Archives for February 2019

Greta Van Susteren is joining Gray TV as their new Chief National Political Analyst, where she will cover national and international politics. Gray TV owns and/or operates over 90 local television stations across the country. In addition, Ms. Van Susteren, will host two nationally syndicated shows in development with Gray TV.

Read the Gray TV press release, here.

“We’re thrilled to have someone with Greta’s depth of experience join our team. Our stations and our viewers will benefit from Greta’s no-nonsense, straightforward approach to complex political issues,” said Hilton Howell Jr., Gray’s Chairman and CEO.

An award-winning journalist, Ms. Van Susteren hosted “On the Record” on the Fox News Channel for 14½ years before a short stint hosting a nightly news program on MSNBC. Prior to Fox News, Ms. Van Susteren hosted CNN’s prime-time news and analysis program, “The Point with Greta Van Susteren,” and co-hosted the network’s daily legal analysis show, “Burden of Proof.” Her legal analysis for CNN’s coverage of Election 2000 earned her the American Bar Association’s Presidential Award for Excellence in Journalism.

“After more than 20 years on cable news platforms, I am thrilled to move to broadcast news and especially excited to join Gray Television’s journalists all across the country,” said Greta Van Susteren. “It’s a journalist’s dream to be part of a growing media company so focused on delivering quality news in local markets big and small through trusted, local institutions like Gray’s television stations.”

Ms. Van Susteren currently hosts, and will continue to host, “Plugged in with Greta Van Susteren” on Voice of America, which broadcasts exclusively outside of the United States. The VOA program features Ms. Van Susteren’s first-hand reporting around the world from the G-20 to the North Korean summit. In just the past few months, she has interviewed numerous world leaders one-on-one, including President Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, and former President Carter.

Greta has represented various clients in civil and criminal cases during her career as a trial attorney and appellate attorney. She has authored two books and served as an adjunct professor at the Georgetown University Law Center from 1984 through 1999.

Sandy Breland, Gray’s Senior Vice President-Local Media, added, “More than ever, our local news viewers are wanting to know the impact of national government decisions on their lives and communities. With her decades of covering current events and legal issues, Greta will provide an in depth look at issues that matter the most to our viewers.”

About Gray Television

Gray TV owns and/or operates television stations and leading digital properties in 91 television markets, including the first or second highest rated television station in 85 markets. Upon the closing of a pending transaction, Gray TV will own 67 number-one rated television stations in 93 markets covering approximately 24 percent of US television households. Gray TV’s television stations broadcast almost 400 separate programming streams, including nearly 150 affiliates of the CBS/NBC/ABC/FOX networks. They also own video program production, marketing, and digital businesses including Raycom Sports, Tupelo-Raycom, and RTM Studios, the producer of PowerNation programs and content. For further information, please visit http://www.gray.tv.

February 11, 2019 — Danielle Burr, Uber’s Head of Federal Affairs, hosted a fireside chat on Monday evening at Uber’s DC office to interview author and philanthropist Jean Case about her new book, Be Fearless: 5 Principles for a Life of Breakthroughs and Purpose. The event was held at Uber’s DC office.

Drawing on her experience as a female tech veteran at AOL to her current work as CEO of the Case Foundation and chairman of National Geographic, Jean brought to life the key principles outlined in her book for living a “fearless” life. Be Fearless

Jean spoke about her successes — as well as her failures — and how she responded to and utilized the experiences of both throughout her career.

Jean and her husband, Steve, founded the Case Foundation in 1997 to “invest in people and ideas that can change the world.”

Following the discussion, the audience asked questions during a Q&A and Jean signed copies of her book.

Guests included:  Uber’s Susan Hendrick, Charles Rivkin, Steve Case, Heather Podesta, Kathleen Biden, Margaret Talev, David Chavern, Jon Decker, Niki Christoff, Susan Goldberg, Anita McBride, Dan Meyers, Gail MacKinnon, Kathy O’Hearn, Patrick Steel, Kevin Cirilli, Ryan Williams, Robyn Bash, Connie Partoyan, Peter O’Toole and Geoff Burr.

(February 1, 2019) — Big news is doubling-down on big tech. David Chavern, the president and CEO of the News Media Alliance, is the voice of the business of news. In Thursday’s New York Times op-ed, he makes the case for the systemic issues facing the news media industry, stemming from the Facebook/Google duopoly.

Chavern, a Chamber of Commerce veteran who has led the NMA since 2015, challenges why these two tech giants are not only hoarding the majority of online ad revenue, but they are also controlling the frequency and visibility of news through algorithms.

He writes, “More important [than ad revenue], the platforms now act as ‘regulators’ of the news business — determining what information gets delivered to whom, and when. With the flick of an algorithmic finger, those two companies decide what news you see and whether a publisher lives or dies.”

“The demand for the news product is soaring, with high levels of readership and engagement across every platform, as well as a growing willingness to pay for content. I strongly believe that these core economic drivers are a tremendous cause for optimism in the industry.” -David Chavern, President & CEO, News Media Alliance  

The op-ed notes that Facebook and Google “flatly refuse to pay for news” even though they license many other types of content.

Chavern is leading the charge to protect news by negotiating a fair, equitable deal with the tech giants. He contends that news organizations deserve the same intellectual property protections as songwriters and producers, a position European regulators are currently considering.

But beyond ad revenue and IP protections, Chavern faults Facebook and Google for the growing decline of local news:  “A study by the University of North Carolina’s School of Media and Journalism found that more than 1,300 American communities have completely lost sources of local news.”

The NMA is encouraged by legislation sponsored by Rep. David Cicilline (D-Rhode Island) that would allow news publishers to collectively negotiate a deal on revenue, data, and algorithms with Facebook and Google without violating antitrust rules.

Chavern is optimistic that a deal can be reached. “All it would take,” he says, “is a little enlightened self-interest and a real commitment to the continued existence of quality news.”

About News Media Alliance

The News Media Alliance, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., was founded in 1992 through a merger of seven associations serving the newspaper industry and was originally known as the Newspaper Association of America (NAA).

NMA’s work focuses on the key challenges and opportunities of today’s news environment: Freedom of the press, public policy and legal matters, advertising growth, new revenue streams and audience development across all platforms. The News Media Alliance is dedicated to working with its members, as well as other partner organizations, to advance the industry through advocacy, critical research and resources and events that connect and inspire.