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Media and Democracy Project Supports Pennsylvania Senators' Request for Swift Action on WTXF License Renewal

Media and Democracy Project

The Media and Democracy Project (MAD) today renewed its call for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to conduct a thorough investigation into FOX Corporation's (FOX) conduct before approving the license renewal of FOX 29 Philadelphia (WTXF-TV). MAD submitted comments in support of U.S. Senators John Fetterman and Bob Casey’s recent letter, agreeing that the Commission should “act swiftly” and designate the WTXF application for hearing. In light of serious allegations of rule violations and concerns regarding character, MAD emphasizes the critical need for a thorough investigation into a Murdoch-owned FOX broadcasting affiliate. “FOX Corporation’s (FOX) conduct following the 2020 election was so destructive of the national interest that the Commission must designate the application for hearing,” the filing reads in part. “The documents that are the subject of MAD’s motion can only reinforce what is already in the public record, further demonstrating the egregious behavior of FOX and its leadership.” MAD asserts that it has “raised substantial and material questions of fact concerning FOX’s fitness as a licensee based on its promotion of false election narratives and its failure to maintain current political files.” While there is no set timeline for an FCC decision, MAD is encouraging the Commission to: Prioritize a swift but thorough investigation: The Philadelphia community deserves a licensee that operates in the public interest, and any delay in the FCC's decision only prolongs this uncertainty. Grant MAD's Motion for Production of Documents: Access to additional information is crucial to uncovering the truth and ensuring a fair and complete review. Hold a hearing to examine the evidence: MAD believes the seriousness of FOX's alleged misconduct warrants a full and public airing of the facts. “If properly pursued, the Commission likely would conclude that the station is not serving its community well and the community would better be served by a licensee other than FOX,” the filing continues. “Apparently, despite FOX’s entreaties, the senators were willing to give only a lukewarm endorsement to FOX 29, as they would to any television station in the Philadelphia viewing area.” The filing ends, “granting MAD’s Motion for the Production of Documents will enable MAD to bolster its allegations with relevant information not yet in the public domain or available either to it or the Commission. Airing of these documents is essential to the fair and neutral review that the senators request.” The Petition to Deny and Motion for Production of Documents are pending while FOX faces a number of court challenges, including those put forth by election administration company Smartmatic and a host of pension derivative shareholders. The rush by proponents of FOX to support the station and the various calls for its relicensure is more about avoiding the additional scrutiny FOX management is sure to face in the Smartmatic and shareholder lawsuits. Each of these will show what we know to be true from Dominion—management knowingly pushed false news to protect FOX's profits. All the evidence in each of these lawsuits must be evaluated to ensure the FCC has the information necessary to rule on whether FOX, Rupert, and Lachlan Murdoch have the character to remain trustees of the public airwaves. A copy of MAD’s filing can be found here. The Media and Democracy Project: MAD is a non-partisan, all-volunteer, grassroots organization focused on strengthening a free and independent media in the public interest. MAD aims to improve our national discourse so that American voters can engage in informed decision-making. As part of that goal, MAD has an interest in the responsibility of journalists and media to report fully, accurately, and fairly on the electoral process and the outcome of elections. Additional information is available at www.MediaAndDemocracyProject.Org. To sign up for more information from The Media and Democracy Project, click here. Contact Details Raynor Ave. Aaron Alberico +1 202-744-0786 aalberico@raynoravenue.com Company Website https://www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/

March 04, 2024 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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The New American Home® 2024

News Media Group, Inc.

Contact Details News Media Group, Inc. Karl Wayne +1 334-440-6397 karl@newsmg.com Company Website https://newsmg.com/

March 04, 2024 07:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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HTX DAO and HTX Ventures Attend Blockchain Festival Asia 2024: Advancing the Adoption of Innovative Crypto Technology

HTX DAO

On March 2, HTX DAO attended the Blockchain Festival Asia 2024, sponsoring both the event and the Lanyard session. This marked HTX DAO's debut at a top-tier crypto summit, highlighting its objective to enhance global recognition and attract more renowned industry institutions for its ecosystem development. HTX DAO was officially established on January 18, with the aim of being a leading decentralized autonomous organization in the blockchain ecosystem and focusing on open finance and tokenized economy. Currently, the HTX DAO ecosystem has enlisted the support of 19 major industrial players, including HTX, TRON, Poloniex, BitTorrent, Spark Digital Capital, APENFT, Stratified Capital, JustLend DAO, OIG Group, Double Peak, stUSDT, Zebec, USDD, ANKR, Sun.io, Merkle 3s Capital, WINkLink, TUSD, and Owlit Finance. HTX DAO has expressed its commitment to exploring the possibility of user autonomy within the community, facilitating information sharing across multiple channels. It aims to establish a self-governing ecosystem characterized by reciprocity and mutual benefits among platform and project teams, as well as Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) and users. By tapping into the community's wisdom and power, HTX DAO is committed to transforming HTX into a truly people-centered exchange. Furthermore, through organizing offline community engagement activities worldwide, HTX DAO endeavors to establish direct and trustworthy connections, thereby encouraging increased participation from practitioners and institutions within the crypto industry towards the development of the HTX DAO ecosystem. During the summit, Amelia Chan, the HTX Strategic Partnerships Lead, was invited to participate in a panel discussion on the topic of "Trading on DEX vs CEX: What’s the Difference and What Are the Risks? KYC Procedures with Technology". The choice between CEX and DEX, according to Amelia, depends on various factors, such as requirements for fund control, attitude towards regulation, user experience, liquidity needs, trading preferences, and the importance placed on anonymity. In comparison, CEX offers convenience and high liquidity, while DEX ensures privacy and allows individuals to have full control over their assets, aligning closely with the decentralized principles of the cryptocurrency industry. Amelia also pointed out that HTX prioritizes user information privacy and asset security. Currently, through the implementation of advanced encryption algorithms and multi-factor authentication mechanisms, the exchange is taking all possible measures to ensure the safety of users' accounts and assets. Moreover, it provides an extensive array of user-friendly trading features and tools, empowering users to perform trades with increased precision, speed, and efficiency. Looking ahead, HTX plans to introduce even more innovative products to cater to the diverse demands of its users. It's noteworthy that HTX Ventures also participated in the summit as an exhibitor. HTX Ventures, the global investment arm of HTX, adopts a strategy of direct investment and fund investment, having invested in over 200 projects in 2023. These projects span various fields, including infrastructure, DeFi, RWA, L1 & L2 public chain ecosystems, SocialFi, NFTs, and education. Seeking to explore emerging business models within the industry, it offers comprehensive support to collaborative projects, including financing, resources, and strategic consulting, to foster the growth of the blockchain ecosystem. In an earlier statement, HTX Ventures mentioned that, in 2024, the Web3 sector is poised for deep integration, improved regulatory adaptability, and a trend towards maturity. This will facilitate the gradual implementation of interoperability between chains and ecosystems, driving the cryptocurrency market towards maturity and mainstream adoption. Moving forward, HTX and HTX Ventures are dedicated to closely monitoring the innovation and development of the Ethereum ecosystem, while continuously advancing investment and project incubation to nurture the next generation of Web3 enterprises. As per reports, the Blockchain Festival Asia 2024 took place in Singapore on March 2. The event brings together experts from various fields including blockchain technology, cryptocurrency exchanges, DeFi, NFTs, cryptocurrency mining, GameFi, and the broader fintech industry, offering a platform to explore cutting-edge industry developments and emerging trends. About HTX DAO As a multi-chain deployed decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), HTX DAO demonstrates an innovative governance approach. Unlike traditional corporate structures, it adopts a decentralized governance structure composed of a diversified group, jointly committed to the success of this organization. This unique ecosystem advocates open values and encourages all DAO participants to propose collaborations and protocol enhancements that can promote the development of HTX DAO. Contact Details HTX DAO media@htxdao.com

March 04, 2024 03:25 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Top 5 New Crypto Coins to Watch in 2024

Spark Metro

The cryptocurrency world keeps evolving rapidly, and 2024 has introduced a wave of exciting new crypto coins. Investors and crypto coins enthusiasts are eager to explore opportunities that promise significant returns. New projects and tokens are emerging every day in this sector. In this article, we shall see the list of new crypto coins considered best for investing in 2024. Stay with us till the end, as it will help you gauge which one is perfect for you to invest in. 5 New Crypto Coins in 2024 Hare are the List of New Crypto Coins of The Year 2024 1. 5th Scape Coin (5thScape) It is a popular new crypto coin which combines virtual reality with the blockchain system, 2. Hypergrowth Protocol (HGP) It is suitable for investors seeking stability in their return on investment. 3. Ocean Data Network (ODN) It is suitable for those investors seeking data privacy while investing in crypto coins. 4. Sustainable Energy Coin (SEN) As the name suggests, these new crypto coins mainly focus on renewable energy. 5. MetaVerse Guild (MVG) These crypto coins allow users to dive into the immersive world to buy and sell properties. Let us take a closer look at all the above new crypto coins: 1. 5th Scape Coin (5thScape) 5th Scape Coin stands out not just for its unique name but also for its ambitious mission to transform the gaming industry. Based on an Ethereum blockchain, 5th Scape aims to create a decentralized virtual gaming ecosystem where players own their in-game assets and experiences. Imagine a world in which you can seamlessly transfer your hard-earned virtual items across different games, participate in community governance, and even monetize your creations through a robust NFT marketplace. It is the vision 5th Scape is striving to make a reality. Click Here to Visit 5thScape Presale Page Key features of 5th Scape Coin Interoperable Game Network: Connect and interact with various games within the 5th Scape ecosystem, carrying your assets and progress with you. Player-Owned Economy: Own your in-game items and currency with the freedom to trade, sell, or utilize them as you see fit. Decentralized Governance: Participate in shaping the platform's future through transparent and accessible voting mechanisms. NFT Marketplace: Create, buy, and sell unique digital assets, giving players the power to monetize their creativity and skills. Sustainable Blockchain: 5th Scape's PoS consensus mechanism significantly reduces the total energy consumption compared to traditional crypto coins mining methods. Seamless VR and AR integration for an immersive gaming experience. Enhanced privacy and security through state-of-the-art encryption technologies. 2. Hypergrowth Protocol (HGP) HGP focuses on DeFi (Decentralised Finance) by offering high-yield staking opportunities. Users can lock their digital assets in Hyper Growth pools, earning passive income through automated yield-generation strategies. HGP utilizes complex algorithms to optimize returns and minimize risks, appealing to individuals seeking stable and profitable crypto investments. The below three hyper-growth crypto coins are worth watching and considering to add to your investment strategy. Avalanche (AVAX-USD): A leading layer-1 network in terms of its architecture. Solana (SOL-USD): Its enhanced performance makes it a strong player and a preferred choice in the DeFi space in 2024. Near Protocol (NEAR-USD): This token has seen outsized interest in recent weeks due to several catalysts. 3. Ocean Data Network (ODN) ODN strategically tackles the issue of data privacy and monetization. It empowers individuals to control their data, selling it on a secure marketplace to researchers and businesses while retaining ownership. ODN aims to democratize data access and create a fairer value distribution system for data owners. 4. Sustainable Energy Coin (SEN) SEN promotes ecological responsibility by connecting investors to renewable energy projects. SEN holders can fund clean energy initiatives and earn rewards based on the generated electricity. This innovative approach encourages investment in renewable energy infrastructure and combats climate change. The vision is to see a future with sustainability, equitable and resilient transportation, buildings and communities. The funds raised through these crypto coins will go to the sustainable energies of low-income communities. 10% tax will be levied, 5% will be distributed to the holders, and 5% will be added to the liquidity of the firm. 5. MetaVerse Guild (MVG) MVG caters to the rapidly growing Metaverse scene. MVG tokens act as a passport to exclusive virtual worlds, enabling users to purchase land, build structures, and engage in unique experiences within the Metaverse. MVG aims to foster a thriving virtual community and drive the development of immersive digital spaces. Remember, the cryptocurrency market is inherently volatile and involves significant risks. Thorough research and a cautious approach are crucial before investing in any new project. We have recreated this list to provide a glimpse into some of the promising newcomers in the crypto landscape, not financial advice. While exploring these fascinating possibilities, keep your eyes peeled for the game-changing potential of the 5th Scape Coin. Its vision for decentralized virtual gaming might reshape how we interact with virtual worlds in the future. Conclusion In conclusion, the new crypto coins of 2024 bring forth a diverse range of offerings, each with its unique value proposition. While hyper-growth protocol tokens stand as promising for gaining substantial returns, investors should carefully research and assess the potential of each coin based on their individual goals and risk tolerance. As the crypto landscape continues to evolve, staying informed about these new opportunities is essential for those looking to ride the wave of innovation in the digital asset space. Contact Details Spark Metro Alex +1 302-597-6768 media@sparkmetro.com Company Website https://sparkmetro.com/

March 03, 2024 11:24 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Jewish News Syndicate Commentary: Anti-Defamation League ‘Smeared’ NLPC

NLPC

Elle Krasne-Cohen has come to the defense of National Legal and Policy Center in an opinion piece distributed by the Jewish News Service titled, “When Will the ADL Start Fighting Antisemitism on the Left?” She points to the Anti-Defamation League’s embrace of causes like Black Lives Matter and juxtaposes it with an incident closer to home for NLPC: More recently, the ADL smeared two mainstream policy organizations—the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) and the National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC)—accusing them without evidence of antisemitism. The ADL claimed that mere criticism of “globalism” or “globalist organizations,” including the antisemitic United Nations, is an “antisemitic dog whistle.” Krasne-Cohen continues: The NCPPR and NLPC are mainstream organizations, neither of which, to my knowledge, has displayed antipathy towards Jews or any other racial or religious minority. The smear was in the form of a posting on the ADL website on November 21 titled “Conspiracy Theories, Some With Antisemitic Roots, Crop Up in 2023 Shareholder Proposals.” The post appeared only six weeks after the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack, while antisemitic incidents and demonstrations were exploding worldwide. Why the ADL would devote time and resources to attacking NLPC, which has a long history of fighting antisemitism, was completely baffling to us. Equally baffling, the hit piece was dropped as the Thanksgiving holiday was getting underway. It was almost as if the ADL wanted the story out but didn’t want anyone to report it. The strategy, if it existed, worked because no one else covered it. Even more weirdly, the post itself carried this all-purpose disclaimer that tended to negate the impression that every other word of the post was calculated to create: At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that either organization’s agents espouse overt antisemitism, or that these proposals were filed with antisemitic intentions. So what is going on here? What was behind the attempted smear of NLPC and our ally, the National Center for Public Policy Research? Could it be that the ADL just doesn’t like us filing shareholder proposals, a form of activism dominated for many years by the Left? Krasne-Cohen and a number of other Jewish commentators and activists are making this case that the ADL, under the “leadership” of former Obama White House staffer Jonathan Greenblatt, has devolved into an ideological and partisan tool. ADL’s hit and run on NLPC was actually quite clever. Even if no one paid any attention to it when it was published, whoever wrote it (the piece is unsigned) sought to plant it on the internet for anyone to find for years to come. Any journalist seeking to discredit us can now simply describe NLPC as a “group that, according to the ADL, promotes antisemitic conspiracy theories.” It was a nice try but it is not going to work. NLPC’s track record of fighting antisemitism over many years is just too strong. Indeed, while the ADL has been sanitizing antisemitism by partnering with the likes of Al Sharpton, NLPC has been consistent, resolute and effective. To wit: Ben & Jerry’s - When the Unilever subsidiary Ben and Jerry’s announced in 2021 that it would end ice cream sales in “Occupied Palestinian Territory,” NLPC swung into action, launching the StopBenandJerrys.org website. In September 2021, NLPC filed a Complaint with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) against Anuradha Mittal, the anti-Israel chair of the Ben & Jerry’s board of directors. A few weeks later, she was named 2021 “Antisemite of the Year” by the website StopAntisemitism.org. Mittal appeared to have violated laws governing self-dealing by acting as a trustee of the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation while approving donations to her personal nonprofit where she is executive director taking a full-time salary. Also, the president of Ben & Jerry’s charitable foundation, Jeff Furman, steered more than $100,000 of its funds to his own nonprofit organization. In the wake of October 7 Hamas attack, Flaherty wrote an op-ed titled, “Unilever, Ice Cream and Antisemitism.” Unilever Divestment - NLPC was a proponent of Unilever divestment efforts in New York, New Jersey, North Carolina and Virginia. From the September 16, 2021, New York Times: “We are doing this because somebody has to hold the independent board of Ben & Jerry’s accountable for their anti-Semitic use of their platform and company resources,” said Tom Anderson, a director of the National Legal and Policy Center. NLPC collaborated with activist investor Michael Asher in support of Unilever divestment by New York State and New York City. In Virginia, Flaherty met with State Attorney General Jason Miyares and urged him to seek divestment of state funds from Unilever. In North Carolina, NLPC asked Treasurer Dale Folwell requesting divestiture of Unilever holdings in public pension funds. Black Lives Matter & Patrisse Cullors - As a result of original NLPC research, Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation co-founder Patrisse Cullors was forced to resign from the group in 2021. NLPC’s allegations, detailed in a Complaint to the IRS, related to her purchase of four pieces of real estate, and apparent self-dealing and inurnment. NLPC has also emphasized Cullors’ 2015 call at Harvard Law School for individuals to “step up boldly and courageously to end the imperialist project that’s called Israel.” NLPC was early in reporting about Black Lives Matter’s (BLM) links to anti-Israel groups. In 2016, Carl Horowitz, then a member of the NLPC staff, wrote a website post titled “Black Lives Matter Activists Join Anti-Israel Boycott.” Following October 7, NLPC asked Visa, Inc. to remove its BLM endorsement from its website and condemn Hamas and antisemitism. We had raised the BLM issue earlier in the year at the company’s shareholders’ meeting. NLPC had also raised the issue of Coca-Cola’s support for BLM at the company’s annual meeting. ADL’s Omar Resolution - NLPC has been a persistent critic of Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Talib. While we have cited financial irregularities in a Federal Election Commission complaint against Ocasio-Cortez and a House Ethics Committee complaint against Omar, NLPC has also criticized hostility to Jews by these members. In 2019, NLPC endorsed and publicized the ADL-initiated House resolution condemning Omar. See this op-ed titled “Antisemitism and Islamophobia: No Moral Equivalence” by Horowitz. Foreign Funding of U.S. Higher Education - The recent spate of on-campus antisemitic incidents has shed light an issue on foreign financial support for American colleges and universities, an issue that NLPC has investigated and publicized for several years. See this column by Charles Gasparino that extensively quotes NLPC Counsel Paul Kamenar. Al Sharpton - Whereas the present leadership of the ADL has sought to erase Sharpton’s past, NLPC will not forget his incitements in the 1991 Crown Heights riots, in which a Jew was murdered, nor will we forgive his dangerous statements, such as “If the Jews want to get it on, tell them to pin their yarmulkes back and come over to my house.” Sharpton was fined $285,000 in 2005 by the Federal Election Commission as a result of an NLPC Complaint for running an “off the books” presidential campaign. For several years, NLPC raised the issue of support for Sharpton’s National Action Network (NAN) at the shareholders’ meetings of American corporations, including PepsiCo, Anheuser-Busch and Colgate-Palmolive. Unlike the ADL, NLPC has never used the fight against antisemitism as a partisan weapon. In 2010, NLPC objected to the sponsorship of Sharpton’s National Action Network annual meeting by the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the participation of then-RNC Chairman Michael Steele. In 2009, NLPC asked former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to end his partnership with Sharpton in a campaign for “education reform.” That same year, NLPC criticized then-President George W. Bush for praising Sharpton. Jesse Jackson - In 2005, the New York Stock Exchange ended its financial support for Jackson’s Citizenship Education Fund, in response to a demand by NLPC that cited Jackson’s 1984 “hymie” and “Hymietown” comments, as well as financial improprieties involving the Fund. And if none of this is good enough for the ADL, it should be noted that NLPC has many Jewish supporters, including prominent individuals and former government officials, several of whom serve on the boards of local and national Jewish organizations. From 2001 to the time of his death in 2019, Edward M. Ackerman of Dallas was a key advisor and major donor to NLPC. His legacy is carried on today by NLPC and the Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies at the University of Texas at Dallas. The ADL itself has partnered with the Ackerman Center. Founded in 1991, the National Legal and Policy Center promotes ethics in public life through research, investigation, education and legal action. Contact Details National Legal and Policy Center Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 drene@nlpc.org Company Website http://www.nlpc.org

March 01, 2024 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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​​Locality Announces Strategic Local Video Advertising Partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery

Locality

Locality, the industry’s preeminent local video solutions provider, today announced a strategic local video advertising partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery. Locality will have access to Warner Bros. Discovery’s comprehensive portfolio of brands and platforms through 2024, including TNT Sports, CNN and a rich selection of award-winning series and movies on Max and discovery+. This partnership highlights the growing importance of reaching local audiences through streaming platforms, particularly at a time when consumer connection to sports is at an all-time high. This strategic alliance offers Warner Bros. Discovery the opportunity to diversify its advertiser base and generate additional revenue streams, capitalizing on the heightened engagement of local viewers with news, sports and entertainment content. With brands looking to reach fragmented TV audiences, CTV advertising enters its next phase of growth with CTV ad revenue estimated to exceed $40 billion by 2027. Locality can guarantee premium inventory and scale before the inventory hits the open market. “This collaboration with Locality and Warner Bros. Discovery is a testament to our mission to help brands unlock the power of local,” said Keith Kazerman, President of Locality Streaming. “We’re thrilled to be named as Warner Bros. Discovery’s preferred local partner. This is just the beginning of what will be an exciting and transformative year for local video advertising.” Since its inception in June 2023, Locality continues to enhance its ad capabilities in local television across major broadcast networks and streaming providers. By effectively building a bridge between brands and location-based markets, Locality unites the industry's top players, technology, and premium inventory in both broadcast and streaming. This holistic approach is designed to address the unique challenges faced by advertisers and to channel more investments into local video advertising, contributing to the sector's growth. “Local is one of the fastest growing segments in streaming advertising,” said Bill Murray, SVP Programmatic Solutions, Warner Bros. Discovery. “Our strategic partnership with Locality will grow opportunities for brand advertisers looking to reach viewers of premium content and sports in local markets.” About Locality Locality is the industry’s preeminent local video solutions provider, committed to addressing the evolving needs of advertisers by unlocking the power of local and driving dollars to the local video marketplace. Locality brings together the best talent in both broadcast and streaming helping brands tap into the mindset of the local consumer and precisely reach optimal markets, nationally. Having served more than 1,500 ad agencies and 4,500 advertisers, to date, Locality offers the best premium inventory that the industry has to offer to help brands optimize their spend and target audiences at scale. Our team resides in 11 office locations across the U.S. designed to strategically service 100% of DMAs. For more information, please visit www.locality.com. About Warner Bros. Discovery Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the world’s most differentiated and complete portfolio of content and brands across television, film, and streaming. Available in more than 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences worldwide through its iconic brands and products including: Discovery Channel, Max, discovery+, CNN, DC, Eurosport, HBO, HBO Max, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Magnolia Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Film Group, Warner Bros. Television Group, Warner Bros. Games, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, Discovery en Español, Hogar de HGTV and others. For more information, please visit www.wbd.com. Contact Details Kite Hill PR for Locality +1 908-216-0809 locality@kitehillpr.com

February 28, 2024 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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CSD Social Venture Fund and Gallaudet University Present "Holographic Horizons: Bridging the Educational Divide" at SXSW

Communication Service for the Deaf

CSD Social Venture Fund and Gallaudet University have partnered with Proto Inc., to utilize Proto’s “Epic” holoportation technology as a groundbreaking tool in delivering lifelike, interactive American Sign Language (ASL) education for students who are Deaf and hard of hearing. "Deaf education is on the brink of a transformative leap, where geographical, socioeconomic, and communication disparities will no longer be barriers to quality learning," said Rosa Lee Timm, Division President of CSD Social Venture Fund. “Epic allows students to see and interact with remote instructors as if they are present in the same space, making it an inclusive environment that celebrates and nurtures diversity.” The demo and event, “Holographic Horizons: Bridging the Educational Divide” is set to debut at the Southwest (SXSW) festival on March 4th, 2024, led by panelists Rosavetta Jackson, CSD Social Venture Fund Program Manager; Topher Myers, an educational technology expert; and Dr. Laurene E. Simms, a leading voice for inclusive learning. The panelists will discuss how the Epic holoportation device from Proto Inc can serve as a medium for improving educational accessibility, including how it allows for greater clarity of information exchanged in ASL due to its usage of 3D space over more traditional 2D spaces found in video conferencing platforms. Epic’s lack of physical proximity will be highlighted to show how it opens doors to unimaginable use within the realm of universal design in classroom environments, creating far more learning opportunities and accessibility for students affected by inequity and geopolitics. For more information and to register for the event, please visit: https://sxswedu.com About CSD Social Venture Fund Founded in 2017, the CSD Social Venture Fund aims to support Deaf entrepreneurs in creating jobs, breaking down barriers, and serving as positive representations within the Deaf community. By investing in Deaf-owned businesses and providing resources for entrepreneurs, they seek to strengthen the community of Deaf entrepreneurs and, in turn, the Deaf community at large. About Gallaudet University Gallaudet University has been a cornerstone of the deaf and signing community for over 150 years, promoting the intellectual and professional advancement of deaf and hard of hearing individuals through American Sign Language and English. It upholds a proud tradition of research, scholarly activity, and prepares its graduates for careers in a dynamic, technological world. Gallaudet's vision is to be the university of first choice for the most qualified deaf and hard of hearing students globally. Contact Details Communication Service for the Deaf Rosa Lee Timm +1 518-569-1841 svf@csdsvf.com Company Website https://www.csd.org/

February 27, 2024 11:15 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Photography and Videography Jobs Soar in 2023, Finds Freelancer.com

FREELANCER.COM

Freelancer.com (ASX: FLN), the world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace by number of users and jobs posted, today published the fastest growing online jobs for 2023 based on data from more than 1 million projects posted to the platform. The data reveals that jobs related to video content creation are in high demand. Videography ranked as the second fastest growing skill of 2023, with Video Production and Video Editing jobs also growing significantly and placing in the top growing jobs. Other video-related jobs, such as YouTube Video Editing and TikTok, were also amongst the top 25 fastest growing jobs on Freelancer.com for 2023. Fueling this demand is an increase of brands incorporating video in their marketing strategies. According to Wyzowl, video content marketing is an essential part of a majority (88%) of marketers strategies with most (85%) planning to increase spending on video in 2024. Demand for skills in photography and photo editing was also a driver for new jobs. Adobe Lightroom projects saw the highest percentage growth across the year, while Photography as a skill grew by 3,625 total jobs. In terms of earning potential, freelancers in the United States are charging up to $300/hour for Photography skills, $200/hour for Videography and Video Editing, and $160/hour to create TikTok content. “Advances in generative AI are changing the way businesses are communicating and marketing themselves. A boom in video and photography services is a clear indication that there’s a shift towards visual, highly-produced content as opposed to reliance on legacy forms of internet marketing, such as a reliance on blog posts and articles to generate traffic. We expect this trend to continue and are already seeing signs of video and marketing categories continuing to increase in 2024,” said Matt Barrie, Chief Executive at Freelancer.com. One example of how businesses are shifting towards video and moving away from written content is evident when looking at the decreasing skills of 2023. Blog writing ranked as 13th in the top falling jobs on Freelancer.com, decreasing by 66% from 4,872 to 1,648 jobs posted in 2023. While some may speculate that the introduction of generative AI tools is impacting writing, blog writing was the only writing skill present in the falling jobs. In fact, other forms of writing such as Fiction Writing (up 36.1%), Creative Writing (up 18.8%) and Microsoft Word (up 16.8%) were both amongst the fastest growing jobs of the year. “AI can’t replace creativity, yet. Although this may emerge with model scale. We said this in the middle of the year when we saw creative writing jobs increase in Q2 2023 and the sentiment remains the same in 2024. What we are seeing is that our freelancers are moving up the stack. They’re evolving from just blog writers to editors. Moving from just illustrators to directors. Ultimately, AI is elevating our talent and improving efficiency and productivity in the process,” added Barrie. Top Freelance Jobs The most popular job in 2023 was graphic design, with more than a quarter million projects requiring the skill. Graphic design has always historically been the number one job type on Freelancer.com for over a decade. Jobs related to graphic design are also the best way for new freelancers to break into freelancing, as there is an abundance of projects offering Website Design, Logo Design, Icon Design, and other forms of graphic design available. Best Paid Skills Per Hour on Freelancer.com in 2023 Marketing, photography and video related jobs took out the top spots for the best paid skills per hour on the platform for 2023. These skills being paid the most is consistent with these categories also being the most in-demand for the year Best Paid Jobs per Project on Freelancer.com in 2023 As for jobs paid per project, internet marketing takes out the top spot, followed by website design, graphic design, data entry and video services. ###### Freelancer Fast 50 Freelancer Fast 50 The Freelancer Fast 50 index is the world’s largest forward indicator of trends in online jobs related to industries, technologies, products, and companies. The data is based on 1,122,000 jobs posted to the Freelancer platform between 1 January to 31 December 2023. 2023 Growing Skills 2023 Falling Skills About Freelancer Twelve-time Webby award-winning Freelancer.com is the world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace by total number of users and projects posted. More than 71 million registered users have posted over 23 million projects and contests to date in over 2,000 areas as diverse as website development, logo design, marketing, copywriting, aerospace engineering and manufacturing. Freelancer also owns Escrow.com, the leading provider of secure online payments and online transaction management, and Loadshift, an Australian enterprise freight marketplace. Freelancer Limited is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange under the ticker ASX:FLN and is quoted on OTCQX Best Market under the ticker FLNCF. Contact Details Freelancer.com Marko Zitko +61 404 574 830 mzitko@freelancer.com

February 27, 2024 08:23 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Fastest Growing North American-Based Sports Media Company, Basketball Forever, Signs First North American Gaming Partnership with Dabble

Basketball Forever

Basketball Forever, one of the fastest growing and most engaged independent sports content brands in the world, announced its first North American gaming partnership with fantasy operator Dabble to offer free-to-play games to North American audiences. Though more than 50% of its website traffic and user base comes from the United States, this will mark Basketball Forever’s debut into the North American market. Since launching in the U.S. at the start of 2024, Dabble has garnered over 500,000 unique downloads and amassed more than 10,000 players, proving to be one of the most appealing fantasy operators in the industry. The partnership kicked off during NBA All-Star weekend when Dabble offered Basketball Forever’s Hot Hands game during the 2024 All-Star Game. The opening day saw nearly 10,000 players participating, culminating in more than 70,000 total sessions over All-Star weekend. “Our launch with Dabble during All-Star weekend proved that we are definitely in the right place at the right time by expanding our business operation into North America,” said Alex Sumsky, CEO and co-founder of Basketball Forever. “Our success with Dabble will be an incredible case study of what we can offer to North American fantasy and real money operators—something we have a proven track record of in Australia. For instance, through our content portfolio in Australia, we were able to drive A$15 million of LTV to TAB whilst only spending A$500,000 on player acquisition. With a highly engaged audience and an extremely low cost per acquisition, we can offer American operators the same type of impact, as well as the eventual launch of our own owned and operated products and game suites” Basketball Forever will offer Hot Hands again on March 26 during a matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks. To play the game, users are given randomly generated, personalized bingo cards filled with player prediction tiles. Tracking the progress of selected player performances in real-time, users chase winning combinations, creating an immersive and interactive experience that blends the thrill of live sports with the anticipation of winning. All a user needs to do is complete a line to win a prize and fill the board to claim the jackpot. Two additional games, V.O.A.T. and Streaker, are currently in development and will go live before the end of the 2024 NBA season. In V.O.A.T., players will answer a series of live questions across various in-game events, testing knowledge and strategic decision making. Incorrect guesses eliminate users until one is left standing. The winner scoops the prize offered for that game. In Streaker, users will participate in a pick-em style game built around digital trading cards with trading mechanics. Both games will be offered as free-to-play versions for now, with real-money versions offered in the immediate future. In open beta, the V.O.A.T. product boasted a 91% organic retention rate with the 30,000 strong user base averaging 35 unique sessions per week on the game. “With our V.O.A.T. game, we were able to acquire our entire beta population and watch it grow four times over without spending a dollar on marketing or user acquisition tactics,” said Basketball Forever Chief Strategy Officer Nick Kelland. “ Because we own and operate our games, the majority of Basketball Forever’s content can have V.O.A.T.-related calls to action integrated, which is a pure opportunity for free daily user acquisition. We are expecting V.O.A.T. to grow to 300,000 users by the end of 2024 with a CPA of essentially $0.00. This is a massive opportunity for brands and sponsors in the North American market to reach a large and motivated audience for an extremely low cost.” Founded in 2015, Basketball Forever is a digital media platform creating news and content on the global basketball market. For more than a decade, the company has built its brand organically from Australia, amassing a monthly global audience of more than 110 million unique visitors. Previously, all of its partners, sponsors and development efforts focused on the Australian market, even though the platform reaches 45 million unique visitors per month from the United States alone. With its first major push into the North American market, Basketball Forever will be making several strategic business announcements in the upcoming months. ABOUT BASKETBALL FOREVER Basketball Forever was founded in 2015 with a mission to celebrate the game and embrace its ability to unite people from all over the world. The brand reaches millions globally as the best source of breaking news, commentary, rumors, and culture through a uniquely social-first approach, bringing the best content to the consumer and removing the barriers between the creative and the consumer. The company is currently the top ranked global sports company amongst millennials by engagement, garnering 3.9 billion impressions yearly, with a monthly global reach of 105 million unique visitors. For more information and to subscribe, please visit: BasketballForever.com Contact Details Hot Paper Lantern Sterling A. Randle +1 801-319-6153 srandle@hotpaperlantern.com Company Website https://basketballforever.com/

February 27, 2024 07:58 AM Eastern Standard Time

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