The Guardian·2026-02-23
Peter Attia resigns from CBS News amid revelations about ties to EpsteinControversial longevity expert Dr Peter Attia has resigned from his post as a CBS News contributor after correspondence between Attia and convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein was made public. The Hollywood Reporter first broke the news of Attia’s departure. Less than a month ago, Attia was announced as one of 19 new contributors to the network, as part of editor-in-chief Bari Weiss’s efforts to overhaul the news division. He joined the network just a few days before over 3m files were released as part of the federal government’s investigation into Epstein. Included among the files were multiple instances of communication between Attia and Epstein, most of them from the mid-2010s, after Epstein had already pleaded guilty in 2008 to prostitution charges involving a minor. The messages in
The Guardian·2026-02-23
Telegraph suitor considers legal action against UK government over rival bidFigures involved in a rival bid for the Telegraph are drawing up legal action against the government, after ministers gave the owner of the Daily Mail permission to take a significant step towards clinching its £500m takeover. The Telegraph titles, which include the daily and Sunday editions, have been in limbo for three years after previous owners, the Barclay family, lost control of them over huge unpaid debts. Last week, Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, lifted restrictions that had stopped Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT), the company controlled by the Daily Mail owner Lord Rothermere, from acquiring the option to buy the Telegraph. Being able to own the option would mark the latest step in its attempt to finally wrest control of the titles. The option is currently held by RedBird
The Guardian·2026-02-23
Netflix boss says $83bn Warner Bros takeover will benefit industryThe boss of Netflix has launched a fresh defence of its $82.7bn (£61bn) takeover of Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) assets, as he defended the streaming company’s contribution to the UK film and TV industry. Ted Sarandos claimed Netflix buying WBD would bring “growth” to the entertainment industry, amid attempts by rival Paramount Skydance to launch a counter offer for the studio business which he said would do the opposite. “We’re buying a movie studio and a distribution entity that we don’t currently have,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “We’ll be adding to the market where Paramount has committed that they’re going to cut $6bn out of the business right away.” “This industry would be much smaller under that ownership than it would be under Netflix ownership.” Sarandos’s comments foll
The Guardian·2026-02-23
Ex-Mail on Sunday editor denies misleading inquiry over private investigatorThe former editor of the Mail on Sunday has denied claims he misled the Leveson inquiry into press standards over the newspaper’s involvement with corrupt private investigators. Appearing at the high court, Peter Wright, who edited the Sunday newspaper from 1998 to 2012, said some of the allegations aimed at the title – which include landline tapping and bugging – were “just incredible”. Prince Harry is one of seven claimants accusing Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL), which publishes the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, of composing stories based on unlawful information gathering. ANL denies all the allegations, which range from using private investigators to secure ex-directory phone numbers to allegations of bugging windowsills. ANL has described the claims as lurid and preposterous. Wright
The Guardian·2026-02-23
A CBS News personality is starting his own media company – but keeping his day jobAs media jobs disappear and the industry shifts even further to a focus on individual personalities, rather than global brands, many journalists are choosing to leave stable jobs and strike out on their own by starting paid newsletters on platforms such as Substack and beehiiv. Two prominent television news personalities, the CNN anchor Jim Acosta and ABC News correspondent Terry Moran, both struck out on their own last year. But Wendy McMahon, a veteran television executive who most recently served as president of CBS News before dramatically resigning in May 2025, doesn’t think that TV journalists need to leave their network jobs to be able to start branching out on their own. “The lines are being blurred between creators and mainstream, and eventually they’re going to fade away,” McMaho
The Guardian·2026-02-23
BBC presenting duties to be shared for World Cup – but who will host the final?When the BBC split the task of presenting Match of the Day between three prominent broadcasters, executives were clear – there were to be “no favourites” among the new hosts Kelly Cates, Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman. That mantra is now being underlined as the corporation prepares its coverage for this summer’s World Cup. It is understood producers are ensuring that the trio have an equal number of programmes to present once the tournament kicks off in Mexico City. There is, however, one big unresolved question as the epic task of planning the coverage takes shape – no decision has yet been taken on who will host the final. Cates, Logan and Chapman took over Match of the Day presenting duties at the start of the current Premier League season, replacing Gary Lineker after his 26-year associa
