Journalists are turning to independent, creator-style publishing for more creative control Most creator journalists operate with modest social media followings and income struggles remain significant The shift reflects industry decline and a desire for autonomy in an evolving media landscape A recent Muck Rack study reveals a steady rise in “creator journalism” – independent publishing by journalists outside traditional newsrooms. Of 1,515 journalists surveyed across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and India, 522 identified as creator journalists. Half have been self-publishing for more than five years, suggesting a maturing segment rather than a passing trend. The appeal lies chiefly…

SEO now prioritises trust and credibility over traditional tactics AI systems influence rankings through reputation and authority Content must be optimised for AI snippets and zero-click experiences BrightonSEO 2025 signalled a decisive shift in search strategy: trust has replaced traditional optimisation as the key to success. The consensus among speakers at the UK’s leading SEO event was clear: SEO is no longer about gaming algorithms but about building genuine credibility with both users and the AI systems shaping search results. That transformation, said Yordan Dimitrov, captures the new reality: the era of “SEO versus AI” is over. Search engines and…

Business Insider announces dedicated ‘Business AI’ byline for AI-generated stories, reviewed by humans Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner pushes routine AI use across newsrooms amid strategic shift Company downsizes staff by 21% to focus on AI-enhanced content and new live events division Business Insider is moving rapidly to embed artificial intelligence into its newsroom operations, launching a dedicated “Business AI” byline for stories produced with machine assistance and human editing. The shift aligns with parent company Axel Springer’s plan to make AI central to all its news brands. AI tools are now authorised across Business Insider for drafting, transcription, research,…

Campaign unites consumers and businesses to bolster Australian economy Major retailers offer discounts on Australian-made products to encourage local support Media and retail partnerships aim to boost trust and pride in Australian brands News Australia has launched a national campaign, Back Australia: It’s Good For All Of Us, urging consumers and businesses to support local products and jobs. The initiative highlights how everyday spending choices can strengthen the economy, boost sustainability and promote resilience. “The campaign comes at a time of rapid change and uncertainty,” said Michael Miller, executive chairman of News Corp Australasia. “Choosing Australian products means backing our…

X tests new ‘link experience’ to boost external content visibility CEO Elon Musk’s previous policies had alienated journalists and writers Latest changes aim to restore platform’s appeal for professional users and increase engagement When Elon Musk acquired Twitter in 2022 and rebranded it as X, one of his earliest algorithmic priorities was to keep users on the platform. Posts containing external links — once central to Twitter’s role as a hub for news and commentary — were quietly downranked. For journalists and writers, that shift was seismic: a once-essential distribution channel suddenly turned hostile to their work. X appears to…

Decline of print media and rise of digital gatekeepers threaten journalism’s survival Political interference and violence jeopardise press freedom in Europe and the UK INMA advocates for legal protection, fair pay, and competition to safeguard journalism Journalism is no longer at risk of decline – it is already in crisis, according to Peter Vandermeersch, former publisher and CEO of Mediahuis Ireland. Speaking at the International News Media Association’s European News Media Conference in Dublin, he warned that the disappearance of print and the dominance of digital platforms have created a perilous moment for independent journalism and, by extension, democracy itself. “What…

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,…

Reach announces significant editorial restructure, leading to job losses Launch of Live News Network to unify regional journalism Emphasis on AI, subscription models, and digital growth strategies Reach plc has unveiled further details of its significant editorial restructure, which is expected to lead to job losses among its journalistic staff while creating some new roles in a bid to centralise and modernise its news operations across the UK. The core of the shake-up involves the establishment of a new Live News Network, headed by Paul Rowland, the current regional editorial director who has now been promoted to editorial director…

Jennifer Hicks joins from the Wall Street Journal to oversee Reuters’ digital platforms Tasked with boosting audience engagement and subscription growth Will play a key role in the company’s long-term digital strategy and innovation Reuters has appointed Jennifer Hicks as its new digital director, a senior leadership role that will shape the long-term editorial direction of the company’s digital platforms. Hicks will oversee Reuters.com, the Reuters app, newsletters and social offerings. She is tasked with sharpening the company’s audience engagement strategy, accelerating subscription growth, and ensuring that Reuters’ digital output reflects the authority and trust of its journalism. She joins…

AI models like GPT-5 struggle to accurately verify photo provenance Current tools often produce confident yet incorrect results, risking spread of misinformation AI can support human fact-checkers as a supplementary resource, but cannot replace expert judgement The growing sophistication of AI language models such as OpenAI’s GPT-5 has raised hopes that they could help verify photographs online, spotting visual clues, geolocating obscure images and even detecting fakes. But new research from the Tow Center for Digital Journalism suggests the technology is far from reliable when it comes to confirming provenance — and mayrisk adding confusion. In tests involving seven leading…