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Melissa Korn

@melissakorn.bsky.social

1.1K followers 56 following 54 posts

Deputy editor on the media team @WSJ. I like scoops, naps, F1, books and my kid, though not in that order. Co-author of UNACCEPTABLE, definitive book on Varsity Blues college admissions scandal.

Posts Replies Media

Reposted by Melissa Korn

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

My turn as a social media star, where I get super glammed up and report from my couch (and an ICU bed!) about my post-surgical pulmonary embolism. www.tiktok.com/@wallstreetj...

WSJ Editor Melissa Korn wanted to ignore sharp pain in her chest, hoping it was nothing and not wanting to burden her family. But a timely trip to the ER saved her life. Reporter/Host: Melissa Korn Pr...

TikTok video by The Wall Street Journal

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

My turn as a social media star, where I get super glammed up and report from my couch (and an ICU bed!) about my post-surgical pulmonary embolism. www.tiktok.com/@wallstreetj...

WSJ Editor Melissa Korn wanted to ignore sharp pain in her chest, hoping it was nothing and not wanting to burden her family. But a timely trip to the ER saved her life. Reporter/Host: Melissa Korn Pr...

TikTok video by The Wall Street Journal

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

My 9-year-old daughter devoured a few books by @alangratz.bsky.social and Jennifer A. Nielsen. She kept wanting more. Behold, it's a real trend! Learn how (and why) young readers are crazed for books about resistance fighters, teen spies and all things World War II. www.wsj.com/arts-culture...

How World War II Became the Hottest Book Craze…for Kids

Publishers are racing to churn out more historical novels about bombings, spies and young resistance fighters.

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Bret Baier of Fox News prides himself on being a traditional news anchor, in a "not news-friendly world." Viewership of his ‘Special Report’ show is up a whopping 57% this year. www.wsj.com/business/med...

He’s the Anchor People Are Still Watching in a ‘Not News-Friendly World’

The ratings boom for Fox News’s Bret Baier defies the decline in cable-news audiences.

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

For mystery writers, getting the details of the perfect crime correct can be bloody hard. These cops are here to help. A delightful, killer story from Jeff Trachtenberg #booksky www.wsj.com/arts-culture...

How Long Could You Survive in a Bank Vault? Where Crime Writers Go for Answers.

As knives come out for authors who don’t know their guns, a Facebook group of cops works to avoid corrections and solve conundrums

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Some of you know I'm an F1 fan. Was super excited when Isabella Simonetti pitched a story on their U.S. media rights. And boy, did she deliver. www.wsj.com/business/med...

Formula One’s TV Rights Are Up for Grabs, but Media Companies Aren’t Racing to Bid

Liberty Media’s F1 is seeking $150 million to $180 million a year for the fast-growing sport.

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

In an era when streaming shows give priority to big budgets and short runs, “The Pitt” has succeeded by doing the opposite. @jbflint.bsky.social dives into how the show makes it work. (Also if you're not watching the show, why the heck not? It's so good.) www.wsj.com/arts-culture...

‘The Pitt’ Isn’t Your Typical Streaming Show. That’s Part of Why It Works.

The fast-paced, low-cost, emergency-room drama is serving as a model for other potential projects at Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max service.

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Brands want their online ads to land in front of humans. Companies tasked with weeding out bots are struggling to keep up. @patiencehaggin.bsky.social has tons of exclusive details about just how much they miss, and why. www.wsj.com/business/med...

Efforts to Weed Out Fake Users for Online Advertisers Fall Short

Brands spend billions on ads without knowing if they are being shown to humans. With fake users making up 40% of web traffic, bot-detection companies can’t keep up.

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Reposted by Melissa Korn

The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · 20/03/2025

In the weeks before her death, Voletta Wallace forged the deal she hoped would ensure Biggie Smalls’s legacy for generations to come

A Mother’s Quest to Secure Biggie Smalls’s Legacy

She spent two decades fighting for control of her son’s music rights, and signed a deal shortly before she died valuing the estate at $200 million.

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

From Dude Perfect to Ms. Rachel, YouTube creators are getting their Hollywood moment. www.wsj.com/business/med...

Exclusive | Netflix Chases Its MrBeast Moment

Disney, Peacock and other streaners are pursuing YouTube stars for new shows. Amazon’s “Beast Games” boasts profit and gears up for more seasons.

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

Macmillan's Flatiron imprint isn't pulling "Careless People" from shelves. But its author isn't allowed to promote it, according to an arbitrator's ruling yesterday. Perhaps the controversy will ultimately boost sales. www.wsj.com/business/med...

She Promised Not to Speak Ill of Meta. Then Wrote a Tell-All. Now, She Can’t Talk About It.

An arbitrator ruled that a former Meta employee has to halt publicity push for her new book; publisher plans to keep promoting it.

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

So awesome to hear the WSJ story on paperbacks falling out of favor, by @jeffreyt1.bsky.social, featured on #WaitWaitDontTellMe this past week. Missed the story? Here you go: www.wsj.com/business/med...

Waiting for the Paperback? Good Luck

Publishers increasingly give nonfiction authors one shot at print stardom, ditching paperback editions as market priorities shift.

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Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

Dug up an old story from my 2006 internship at the FT. Tivo! MP3 players! I can't even: "With consumers Tivo-ing past television commercials, opting for MP3 players rather than radio, and blocking pop-up internet ads, bricks are starting to look more attractive than clicks to some advertisers."

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Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

Don’t want to spend $30 for a new hardcover? You may never get the chance to buy the cheaper paperback version, at least for nonfiction. @jeffreyt1.bsky.social has details on what is, to me, an infuriating development in publishing world. www.wsj.com/business/med...

Waiting for the Paperback? Good Luck.

Publishers increasingly give nonfiction authors one shot at print stardom, ditching paperback editions as market priorities shift.

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is facing what may be the most significant challenge of his tenure: coping with the demise of the TV economy that long fueled the industry. His proposed fix is complex and wildly ambitious. www.wsj.com/sports/baseb...

MLB Plots a New TV Model After Striking Out With ESPN

The big sports network is walking away from the national pastime, accelerating baseball’s need to cope with the demise of the TV economy that fueled its growth for decades.

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Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Google made tweaks to how it ranks product-review sites in search. It's caused an existential crisis for some publishers. www.wsj.com/business/med...

Google Tweak Creates Crisis for Product-Review Sites

New rules for recommendation sites such as Forbes Vetted and CNN Underscored threaten their business models and hurt freelancers.

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

The Status newsletter from @oliverdarcy.bsky.social has quickly become a must-read for the power brokers of publishing and entertainment. Now he's poaching a CNN editor to help build off that early momentum. www.wsj.com/business/med...

He Left CNN to Start a Newsletter. It’s Now a Must-Read.

Oliver Darcy’s newsletter, Status, has quickly become a must-read for the power brokers of publishing and entertainment.

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

🚨 NEWS: A lawyer at Interpublic got a call from a lawyer at X in December. Behind what some in advertising see as a pressure campaign to get brands back on the platform. A must-read from Suzanne Vranica. www.wsj.com/business/med...

Exclusive | X Hinted at Possible Deal Trouble in Talks With Ad Giant to Increase Spending

Interpublic recently signed an advertising agreement with the platform; other agencies are also in negotiations.

Reposted by Melissa Korn

The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · 18/02/2025

After mostly steering clear of the national cultural center during his first term, President Trump has moved quickly to take control as he returns to office.

The Week Trump Mounted an Unprecedented Takeover of the Kennedy Center

After mostly steering clear of the national cultural center during his first term, Trump has moved quickly to take control as he returns to office.

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

🚨SCOOP from Jessica Toonkel: Paramount is wrestling with whether to settle President Trump’s lawsuit against its CBS News unit, and how it might do so without exposing executives to future legal threats like bribery allegations. www.wsj.com/business/med...

Exclusive | Paramount Executives Ask: Could They Be Sued for Settling Trump’s $20 Billion CBS Lawsuit?

Media company executives fear liability from potential settlement paid prior to Skydance merger.

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Big media executives were hopeful that Trump 2.0 would usher in a period of light-touch regulation. Instead, President Trump’s chosen communications regulator is turning the screws. via @drewfitzgerald.bsky.social www.wsj.com/business/med...

It’s Open Season on the Media for Trump’s FCC Chair

The top communications regulator has pursued a blitz of investigations and warnings on a range of issues in recent weeks.

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Reposted by Melissa Korn

The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · 12/02/2025

The switcheroo that let Kanye West advertise swastika shirts during the Super Bowl

The Switcheroo That Let Kanye West Advertise Swastika Shirts During the Super Bowl

The controversial rapper, who goes by Ye, bought local ads promoting his clothing website—then changed what the site sold after TV stations approved the ad.

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

I don't know about you but I didn't have "edit story that uses the word swastika" on my bingo card for today. www.wsj.com/business/med...

The Switcheroo That Let Kanye West Advertise Swastika Shirts During the Super Bowl

The controversial rapper, who goes by Ye, bought local ads promoting his clothing website—then changed what the site sold after TV stations approved the ad.

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Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

There's a palpable defiance in Nike's new Super Bowl ad--its first in 27 years. Women athletes shine as Doechii says: "You can’t make demands. You can’t be proud. You can’t keep score. You can’t stand out...You can't win. So win." www.wsj.com/business/med...

Exclusive | Nike Is Betting a Big Super Bowl Ad With Caitlin Clark, Rapper Doechii Can Help Reclaim Its Dominance

More than a half-dozen elite female athletes are starring in the new commercial, as the apparel maker capitalizes on the surge in women’s sports.

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Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

Sometimes I get to edit a story where there's just such a sweet, human tidbit that my breath catches and I smile. I loved getting to the line about Bill Owens's pocket squares in this one by @jbflint.bsky.social www.wsj.com/business/med...

How the Head of ‘60 Minutes’ Ended Up at the Center of Trump’s Fight With CBS News

Bill Owens has defended his editing decision on the show’s Kamala Harris interview, which is the subject of a $10 billion lawsuit.

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Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

Phew, I still remember how to write even after becoming an editor. First byline in a while: www.wsj.com/business/med...

The War Over What Makes for ‘Harmful’ Reading Material Is Heating Up

A group of major U.S. publishers, along with authors, parents, teachers and a public library, are suing Idaho to overturn a law regarding minors’ access to books with certain sexual content.

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

He refers to himself as Pablo Eggscobar. You may know him from his fiery appearances on CNN's 'NewsNight.' A super-fun @wsj.com profile of Scott Jennings: wsj.com/business/med...

The Conservative Pundit Explaining Red America to CNN Viewers

Commentator shines on debate shows, but says his segments are about more than viral showmanship.

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Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's a...lawsuit alleging DC Comics and Warner Bros Discovery are selling "Superman" after major international copyrights expired. via @jbflint.bsky.social @wsj.com www.wsj.com/business/med...

Lawsuit Aims to Ground ‘Superman’ in Major International Markets

The estate of superhero co-creator Joseph Shuster alleges overseas copyright infringement against Warner Bros. Discovery and DC Comics.

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Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

Questions about Tiananmen Square? DeepSeek says ‘Let’s talk about something else’ -- we got some interesting answers when we asked China-related questions to the AI chatbot taking the world by storm. www.wsj.com/tech/ai/deep...

DeepSeek’s Chatbot Works Like Its U.S. Rivals—Until You Ask About Tiananmen

The new Chinese AI tool gives more limited, and propaganda-infused, information on sensitive topics

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Reposted by Melissa Korn

Ron Lieber @ronlieber.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Our story on the chaos in education today, with the U of Chicago halting some research and Head Start administrators laying off staff. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/28/u...

Schools Rattled as Trump Administration Demands Scrutiny of Education Programs

The Trump administration has paused federal dollars to some grantees as it tries to uproot policies like diversity, equity and inclusion. Schools and universities are worried important programs could ...

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

NEWS: Paramount execs have held internal talks about settling Trump's lawsuit over CBS's '60 Minutes' Kamala Harris interview, as they look to dial down tensions with the incoming president. via @wsj.com wsj.com/business/med...

Exclusive | CBS Owner Discusses Settling Trump Suit, With Merger Review on Tap

Paramount, owner of CBS, its namesake studio and several cable channels, has a major piece of business in front of the new administration: its planned merger with Skydance Media.

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Reposted by Melissa Korn

Being Reese @beingreese.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

Me at 2 AM: "Just one more chapter." Me at 5 AM: "Why am I like this?"

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

Consumers are hunting for a low-cost, all-in-one sports streaming service. It remains elusive, but DirecTV's newest sports bundle tries to get closer. (As long as some games are on Amazon/Peacock/RSNs and not included in the bundle, this quest is pretty much futile.) www.wsj.com/business/med...

DirecTV Pursues Sports Fans With New, Slimmer Streaming Bundle

The MySports package includes access to many major sports, but some holes remain.

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Reposted by Melissa Korn

The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · 13/01/2025

“It was our retirement. It was our investment. It was our equity. It was everything.” Teachers, plumbers and nurses bought into L.A.’s affluent neighborhoods decades ago. The bulk of their fortunes are tied up in homes that are now ash. on.wsj.com/3PTw2gJ

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

Financial turmoil. Rivals poaching top talent. The Washington Post is mired in drama, and owner Jeff Bezos envisions major changes. Oh and Matt Murray is no longer just interim exec ed, it's official, but also not formally announced. www.wsj.com/business/med...

The Washington Post Is Limping Into Trump’s Second Term

Financial struggles and concerns over editorial strategy rattle staffers at the Jeff Bezos-owned publication; rivals poach top talent.

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Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

NEW from Jessica Toonkel: Liberty Media taps board member Derek Chang as new CEO. He'll look at digital expansion and other growth opportunities for Formula One. www.wsj.com/business/med...

Exclusive | Liberty Media Taps Sports Veteran as CEO, Seeks to Grow Formula One

Derek Chang, a Liberty board member and former CEO of NBA China, will look at digital expansion.

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 27/12/2024

Does it really count as reading if you're using your ears? The debate over audiobooks is fierce. www.wsj.com/lifestyle/be...

Does Listening to a Book Count as Reading It? Debate Roils Literary World.

Audiobook fans bristle at suggestion they are multitaskers prone to missing big plot points

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

Dozens more cameras, including ones used for feature films. Netflix is planning to put a cinematic spin on its Christmas football games. But, one exec promises, they aren't trying to “do Spielberg doing the NFL.” www.wsj.com/business/med...

Netflix’s Christmas NFL Playbook: Keep Fans—and the League—Happy

The streaming service is rolling out a Beyoncé halftime show and extra cameras for its first live NFL games.

Reposted by Melissa Korn

The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · 24/12/2024

More than 400,000 students in American colleges without permanent legal status are in limbo as they await what Donald Trump has pledged to be the largest deportation program in U.S. history. “Sadness is a common feeling but also frustration and a sense of unfairness.”

‘Dreamers’ Make Emergency Plans as Trump Vows to Deport Millions

Students lacking permanent legal status are scrambling to prepare in case an immigration crackdown hits campuses.

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

Lots of new followers on here! Figured I'd take the opportunity for a moment of self-promotion. A few years ago, Jennifer Levitz and I wrote a book about the Varsity Blues admission scandal. It's pretty awesome, if I do say so myself. Check it out! www.amazon.com/gp/product/0...

Unacceptable: Privilege, Deceit & the Making of the College Admissions Scandal

Amazon.com: Unacceptable: Privilege, Deceit & the Making of the College Admissions Scandal: 9780593087725: Korn, Melissa, Levitz, Jennifer: Books

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Be “the most Christlike person you can be," was advice one Jesus model got. Lest viewers know it's not the real one in photos. Great piece! www.wsj.com/lifestyle/ca...

It Pays to Have Long Hair and a Beard in Utah—Jesus Models Are in Demand

Lookalikes are being hired for family portraits and wedding announcements but expectations can be high; ‘You know I’m not the real Jesus, right?’

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Settling the Trump defamation suit was supposed to eliminate a headache for Disney. Instead, it's roiled ABC News. @jbflint.bsky.social and Isabella Simonetti have the deets. wsj.com/business/med...

Disney’s Decision to Settle Trump Defamation Suit Prompts Backlash at ABC News

Staffers question the decision approved by Bob Iger, with which the company was looking to avoid a protracted legal battle.

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 15/12/2024

All the cool kids are doing it. Now legacy media wants in on the TikTok action. www.wsj.com/business/med...

TikTok Is a Go-To News Source for Young People. Legacy Media Wants In.

Big news brands were slow to join the video platform but now are experimenting with reaching a new audience there.

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

The raw emotion here, the realization of freedom, is truly breathtaking.

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

“You’re not taking a year are you?” Netflix has quietly pulled back its much-lauded parental-leave policy, one of several cultural changes as it reins in employee freedom. Fantastic deep dive from Jessica Toonkel here @wsj.com www.wsj.com/business/med...

Netflix’s Extraordinary Parental Leave Was Part of Its Culture. That’s Over.

Employees worry the pullback and other new restrictions mean the entertainment giant is losing the identity that fueled its success.

Reposted by Melissa Korn

The Onion @theonion.com · 09/12/2024

Somebody Should Do Something About All The Problems theonion.com/somebody-sho...

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

Big deal news from @wsj.com this morning, with our team reporting Omnicom in advanced talks to buy Interpublic Group. The all-stock deal likely values IPG at $13-14B, sources say. www.wsj.com/business/med...

Exclusive | Advertising Firms Omnicom and Interpublic Nearing Merger That Would Reshape Industry

A deal would create the world’s largest advertising company, with net revenue of more than $20 billion, topping WPP’s $15.1 billion.

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

Forget calorie counts. These “nutrition labels” have latency rates and fees—and are meant to help comparison shop for broadband internet services. One problem: They're darn near impossible to find or understand. www.wsj.com/business/tel... via @wsj.com @patiencehaggin.bsky.social

Internet Plans Now Come With ‘Nutrition Labels.’ No One Knows How to Read Them.

Internet-service providers must disclose prices and speeds on labels like packaged foods—but consumers can’t find or understand them.

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

These numbers are bananas! Taylor Swift's book (which apparently could've used another look from the copy editor) sold more than 800,000 copies in its first TWO DAYS on sale. My colleague Jeff Trachtenberg has the deets. www.wsj.com/business/med...

Taylor Swift’s Concert Book Proves a Chart-Topper

The entertainer’s self-published work sold more than 800,000 copies in its first two days.

Melissa Korn @melissakorn.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

Self-published. On sale only at one store. And an initial print run of 2 million. Taylor Swift is rewriting the playbook for a holiday bestseller with "The Eras Tour Book" www.wsj.com/business/med...

Taylor Swift Looks to Deliver Another Megahit—for Target Stores

The retailer’s exclusive deal to sell Swift’s self-published Eras Tour book could brighten an otherwise rough run for Target.

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