Louise Holmes from Meta argues that AI can enhance creativity in the media sector, urging industry leaders to embrace the technology as a tool for innovation. Artificial intelligence is increasingly being viewed as an opportunity for creativity and productivity rather than a threat, according to Louise Holmes, director of global partnerships for EMEA at Meta. Speaking at Content London this week, Holmes asserted that fears surrounding AI stem from a lack of understanding, reiterating the technology’s potential to enhance, rather than replace, creativity in the media and publishing sectors. In her keynote address, Holmes outlined AI’s capabilities in supporting creative…

Answer engine optimisation (AEO) is the next stage in the rapid transition away from traditional SEO. Publishers have spent the past decade or so honing their strategies to best use SEO. Now they have to learn a new skill – answer engine optimisation, or AEO. This innovative strategy focuses on enhancing the accessibility and relevance of content by providing users with direct, concise answers to their queries, in response to the evolving expectations from search engines like Google. In traditional SEO, the emphasis is on rankings within search engine results pages (SERPs) through keywords, backlinks and on-page elements. AEO shifts this…

Leading media organisations have launched legal action against OpenAI for the unauthorised use of their articles in AI training. A coalition of prominent Canadian media organisations has initiated legal action against OpenAI, citing the unauthorised use of their articles in the training of its artificial intelligence models. This lawsuit, first reported by The Guardian, was filed on Friday and marks a significant move in the ongoing discourse about the ethical use of AI-generated content and the implications for copyright and intellectual property. The coalition, which includes influential entities such as The Globe and Mail, the Canadian Press, the CBC, the…

The strategy chief at the Dutch public broadcaster NPO has been brought in to enhance AI capabilities in news publishing. Ezra Eeman has been appointed to spearhead a series of AI initiatives at WAN-IFRA, aiming to bolster the integration of artificial intelligence technologies within the news publishing sector. With an extensive background in media innovation and digital transformation, Eeman is expected to assist WAN-IFRA members in navigating the rapidly advancing AI landscape, facilitating a clearer understanding of AI opportunities while fostering collaboration among media professionals. Eeman expressed enthusiasm about his new role, noting the critical nature of mastering AI in…

The Republican-led administration may reverse key AI regulations established under President Biden, impacting issues of copyright, user privacy and ethical standards for AI-generated content. The evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) regulation is set for a seismic shift following the 2024 United States elections, as the incoming Republican administration grapples with pressing issues surrounding copyright, user privacy and ethical considerations in AI-generated content. Donald Trump’s return to the White House is likely to herald a move towards a pro-business regulatory environment, contrasting sharply with the previous administration’s focus on corporate accountability and safety standards. The crux of the discussion around…

Among initiatives is the Facebook Content Monetization Beta Programme which is aimed at enhancing earnings and engagement for creators through performance-based models. Meta Platforms has reported a significant achievement in its support for content creators, announcing that it has disbursed over $2 billion in earnings so far in 2024. This development, highlighted in a recent blog post by the company, emphasises Meta’s commitment to rewarding creators through innovative monetisation strategies. Central to this initiative is the newly introduced Facebook Content Monetization beta programme, which is designed to simplify and broaden earning opportunities across various content formats. Since launching its monetisation…

Journalists at The Guardian and Observer will stage a 48-hour strike on December 4 and 5 to protest the planned sale of The Observer to Tortoise Media. Journalists at The Guardian and Observer newspapers will stage a 48-hour strike on December 4 and 5 in protest of the planned sale of The Observer to Tortoise Media. This action follows an overwhelming vote in favor of a strike by members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ). The strike, scheduled for the earliest legally permissible date, is expected to significantly disrupt print production. A second 48-hour stoppage is reportedly planned for…

The decision has sparked criticism from writers’ groups, spotlighting concerns over resource allocation amid industry-wide changes towards AI and digital engagement. Hearst Magazines has announced layoffs as part of an operational restructuring aimed at reallocating resources to align with its evolving business strategy. This decision was communicated in a memo from Debi Chirichella, president of Hearst Magazines, who emphasised the publisher’s commitment to digital innovation while maintaining the quality of its established print products. With a diverse portfolio that includes well-known brands like Elle, Esquire, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, and Town & Country, Hearst Magazines did not specify the exact number…

With 44% of Reach’s articles surfacing on the platform, the publisher is adapting its content strategy to engage a more casual audience while diversifying its traffic sources. Google Discover is now the biggest single source of traffic for Reach, the UK’s largest publisher. Discover, which appears on the Google app and mobile homepage, now surpasses even traditional Google Search as their top referrer, said Martin Little, Reach’s audience transformation director, in an interview with Press Gazette. “Discover is now our biggest source of traffic from Google,” Little said, adding that an impressive 44% of Reach’s articles are now surfacing on…

Report indicates a shift towards aggregated services and innovative pricing models. Personalisation and engagement strategies leveraging AI are essential for retaining subscribers and fostering growth in a saturated market. Subscription “stacking” is projected to decline from its peak levels as consumers rationalise the number of services they use, according to a forecast from Deloitte’s recent report on Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) predictions for 2025. Subscription fatigue poses a critical challenge to publishers who need to navigate consumer scepticism about paywalled content. As audiences grow weary of juggling multiple subscriptions for news, entertainment and other digital services, they increasingly look…