The rise of video and audio formats is reshaping how news is produced and consumed, challenging the traditional dominance of text. If you attend a news media conference these days, the only thing more guaranteed than a slightly disappointing cup of coffee is that you’ll hear the phrases “the website is dead” or “the article is dead”. I think this is not seeing the wood for the trees. Because the thing most under threat is text. (I said it was “dead” in the headline, because, hey, who doesn’t like a hint of hyperbole.) To put it another – perhaps more…

The feature was launched in the US on Tuesday and will roll out internationally soon. Google’s launch of “AI Mode” in its search results has reignited fears among publishers already reeling from the impact of its AI Overviews feature, which they say has slashed referral traffic and put business models at risk. AI Mode, which began rolling out in the US this week, gives users the option to toggle into a conversational interface powered by generative AI. It offers AI-generated summaries and suggestions in response to queries, drawing on information from across the web but often surfacing answers directly in…

The newspaper published a summer reading list containing fabricated book titles and incorrect author attributions created largely by AI. The Chicago Sun-Times has faced criticism after publishing a summer reading list that included fabricated book titles and incorrect author attributions – most of them generated by artificial intelligence. The incident has renewed concerns about the unchecked use of AI in newsrooms and the risks it poses to journalistic credibility. It was also a timely reminded that just like human journalists, AI needs the scrutiny of editors too. The article, part of the paper’s Best of Summer series, ran under the headline…

Governor Gavin Newsom proposes cutting California’s $30 million commitment to a deal with Google aimed at saving local news. California’s landmark agreement with Google to support local journalism is under threat after Governor Gavin Newsom proposed cutting the state’s contribution from $30 million to just $10 million – before a single dollar has been distributed. The $125 million deal, announced last August, promised funding for local newsrooms over five years, split between the state and Google. But facing a projected $12 billion deficit, Newsom’s administration now says it must scale back, citing “fewer resources than projected”, in a development first reported…

Led by the entrepreneur Florian Novak, Jetzt aims to revive Austria’s media landscape with its subscription-based independent text and audio journalism. A new independent journalism platform in Austria is attempting a bold experiment: signing up 5,000 paying members before it even launches. The site, called Jetzt, is the brainchild of Florian Novak, and aims to rebuild public trust in news through a blend of in-depth text and audio journalism. Due to launch in September, Jetzt is selling itself not just as a publisher but as a community. A standard monthly membership costs €17.90, though sliding-scale pricing is available for those…

The Murdoch-controlled company is introducing compulsory AI bootcamps to improve adoption of AI tools. News Corp Australia is rolling out mandatory AI training sessions for its journalists as it steps up the use of artificial intelligence in its newsrooms. The company says the bootcamps are designed to familiarise staff with tools like NewsGPT and other AI features now embedded in its content management system. The move, first reported by Capital Brief, comes amid concerns about the pace of AI adoption and its impact on accuracy, transparency and job security. The sessions will be scheduled over the coming months. In July…

Julia Hood will lead a strategic push to integrate artificial intelligence deeply into journalism processes. Business Insider has appointed Julia Hood as its first newsroom AI lead, formalising its push to integrate artificial intelligence more deeply into editorial processes. The move comes shortly after staff expressed concern over the company’s monitoring of ChatGPT usage. Hood, previously executive editor for strategic initiatives, will work across editorial and product teams to identify opportunities for AI to support storytelling, while ensuring new tools align with the publication’s editorial standards. She will collaborate closely with standards editor Tracy Connor and oversee how AI tools…

Recognised as Innovator of the Year by the Local Media Association, the publisher has used AI to enhance storytelling, accessibility, and community engagement. Paris Brown, publisher of The Baltimore Times, has been named Innovator of the Year by the Local Media Association for her work modernising the 40-year-old title through the strategic use of artificial intelligence. Under her leadership, the paper has integrated AI across its editorial and production workflows – from drafting articles and designing print and digital covers to managing projects and generating interactive content. Brown sees the technology as a tool to extend the newspaper’s mission. “We’re…

Tim Davie promotes a balanced approach that merges technological innovation with traditional journalistic integrity. BBC Director-General Tim Davie has called on public service broadcasters, regulators and technology companies to join forces in safeguarding trust in journalism and combating the risks posed by AI. In a speech delivered in London last week, Davie said that the spread of generative AI and the growing volume of low-quality content online threatened to “drown out” trusted news sources. He warned that audiences were increasingly “bewildered” by a glut of misleading material and that “bad actors” were weaponising AI to spread disinformation at scale. Davie…

Recent incidents reveal how AI-generated false information in court filings and testimony is undermining legal credibility, leading to fines, dismissals, and calls for stricter verification of AI-assisted work in the legal profession. Report: The Challenge of AI Hallucinations in Legal Proceedings Artificial intelligence (AI) tools, particularly those leveraging large language models (LLMs), are increasingly implicated in the legal domain, where the risk of so-called “hallucinations” — the generation of false but plausible information — poses a significant challenge. An article from Clubic highlights several recent incidents illustrating the problematic use of AI in courtrooms, underscoring the growing concern within the…