1:47 pm - February 18, 2026
The Guardian is launching a US-focused daily news podcast to strengthen its American presence. The programme, debuting later this year, is co-hosted by Kai Wright and Carter Sherman. It marks a major step in The Guardian’s push into audio and video journalism in the US. The Guardian is preparing to…
Berkshire discloses new 3% stake in The New York Times, signalling renewed confidence in digital news. Investment follows the company’s strong digital subscription growth and advertising revenue. Move coincides with Warren Buffett’s leadership transition and reflects shifting investment strategies. Berkshire Hathaway has acquired about 5.1 million shares in The New…
Rampart, Joe Aston’s investigative newsletter and podcast, generates revenue in the “multiples” of A$500,000 after one year Its low subscriber churn rate and outsourcing model contribute to rapid profitability and growth The success reflects a broader shift towards sustainable independent journalism outside traditional mastheads Australian journalist Joe Aston says his…
Discord to treat all accounts as teens by default unless verified* Verification options include AI selfie estimates and ID documents* Platform faces privacy backlash and debates over data security and safety measures Discord will treat almost every account as a teen profile from early March unless users complete age verification — the latest example of social platforms enforcing age restrictions under mounting regulatory pressure. As governments demand tougher child-safety controls, platforms are shifting from optional safeguards to default restrictions, testing how far users will accept biometric scans or ID checks in exchange for access. Under the new policy, unverified users…
Lenore Taylor announces her departure after 13 years at Guardian Australia, including a decade as editor Under her leadership, the outlet became one of Australia’s most-read news sources, with major award wins A successor will be chosen through an open process, with David Munk serving as interim editor until then Lenore Taylor has announced she will step down from Guardian Australia after 13 years in senior roles that included a decade as the title’s editor, leaving the organisation she helped establish in 2013. Taylor joined Guardian Australia as a senior member of staff at its May 2013 launch and quickly…
Fake Facebook pages impersonate New Zealand news outlets, misleading the public with fabricated visuals Synthetic images linked to disasters and political campaigns raise legal and ethical concerns Experts warn about the increasing sophistication and reach of AI-generated misinformation across social media A growing network of Facebook pages masquerading as New Zealand news outlets is flooding social media with AI-generated images and videos that distort genuine reporting, according to an investigation. The accounts lift copy from established mastheads and attach computer-generated visuals or lightly rewritten text. While the examples uncovered are New Zealand-specific, researchers and fact-checkers say the same pattern is…
New legislation aims to label AI-generated news content Mandates human review to ensure accuracy and standards Sparks debate over AI’s role and regulation in media Lawmakers in New York have proposed legislation that would force news organisations to be explicit when their reporting relies on artificial intelligence and to ensure human editors sign off on such material before it appears in print or online. Senator Patricia Fahy and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic introduced the New York Fundamental Artificial Intelligence Requirements in News Act, known as the NY FAIR News Act, on February 2, 2026. According to the Senate press release, the…
Reddit plans to acquire technology firms to enhance its products and ad offerings The company’s revenue reached $726m last quarter, driven by AI-enabled ad tools Growing AI search and user engagement positions Reddit for new monetisation strategies Reddit told investors last week that it is preparing a new wave of acquisitions aimed at strengthening its advertising stack and audience-growth products, signalling a continuation of the company’s recent buy-and-build approach. For news publishers Reddit is no longer just a source of traffic or unfiltered conversations around the news and other topics. Its growing role in search, AI-powered answers and advertising places…
The Christian Science Monitor is redesigning its print and digital platforms to revitalise its audience. It aims to balance its traditional solutions-oriented reporting with more inclusive and timely coverage. The publication remains financially supported by the Church of Christ, Scientist, as it navigates the challenges of modern journalism. The Christian…
The Star Tribune emphasises verification and accuracy over rapid social media reporting. Community responses and legal battles highlight the tensions surrounding the Operation Metro Surge. The newsroom’s careful approach aims to provide fuller, more reliable coverage in a chaotic environment. Amid a saturation of real-time coverage of Operation Metro Surge…
Danish publishers reconfigure workflows and embrace transparency to build trust Narrow editorial focuses and humanised formats strengthen audience loyalty Strategic AI adoption and collaborative infrastructures underpin sustainable growth Leading Danish publishers are showing how audience-centric strategies and organisational innovation can help newsrooms stay relevant and financially healthy in a turbulent…
Some 60 foreign journalists plead with Jeff Bezos to protect global coverage Staff fear large-scale layoffs could weaken international reporting efforts Industry analysts warn that cuts may diminish the paper’s ability to report from conflict zones About 60 journalists on The Washington Post’s foreign desk have appealed directly to the…
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The Philadelphia Inquirer reports its first year-over-year revenue growth in over 20 years, reaching profitability. Shift from advertising reliance to subscription revenue has been key to its revival. Unique ownership structure under the Lenfest Institute prioritises civic impact and community engagement. Elizabeth Hughes, the publisher and CEO of The Philadelphia…
The Chernin Group takes a minority stake in Goalhanger, marking its first external funding since 2014 The partnership aims to transform Goalhanger’s podcasts into multi-platform global IPs Company plans to expand into TV, film, and live events with new leadership and scale-up initiatives The Chernin Group (TCG), the US investment…
Mainstream Indian publishers are shifting from advertising reliance to direct commerce models Hindustan Times leads with a content-to-commerce approach focused on automotive, tech, finance, and lifestyle The strategy aims to monetise emerging e‑commerce growth while balancing editorial integrity and audience trust India’s mainstream publishers are increasingly turning editorial expertise into…
BBC plans to produce YouTube-exclusive content for younger audiences, starting around the Winter Olympics Up to 50 channels on YouTube to boost reach and revenue, with content also on iPlayer and Sounds Move marks a new phase in BBC’s digital expansion and monetisation efforts amid funding debates The BBC will…
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Prominent editor of Die Welt steps down after misconduct inquiry Resignation coincides with Axel Springer’s transatlantic expansion Company faces scrutiny over handling of workplace allegations and internal reform One of Axel Springer’s most prominent German editors has stepped down following an internal inquiry into his conduct at a company Christmas party. Jan Philipp Burgard, 41, who served as editor-in-chief of the centre-right broadsheet Die Welt, left Axel Springer after executives opened an investigation this month into reports that he had behaved inappropriately toward female employees at an alcohol-fuelled December party. During the inquiry, Burgard, who was only appointed editor last…
Politico trims 3% of global workforce in strategic realignment WSJ reorganises features and weekend teams for a more nimble, topic-driven approach Industry sees ongoing contraction, with focus on audience engagement and product monetisation Politico has begun 2026 with a round of newsroom departures, cutting roughly 3% of its global workforce as it reconfigures teams and prepares new products, while the Wall Street Journal announced a separate “strategic restructure” affecting features and weekend staff. The Politico reductions form part of a wider set of voluntary separations and organisational changes announced by editor‑in‑chief John Harris, who is stepping into the role of…
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VandeHei and Allen analyse how internet-driven trends transformed news consumption The rise of instant, personality-led journalism and the decline of traditional institutions Acknowledgement of the darker legacies: political entertainment and fractured truths Twenty years after leaving Washington Post and Time to start their own ventures, Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen say the bet they made on the internet has permanently dismantled the traditional news industry. In a retrospective column published on Tuesday, the founders of Axios and architects of Politico describe how the trends they embraced propelled them to the top of the media ecosystem – and helped usher in…
Penske Media alleges Google rigged ad auctions and suppressed publisher revenues The lawsuit builds on previous antitrust rulings and government challenges Industry peers echo concerns over Google’s market dominance and exclusionary tactics Penske Media Corporation has sued Google in federal court in Manhattan, alleging the company illegally monopolises the digital advertising market and has deprived publishers of billions of dollars in revenue. The case underscores mounting pressure on Google’s ad-tech business as publishers seek damages and structural remedies that could reshape how online advertising works. According to a report by TheWrap, the complaint alleges Google rigged ad auctions, suppressed prices…
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, caught between the growing power of agentic artificial intelligence and a creator economy that is reshaping how audiences discover, trust and consume information, according to the latest Journalism, Media and Technology Trends and Predictions report, released this week by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. Based on a…
Publishers are assessing their AI readiness across strategy, technology, operations and culture A quick, 5-minute diagnostic tool has been developed to collect industry data Results will foster industry-wide insights without ranking individual organisations AI is now firmly on every publishing agenda. Yet many organisations still struggle to answer a basic question: how ready are we, really? That uncertainty is what prompted us to create a simple AI readiness benchmark for publishers. Why this matters The aim is to create a clearer, industry-wide picture of how publishers are approaching AI across strategy, technology, operations and culture. To simplify data collection,…
Goalhanger targets broader media landscape with new senior hires Moves beyond podcasts into written content and global markets Appointments aim to support scalable growth while maintaining company culture Goalhanger has made three senior appointments as it moves to scale beyond podcasts and accelerate international growth following a record year. The hires signal Goalhanger’s shift from a hit-driven podcast network to a broader media business, with new emphasis on operational scale, financial discipline and expansion into written formats. The company, which said it surpassed 750 million streams last year, has appointed Andy Hodgson as chief financial officer, Chloe Straw as director…
The Pittsburgh Post‑Gazette closes after 240+ years due to financial losses and labour disputes The shutdown highlights the broader decline of local newspapers in the US Experts warn of serious civic and community consequences from the loss of local reporting The decision by Block Communications to close the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, effective May 3, 2026, will bring to an end a title founded in 1786 that long served as western Pennsylvania’s paper of record. The closure is one of the most significant metropolitan newspaper shutdowns in a decade and a stark marker of how financial pressure, labour conflict and structural market…
Polymarket teams up with Dow Jones to integrate real-time market-implied probabilities into US financial titles The collaboration aims to enhance reader understanding while raising concerns over market integrity and transparency Industry considers the balance between innovation and vigilance in mainstreaming decentralised prediction data Polymarket has struck an exclusive data partnership with Dow Jones that will surface real-time market-implied probabilities across the publisher’s US financial properties, including The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, MarketWatch and Investor’s Business Daily. Under the agreement announced this week, Dow Jones will display Polymarket’s live prediction market feeds through dedicated modules on its digital platforms and in…
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 company told investors the funds will be used to accelerate global expansion and to strengthen its live journalism events, as it broadens coverage across Washington, Wall Street, Silicon Valley, politics, global business, finance and economics. Semafor plans to hire in overseas markets including the Arabian…
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 impact, heavier investment in artificial intelligence and audience development, and a push to convert its expanded scale into tangible value for members as a new chief executive begins his tenure. With publishers facing accelerating technological change and sustained commercial pressure, WAN-IFRA is redefining its role…
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, arguing that advances in artificial intelligence have broken the basic visual trust that once underpinned social media. The warning comes from the executive in charge of one of the world’s most influential image platforms. He believes the problem is not a passing technical glitch but…
