Journalism

The Weather Channel is a locomotive in Entertainment Studios’ portfolio of businesses generating sizable cash-flow profit, enlarging entrée to advertisers because of its heft and, in what is often unappreciated by outsiders, serving as a media-technology engine. To keep the Weather Channel cable network relevant in an era when information is readily available online and via personal devices, the linear basic cable network jazzes up its presentation with flashy media tech.

The $372.5 million deal will give the university a prime Pennsylvania Avenue address for graduate programs in international relations and other fields and enable the struggling cultural institution devoted to news and the First Amendment to seek a new home in the Washington area.

Cheryl Carson will start Feb. 11 as news director for Sinclair Broadcasting’s ABC affiliate WJLA in Washington. She joins from KING-KONG Seattle and succeeds Mitch Jacob who left in November after four years as ND.

In the era of fake news, a cottage industry of startups is competing to turn media credibility into a booming business. Do we really want that?

On March 13, 2019, the Radio Television Digital News Foundation will host its 29th annual recognition of First Amendment champions – The First Amendment Awards: Fear Will Not Silence Facts. The winners: CNN; James Goldston, ABC News; David Begnaud, CBS News; Shepard Smith, Fox News Channel; Dale Hansen, WFAA Dallas; NBC News “Road Warriors”; Jamal Khashoggi, Washington Post; and the journalists of the Annapolis Capital Gazette.

CNN’s Brian Stelter: “I used to think the transparency of Twitter helped improve trust in media. I think that’s true around the edges. But I’m leaning toward the Silicon Valley exec’s view that the incessant tweeting undermines trust. ‘You guys are down in the mud with the bots and the bad faith actors,’ the tech exec said.”

The group says that since the DOJ blocked its acquision of a CBS affiliation in Casper that would have given it essential retrans revenue, it’s merging news operations at its NBC affiliate KCWY Casper, Wyo., with those of its KGWN in Cheyenne and cutting back in Casper.

Fox News will next week bring Hannity to the world of video-streaming, launching “Hannity on Air” on its new Fox Nation subscription broadband service. The program will give viewers a look at the opening monologue of his daily radio show, a segment that’s typically 15 minutes to 17 minutes in length. The program will debut on Wednesday, Jan. 30, and is expected to post most weekdays in the afternoon.

Gray Television’s OTT strategy extends to its newly-acquired Raycom stations. With this expansion, SBTV reaches 102 DMAs, including 41 of the top 100 markets across all station groups, reaching 30% of the US population.

The Wall Street Journal’s Joe Flint reports that Sinclair Broadcast Group is adding a liberal commentator to its news operations as a counterpoint to its traditionally conservative editorial voice. Ameshia Cross, a self-described progressive activist and advocate who worked on President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign, will host a new daily commentary segment for Sinclair starting in February. Journal subscribers can read the full story here.

TV and radio correspondents from ABC, CBS, NBC and PBS will be on hand in Las Vegas to offer
“Tales From the White House Beat.”

The new apps will include livestream so mobile users can watch local newscasts in real time.