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| Charles Dolan |
Cablevision founder Charles Dolan is stepping down as executive chairman of AMC Networks, and will become chairman emeritus. Dolan has led the AMC Networks board ever since the company was spun off from Cablevision in 2011. His son James L. Dolan, who is also executive chairman of The Madison Square Garden Company and MSG Networks (both Cablevision spinoffs), will succeed him. When the Dolans sold Cablevision to the European telecom company Altice in 2016 they retained control of the AMC Networks and Madison Square Garden businesses. The Dolan family currently controls about 70 percent of the voting shares in AMC Networks. “The Dolans have led this company from its inception, and both Charles and Jim have provided vision, guidance and support through its long history of growth and evolution," said AMC Networks CEO Josh Sapan in a statement.
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Red Ventures, which includes such digital brands as Healthline, Bankrate and Reviews.com, says it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire CNET Media Group from ViacomCBS for $500 million. In addition to technology news brand CNET, CNET Media Group includes ZDNet, a leader in B2B focused content and Gamespot, a games information brand, as well as TVGuide, Metacritic and Chowhound. CNET Media Group executive vice president and general Mark Larkin and his senior team will remain in place after the acquisition. "CNET Media Group has built a dynamic portfolio of brands with well-earned authority on such topics as consumer tech and gaming that play an increasingly important role in people's lives,” said Red Ventures CEO and co-founder Ric Elias. “Red Ventures is eager to invest in CNET Media Group's growth with more personalized consumer experiences that will reinvigorate CNET Media Group's brands."
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| Aya Kanai |
Marie Claire editor-in-chief Aya Kanai is leaving that position to join Pinterest in the newly created role of head of content and editorial partnerships. According to WWD, Kanai’s departure was not expected by Hearst management. Before coming to Marie Claire, she served as chief fashion director for a group of Hearst publications that included Cosmopolitan and Redbook. Kanai had only been at Marie Claire since January, when she succeeded Anne Fulenwider, who left to build a start-up dedicated to women’s health. Sally Holmes, currently Marie Claire's digital director, will be taking over from Kanai. Holmes was previously executive editor at Elle.com.
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. 
