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| Boris Johnson |
Former British prime minister Boris Johnson, just a week after resigning from Parliament, has a new job: columnist for the Daily Mail. His new gig, which kicks off with a piece set to appear June 16, will provide the paper’s “erudite new columnist” with a platform he can use to inform readers of “exactly what I think about the world.” But the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, an independent public body set up to vet outside appointments in the two years after a politician leaves high office, says that Johnson didn’t inform them of his new position until half an hour before the Daily Mail posted its announcement—a “clear breach" of the rules, according to a spokeswoman. “We have written to Mr. Johnson for an explanation and will publish correspondence in due course, in line with our policy of transparency," she said. ACOBA does not have the power to force Johnson to turn down the new position.
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The Guardian is putting a stop to gambling advertising on all its platforms. “Our new policy will apply to all online advertisements on the Guardian’s website, app, audio, video and newsletters, as well as print advertisements in the Guardian and Observer and Guardian Weekly,” according to a June 15 op-ed from Guardian chief executive Anna Bateson. Lottery advertising, Bateson says, will not be included in the ban. “By taking a stand against gambling advertising, we believe we can offer a place for sport fans all over the world to enjoy world-class sports journalism free from advertising pushing betting, wagering or online casinos.”
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Twitter faces a lawsuit from the National Music Publishers’ Association on behalf of 17 music publishers that charge the platform of copyright infringement involving about 1,700 songs. The price tag on the suit could run as high as $250 million. The majority of the alleged infringement Twitter has been notified about is due to music videos, videos of live music performances, or other videos synchronized to copyrighted music. Twitter is accused of using the videos to increase the amount of time people spend on its site. The NMPA claims that Twitter has failed to remove infringing content even after being notified and has "continued to assist known repeat infringers with their infringement" without risk of them losing their accounts. While licensing deals between Twitter owner Elon Musk and several music companies stalled after his takeover of the platform, the problem stems from before the takeover.
Michael Kaminer, who was responsible for the Observer’s “Power List” for the past 13 years, has cut ties with the publication... The New York Times Company continues the march toward its goal of 15 million subscribers by the end of 2027... The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is providing more than $6 million in funding to eight organizations working to address the challenges local news and information environments face along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Conservative outlets Fox News, Newsmax and the Daily Caller are holding back from signing Pete Hegseth’s edict restricting press access in the Pentagon... CBS News sees the first executive departure of the Bari Weiss era as head of standards and practices Claudia Milne exits... Indiana University shuts down the print version of The Indiana Daily Student.
Rothschild family plans to unload 26.7 percent stake in The Economist... STAT, a digital media company that focuses the life sciences, brings back Damian Garde, who anchored its biotech newsletter and podcast from 2016 to 2024... High Times officially resumes print publication (following its 2024 shutdown) with the release of a limited-edition, collectible 50th anniversary issue. 
CBS News is set to hand over its reins to The Free Press co-founder Bari Weiss as Paramount acquires her site for $155M... C-SPAN comes on board as an official media partner of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, which is charged by Congress to lead the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence... A new Gallup survey says that the level of trust that US audiences have in the media has hit a new low.
Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison has named Kenneth Weinstein, former head of the conservative Hudson Institute, as ombudsman for CBS News.
