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FiscalNote, DC-based tech and data outfit, says it intends to acquire CQ Roll Call from The Economist Group. As part of the deal, The Economist Group would gain an 18 percent equity stake in the company. The Economist Group CEO Chris Stibbs is to join the FiscalNote board of directors, with FiscalNote founder Tim Hwang remaining CEO. Hwang told the Washington Post that his plan is to make FiscalNote a global data and information provider along the lines of Thompson Reuters, Bloomberg and LexisNexis, which have also combined subscription-based data services with news reporting and analysis.
 Troy Young |
Hearst has named Troy Young president of its magazine division, succeeding David Carey, who is stepping down. The appointment is effective immediately. Carey is expected to remain with Hearst through 2019 as chairman of the magazine division. Young has been president of Hearst Magazines Digital Media since 2013. In that position he restructured Hearst’s management hierarchy, creating digital teams for each brand, with site editors reporting to him instead of to the editor-in-chief of the print title associated with the site. He also oversaw the development of MediaOS, a proprietary content management, ad sales and data analytics platform, as well as the opening of a 26,000-square-foot video and multimedia production studio. Before coming to Hearst, he was president of digital publishing company Say Media. He will now have responsibility for Hearst Magazines’ global business, which includes more than 300 print editions and 240 digital brands.
 Ben Berkowitz |
Storyful has named Ben Berkowitz editor-in-chief. Storyful, which bills itself as a “social insights and content company,” says it helps clients find and verify user-generated content. Founded in Ireland in 2008, the company was acquired by NewsCorp in 2013. Berkowitz was previously vice president, digital at WNBC and has also worked for CNBC, Thomson Reuters, the Associated Press and AOL. He will assume responsibility for Storyful's global editorial operation in August, driving long term strategy and maintaining day-to-day oversight of Storyful’s newsroom including offices in Dublin, New York, London, Hong Kong and Sydney. He will also lead new initiatives such as News Intelligence, an investigative research service for newsrooms, and training programs designed to combat misinformation on social media.
Trump Media and Technology Group Corp. has replaced CEO and former California Congressman Devin Nunes with Kevin McGurn, a seasoned media sales executive.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is being bought by the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, a nonprofit that is the parent organization of the Baltimore Banner... The British Broadcasting Corporation is axing approximately 2,000 jobs, about 10 percent of its work force... Snap, the company behind Snapchat, is also succumbing to layoff fever, announcing plans to lay off 16 percent of its employees, about 1,000 people.
CBS News Radio will go off the air on May 22, part of the axe-swinging managerial plan put into play by CBS editor-in-chief Bari Weiss... The Economist, which was first published in 1843, is changing hands. Canadian billionaire Stephen Smith has agreed to acquire a 26.9 percent stake in the publication from Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild, her family and family foundation... Nexstar Media Group says it has closed its acquisition of TEGNA, the broadcast, digital media and marketing services company that was formed in 2015, when the Gannett Company split into two publicly traded companies.
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.
