VP of experience Ben Smith—are leaving the company. It’s the first major executive reshuffling since Randy Freer came on as Hulu CEO in October. Hulu says it is searching for an executive to head a new content partnerships group and is eliminating the chief content officer role. Hulu’s content teams will now be organized into two groups: one encompassing live TV and subscription VOD content licensing, acquisition and business functions; and one overseeing original programming, led by SVP of content Craig Erwich. The company is also bringing on former TiVo COO Dan Phillips as chief technology officer and Jaya Kolhatkar, former SVP, global data and analytics platforms for Walmart, to the newly-created role of chief data officer. Hulu is a key part of the current negotiations surrounding the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by either Disney or Comcast
 Wade Lambert |
The Wall Street Journal has named Wade Lambert senior news editor, with responsibility for all of the Journal’s evening operations. Lambert has been with the WSJ since 1984, serving as night editor for its print edition since 2013, and will now direct news gathering, publishing and platforms at night. Other roles he has taken on at the WSJ include deputy bureau chief in London, Page One news editor and deputy editor of the Greater New York section.
USA TODAY brings on Jamie Stockwell as VP of news, effective March 30. Stockwell was most recently deputy managing editor of news for the Washington Post... YouTube expands its likeness detection capabilities to a pilot group of government officials, journalists and political candidates... The AP Fund for Journalism adds 50 news organizations to its local news program, bringing the total number of participating newsrooms to 100. 
Versant Media Group, the NBCUniversal cable TV spin-off, today reported its first financial results as 2025 revenues dipped 5.3 percent to $6.7B and standalone EBITDA dropped 9.1 percent to $2.2B.
Trump Media & Technology Group is discussing a spin-off of the Truth Social platform following the expected closing of its $6B merger deal with TAE Technologies... Condé Nast sells off Them, the digital LGBTQ-focused platform it launched in 2017, to Equalpride, publisher of Out, The Advocate, Out Traveler, Health PLUS Wellness and Pride.com... CBS News has parted ways with longevity influencer Peter Attia, one of the 19 contributors that editor-in-chief Bari Weiss brought on as part of her plan to present a wider variety of voices on the platform. 
Symbolic.ai forms a partnership with News Corp to begin using the company’s AI-native publisher platform in the newsrooms of News Corp publications to augment research, writing and publishing... Mediaite launches a newsletter that promises to give readers a summary of—media newsletters... The Fund for American Studies launches the Journalism Excellence Fellowship, a program that will provide promising young journalists the opportunity to work alongside top writers, reporters, and media professionals.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which has roots going back to 1786, is going out of business, the paper’s owners, Block Communications, announced on Jan. 7... GQ editor Will Welch is stepping down to take on a new Paris-based role with the musician Pharrell, who is also men’s creative director at Louis Vuitton... Semafor says it has raised $30 million on a $330 million valuation, following its first profitable year. 
