4:08 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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Business Insider announces dedicated ‘Business AI’ byline for AI-generated stories, reviewed by humans Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner pushes routine AI use across newsrooms amid strategic shift Company downsizes staff by 21% to focus on AI-enhanced content and new live events division Business Insider is moving rapidly to embed artificial intelligence into its newsroom operations, launching a dedicated “Business AI” byline for stories produced with machine assistance and human editing. The shift aligns with parent company Axel Springer’s plan to make AI central to all its news brands. AI tools are now authorised across Business Insider for drafting, transcription, research,…
Zurich-based Spatz uses AI to deliver hyperlocal newsletters in Swiss villages High engagement with open rates around 70%, reaching up to 20% of residents Funded by €400,000 grant, plans to expand across DACH region with community focus As local newspapers vanish across rural Switzerland, Zürich startup Spatz is using artificial intelligence to bring journalism back to small communities. Founded by journalist Hannes Grassegger, the company produces hyperlocal newsletters that deliver curated regional news via email and WhatsApp, aiming to fill the “news deserts” left by traditional outlets. Grassegger, once known for investigations into Cambridge Analytica and online disinformation, founded Spatz…
Campaign unites consumers and businesses to bolster Australian economy Major retailers offer discounts on Australian-made products to encourage local support Media and retail partnerships aim to boost trust and pride in Australian brands News Australia has launched a national campaign, Back Australia: It’s Good For All Of Us, urging consumers and businesses to support local products and jobs. The initiative highlights how everyday spending choices can strengthen the economy, boost sustainability and promote resilience. “The campaign comes at a time of rapid change and uncertainty,” said Michael Miller, executive chairman of News Corp Australasia. “Choosing Australian products means backing our…
Tammy Tam appointed as publisher to oversee both content and business Editorial independence emphasised amid organisational changes Moves aim to enhance cohesion and financial resilience in a changing media landscape The South China Morning Post (SCMP) has named editor-in-chief Tammy Tam as its new publisher, a position created to oversee both editorial and business operations. The restructuring aims to align the Hong Kong newspaper’s journalistic and commercial ambitions under a single vision. Tam, who has led the newsroom since 2016, will now assume responsibility for the paper’s broader strategy. Before joining SCMP in 2011, she held senior editorial roles in…
Features AI-driven, proactive browsing with context-aware support Introduces Browser Memories for seamless, personalised research tracking Balances innovative productivity tools with ongoing privacy concerns OpenAI’s new web browser, ChatGPT Atlas, marks a significant evolution in how users interact with the internet, blending traditional browsing with advanced artificial intelligence to create a proactive, context-aware assistant embedded directly within the browsing experience. The browser is currently available for macOS, with Windows, iOS, and Android versions promised soon. Atlas is designed not just to show the web but to understand, summarise, and assist users actively as they navigate various sites, offering a glimpse into…
82% of Americans express concern about AI’s influence on news content Majority support laws for fair compensation and regulation of AI in media Experts warn AI increases disinformation threats, risking journalistic integrity When National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) president Curtis LeGeyt opened the Future of Journalism track at NAB Show New York, he posed a question that has become central to the media’s survival: “How do we preserve, trust, and strengthen local journalism as emerging technologies redefine how news is produced, distributed, and consumed?” A new nationwide poll from OnMessage Inc offered a stark answer: the public is worried, deeply…
Studies show that direct prompts can slightly improve LLM accuracy Cultural and language differences influence optimal prompt tone Clarity and specificity remain crucial for effective AI interactions The way users phrase their questions to AI chatbots could affect the accuracy of the answers they receive, according to new research that adds nuance to the emerging science of prompt engineering. A study entitled Mind Your Tone: Investigating How Prompt Politeness Affects LLM Accuracy tested 50 questions written in five tonal variations using ChatGPT-4o. The findings were unexpected: rude prompts slightly outperformed polite ones. On average, very polite requests achieved 80.8% accuracy,…
Research reveals nearly half of AI-generated news responses contain significant errors Gemini and ChatGPT perform notably worse in sourcing and factual accuracy Experts warn of risks to public trust and democratic processes from unreliable AI news tools Artificial intelligence assistants from some of the world’s biggest tech firms are struggling to tell the truth about the news, according to a wide-ranging new study by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the BBC. The research, conducted with 22 public media organisations across 18 countries and in 14 languages, examined more than 3,000 AI-generated responses to news-related questions. It found that 45%…
X tests new ‘link experience’ to boost external content visibility CEO Elon Musk’s previous policies had alienated journalists and writers Latest changes aim to restore platform’s appeal for professional users and increase engagement When Elon Musk acquired Twitter in 2022 and rebranded it as X, one of his earliest algorithmic priorities was to keep users on the platform. Posts containing external links — once central to Twitter’s role as a hub for news and commentary — were quietly downranked. For journalists and writers, that shift was seismic: a once-essential distribution channel suddenly turned hostile to their work. X appears to…
The Irish Times has reduced its daily digital output to prioritise quality The move aims to produce deeper, more trustworthy journalism amid a crowded news cycle Editors focus on richer reporting, investigation, and stronger storytelling strategies In an era when newsrooms chase clicks with relentless publishing schedules, The Irish Times has acknowledged that it has adopted a publishing trend that few big organisations talk about publicly, but many practice behind the scenes: it deliberately started publishing fewer stories. The decision, taken two years ago, was rooted in a simple but bold idea: that readers would value depth over speed, substance…
