7:30 am - April 12, 2026
The Daily Beast reports double-digit subscriber growth and over 100,000 paying users in early 2026 The publisher now views subscriptions as the core revenue model, moving away from advertising dependency Diversified approach includes subscriptions via website, Substack, and YouTube, aiming for long-term stability The Daily Beast is recasting subscriptions as…
The Globe’s Power Play is a twice-weekly, subscriber-only newsletter focused on local business and political forces. It aims to deliver quick, analysis-driven updates on Massachusetts commerce and policy. The newsletter complements existing Globe coverage, with a focus on insider insights and industry trends. The Boston Globe is introducing a subscriber-only…
INMA’s new report reveals a three-pronged AI user journey approach for publishers Emphasis on structured content, audience loyalty, and first-party data in adapting to AI Industry urged to redesign journalism for fragmented, automated audience interactions The International News Media Association (INMA) has set out a framework for publishers trying to…
The Wall Street Journal uses TikTok to engage younger readers Emphasises exclusivity, authenticity, and verification in social videos Aims to reinforce subscriptions and attract new audiences through social-first storytelling The Wall Street Journal is stepping up efforts to reach younger audiences on TikTok, using short-form video to extend its journalism beyond traditional platforms and funnel users towards subscriptions. For many publishers, social video is no longer just a marketing channel but a core part of audience development, particularly as younger consumers turn to platforms such as TikTok for news. Kelcie Pegher, the Journal’s social strategy editor, said in an article…
The Aga Khan Development Network ends a 66-year association with Nation Media Group, selling its controlling stake. Tanzanian businessman Rostam Azizi plans to expand digital and revenue initiatives within the media conglomerate. Market reacts positively, with shares surging over 28% after the announcement. The Aga Khan Development Network is relinquishing its controlling interest in Nation Media Group, formally ending a 66‑year association as the Swiss‑based development investor pivots capital towards sectors it regards as higher growth and more directly measurable in development terms. Under an agreement announced in March, Taarifa Ltd, a vehicle owned by Tanzanian businessman Rostam Azizi, will…
nd moves its daily edition exclusively online from April 2026, while keeping a weekly print issue. The shift responds to falling print sales and rising production costs, emphasizing innovation and reader support. The cooperative ownership model aims to preserve editorial independence amid industry consolidation. The small German newspaper nd will stop printing weekday editions from this month moving its daily journalism online while keeping a weekly paper, a move that underlines the economic strain on print and the growing urgency of digital transition among European publishers. In the wake of Die Tagezeitung’s (taz) decision to end weekday printing last October,…
Jonathan Greenberger to lead Politico from 1 May, focusing on expanding its reach Shift in leadership aims to enhance reporting speed and technological infrastructure Politico continues to diversify with new hires in audio, video, and Capitol Hill coverage Jonathan Greenberger will become Politico’s editor-in-chief on May 1, marking a shift in the US political news outlet’s leadership as it looks to expand its reach across platforms and markets. Greenberger, a former television news executive, joined Politico in April 2024 as executive vice-president after nearly a decade leading ABC News’ Washington bureau. There he oversaw political coverage and served as an…
The industry faces existential questions about purpose and value Traditional notions of a “paper of record” are increasingly outdated Successful organisations will innovatively redefine their role and revenue streams This first appeared in our weekly newsletter Editor’s picks. Sign up here I’ve been turning to existential questions in recent days. Why are we here? What are we doing? Who will miss us when we’re gone? To be clear, I’m not asking these questions about the human race – though they feel more apposite at the moment – but news providers. I think my introspection has come because I’ve been…
Dow Jones aims for $1bn in annual earnings within five years amid shift to digital and AI-driven products The segment’s revenue now 82% digital, with a focus on subscriptions and data services Growth driven by AI licensing, risk and energy intelligence, and enterprise news News Corp said Dow Jones, the…
Jamie Stockwell set to start as vice president of news at USA TODAY in March 2026 Will focus on impartial reporting, innovation, and expanding audience reach Brings extensive experience from The Washington Post, The New York Times, and Axios Local USA Today has appointed Jamie Stockwell as vice president of…
Notus recruits nine seasoned journalists including seven from The Washington Post Move highlights shifts in Washington’s media landscape with talent leaving traditional outlets Organisational rebrand plans suggest ambitions to rival established national newspapers The nonprofit political newsroom NOTUS has hired nine journalists, including seven from The Washington Post, in a…
Teenage use of TikTok and Snapchat declines but persists in some groups Platforms remove millions of underage accounts but face enforcement hurdles International interest grows as Australia’s approach influences other countries’ policies Two months after Australia introduced the world’s first nationwide ban preventing under-16s from holding accounts on major social…
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Investigative journalist Julia Angwin sues Grammarly over unauthorised use of her name in AI tool The case questions whether AI companies need explicit licences for referencing real individuals The lawsuit highlights broader concerns about transparency, consent, and attribution in AI practices A proposed class action in Manhattan federal court accuses…
Over 1.5 million research papers processed with AI in 2025, with a 25% forecasted increase in 2026 Springer Nature’s Snapp platform integrates AI tools to streamline manuscript handling and reviewer management The publisher balances efficiency with human oversight, ensuring transparency and research integrity Springer Nature says it processed more than…
The New York Times newsroom has grown by over 50% in a decade, marking ongoing success. Historical overexpansion at the Washington Post serves as a cautionary tale. Industry-wide decline and AI disruption suggest caution against large-scale staffing growth. This first appeared in our weekly newsletter Editor’s picks. Sign up…
Gen Z remains the primary audience for TikTok but shows signs of waning trust Users nostalgic for earlier, less commercial days and more cautious about content Creators and users increasingly turn to alternatives like YouTube amidst TikTok’s shift towards commerce TikTok remains the platform Gen Z turns to most often…
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Steve Grove discusses the decline of traditional local newspapers amid rising citizen reporting The Star Tribune adapts through digital innovation, risking operational cuts Signs of growth emerge through increased online subscriptions despite funding challenges Sometimes the context around a conversation reshapes its meaning. That was evident at last Friday’s Good Leadership Breakfast when Steve Grove, CEO and publisher of the Minnesota Star Tribune, addressed a room grappling with unrest and uncertainty in local media. Grove — whose career includes senior roles at Google and YouTube and a stint as Minnesota’s commissioner of employment and economic development — has written about…
Major UK news organisations launch SPUR to combat unauthorised AI training use Aim to establish licensing standards and secure fair compensation for original reporting Initiative underscores concerns over AI’s impact on journalism’s economic sustainability Some of Britain’s largest news organisations have launched a coalition to challenge the unauthorised use of journalism by AI developers. Leaders of the BBC, Financial Times, Guardian, Sky News and Telegraph Media Group have signed an open letter announcing SPUR , Standards for Publisher Usage Rights. The group says it will press for clearer rules and compensation when original reporting is used to train artificial intelligence…
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Yomiuri Shimbun files ¥2.17bn lawsuit against Perplexity copied about 120,000 articles to power chat answers The newspaper alleges the AI start-up copied about 120,000 articles to power chat answers Case will probe 2018 Copyright Act exception for machine learning Japan’s largest newspaper is suing Perplexity, accusing the AI search startup of copying more than 119,000 articles to train and power its chatbot. Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings said it filed the claim on August 7 in Tokyo District Court, seeking about ¥2.17bn ($15m) in damages and an injunction to stop Perplexity from reproducing or distributing its content. The suit, brought by three…
Union says two generative‑AI features were deployed without contract‑required notice or human review Management argues product teams built the tools “outside the newsroom” Ruling could set precedent on whether editorial standards and bargaining duties apply to algorithmic products Politico’s management told an arbitrator this summer that experimental AI products built by engineering teams sit “outside the newsroom,” while the union argues contract protections and human review were bypassed. The PEN Guild took Politico to arbitration in July 2025, claiming two gen AI features were deployed without the notice and editorial oversight required under its newly negotiated contract. The union says…
51% of adults used a podcast in the past month and 33% in the past week, with 71% having ever tried one Smartphones remain the primary device but smart‑TV listening doubled (4% to 8%); YouTube (20%) now rivals traditional podcast apps while in‑car connectivity is rising Ofcom and industry surveys differ, so publishers and advertisers must prioritise standardised measurement, cross‑platform deduplication and formats that suit both audio and video Podcasts have moved firmly into the mainstream, with 71% of UK adults aged 16-plus having tried one, 51% listening in the past month and 33% in the past week, according to…
The New York Times added 1.08 million digital-only subscribers over the past year, bringing its total to 11.3 million, according to second-quarter results released this week. Including print, the Times has 11.9 million subscribers. More than 6 million subscribers now fall into the bundle or multi-product category, with another 3.6 million subscribing to a single non-news product such as Games, Cooking, Audio or The Athletic.. The company added 230,000 net digital-only subscribers in the quarter and reported a 15.1% year-on-year rise in digital subscription revenue, now standing at $350.4 million for the quarter. Average revenue per user also grew, up…
Nearly a decade ago I sat in a hotel meeting room in Bermondsey, a newly revived neighbourhood of south London, with a number of colleagues from all departments of The Times and The Sunday Times. The papers were themselves newly revived, having recently returned to profit on the back of launching digital subscriptions for the first time in forever. Earlier in 2016 they had also relaunched their smartphone app and combined their websites – we had finally convinced everyone that it made sense not to have two websites competing with each other while they were both sold under the…
Thomson Reuters reported stronger second-quarter earnings, supported by continued investment in artificial intelligence across its core legal, tax and accounting services. The Reuters News division saw 5% organic growth, with gains in both its agency and professionals business, alongside contractual pricing adjustments with the London Stock Exchange. Total revenue rose 3% to $1.78 billion for the quarter ending June 30, up from $1.74 billion a year earlier. Organic revenue was up 7%. Operating profit more than doubled, rising 111%, largely due to the sale of a majority stake in the company’s Elite business. Thomson Reuters’ core business units – legal, tax…
Dow Jones, led by The Wall Street Journal, reported stellar profits of $588m on annual revenues of $2.33 billion for the year that ended on June 30, cementing its position as the standout performer within News Corporation’s portfolio. While the Journal has been revitalised journalistically under the leadership of editor-in-chief Emma Tucker, rising digital subscriptions and strong demand for the group’s professional information services have turned it into the profit engine of News Corp more widely. Total subscriptions to Dow Jones consumer products – including The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, and MarketWatch – rose 7% year-on-year to 6.3 million.…
SmartNews, the AI-driven news aggregator, has launched a new app that aims to give readers a more thoughtful and less polarised way to follow the news. Called NewsArc, the app uses AI to surface long-form journalism and in-depth reporting on complex topics in a deliberate counter to the fast-paced content that dominates many digital platforms. Rather than optimise for clicks or scrolling time, NewsArc is designed to encourage slower, more focused reading sessions. The company says it wants to create a shared news experience grounded in “discovering the whole story.” NewsArc is positioned as a companion to SmartNews’s flagship app,…
News Corp will launch a new daily newspaper in Los Angeles in early 2026, expanding its New York Post brand to the West Coast for the first time. The move, first reported by Axios, marks a bold bet on print and digital journalism in a region where local newsrooms have been hollowed out by layoffs and financial strain. The California Post will mirror the style and tone of the New York Post, combining celebrity gossip, sports, opinion and punchy front pages with coverage of local issues and national stories tailored to a California audience. It will be available in print…
Axel Springer has acquired Hamburg-based ad tech firm cmmrcl.ly, deepening its push into programmatic social media advertising and signalling a sharp acceleration of CEO Mathias Döpfner’s strategy to reshape the company around direct audience relationships, first-party data and AI. The deal gives Axel Springer full ownership of a platform already embedded in the advertising supply chains of some of Germany’s biggest retail and media players. Founded in 2020, cmmrcl.ly works with more than 25 data partners across Germany, Austria and Switzerland and offers sophisticated audience targeting built on proprietary data from search, browsing and purchasing activity. The acquisition fits squarely…
