The website’s recent experiments with AI chatbots spotlight both the opportunities and challenges faced by modern newsrooms in engaging audiences and maintaining journalistic trust amid evolving technology. The Texas Tribune’s recent experiments with AI chatbots offer a window into how newsrooms are grappling with the potential and pitfalls of artificial intelligence. Presented at the Hacks/Hackers Journalism AI conference in Baltimore, the Tribune’s trials explored how chatbots might improve audience engagement without undermining trust. At the heart of the Tribune’s exploration was a question many newsrooms are now asking: can AI-powered chatbots serve as meaningful interfaces between the newsroom and the…

The paper has relaunched its mobile app with personalised content, a dedicated podcast tab and text-to-speech functionality. The Guardian has relaunched its mobile app with a new focus on personalisation, audio features and visual storytelling, part of a broader strategy to cement direct relationships with its growing global audience. It also redesigned its web homepage with a focus on being “mobile first”. The redesigned app introduces a dedicated podcast tab and a text-to-speech feature that lets users listen to articles, reflecting the publisher’s push into audio as a key driver of engagement. An in-app audio player and a new puzzles…

The German publisher has transformed its subscription model by introducing daily news quizzes and a debate-based commenting systems. Der Spiegel has overhauled its subscription strategy with a suite of interactive features designed to build reader habits and foster community. Central to the approach are daily news quizzes and a reimagined commenting platform, both of which have measurably increased engagement and time spent on site. The strategy was outlined by the title’s product manager Dr Laura Badura in a session at WAN-IFRA’s World News Media Congress in Krakow this week. The quiz, linked prominently in Der Spiegel’s morning newsletter, draws around…

The winners of the 2025 Digital Media Awards were announced in Krakow this week. The World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) has revealed the winners of the 2025 Digital Media Awards Worldwide, honouring innovative approaches in digital news media across regions including Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The selection process involved 674 entries from five regions, demonstrating how news publishers are utilising digital tools to enhance journalism and engage audiences effectively. The awards ceremony took place during WAN-IFRA’s World News Media Congress in Krakow this week. “While we talk a lot about the challenges facing news publishers, WAN-IFRA’s Digital…

A global survey reveals growing fears that AI-driven tools will replace jobs, undermine editorial independence and erode the human essence of news reporting. A global survey of 2,000 journalists reveals deep anxiety about the rise of artificial intelligence in newsrooms, with growing fears that automation will replace jobs, dilute editorial independence and strip journalism of its human core. The Journalism and Artificial Intelligence Survey, conducted by Pressat, found that 57% of journalists expect AI to replace more roles in the near future. Seven in ten said they were actively worried about the impact of the technology on their own careers.…

The CNN anchor aims to deliver in-depth analysis of global issues amid rising demand for impactful journalism on audio. CNN’s chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour is joining forces with UK-based audio company Global to launch a new series of original podcasts offering in-depth reporting and analysis on world affairs. The project will run alongside Amanpour’s existing work at CNN, including her flagship programme Amanpour, and her PBS show Amanpour & Company. It marks her first major move into podcasting and reflects a wider shift among prominent journalists towards more direct forms of audience engagement. Global, which owns radio stations such…

The press regulator has launched comprehensive ethical guidance for journalists and publishers to navigate the complexities of AI use in news production. The UK’s independent press regulator Impress has released guidance to help newsrooms use artificial intelligence without undermining journalistic standards or public trust. Unveiled during a recent webinar, the guidance lays out ethical safeguards for publishers as AI becomes increasingly integrated into news production. It stresses the need for transparency, rigorous fact-checking and clear human oversight when using AI tools. Andrea Wills, chair of Impress’s Code Committee, said the guidelines aim to give publishers “the confidence to adopt and…

There were widespread concerns about misinformation, AI’s ability to produce reliable news content and journalism jobs. A recent survey by the Pew Research Center suggests widespread public scepticism in the United States about the long-term impact of artificial intelligence on journalism, with concerns centred on misinformation, job losses and declining news quality. Half of all US adults surveyed said they expect AI will mostly harm the news Americans consume over the next 20 years. Just 10% predicted a positive effect, while 23% thought the impact would be a mix of good and bad. Another 16% said they were unsure. The…

The podcasting firm’s inaugural CMO Summit discussed the vast opportunities in podcasting for brands. Podcasting has become a mass-market medium, but UK brands are still lagging in their response, according to the founders of production company Goalhanger, which is behind many of Britain’s leading podcasts. Speaking at the company’s first Chief Marketing Officer Summit, co-founder Tony Pastor said advertisers had been slow to grasp the scale and intimacy of podcast audiences. “I’ve been saying for some time now that podcasting has broken out as a mass-market medium but the brands and agencies have still not caught up with that fact…

A recent study reveals the concerning implications of AI search tools on news publishers. Recent research conducted by the Tow Center for Digital Journalism reveals that nearly 25% of Americans now use artificial intelligence (AI) search tools instead of traditional search engines, highlighting a shift in how information is accessed online. The study involved an examination of eight AI chatbots which included tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity. It aimed to assess their capabilities in retrieving and correctly citing news content from various publishers. The methodology included running 1,600 queries, where researchers provided short excerpts from randomly selected articles, expecting the…