LinkedIn has extended its News Banner feature to India in a further challenge to news publishers. LinkedIn has rolled out a trial of its News Banner feature in India, offering access to timely news for users on its platform. The feature will be prominently displayed at the top of users’ feeds on mobile, highlighting significant developments and breaking news relevant to the professional landscape. The banner is only available to users in America, Canada and India for now. News publishers will watch the development closely as it is another example of a significant digital platform with a huge user base…

In a multimedia news environment, publishers will be keenly watching CNN’s shift to non-linear formats. CNN announced a significant restucturing this week as part of a new strategic plan from its CEO Mark Thompson. About 6 per cent of the CNN workforce, equating to around 200 jobs, will be cut as the company pivots to adapt to evolving audience consumption behaviours. Simultaneously it is recruiting for hundreds of new positions through a forthcoming $70 million investment from parent company Warner Bros Discovery. In his memo to employees, Thompson stressed the necessity of evolving in response to “profound and irreversible shifts”…

This year’s CES showcased advancements in audio-visual media, promising to reshape home entertainment and content creation with innovative technologies. Innovative technologies in audio-visual media were prominently featured at this year’s CES, with several companies unveiling groundbreaking products designed to integrate modern digital formats in both home entertainment and content creation. These developments align with evolving consumer expectations for convenience and engagement, marking a significant shift in how audio and visual media is produced and experienced. Displace, known for its advancements in television technology, showcased an updated version of its “world’s first truly wireless TV.” This television utilises an active-loop vacuum…

In a recent podcast, experts asked whether the rise of AI signals a decline for SEO, or if traditional practices remain relevant amid evolving search behaviours. In the latest episode of Google’s Search Off the Record podcast, discussions centred on the future of SEO amid the rising prevalence of AI in search technology. Host John Mueller raised the provocative question of whether SEO is on a “dying path,” signalling a significant conversation for digital marketers and publishers invested in the industry’s direction. Mueller was speaking to Gary Illyes, who has monitored the SEO landscape for years. Illyes expressed his scepticism…

Jennie Baird outlines the extensive overhaul of BBC.com at NewsTECHForum, aiming to enhance user experience and secure commercial revenues amid economic pressures. BBC Studios is undergoing an extensive transformation of its global digital news brand under the guidance of Jennie Baird, the organisation’s chief product officer, as part of efforts to enhance international consumer engagement. Speaking at the NewsTECHForum in New York, Baird outlined the substantial overhaul of BBC.com, which aims to modernise the platform in light of increasing economic pressures and to attract a more global audience. Launched nearly three years ago, Baird’s initiative is pivotal for BBC Studios,…

Diversity efforts among nine prominent media publishers are stagnating or regressing, according to a recent survey. Nine prominent publishers’ reports on workforce demographics reveal a mixed landscape in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts, with a significant portion of the industry showing stagnation or regression in staff diversity. The findings, compiled by Digiday, highlight that approximately one-third of these companies have failed to make any notable progress this year. Condé Nast, Gannett and The Washington Post exhibited improved diversity in their staff compared to the previous year. In contrast, Business Insider, The Los Angeles Times and NPR experienced a decline…

The 51-year-old magazine is transforming into a multifaceted storytelling organisation, successfully adapting its journalism for film and podcasts. Publishers are exploring many different ways to diversify their revenue streams. For Texas Monthly, a prominent regional magazine in the US, this has involved adding a touch of Hollywood glamour. The magazine is increasingly positioning itself as a multifaceted “journalistic storytelling organisation.” This evolution began about five years ago when the publication refined its approach to content, enhancing its capabilities in multimedia storytelling. Under the leadership of Megan Creydt, the executive producer for TV, film and podcasts, the magazine has established a…

A new browser integrating ChatGPT’s capabilities will position itself against Google and Microsoft. OpenAI has unveiled plans to launch a new browser that harnesses its generative AI capabilities, integrating ChatGPT to transform the online experience for users. This initiative positions OpenAI to compete directly with dominant players such as Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. The forthcoming browser is expected to build on the framework of OpenAI’s existing tool, SearchGPT, which is currently available to ChatGPT Plus subscribers. SearchGPT enables real-time web access, allowing users to perform tasks ranging from retrieving specific information to aggregating content efficiently. OpenAI aims to expand…

The Chinese giant has launched Xiaodu AI Glasses, featuring an integrated AI assistant Chinese tech titan Baidu has introduced a new pair of smart glasses featuring a built-in AI assistant, marking its entry into the growing market of AI-powered wearable technology. This launch comes as Baidu also reported a slight decline in third-quarter revenue, although it exceeded market expectations. Earlier this month, Baidu unveiled its Xiaodu AI Glasses, designed to compete with Meta’s popular Ray-Ban smart glasses. With functionalities that incorporate Baidu’s Ernie AI and access to its extensive maps and search features, the glasses are equipped with at least…

The publisher aims to enhance cooking experiences for home chefs through personalised recipe suggestions. News Corp Australia has unveiled the introduction of an AI-powered virtual recipe assistant, dubbed “TasteBud”, within the popular Taste app. The new feature aims to assist Australian cooking enthusiasts in streamlining their culinary quests by offering tailored recipe suggestions based on the ingredients they have on hand and their specific dietary preferences. TasteBud is embedded in the Taste app, leveraging the well-established culinary resources of the brand, which boasts 50,000 tested recipes. This new feature is designed to interact with users in a conversational manner, allowing…