7:50 am - March 24, 2026
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…
Axios cuts 11 newsroom roles to focus on deep subject expertise Company aims to build a ‘newsroom of the future’ blending human skill and AI Shift reflects broader trend towards niche authority in digital media Axios has cut 11 newsroom roles as it pivots away from general assignment reporting towards…
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…
Vox names Steve Heuser as executive editor, starting 23 March Heuser brings extensive experience from Politico and Boston Globe Focus on strengthening coverage across politics, policy, and explanatory journalism Vox has named Steve Heuser as executive editor, the company said in a statement, with Heuser due to begin the role on 23 March. The appointment was announced by Vox’s editor‑in‑chief and publisher Swati Sharma, who said Heuser would work with the newsroom’s leadership to shape coverage priorities, bolster editors and reporters, and help steer the outlet’s journalism amid a rapidly changing media environment. At Vox, Heuser will have editorial oversight…
Rashida Jones, former MSNBC president, takes on leadership of Uncensored Uncensored aims to diversify its streaming and social content globally Industry observers see her role as key to scaling Morgan’s digital brand Former MSNBC president Rashida Jones has been appointed chief executive of Uncensored, the digital media venture fronted by British broadcaster Piers Morgan. The appointment puts Jones in charge of strategy, operations and editorial development as Uncensored looks to broaden its mix of streaming and social content beyond its flagship programme, Piers Morgan Uncensored. Her arrival comes as digital news and commentary ventures race to build sustainable models based…
Bonnier News’ profitability increased by 29% in 2025, driven by digital subscriptions Digital revenue now accounts for over 60% of total income, with nearly 500,000 digital subscribers The company anticipates a stronger year in 2026 with continued growth in readership and advertising Bonnier News ended 2025 with sharply improved profitability and continued growth in its subscription business, the Swedish media group said, positioning the company for what its chief executive expects will be a stronger 2026. The results highlight the steady shift toward reader revenue and digital products across the group’s portfolio of national and local titles. The publisher reported…
Traditional newsrooms are overwhelmed with extensive coverage for huge events Readers primarily seek perspective and education, not multiple updates News organisations should prioritise analysis and opinion to better serve digital audiences This is from our weekly Editor’s picks newsletter. Sign up for free here I did something I do very rarely this week: I turned on our television at home in the morning. The reason, unsurprisingly, was the war in Iran. My goal was to get up to date with all the latest news. And I did. If nothing else, rolling TV news stations are always quick on to…
ESPN hires six experienced journalists from The Washington Post amid industry reshuffle New recruits bolster ESPN’s investigative and long‑form sports coverage The move highlights the widening talent gap and strategic shifts after Post’s sports desk closure Five weeks after The Washington Post dismantled its sports desk, ESPN has hired six of the newspaper’s former reporters, a move that follows a similar mass hiring by The Athletic, which is part of The New York Times. The hires reflect a broader shift in sports journalism, as legacy newspapers shrink specialist desks while broadcasters and digital outlets invest in reporting capacity aimed at…
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…
RAG combines retrieval and generative models to deliver up-to-date, accurate answers Structured data and schema markup boost content discoverability for AI systems SEO strategies are shifting towards fact clarity and entity prominence to favour AI-driven search answers Retrieval-Augmented Generation — or RAG — is changing how information is surfaced online.…
Indian newsrooms focus on deploying AI for operational efficiency and editorial integrity Practical case studies highlight automation of routine tasks and fact-checking tools Industry emphasises responsible AI use, governance and safeguarding against manipulated content Leaders from India’s newsrooms joined international experts in Bengaluru last week for WAN-IFRA’s AI in Media…
Mediahuis reports marginal revenue growth of 2% in 2025, with a strategic shift from print to digital The company’s radio and online marketplace divisions experience notable expansion Stronger cash position enables further digital investments and cross-border acquisitions across Europe Mediahuis, the Belgium-based publisher which also has titles in the Netherland,…
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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…
Programme targets young media leaders across EMEA to foster responsible AI use in newsrooms 12-week, tuition-free initiative supported by Google News Initiative aims to narrow innovation gap Focus on skills development through real-world challenges, mentorship, and collaborative learning WAN-IFRA has unveiled the NextGen AI Leaders Programme, a 12-week initiative to…
The Washington Post faces over $100 million losses, prompting major layoffs. Costs have risen 16% while output has fallen 42%, highlighting financial strain. Leadership aims to reposition the newsroom as a distinctive, must-read outlet amid changing reader habits. The Washington Post lost more than $100 million last, following a $77…
Politico to launch in Australia, targeting policy professionals and political obsessives Moves into a market dominated by News Corp and Nine Entertainment with a premium, insider-focused model Aims to fill a gap in policy intelligence and deepen political coverage in the Australian context Politico will launch in Australia later this…
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John Mulholland brings decades of international editorial experience to the paper His appointment aims to enhance breaking coverage and long-form storytelling The outlet seeks to innovate tone, technique, and technology in local journalism Kevin Delaney, editor in chief of The San Francisco Standard, has appointed Fleet Street veteran John Mulholland as managing editor, according to a staff memo published by Talking Biz News. Mulholland will oversee day-to-day news operations, working with section editors on breaking coverage and long-form journalism. He will report to Delaney and is due to start on Monday 30 March. He lives in Sacramento and has served…
Lenore Taylor announces her departure after 13 years at Guardian Australia, including a decade as editor Under her leadership, the outlet became one of Australia’s most-read news sources, with major award wins A successor will be chosen through an open process, with David Munk serving as interim editor until then Lenore Taylor has announced she will step down from Guardian Australia after 13 years in senior roles that included a decade as the title’s editor, leaving the organisation she helped establish in 2013. Taylor joined Guardian Australia as a senior member of staff at its May 2013 launch and quickly…
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Newsrooms recognised for innovation in storytelling, subscriptions and tech-driven journalism. WAN-IFRA has announced continental winners of its 2025 Digital Media Awards, highlighting innovative journalism and technology-led projects across both Europe and South Asia. From AI-powered tools to gamified engagement strategies, the awards celebrate how newsrooms are evolving to attract audiences, drive subscriptions and uphold editorial excellence. In Europe, Reuters took top national honours for Best Data Visualisation with its investigative project “Buildings wrapped in solid gasoline,” which exposed the dangers of flammable cladding and linked the Grenfell fire in London to wider regulatory failures. Regional recognition in the same category…
Tools support summaries, data analysis and reader comments – with human oversight built in. The Financial Times is using artificial intelligence to generate article summaries and support its journalists, as part of a broader effort to boost reader engagement and experiment with new ways of presenting information. Speaking at WAN-IFRA’s Frankfurt AI Forum, Liz Lohn, the FT’s director of product, AI and editorial tech, said AI-generated summaries are helping readers get to key facts faster – but also encouraging them to stay and read more. “Good summaries can actually help draw readers into the article,” she said. Rather than placing…
Jonathan Roberts says storytelling still matters – but the rules of distribution are changing fast. Artificial intelligence is reshaping digital publishing and Dotdash Meredith is among the companies moving quickly to adapt. In a recent interview with The Media Copilot, the company’s Chief Innovation Officer, Dr Jonathan Roberts, outlined how the publisher is balancing AI adoption with editorial integrity, and why human storytelling still matters in an increasingly automated environment. Home to titles including People, InStyle and Investopedia, Dotdash Meredith has built a reputation for data-driven strategy. It has developed its own ad tech platform, D/Cipher, aimed at the post-cookie…
New feature aims to help users manage screen time without blocking access. YouTube is developing a new feature that will allow users to set daily time limits for watching Shorts, its short-form video offering. The feature, discovered in the latest beta version of the YouTube app, is designed to help users regulate their screen time amid growing concerns over the addictive nature of endless scrolling. According to Android Authority, users will be able to specify how many minutes or hours they want to spend on Shorts each day. Once the limit is reached, the app will pause the continuous scroll…
Preferences vary widely across age, income and political lines, with many seeking content that reflects their own views. A new study published in the International Journal of Communication has found that while many people say they want impartial news, large sections of the public actually prefer journalism that reflects their own beliefs. The findings suggest that assumptions about audience preferences – long held by newsrooms and media academics – may not reflect the full picture. The research, led by Camila Mont’Alverne of the University of Strathclyde and Richard Fletcher of Oxford University, analysed data from 80,000 participants across 40 countries,…
Dotdash Meredith invests in mobile product aimed at younger, visually-driven audiences. People Magazine has launched its first standalone app, marking a significant new direction for Dotdash Meredith since acquiring the brand in 2021. The app, released on Thursday, features a TikTok-style interface and offers original, swipeable content designed to appeal to younger users. Unlike previous mobile efforts, which were linked to a now-cancelled TV show, the new app delivers a distinct editorial experience. It includes multimedia storytelling exclusive to the platform, not available on the website or in print. “It’s not just a new platform – it’s a new product,”…
New interface offers smarter search, content discovery and real-time alerts. The Associated Press has launched AP Newsroom, a new AI-powered content platform designed to improve how users access and engage with its visual, audio and text-based news coverage. The platform features a redesigned interface and upgraded tools to streamline content discovery and retrieval. Key among them are AI-driven search and recommendation functions, aimed at helping media professionals respond faster to breaking news and uncover new angles for reporting. “The all-new AP Newsroom is a truly user-centric platform that provides seamless access to AP’s rich portfolio of all-formats journalism,” said Kristin…
Newsrooms urged to move beyond experiments and integrate AI into core strategy. Artificial intelligence is no longer optional for newsrooms – it’s existential. That was the message from Ezra Eeman, WAN-IFRA’s AI expert and director of strategy and innovation at Dutch public broadcaster NPO, during a recent industry webinar focused on the future of journalism. Eeman led a wide-ranging discussion on how publishers are responding to the rapid evolution of AI and the strategic shifts required to stay relevant. He shared insights from a January study tour to San Francisco, where media executives met with OpenAI and other startups to…
News publishers warn outdated laws and AI misuse are threatening the future of the press. Media leaders have called on the Irish Government to fast-track long-promised defamation reforms, warning that current laws are among the toughest in the world and are stifling journalism. NewsBrands Ireland urged swift passage of the Defamation (Amendment) Bill, which the Irish government had committed to introducing in the first quarter of 2025. Delays have raised alarm among publishers, who say the existing system imposes excessive legal and financial risks on newsrooms. “We need to create an environment where journalism can thrive, not one where it…
South African publisher recognised for election coverage, creative formats and bold subscriber strategy Daily Maverick has won three honours at the WAN-IFRA Digital Media Awards Africa 2025, recognising its work in reader engagement, digital innovation and subscription growth. The publication’s Elections ’24 newsletter was named Best Newsletter. Designed to inform South Africans in the run-up to the 2024 national elections, the listicle-style format offered quick summaries and encouraged readers to submit questions, which were answered in later editions. It recorded an open rate of 78.4% and saw subscriber numbers grow nearly fivefold—making it the most successful newsletter in the publisher’s…
