4:56 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…
Top stories
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…
Deep dive with
our insights
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…
All stories
Wikimedia reports an 8% drop in site traffic due to AI-driven search AI tools like ChatGPT now surpass Wikipedia in user engagement Calls grow for ethical regulation to protect open knowledge platforms The Wikimedia Foundation, which runs Wikipedia, has reported a sharp fall in traffic to its site, blaming the surge of artificial intelligence chatbots and AI-generated summaries. Marshall Miller, Wikimedia’s Chief Product Officer, said AI tools that deliver instant answers are changing how people find information. Search engines and assistants increasingly draw on Wikipedia’s content to generate summaries, leaving fewer users clicking through to the site itself. An upgraded…
European Parliament proposes minimum age of 16 for social media access without parental consent Calls for banning under-13s from social media and restricting harmful content and addictive features Aligns with global trends; Australia set to enforce strict social media age limits in 2025 European lawmakers are moving to introduce some of the world’s toughest online child protection rules, proposing a minimum age of 16 to use social media, video-sharing platforms and AI companions without parental consent. The plan, advanced by the European Parliament’s Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, reflects deepening concern over the impact of digital technologies on children’s…
Daily Wire offers 10,000 lifetime memberships for $1,500 each Members enjoy early content access, memorabilia, and exclusive benefits Initiative aims to deepen supporter loyalty amid ongoing culture wars The Daily Wire has launched a Lifetime Membership to mark its 10th anniversary, giving its most dedicated supporters permanent access to all content without renewals or additional payments. The initiative, limited to 10,000 members, signals the conservative media company’s intention to secure a committed base of long-term subscribers. The membership includes ad-free early access to episodes, live Q&A sessions with Daily Wire hosts, early product and event announcements, and unlimited streaming of…
Reuters Institute reports usage of AI tools in news has doubled in a year, now at 34% weekly Most people distrust AI-generated news, favouring human journalists Transparency about AI’s role in journalism is crucial for maintaining trust Public use of generative AI tools has doubled in the past year, but most people remain uncomfortable with the idea of artificial intelligence creating news, according to a new report from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. The 2025 Generative AI and News report, based on surveys in six countries, finds that while awareness of generative AI is now nearly universal,…
CNN’s new All Access tier offers live, on-demand, and written journalism for $6.99/month Includes access to CNN Originals, live events, and subscriber-only reporting A strategic move to deepen CNN’s direct engagement with digital audiences CNN will launch a new digital subscription tier, CNN All Access, on October 28 in the United States, giving subscribers a single destination for the network’s live, on-demand and written journalism. The plan costs $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year, with an introductory annual rate of $41.99 available through January 5, 2026. The new tier will include access to CNN’s US and international live programming,…
LA Times Media Group integrates traditional journalism with gaming and virtual production via its Graphene platform Plans for a public offering and innovative community shareholder model aim to revitalise the historic media brand The move reflects broader industry trends amid financial pressures and internal organisational challenges The Los Angeles Times Media Group has announced plans to reinvent itself as an integrated media platform, merging traditional journalism with advanced digital technologies such as virtual production and esports. The move formalises seven years of investment by owner Dr Patrick Soon-Shiong, who bought the newspaper in 2018 to preserve its legacy while modernising…
Matthew Garrahan, FT journalist with nearly 30 years’ experience, joins Redbird Capital as operating partner Redbird’s planned acquisition of The Telegraph awaits regulatory approval The deal signals a strategic shift aiming to grow the newspaper’s digital and international presence Financial Times journalist Matthew Garrahan is leaving the publication after nearly three decades to join Redbird Capital Partners, the US private investment firm in the process of acquiring The Telegraph. Garrahan becomes operating partner for news and entertainment, based in London, where he will help drive growth across Redbird’s expanding global media portfolio. The appointment highlights Redbird’s effort to blend editorial…
Leo XIV appeals for responsible journalism amid rising fake news and AI misuse Emphasises the media’s role in preserving societal cohesion and democratic integrity Calls for protection of journalists and emphasises truthfulness in digital communication Pope Leo XIV has issued an appeal to the global news industry to put truth before clicks, warning that sensationalism undermines public trust and corrodes democracy. Speaking at a conference organised by Minds International – a coalition that includes major news agencies such as Reuters – the Pope urged journalists to resist “the degrading practice of so-called clickbait” and to “never sell out your authority.” The Pope’s…
Influencers accounted for nearly half of online political content during Canada’s recent federal election Platforms’ policy changes led to decline of traditional news and increased influence of less reliable sources Report warns of future risks including division, misinformation, and lack of platform transparency Influencers, not journalists or politicians, drove nearly half of Canada’s online political conversation during this spring’s federal election, according to new research. The report from the Canadian Digital Media Research Network (CDMRN), coordinated by McGill University and the University of Toronto’s Media Ecosystem Observatory, found that influencers accounted for 47 percent of political content on major social…
News Corp Australia’s chairman condemns social media for harming social cohesion Urges stricter regulation and fair compensation from tech giants Supports social media ban for under-16s and promotes media industry unity against tech ‘theft’ Michael Miller, executive chairman of News Corp Australia, has launched a fierce attack on social media platforms, accusing them of eroding social cohesion and fuelling harm across communities. Speaking at the Melbourne Press Club, he described them as “the true monsters at our gates,” blaming their algorithms for spreading misinformation and leading vulnerable users into destructive “rabbit holes.” The speech underscores a growing push from traditional…
