Media Roundup: Omnicom's post merger job cuts, Herald cuts Gaza references, Perth Bears sign New Balance, and Government pauses AI guardrails

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Omnicom flags 4,000 job cuts after Interpublic merger

Omnicom’s takeover of Interpublic has barely settled, and the company is already preparing to shed around 4,000 roles, with most cuts expected before the end of December.

As Lara O'Reilly reports in Business Insider, CEO John Wren confirmed the figure in interviews this week, and the company later backed it up.

Media

Herald trims Gaza references from Kerry O’Brien Walkleys speech

Kerry O’Brien brought the room to its feet at the Walkleys with a pointed speech about press freedom, opening with a tribute to Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza and the broader dangers facing reporters worldwide.

But, as Crikey's Danyaal Saeed reveals, when The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age published the speech, the references to Gaza and Palestine were quietly removed.

Brands

De Ceglie’s Perth Bears land New Balance in a major coup for NRL’s newest club

Seven’s former Director of News and Current Affairs, Anthony De Ceglie, has made headlines again, this time for his new company, the Perth Bears, which has signed a four-year partnership with New Balance.

The deal makes the Bears the first NRL club to sign a team apparel partnership with the global athletic powerhouse.

AI

Government pauses AI guardrails in new national plan

The federal government has quietly stepped back from its earlier push for tough, mandatory rules on AI, opting for a softer approach in the National AI Plan.

According to Jake Evans on ABC NEWS, instead of the promised guardrails, it says existing laws and regulators can handle things for now.

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