10:15 pm - July 19, 2026
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…
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…
The BBC’s shift towards social media prioritisation sparks debate over traditional news formats Internal resistance to technological and structural changes persists across news organisations Industry stability and lack of strategic thinking hinder adaptation to digital disruptions Why is the news industry so resistant to change? It’s almost impossible to shift…
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 a subscription to the paper version for two reasons – and neither had anything to do with the journalism. First, he was a big fan of the crossword, which he regarded as the best on Fleet Street. Second, he said the broadsheet format made the paper excellent kindling for his…
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 of the sharpest fault lines in modern newsrooms. Some editors see AI as a useful tool; others fear a gradual erosion of authorship, accountability and trust. News organisations are increasingly relying on AI for routine tasks while trying to preserve public confidence in journalism. As publishers draw different boundaries around…
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 discovery results, in a move that could give the AI chatbot access to a more authoritative pool of visual material. The partnership is aimed at improving the quality and relevance of image-rich responses inside ChatGPT, while keeping the arrangement limited to display rather than model training. Getty said OpenAI will…
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 has filed a federal lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, accusing the technology groups of copying copyrighted reporting from nearly 400 newspapers to help train and operate commercial AI products, including ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, without permission or payment. According to the complaint, the companies used years of original local news…
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 and draw in younger audiences who increasingly consume news and entertainment through creator feeds rather than legacy publisher channels. The initiative, called Forbes Creator, was unveiled this month as a social-first network built around video, podcasts and live experiences. Forbes says the project is intended to combine its journalistic brand…
Over half of global news consumers now turn to social media and video networks, surpassing traditional news websites Video consumption on platforms like TikTok, YouTube and Instagram surges, while trust in news declines Artificial intelligence begins transforming news engagement, especially among younger audiences Social media and video networks have surpassed…
German court rules AI Overviews are Google’s own content, risking liability Google argues the AI summaries are accurate but admits occasional errors Case could set legal precedent on responsibility for AI-generated information Google is set to challenge a German court ruling that could make it liable for false statements surfaced…
UK government aims to restrict social media access for under-16s by spring 2027 Moves to curb risky features like livestreaming and stranger contact Experts highlight challenges of enforcement and broader public health strategies The UK government has confirmed plans to bar social media platforms from offering services to under-16s, in…
Bloomberg journalism now accessible directly within CisionOne platform for corporate users Aims to streamline news monitoring and response strategies for communications teams Reflects a trend towards seamless integration of media content and analytics for enterprise agility Bloomberg Media has partnered with Cision to make Bloomberg’s journalism available within CisionOne, the…
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Rainer Esser asserts AI will enhance journalism’s value by emphasising human connection Calls for news organisations to recognise their worth and partner confidently with tech giants Personal storytelling highlights irreplaceable human element in investigative journalism If you’re invited to speak at a conference, you really don’t want a slot at…
The Times adopts a specialised, multi-team approach to video content production Video is now a distinct editorial discipline, not just repurposed print stories Distribution strategies evolve with dedicated platforms like the new ‘Watch’ tab At WAN-IFRA’s World News Media Congress in Marseille, Solana Pyne, video director at The New York…
Goalhanger becomes Britain’s fastest-growing private company with £37.9 million sales in 2025 Founded by Gary Lineker and former TV producers, it has a strong following in sports, politics, and history Secures investment from The Chernin Group amid a surge of consumer brands on the list Gary Lineker’s move from television…
CMA mandates tools for publishers to restrict AI training on their content Clearer attribution and control options for AI-generated search results Google given nine months to comply with new regulations Britain’s competition watchdog has ordered Google to give publishers greater control over how their material is used in the company’s…
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The Vatican’s encyclical calls for AI regulation based on law, oversight and human judgement Pope warns against autonomous weapons, worker displacement and AI-driven conflict Emphasises the importance of moral language in global AI governance debates Pope Leo XIV has thrust the Vatican into the centre of the global debate over artificial intelligence, using his first encyclical to argue that the technology must be governed by law, oversight and human judgement rather than left to market forces or military competition. Entitled Magnifica humanitas — “Magnificent Humanity” — the document presents AI as one of the defining moral questions of the age.…
Podcasting is evolving beyond audio-only formats to include video and personality-led shows. Major outlets like The New York Times and The Guardian expand video content to reach new audiences. Monetisation models are diversifying with increased focus on advertising, subscriptions, and creator-led enterprises. News podcasting is moving decisively beyond the old audio-only model, with video, personality-led chat shows and creator-style distribution reshaping how publishers make, package and monetise their work, according to a new Reuters Institute report by Nic Newman. The study, The Changing Shape and New Economics of News Podcasting, argues that the medium is being pulled into a broader…
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The New York Times added 310,000 digital-only subscribers in Q1, maintaining strong growth pace Revenue from digital subscriptions and advertising continues to rise significantly The publisher remains on track to reach 15 million subscribers by 2027 despite print decline Strong digital growth pushed The New York Times Company to 13.1 million subscribers in the first quarter, keeping the publisher on track to hit its target of 15 million subscribers by the end of 2027. The company added about 310,000 digital-only subscribers during the quarter and has averaged roughly 330,000 new subscribers a quarter since the start of last year. The…
Newsweek recovered from debt and declining readership through strategic alliances Key partnerships with Google Cloud and Statista drove significant growth in traffic and trust The revival exemplifies a shift towards collaborative models in legacy media success stories Newsweek’s turnaround under chief executive Dev Pragad has been driven less by internal restructuring than by a series of partnerships that helped rebuild the publisher’s audience, technology and commercial business. When Pragad took over, the company was carrying more than $25 million in debt and struggling with declining readership. Rather than rebuild every capability in-house, Newsweek focused on outside partnerships to supply technical…
News organisations are reducing their story counts to boost engagement Examples show that fewer stories can lead to increased traffic and readership Challenges include journalistic instincts and the pressure to cover major events extensively Hang around in this world long enough and you learn that what was once a new idea will soon become an old idea, and then, later, be resurrected as a new idea once more. There’s a case in point in journalism right now: reducing story count. Or, as people were describing it at the recent International Journalism Festival in Perugia, moving from volume to value.…
Hearst is prioritising data as a core asset to enhance speed and adaptability. The company is embedding AI and machine learning across its diverse portfolio. Focus on data quality, metadata, and governance aims to create a more responsive, intelligent enterprise. Hearst is recasting itself around data and artificial intelligence as the 140-year-old group seeks to make its portfolio faster, more connected and better suited to digital change. As AI tools spread, the competitive edge is moving away from raw scale towards how effectively companies structure, govern and apply their data across products, audiences and revenue streams. In an interview with…
TIME Studios teams up with Piers Morgan’s Uncensored for a new interview series The partnership signifies a push into premium video and long-form storytelling The studio continues to expand its diverse slate from space documentaries to social-impact films Time Studios is teaming up with Piers Morgan’s Uncensored on a new interview series, extending the Time brand’s push deeper into premium video and long-form storytelling. The move fits with a broader strategy at Time Studios, which has positioned itself as an Emmy Award-winning producer across television, film, audio and immersive formats. The studio says it focuses on truth-based scripted and unscripted…
SB Nation remains profitable with annual revenues of up to $100 million The sports network’s loyal, engaged audience makes it a sought-after asset Vox Media’s possible breakup could see SB Nation attract bids from diverse buyers Vox Media is weighing a potential sale of parts of its business, with SB Nation emerging as one of its most commercially attractive assets. The interest highlights a broader dynamic in digital publishing: scale alone is no longer enough. Buyers are looking for properties that combine loyal audiences with sustainable economics – a balance SB Nation appears to retain despite years of editorial change. According…
The Washington Post begins rehiring staff after massive layoffs in February Some employees returned on a temporary basis to fill critical gaps The move raises questions about the paper’s strategic direction and workforce stability The Washington Post is attempting to stabilise its newsroom after February’s sweeping layoffs by quietly bringing back some of the journalists it had just let go, a sign of how quickly the impact of the cuts became apparent. According to reporting by the Columbia Journalism Review, editors began contacting dismissed reporters in March, asking some to return on what the union calls a “delayed layoff” basis.…
Us Weekly plans significant redundancies due to weak first quarter performance The magazine will close its New York office and move to remote work from May The shift highlights broader struggles of legacy print media in the digital age Us Weekly is cutting close to half its workforce and shutting its New York office, in a sharp retrenchment that underscores the strain on legacy magazine brands as print advertising continues to erode. As audiences and advertisers move online, titles built on mass-market print circulation are struggling to adapt, forcing owners to reduce costs and rethink operating models. According to the…
Norway plans to ban social media use for under-16s by 2026 Legislation will shift age verification responsibilities to tech companies The move reflects increasing international efforts to protect children’s online wellbeing Norway is preparing to introduce one of Europe’s toughest child-safety measures online, with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre saying legislation will be brought forward by the end of 2026 to bar under-16s from social media. The proposal signals a shift from platform self-regulation to state enforcement, following similar action in Australia, and adds momentum to a global debate over whether governments can – or should – police children’s access…
Highlights the NYT’s clear strategic vision driven by purpose Emphasises the importance of distinctive content to survive amid tech dominance Questions the future of audience-first journalism in an era of declining trust When Meredith Kopit Levien speaks, the news industry does well to listen. The CEO of the New York Times has been an exemplary steward of a news brand whose success is self-evident and doesn’t need repeating here. Earlier this month she was interviewed by Ben Thompson for Stratechery, a great website that addresses the strategy of media and tech companies. It was a distinctly friendly conversation but none…
