Deutsche Telekom is in talks to merge with T-Mobile US in what would be a telecommunications giant, Reuters reports. Deutsche Telekom already owns a 53% stake in T-Mobile. The potential deal could create a company with a market capitalization of nearly $300 billion and serve more than 200 million mobile subscribers.

Chicago Public Media is partnering with the Illinois Public Broadcasters (IPB), a network of public media stations, to strengthen coverage of the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The two entities will combine their financial resources to jointly pay for two full-time statehouse reporters. 

Revenue, research and insights teams at Trusted Media Brands (TMB) are using AI tools to provide advertisers with a coherent narrative, AdExchanger reports. This isn’t easy, given that inventory spans print, web, social, streaming and newsletters. “The magazine subscriber doesn’t look anything like the TikTok viewer, at least on paper,” says Michael Boccacino, vice president of marketing at TMB. “But advertisers still expect you to tell one clear story about who you reach and why it matters.”

Pittsburgh media have survived a new-death experience this spring, Associated Press reports. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was acquired by a nonprofit that is committed to keeping it open. And the the alternative Pittsburgh City Paper, which was to close after 34 years, is making a comeback under new ownership.

Warren Buffett has reduced Berkshire Hathaway’s stake in Amazon by more than 77% — to 2.3 million shares — while investing $351.7 million in The New York Times, for roughly 5.1 million shares, The Street reports. Buffett is continuing to move away from some big tech holdings into a more selective mix of media and traditional businesses.

Former Congressman Devin Nunes has stepped down as chief executive officer of Trump Media & Technology, the business behind Truth Social, after a stock collapse that has wiped out billions of dollars in investor wealth, The Washington Post reports. Digital media executive Kevin McGurn has named as a temporary replacement. 

Brkthru Digital LLC, a Michigan-based media company, has  acquired Gigawatt Media, a programmatic, media and advertising firm located in Milwaukee, BizTimes reports. The combined firms will focus on their key advertisers in the hospitality and tourism markets. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. 

Rumble, a video-sharing platform positioned as a free speech alternative, reported revenue of $27.07 million, down 10.5% YoY, Stock Story reports. This occurs as the six digital media and content platforms tracked by Stock Story reported Q4 earnings, but beat analysts’ estimates by 1.6%, and the next quarter’s guidance is in line. 

Artificial intelligence (AI) deepfakes are infiltrating social feeds, according to a survey by the cybersecurity company McAfee, Investigate TV reports. Scammers have found ways to steal the sound, tone and inflection of individuals and are using the AI voices for financial fraud and to falsely impersonate victims. 

Kash Patel, the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, has filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against "The Atlantic," claiming an article titled ”The FBI Director is MIA,” contained false and defamatory statements published with actual malice, USCAnnenbergMedia reports. The article alleged that Patel exhibited erratic behavior and was struggling with alcohol use. The lawsuit claims the article was based on unverified, anonymous sources.