News organisations struggle with AI’s rise and trust issues in a hostile political climate Shift from search engines to answer engines predicts declining referral traffic for publishers Growing creator economy and video focus reshape distribution and content strategies The global news industry is heading into a defining year in 2026,…...
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Shoppers, creators and policymakers are pushing AI makers to build stronger legal guardrails for name, image and likeness use , because when a tool lets you clone a face or voice by default, things get messy fast. Here’s what developers, talent and lawmakers are doing, and why an opt‑in approach…
Cloudflare updates its open x402 payment-gated proxy template to support wider micropayment use The x402 protocol aims to facilitate programme‑not‑state payments for APIs and content The move aligns with broader initiatives to normalise on‑chain and tokenised payments on the web Cloudflare is expanding its push to make paid access to…
Beehiiv plans to double its advertising team by 2026 to boost revenue streams The move aims to expand monetisation options for creators on its platform Industry observers see it as a response to increasing advertiser demand and platform competition Beehiiv, the newsletter platform, is expanding its in-house advertising operation as it looks to scale a fast-growing revenue stream for both the company and creators on its platform. As growth in paid newsletters slows and competition intensifies, platforms like Beehiiv are under pressure to offer creators more robust monetisation options beyond subscriptions, pushing them closer to the ad-tech and media-services businesses…
Semafor raises $30 million, valuing the company at $330 million post-money Funds to boost international coverage and live journalism events Company reports first profitable year with $40 million revenue in 2025 Semafor has closed a $30 million financing round, valuing the digital media startup at $330 million after recording its first profitable year. The US-based...
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WAN-IFRA aims to capitalise on recent momentum with a focus on AI and experimentation in 2026 The organisation has expanded through the integration of FIPP, creating a global media alliance Priorities include press freedom, media literacy, and strengthening publisher networks amid industry shifts WAN-IFRA is entering 2026 with an explicit reset: a tighter focus on...
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Instagram’s Adam Mosseri highlights AI’s impact on content authenticity Platforms developing labels and metadata standards to verify images and videos Creators urged to embrace raw, candid content amidst growing mistrust in polished visuals Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, has declared that the era when photographs or video could be taken at face value is over,...
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The Boston Globe aims to deepen neighbourhood coverage and expand across New England in 2026 Recognition from major awards highlights recent investigative achievements New initiatives focus on community engagement, product development, and regional growth Linda Henry, chief executive of Boston Globe Media, has used a full-page year-end message in the print edition of The Boston Globe to outline priorities for 2026, pledging deeper neighbourhood reporting and broader reach across New England. The letter sets a public agenda for how one of the country’s most influential metro newsrooms plans to translate national recognition into sustained local coverage at a time when…
Google experiments with users shaping their Discover feed using natural language prompts The feature aims to improve relevance and control while streamlining content curation Concerns grow over potential impacts on publishers, content diversity and ecosystem health Google is testing a more granular form of personalisation for its Discover feed that…
McGrory to rejoin the Boston Globe as editor in January 2026 His return aims to strengthen digital subscription growth and local investigative reporting The newsroom’s structure and digital focus set to evolve amid industry challenges Brian McGrory will return as editor of the Boston Globe in January, the company said…
The former editor finalises a $30 million funding round to expand his YouTube channel The move signals increasing investor interest in creator-driven, partisan media platforms Critics raise concerns over media plurality and the influence of outside capital in UK journalism Piers Morgan is close to securing about $30 million in…
Exor in exclusive talks to sell most of GEDI to Greece’s Antenna Group Italian journalists strike and protest over job security and editorial independence Government and unions scrutinise deal amid fears for media pluralism and democratic heritage Italy’s media sector has been jolted by confirmation that Exor, the Agnelli-Elkann family…
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Yahoo launches a personalised afternoon audio news digest for US users The new briefing utilises AI technology from Artifact, acquired in 2024 The move highlights a shift towards multimodal, audio-centric news delivery Yahoo is widening its use of artificial intelligence in news delivery with the launch of an afternoon audio…
Young users swiftly evade age checks using fake IDs, faces and third-party accounts Experts warn that verification flaws may lead to misuse and privacy risks The law’s success depends on overcoming technical limitations and ensuring safe alternatives Australia’s world-first ban on social media accounts for under-16s came into force on…
Adults in the UK now spend over four and a half hours online daily, a record turn driven by AI and mobile usage Generative AI like ChatGPT dramatically changing search and information consumption Concerns rise over online safety, with increased social media use among young children and new online safety…
A new digital media platform, Velora, utilises generative AI to enable a one-person newsroom The system coordinates news gathering, drafting, and publishing, with human editing at every stage Velora aims to transform specialised journalism and offers potential for white-label publishing solutions A former editor of Cycling News has launched a…...
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Jeff Zucker advocates for backing niche and deeply reported news outlets with unique content Emphasises the role of AI as a production tool, not a storytelling substitute Highlights ongoing consolidation and regulatory challenges within the UK media sector Jeff Zucker, chief executive of RedBird IMI and an operating partner at RedBird Capital, used a Content London 2025 keynote to outline a blunt investment plan: back high-quality intellectual property, favour niche or deep-information news outlets and treat artificial intelligence as a production tool rather than a replacement for reporters. Zucker’s approach – selective investment, tight operational teams and a focus on…
Newsweek partners with Google Cloud to create a personalised, AI-driven homepage featuring external sources. The move aims to combat declining web traffic and adapt to escalating AI rivalry among tech giants. Industry-wide shift highlights the fight for user attention in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Newsweek is developing an AI-powered homepage with Google Cloud in an attempt to reverse falling traffic and shrinking search referrals. At a time when many readers bypass homepages altogether, the magazine is wagering that a personalised front page – tuned to users’ interests and local information such as weather, news and stock data – can…
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Nearly 87% of Los Angeles Times Guild members approve new labour contract Contract includes wage increases, workplace protections, and AI usage regulations Union wins reflect broader industry tensions amid digital transformation and economic pressures Los Angeles Times journalists have averted a strike by ratifying a new labour contract after nearly two months since authorising strike action. Approximately 87 percent of members of the Los Angeles Times Guild, which represents around 200 newsroom staff including reporters, editors, photographers, and designers, voted to approve the deal. This outcome brings to a close a protracted and challenging bargaining process that extended beyond a…
The NewsGuild-CWA challenges AI use in newsrooms, advocating for human-led reporting Union demands AI assist rather than replace journalists, and seeks protections for intellectual property Industry faces a conflict between efficiency gains and maintaining editorial integrity amid financial pressures The NewsGuild-CWA has launched a campaign called News Not Slop, challenging how artificial intelligence is being rolled out across newsrooms. It captures a growing split in the industry: whether publishers can use automation to stem losses without undermining the human reporting that gives journalism its value. Representing 27,000 workers across North America, the Guild has set out five demands, led by…
Nine US regional newspapers accuse OpenAI and Microsoft of training AI on unlicensed news content Lawsuit seeks over $10 billion in damages and destruction of alleged infringing datasets Case highlights tensions between AI innovation and rights protection in the evolving legal landscape Nine US regional newspapers have launched a sweeping copyright lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, seeking damages that could exceed $10 billion. The plaintiffs include the Boston Herald, Hartford Courant, San Diego Union-Tribune, Los Angeles Daily News, New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune and Denver Post. They allege the companies trained AI models on unlicensed news content that the…
Goalhanger to take over Southbank Centre for a weekend festival in 2026 Features major podcast acts and crossover events Aims to merge arts and audio sectors in a historic venue Goalhanger has announced that it will take over the Southbank Centre next year for The Rest Is Fest, a weekend festival that puts the UK’s biggest podcast acts on stage. It is the clearest sign yet of the extent to which the digital audio firm is using events to diversify its offer. Running from Friday 4 September to Sunday 6 September 2026, the event will be a centrepiece of the…
Major regional and long-standing titles adopt paywalls to secure revenue Industry acknowledges that reliance on digital ads alone is unsustainable Success depends on refining reader journeys, data use and operational discipline The past fortnight brought two announcements that should make every senior news executive pause. Reach plc is introducing a part-paywall on the Manchester Evening...
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Industry leaders emphasise the urgent need to adapt to fast-paced shifts driven by AI and creator integration Traditional media must adopt new skills and operational models around niche content, podcasts and events Strong leadership behaviours are essential to navigate the upheaval and prevent a potential crisis in news organisations When it came to the switch...
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Goalhanger shifts from audio-first to a multi-platform media entity with a new identity Launch of new high-trust content franchise ‘The Rest Is Science’ Focus on deep engagement and premium advertising opportunities amid evolving consumer habits Goalhanger has launched a full rebrand that shifts the company from its podcasting roots into a broader media operation incorporating video, live experiences, social content and subscription memberships. The move reflects how podcast publishers are repositioning themselves to keep pace with changing audience habits and attract higher-value commercial partners. The new identity is built around a GH wordmark and the line “For the curious.” Goalhanger…
Google rolls out its most advanced AI model, Gemini 3, into search features in the US Enhances complex query handling with richer, multimodal and interactive responses Subscribers of Google AI Ultra gain access to the most powerful capabilities, including agentic workflows Google has begun rolling out Gemini 3, its most advanced AI model, across parts...
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CNN ceases to share content on Apple News amid ongoing negotiations Launch of new tiered subscription service aims to boost direct revenues The move highlights tensions between platform reliance and control over content CNN has taken its content off Apple News, ending a distribution deal that has been in place since the app launched in 2015. The network’s feed disappeared as the two sides negotiate new terms, with neither company commenting on the talks. The shift matters because it shows how quickly relationships between publishers and platforms can change as news organisations push harder for direct revenue. The move comes…
DMGT to acquire The Telegraph in a £500 million deal, creating a dominant right-leaning media group The UK government’s Foreign State Influence rules played a key role in blocking foreign investment Acquisition prompts expectations of regulatory scrutiny and aims to boost conservative media influence The owner of the Daily Mail, DMGT (Daily Mail and General...
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