Wolfram Weimer proposes a digital levy to tax large tech firms like Google The plan aims to generate revenue and ensure fair contribution to the German media landscape Potential international implications include US trade tensions and a wider European adoption hints Germany’s culture minister, Wolfram Weimer, is preparing to introduce a digital levy aimed squarely at major technology companies such as Google. He said the measure could generate billions in revenue while bringing the platforms under German press law, ensuring they contribute fairly to the country’s media system and do not gain unchecked influence over public debate. Weimer told Redaktionsnetzwerk…

Barry Diller advocates for internal innovation and diversification for legacy media Rebranding of Dotdash Meredith to People Inc. signals a shift toward integrated, product-based revenues Emphasising content as a foundation for brand licensing and physical products amid digital disruption Barry Diller, chairman of IAC, has set out his vision for the future of People Inc, the media group formerly known as Dotdash Meredith. Speaking on the Invest Like The Best podcast, he said the July 2025 rebrand was more than cosmetic: it marked a strategy to confront declining traffic from platforms like Google and adapt to the rise of AI-driven…

Quora ranks as the fourth most-cited source in Google’s AI Mode, after LinkedIn, Reddit, and Google AI responses blend multiple Quora answers with sophisticated paraphrasing, prioritising relevance over keyword matching Engagement metrics and content quality influence whether Quora threads are featured in AI-generated answers Google’s new AI Mode is reshaping online visibility, with Quora emerging...

Heller shifts Business Insider towards specialised business beats Focus on collaboration aims to combat newsroom silos Emphasis on timely, objective reporting in a competitive landscape A year into her role as editor-in-chief of Business Insider, Jamie Heller is sharpening the publication’s focus on specialised business journalism while pushing for a more collaborative newsroom culture. Heller, who took over in September 2024 after two decades at The Wall Street Journal, told LinkedIn’s Andrew Murfett that her priority is to move away from siloed content production and towards a unified editorial identity. “People did their thing,” she said of the earlier approach,…

Google ceases political ads in the EU ahead of October 2025 regulation Meta announces similar halt, citing regulatory burdens Shift signals changing landscape for digital political communication and online transparency Google has pre-emptively ceased accepting political advertisements across the European Union, well in advance of the EU’s Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA) regulation taking effect on October 10. Under the new EU regulation, any ad deemed political must be explicitly identified, including disclosing the sponsor, relevant election or referendum, payment amounts and targeting methods. Advertisers must declare whether their campaign falls under the political advertisement definition by responding…

The London Spy halts publication citing burnout and unmet goals Growing new outlets suggest a renaissance in London’s local journalism Subscribers offered partial refunds as the team considers a scaled-back return The London Spy, a newsletter devoted to long-form reporting on the city’s news and culture, has announced it is pausing publication after nearly two years, citing burnout and the difficulty of sustaining the workload. The independent outlet had come close to covering its costs through paid subscriptions – enough for one of the founders to cut back their day job – but said deadlines had begun to dictate the work more…

Future plc launches Collab to unite digital creators with trusted brands High-profile titles like Marie Claire and Who What Wear participate Initiative aims to deliver authentic content through collaboration and innovation Future has launched a new initiative, Collab, designed to bring together the influence of digital creators with the authority of its established media brands. The programme pairs creators with titles such as Marie Claire, Who What Wear, Ideal Home and Homes & Gardens to produce content that speaks authentically to each brand’s audience. Hillary Kerr, senior vice president of Women & Luxury at Future and co-founder of Who What…

A coalition of leading economists highlights the role of independent journalism in global economic health Misinformation risks are escalating with AI, threatening social stability and market integrity Urgent policy actions are needed to sustain trustworthy media and support economic resilience A coalition of 11 leading economists, including Nobel laureates Joseph Stiglitz and Daron Acemoğlu, has...

Social start-up secures over $10 million in new funding Launch of SaySo, a creator-centric app, aims to deepen audience engagement and monetisation Caliber expands its portfolio, focusing on diverse revenue streams amid industry shifts The News Movement, the Gen Z-focused social-led media brand, has entered a new phase of growth and maturity following a significant investment believed to exceed $10 million. This infusion of capital marks a transition from its early “scrappy start-up” days to a more established media entity under the new name of Caliber. Caliber was created to oversee a portfolio of socially native brands, including The News…

Darcy’s newsletter recruits top reporters from Vanity Fair and The Wrap to deepen media coverage Status transitions to a seven-day publication, incorporating a new video podcast, Power Lines Growth driven by a focus on accountability journalism in an increasingly consolidated media landscape Oliver Darcy, the former CNN media reporter who launched the independent newsletter Status, is expanding his media-focused publication with new editorial hires, a daily publishing schedule and a push into video. Darcy, who left CNN in August 2024 after serving as senior media reporter and writing the network’s Reliable Sources newsletter, has recruited two high-profile journalists: Brian Lowry…