3:52 pm - June 25, 2026
Social media and video now the primary news sources globally Trust in news drops to a historic low of 37%, with Americans trusting only 25% News organisations face the challenge of rebuilding trust amidst AI content proliferation Forget the World Cup, for news nerds this week has brought unbridled excitement…
Getty Images strikes a multi-year licensing deal with OpenAI The partnership enhances ChatGPT’s image relevance and trustworthiness Shares rise as Getty aims to monetise its archive amid AI-driven disruption Getty Images has struck a multi-year licensing deal with OpenAI that will allow its pictures to appear in ChatGPT’s search and…
Complaint alleges that OpenAI and Microsoft used nearly 400 newspapers’ reporting without permission Case marks the largest coordinated legal action by local news publishers on AI training issues Suit aims to protect local journalism and challenge the use of copyrighted material in AI development A coalition of local newspaper publishers…
German court rules AI Overviews are Google’s own content, risking liability Google argues the AI summaries are accurate but admits occasional errors Case could set legal precedent on responsibility for AI-generated information Google is set to challenge a German court ruling that could make it liable for false statements surfaced in its AI Overviews, a decision that may reverberate across the wider artificial intelligence sector. The Munich court said the AI-generated summaries that appear above standard search results amount to Google’s own content, rather than a neutral display of third-party material. That finding narrows the company’s defence that users should…
UK government aims to restrict social media access for under-16s by spring 2027 Moves to curb risky features like livestreaming and stranger contact Experts highlight challenges of enforcement and broader public health strategies The UK government has confirmed plans to bar social media platforms from offering services to under-16s, in a move ministers say is designed to give children more protection from harmful content and excessive screen time. According to the announcement, the restrictions will apply to “user-to-user platforms” that are built around social interaction and algorithmic feeds. In practice, that brings services such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook…
Bloomberg journalism now accessible directly within CisionOne platform for corporate users Aims to streamline news monitoring and response strategies for communications teams Reflects a trend towards seamless integration of media content and analytics for enterprise agility Bloomberg Media has partnered with Cision to make Bloomberg’s journalism available within CisionOne, the media intelligence platform used by corporate communications teams. The deal highlights a broader effort by publishers and intelligence providers to integrate reporting directly into professional workflows, reducing the gap between content consumption and decision-making for enterprise users. Under the arrangement, eligible Bloomberg.com group subscribers will be able to read, monitor…
Rainer Esser asserts AI will enhance journalism’s value by emphasising human connection Calls for news organisations to recognise their worth and partner confidently with tech giants Personal storytelling highlights irreplaceable human element in investigative journalism If you’re invited to speak at a conference, you really don’t want a slot at the end of the day when delegates’ energy has dropped and the darkness of the auditorium becomes soporific. Even worse is to be the last speaker in the last session on the last day. At WAN-IFRA’s World News Media Congress in Marseille this week that poisoned chalice fell to Rainer…
The Times adopts a specialised, multi-team approach to video content production Video is now a distinct editorial discipline, not just repurposed print stories Distribution strategies evolve with dedicated platforms like the new ‘Watch’ tab At WAN-IFRA’s World News Media Congress in Marseille, Solana Pyne, video director at The New York Times, argued that the traditional distinction between readers, listeners and viewers no longer reflects how audiences consume news. The shift is reshaping how newsrooms organise themselves. As audiences move more fluidly between text, audio and video, publishers are increasingly treating video not as a way to support written journalism but…
Pichai discusses Google’s organisational overhaul post-ChatGPT New AI products aim to blur surface distinctions and streamline user experience Search results face scrutiny over AI-driven bias and publisher impact Sundar Pichai has offered one of his clearest public accounts yet of how generative AI has forced Google to reorganise internally, rethink…
Simon Robinson, currently a Reuters executive, to lead ABC News in September First external hire for the role in decades amid leadership reshuffle Broadcaster seeks to rejuvenate its journalistic output amid ongoing transition Australia’s ABC has chosen Reuters executive Simon Robinson as its new director of news and current affairs,…
CNN sues Perplexity AI over copyright violations OpenAI publishes governance framework aligned with new regulations State versus federal fights intensify over AI regulation jurisdiction Three developments last week underscored how fragmented AI governance has become: CNN sued Perplexity AI over alleged copying of its journalism; OpenAI published a governance framework…
The Vatican’s encyclical calls for AI regulation based on law, oversight and human judgement Pope warns against autonomous weapons, worker displacement and AI-driven conflict Emphasises the importance of moral language in global AI governance debates Pope Leo XIV has thrust the Vatican into the centre of the global debate over…
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Goalhanger, launched by Gary Lineker, expands into backing early-stage media companies Moves include investments in Invisible Media and Backyard Cricket to diversify portfolio Company shifts focus from advertising to subscriptions and live events, reaching over 250,000 subscribers Gary Lineker’s media company is expanding beyond podcast production after helping launch Goalhanger…
Bezos defends the profitability of journalism as a measure of relevance Changes in Google search algorithms threaten traditional news revenue To succeed, news organisations must focus on delivering value and distinctive reporting Jeff Bezos sometimes makes agreeing with him very difficult. This was the case earlier this week when…
Podcasting is evolving beyond audio-only formats to include video and personality-led shows. Major outlets like The New York Times and The Guardian expand video content to reach new audiences. Monetisation models are diversifying with increased focus on advertising, subscriptions, and creator-led enterprises. News podcasting is moving decisively beyond the old…
Condé Nast’s events revenue grew 40% in 2025, with a further 22% expected in 2026 The publisher is integrating live moments across platforms to create new sponsorship and content opportunities Print editions are being streamlined, focusing on major cultural moments for increased value Condé Nast is stepping up its reliance…
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James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems to take ownership of Vox Media assets Vox to be split into two separate companies, with distinct portfolios Deal valued at over $300 million, aiming to boost valuation through segmentation James Murdoch has completed the purchase of a sizeable chunk of Vox Media in a deal that splits the digital publisher into two separate companies. According to a statement from Vox Media, Lupa Systems, the investment firm controlled by Murdoch, has taken ownership of Vox, New York magazine and the Vox Media Podcast Network. The assets will operate as a new company under Lupa ownership, while…
The Economist tests agent-readable content to adapt for AI intermediaries New formats aim to balance discoverability with brand control Internal AI adoption speeds product development and fosters ‘vibe coding’ culture The Economist is redesigning parts of its digital operation for a future in which AI assistants, rather than search engines or homepages, increasingly control how audiences discover information. According to Digiday, the publisher is testing agent-readable versions of content that already sits outside its paywall, including marketing and B2B sales pages. The company is exploring how much structured material it can expose to AI systems without weakening the value of…
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Examines the American focus on prestigious awards over reader needs Critiques the biased and inward-looking nature of the Pulitzers Argues that abolition could renew journalism’s relevance to the public The difference between American and British journalism is clear in what they choose to display in their newsrooms. Visit any large US newspaper’s offices and you will see a “wall of fame” that commemorates its winners of Pulitzers and other journalism awards. Visit any UK newsroom and you’ll see nothing like that. Indeed, when I worked at The Times the displays on the walls had a slightly different tenor. Among…
Mediahuis and other major news organisations form SPUR to address AI content use Initiative aims to create standard licensing frameworks for AI and journalism Focus on transparency, traceability, and fair remuneration for news content Mediahuis, the acquisitive Belgian publisher with outlets across Europe, has become a founding member of SPUR, an industry coalition set up to influence how journalism is used by artificial intelligence and to push for clearer licensing terms. The Standards for Publisher Usage Rights group is a non-profit, member-funded initiative bringing together major news organisations including the BBC, Financial Times, Guardian, Sky News and Telegraph. Its aim…
Byron Allen’s family office to acquire a controlling stake in BuzzFeed for $120 million The deal includes a shift in leadership and a focus on AI and user-generated content BuzzFeed aims to reinvent itself amid declining revenues and a disrupted digital landscape BuzzFeed has struck a deal to hand control of the company to media entrepreneur Byron Allen in a $120 million transaction that could reshape the troubled digital publisher’s future. According to a filing and company announcement on Monday, Allen Family Digital, the family office affiliate of Allen, will buy 40 million new Class A shares at $3 each.…
The New York Times added 310,000 digital-only subscribers in Q1, maintaining strong growth pace Revenue from digital subscriptions and advertising continues to rise significantly The publisher remains on track to reach 15 million subscribers by 2027 despite print decline Strong digital growth pushed The New York Times Company to 13.1 million subscribers in the first quarter, keeping the publisher on track to hit its target of 15 million subscribers by the end of 2027. The company added about 310,000 digital-only subscribers during the quarter and has averaged roughly 330,000 new subscribers a quarter since the start of last year. The…
Newsweek recovered from debt and declining readership through strategic alliances Key partnerships with Google Cloud and Statista drove significant growth in traffic and trust The revival exemplifies a shift towards collaborative models in legacy media success stories Newsweek’s turnaround under chief executive Dev Pragad has been driven less by internal restructuring than by a series of partnerships that helped rebuild the publisher’s audience, technology and commercial business. When Pragad took over, the company was carrying more than $25 million in debt and struggling with declining readership. Rather than rebuild every capability in-house, Newsweek focused on outside partnerships to supply technical…
News organisations are reducing their story counts to boost engagement Examples show that fewer stories can lead to increased traffic and readership Challenges include journalistic instincts and the pressure to cover major events extensively Hang around in this world long enough and you learn that what was once a new idea will soon become an old idea, and then, later, be resurrected as a new idea once more. There’s a case in point in journalism right now: reducing story count. Or, as people were describing it at the recent International Journalism Festival in Perugia, moving from volume to value.…
TIME Studios teams up with Piers Morgan’s Uncensored for a new interview series The partnership signifies a push into premium video and long-form storytelling The studio continues to expand its diverse slate from space documentaries to social-impact films Time Studios is teaming up with Piers Morgan’s Uncensored on a new interview series, extending the Time brand’s push deeper into premium video and long-form storytelling. The move fits with a broader strategy at Time Studios, which has positioned itself as an Emmy Award-winning producer across television, film, audio and immersive formats. The studio says it focuses on truth-based scripted and unscripted…
SB Nation remains profitable with annual revenues of up to $100 million The sports network’s loyal, engaged audience makes it a sought-after asset Vox Media’s possible breakup could see SB Nation attract bids from diverse buyers Vox Media is weighing a potential sale of parts of its business, with SB Nation emerging as one of its most commercially attractive assets. The interest highlights a broader dynamic in digital publishing: scale alone is no longer enough. Buyers are looking for properties that combine loyal audiences with sustainable economics – a balance SB Nation appears to retain despite years of editorial change. According…
The Washington Post begins rehiring staff after massive layoffs in February Some employees returned on a temporary basis to fill critical gaps The move raises questions about the paper’s strategic direction and workforce stability The Washington Post is attempting to stabilise its newsroom after February’s sweeping layoffs by quietly bringing back some of the journalists it had just let go, a sign of how quickly the impact of the cuts became apparent. According to reporting by the Columbia Journalism Review, editors began contacting dismissed reporters in March, asking some to return on what the union calls a “delayed layoff” basis.…
Norway plans to ban social media use for under-16s by 2026 Legislation will shift age verification responsibilities to tech companies The move reflects increasing international efforts to protect children’s online wellbeing Norway is preparing to introduce one of Europe’s toughest child-safety measures online, with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre saying legislation will be brought forward by the end of 2026 to bar under-16s from social media. The proposal signals a shift from platform self-regulation to state enforcement, following similar action in Australia, and adds momentum to a global debate over whether governments can – or should – police children’s access…
