1:58 am - September 15, 2026
B2B publishers excel in redefining their value propositions and embracing change Bold pivots, like Euromoney’s shift from journalism to intelligence services, highlight adaptability AI is viewed as an asset rather than a threat, used to enhance specialised content and customer experience There is a lot to learn from B2B…
Berkshire increases stake in The New York Times to $1.1 billion Rising digital subscriptions and advertising boost publisher’s performance Investment signals confidence in media’s digital transition and subscription model Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has continued to build its position in The New York Times, extending a bet on legacy media…
Macron advocates for a unified European ban on social media use for children under 15 The EU aims to deploy a privacy-respecting age verification app by 2026 Critics highlight challenges in rolling out secure and effective age checks across member states French President Emmanuel Macron is pushing for an EU-wide…
Byron Allen cuts 35% of BuzzFeed’s workforce to improve profitability Restructuring aims to shift focus towards streaming via Local Now Company plans significant cost savings and content realignment Byron Allen has begun a sharp overhaul of BuzzFeed, cutting about 180 jobs and contract roles across BuzzFeed, HuffPost and Tasty in what amounts to roughly 35% of the workforce. The reductions, disclosed in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, are the first major restructuring since Allen’s family office took control of the digital publisher in May. BuzzFeed said the move is designed to simplify operations, lower costs and…
Highlights the importance of integrating AI in newsrooms to foster meaningful change Emphasises the need for journalists and managers to view AI as a tool for value creation Warns of cultural hurdles and stress on verifying information in the AI era Need some summer reading? This week’s newsletter comes in the form of a book review. Not perhaps a suggestion for the sun lounger, but nevertheless one that every journalist should read. It’s called AI in the News Room and it was written by Martin Schori, former head of the AI Hub at Aftonbladet in Stockholm and now the…
Berlin-based startup Beatsquares raises $2 million in seed funding to enhance its AI platform The platform converts editorial content into multiple formats across digital channels Funding will support team expansion and international growth efforts Berlin-based AI startup Beatsquares has raised $2 million (about €1.8 million) in seed funding to expand its platform for automatically repurposing editorial content across multiple digital channels. The round was co-led by IBB Ventures and XTR Capital, with participation from ddvg, Dutch media investor V-Ventures and a group of business angels. It follows a $500,000 pre-seed investment secured in late 2024. Founded in 2024, Beatsquares aims…
Suggestion for industry-focused ‘Festival of Failure’ to promote open discussion of setbacks Critique of current journalism events highlighting repetition and lack of actionable takeaways Advocates for shorter days, more networking, and panels focused on failures to foster growth and innovation “I want to start an uncomfortable conversation: Are there too many journalism events?” So said Marcela Kunova, the owner and operator of journalism.co.uk (JUK), last week. She continued: “I just looked at my agenda and JUK events calendar. It’s gone out of hand. Conferences, festivals, summits, workshops, talks, congresses, study tours, awards. Dozens of great events are clustered between April…
Disney-owned 20th Television partners with Vox Media Studios to develop scripted and unscripted projects Focus on adapting journalism and podcasts from Vox Media brands for Disney+ and other outlets Partnership reflects industry trend of transforming established media content into premium streaming entertainment Disney-owned 20th Television has struck a multi-year first-look agreement with Vox Media Studios, broadening a relationship that will give both companies room to develop scripted and unscripted projects built around Vox Media’s reporting and podcast brands. The deal is expected to feed into Disney Entertainment Television outlets including Disney+, with a particular emphasis on adapting material from New…
Media Concierge Group posts £12.9m EBITDA for first full period post-acquisition Integration of National World (now Iconic Media Group) has gone smoothly, boosting performance Company aims to strengthen local titles while expanding its UK and Ireland publishing footprint Media Concierge Group has said the integration of National World has gone…
Economist launches Economist Play, a $15/month multimedia bundle combining videos, podcasts, and newsletters Strategy aims to reach a younger, gender-balanced audience with mobile-first content Emphasis on newsroom authenticity through faces and voices, moving away from anonymity The Economist has launched a lower-cost subscription bundle built around audio and video, in…
Data shows games and interactive content drive deeper user loyalty. Publishers are overestimating the importance of breaking news for app retention. Investment should focus on habit-forming features to reduce churn and build routines. I used to bristle when I worked at The Sunday Times and a friend said he had…
Der Spiegel refuses to let AI write or rewrite its articles, citing responsibility and trust. Industry faces tension between efficiency and accountability in adopting AI tools. Growing concerns over accuracy, transparency, and the future role of human journalists. Whether journalists should use artificial intelligence to write stories has become one…
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Getty Images strikes a multi-year licensing deal with OpenAI The partnership enhances ChatGPT’s image relevance and trustworthiness Shares rise as Getty aims to monetise its archive amid AI-driven disruption Getty Images has struck a multi-year licensing deal with OpenAI that will allow its pictures to appear in ChatGPT’s search and…
Complaint alleges that OpenAI and Microsoft used nearly 400 newspapers’ reporting without permission Case marks the largest coordinated legal action by local news publishers on AI training issues Suit aims to protect local journalism and challenge the use of copyrighted material in AI development A coalition of local newspaper publishers…
Forbes launches Forbes Creator to leverage social media personalities New platform combines journalistic content with creator autonomy Aims to expand reach, diversify content, and develop commercial opportunities Forbes is deepening its push into creator-led distribution, using social media personalities and specialist voices to widen its reach beyond its own platforms…
Social media and video now the primary news sources globally Trust in news drops to a historic low of 37%, with Americans trusting only 25% News organisations face the challenge of rebuilding trust amidst AI content proliferation Forget the World Cup, for news nerds this week has brought unbridled excitement…
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A debate in Lexington underscores tensions between traditional reporting and AI-assisted news The Kentucky Lantern champions human-made journalism, while Lexington Times utilises AI for coverage The dispute reflects broader challenges facing shrinking local news ecosystems across the US A small but telling dispute in Lexington, Kentucky, has opened a wider argument about the future of local journalism, especially the role of artificial intelligence in newsrooms that are trying to survive with fewer staff and thinner budgets. The spark came when Linda Blackford, editor-in-chief of the Kentucky Lantern, wrote about AI and journalism and stressed that the Lantern’s work is produced…
Bonnier News poised to become majority owner of Irish media group after partnership expansion Deal under review by regulators, with new leadership and board structure upcoming Business Post Group cites significant financial recovery and growth prospects Swedish publisher Bonnier News is set to become the majority owner of Business Post Group, in a deal that will leave founder Enda O’Coineen with a significant minority stake through his Kilcullen Family Office. The transaction marks a further step in a relationship that began in 2023, when Bonnier took a minority equity position in the Irish company. It still requires approval from the…
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Emma Tucker appoints Aja Whitaker-Moore and David Crow as deputy editors in chief Dan Colarusso joins as coverage chief for business, finance and economics Moves aim to modernise newsroom and enhance reporting, including AI integration The Wall Street Journal is reshaping its senior leadership, adding two deputy editors in chief and a new coverage chief for business, finance and economics. The moves signal a push to modernise the newsroom and strengthen reporting across its desks. In a staff note, editor in chief Emma Tucker said Aja Whitaker-Moore will join the Journal as deputy editor in chief, while current executive editor…
BBC tests dozens of AI projects to optimise content production and expand formats Focus on AI to support journalists, improve localisation, and enhance audience engagement Emphasis on ethical AI use and leveraging trusted journalism amidst tech rivalry BBC News is testing dozens of artificial intelligence pilots as it looks to speed up production, repackage content and create new formats without compromising its public service remit. The work is being led by Olle Zacharison, head of News AI, who spoke about the corporation’s approach on the Newsroom Robots podcast. At the heart of the strategy is a push to understand where…
Owen Meredith leaves the NMA after five years to join DMG Media in May 2026 He will succeed Peter Wright, who played a key role in press regulation and industry negotiations The move signals a strategic focus on advocating for fair treatment of news publishers in a rapidly evolving digital landscape Owen Meredith will join DMG Media in May 2026 to succeed Peter Wright as its head of public policy. The handover comes as major publishers push for fair treatment from digital platforms and seek greater certainty from government on media regulation. Meredith has led the News Media Association for…
Garry Moroney joins Irish Times Group as new CEO with strong tech background Appointment signals focus on digital innovation and strategic expansion Moroney’s experience aims to balance technology growth with quality journalism The Irish Times Group has appointed Garry Moroney, a tech entrepreneur with global experience, as its new chief executive. Moroney will succeed interim CEO Michael Sheehan on December 1. Sheehan will return to his role as Group CFO in January. Moroney brings long experience in building and scaling tech businesses. He founded two Irish software firms, Clavis Insight and Similarity Systems, guiding both from early-stage growth through to…
Widespread global outage impacts major websites and services Root cause traced to Cloudflare’s configuration error, not cyber attack Highlights risks of dependence on centralised internet providers A major internet outage on the morning of 18 November 2025 disrupted access to thousands of websites and digital services worldwide, underscoring the extent to which the modern web depends on a handful of infrastructure providers. The disruption was traced to Cloudflare, whose content delivery network and security services handle roughly a fifth of global web traffic. The incident began shortly after 6.40am ET, when Cloudflare identified internal service degradation that rapidly spiralled into…
The Digital Omnibus aims to simplify digital rules to boost European start-ups and AI innovation Critics warn it could undermine digital rights and weaken privacy protections Legislation seeks to balance regulatory easing with maintaining EU’s high digital standards The European Commission is preparing to unveil its long-awaited legislative package designed to simplify the bloc’s digital rulebook, ease regulatory burdens on businesses and help European start-ups compete in the global race to develop artificial intelligence. Branded the Digital Omnibus, the initiative seeks to streamline and harmonise multiple overlapping laws – from GDPR and the AI Act to the e-Privacy Directive and…
Vox introduces two original subscriber-only video series on Supreme Court and policy impact Monthly live chats and behind-the-scenes community interactions deepen audience connection Enhanced ad-free videos and podcasts offer exclusive content for members via Patreon Vox is expanding its Membership programme through a partnership with Patreon that adds exclusive video series, live conversations and community features. The move matters because publishers are searching for ways to strengthen direct relationships with readers and secure more dependable revenue. At the centre of the new offer are two subscriber-only video series. The Docket examines major Supreme Court decisions and their potential to reshape…
Nicholas Thompson combines personal discipline with intellectual rigour to lead The Atlantic He advocates for persistent progress, hiring with an ‘edge’, and embracing discomfort Drawing on marathon philosophy, his leadership style emphasises resilience, continuous learning, and adaptation Nicholas Thompson, chief executive of The Atlantic and former editor of Wired, has built a leadership style rooted in discipline, intellectual clarity and an unusual willingness to invite challenge. His approach, outlined in multiple appearances and interviews to publicise his new book The Running Ground, offers a template for media leaders trying to steer ambitious teams through a period of unrelenting industry pressure.…
RedBird Capital withdraws from £500m bid for Telegraph Media Group Concerns over foreign influence and newsroom tensions cited as reasons Future ownership remains uncertain amid political and regulatory scrutiny The future of the Daily Telegraph has been thrown back into turmoil after RedBird Capital Partners abandoned its planned £500m takeover of the title. As first reported by Mark Kleinman at Sky News, RedBird and its Abu Dhabi-based investment partner International Media Investments (IMI) have formally withdrawn their offer to buy Telegraph Media Group, ending months of speculation over a deal that had divided Westminster, the media industry and even…
Australia to impose new revenue-sharing tax on Meta and Microsoft Measures aim to support journalism amid tensions with tech giants Policy set to take effect from January 2025, amidst industry debate Australia is pushing ahead with plans to impose a new tax on global tech giants, compelling them to fund domestic journalism. The federal government’s initiative targets large social media and search platforms generating more than AUD 250 million a year in Australian revenue, including Meta, Google and Microsoft. The goal is to ensure a fairer revenue split with news organisations and strengthen democracy by supporting public interest journalism. According…
