Media News 10/19/25

1. Royal Jewels Stolen From the Louvre Museum — thieves used a crane to smash a window and stole eight priceless royal jewellery items, triggering a national security review of French museums. Reuters
   Link: https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/robbery-louvre-museum-hit-frances-image-justice-minister-says-2025-10-20/

2. The ad industry’s new pitch: being human is its superpower — Advertising leaders at Advertising Week New York 2025 say human creativity is becoming the key differentiator in the age of AI. Business Insider
   Link: https://www.businessinsider.com/ad-industry-embraces-human-creativity-ai-era-2025-10

3. Formula 1 has signed a five-year exclusive U.S. streaming deal with Apple (via Apple TV) — starting 2026 about ~$140 million per year, per sources https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/apple-clinches-exclusive-us-media-rights-f1-races-under-five-year-deal-2025-10-17

4. Mass protests across US states against Donald Trump administration — “No Kings” rallies emphasise growing concerns over authoritarianism, with protests in all 50 states featuring symbolic inflatable costumes. The Guardian
   Link: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/19/trump-briefing-news-at-a-glance-latest

5. AI‐generated deepfake video falsely shows MP defecting to Reform UK — A UK MP reported a deepfake of himself announcing a party switch, highlighting the risks of AI in political campaigns. The Guardian
   Link: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/oct/18/tory-mp-reports-ai-generated-deepfake-video-of-him-announcing-defection-to-reform-uk

   5a. UK media watch: Agence France‑Presse buckles under pressure from rising populism — The global news agency is facing financial shortfalls, staffing cuts, and challenges from increased hostility towards the media. Le Monde.fr
   Link: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/article/2025/10/03/france-s-global-news-agency-afp-buckles-under-pressure-from-rising-populism_6746071_23.html

6. Renewed violence in Gaza and disinformation warfare concerns — As cease-fire efforts falter, both physical conflict and digital propaganda/ messaging campaigns intensify. The Guardian
   Link: https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/oct/19/gaza-ceasefire-israel-hamas-rafah-hostages-middle-east-crisis-live-news-updates

7. It’s like they’ve erupted out of someone’s subconscious’: how horror came to possess modern cinemas — A cultural-analysis piece on the resurgence of the horror genre in UK cinemas. Link: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oct/21/horror-came-to-possess-modern-cinemas The Guardian

   7a. “Horror sequel ‘The Black Phone 2’ dials up a No. 1 opening” — Box-office news for the film sequel starring Ethan Hawke. Link: https://apnews.com/article/448ace0786d1efafa1f2615225f2ac50 AP News

8. This Frieze Week, Prada’s Surreal Cinema by Berlin Installation Artists Is a Must-See — An immersive installation by Michael Elmgreen & Ingar Dragset at London’s Town Hall during Frieze Week. Vogue
   Link: https://www.vogue.com/article/this-frieze-week-pradas-surreal-cinema-by-berlins-coolest-installation-artists-is-a-must-see

9. Hollywood studios shift from acquiring films to co-owning IPs in Indian productions to unlock new revenue streams — Global strategy shift in film production/rights, with Hollywood partnering more deeply in India. Link: https://m.economictimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/hollywood-studios-shift-from-acquiring-films-to-co-owning-ips-in-indian-productions-to-unlock-new-revenue-streams/articleshow/124709999.cms The Economic Times

   9a. Warner Bros. Discovery says its sale is under review, sending its stock soaring — Big media-company moves in film/TV ownership. Link: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/warner-bros-discovery-says-its-for-sale-sending-its-stock-soaring-e0bf2af3 MarketWatch

10. Theatre of the Avant-Garde brings hidden Ukrainian art to European audiences — An installation in Zurich featuring lesser-known Ukrainian avant-garde practices. thegaze.media

    10a. Backlash over experimental theatre going nostalgic: ‘Everything avant-garde is old again’— A reflection on how avant-garde theatre is revisiting older movements rather than only pushing forward. The New Yorker