10:04 pm - September 15, 2026
The New York Post and TMZ collaborate on a new daily video franchise called “The Lowdown”. The series features four one-minute segments combining journalism and entertainment reporting. Aims to expand digital reach and capitalise on fast-paced celebrity and headline news. The New York Post has entered into a new video…
Publishers must focus on proving value, trust, and usefulness in an AI-saturated landscape Transition from advertising reliance towards subscriptions and circulation income Emphasis on audience segmentation, relevance, and experiences to strengthen brand loyalty At the Indian Printers Summit 2026, organised by WAN-IFRA, speakers returned repeatedly to a single point: in…
21% of UK adults have used AI tools for news in the past year ChatGPT is the most widely used AI news source at 13% Trust in AI-generated news remains lower than human journalism One in five adults in the UK are now using AI tools such as ChatGPT to…
Reach announces strategic move towards digital subscriptions and original content Revenue drop highlights need for a new publishing approach Content strategy based on exclusivity, expertise, and emotive storytelling The surest catalyst for change in a news organisation is a crisis. When things are going well – or at least not too badly – there is always the temptation to defend what you have, rather than risk something new. At the World Cup, England showed how limiting a strategy that can be. But when your back is against the wall, you don’t have a choice – you have to do…
South China Morning Post revamps print and online platforms with a focus on analysis and visual appeal Introduction of AI tools enhances digital research and user experience Repositioning reflects long-term strategy of adaptation and globalisation in media The South China Morning Post (SCMP) has unveiled a redesign of both its print newspaper and digital platforms as it seeks to keep pace with changing reading habits and an increasingly AI-driven media environment. The revamp is aimed at making the title feel more useful to readers who want fast updates on screens and deeper context in print. Chow Chung Yan, the paper’s…
People Inc reports 11th straight quarter of digital revenue growth, driven by licensing and AI collaborations Company advocates for fair compensation from Google over search content use Transition towards less traffic-dependent revenue streams aims to power future growth and diversification People Inc said its digital business extended its run of growth in the second quarter of 2026, helped by higher licensing income, AI-related partnerships, events and social media products, even as core traffic remained under pressure from changes in search. The company reported its 11th straight quarter of digital revenue growth, with digital adjusted EBITDA rising 18% year on year…
Hearst acquires Disney’s half-share in A+E Global Media for $1.2 billion Move marks Disney’s strategic shift from linear television to streaming and sports A+E continues expansion under Hearst, strengthening international content reach and multiplatform growth Hearst has agreed to buy The Walt Disney Company’s half-share in A+E Global Media for about $1.2 billion in cash, giving the privately held media group full control of a television business that includes A&E, Lifetime and the History Channel, according to Reuters. The sale, announced this week, is expected to complete in September. Once the transaction closes, A+E Global Media will sit entirely within…
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…
Prince Harry and six others failed to prove unlawful information gathering by Daily Mail Court rules claims of systemic phone hacking and bugging are unsubstantiated Verdict marks a major win for Associated Newspapers and shifts legal climate for press scrutiny Prince Harry and six other high-profile claimants have lost their…
Sky agrees to a £1.6 billion takeover of ITV’s media and entertainment division. The deal aims to create a stronger UK rival to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and YouTube. Completion is expected in the second half of 2027, subject to approval. Sky has agreed a £1.6 billion takeover of…
Associated Press plans new production hub in India to focus on video and photo content US-based visual journalism teams face layoffs as part of strategic realignment Union criticises outsourcing and warns of job losses in the US and globally The Associated Press is pressing ahead with plans to build a…
CMA insists on sale of Shutterstock’s editorial assets, leading Getty to withdraw from the deal Merger collapse highlights contrasting approaches to AI-driven content markets Getty faces financial pressure following the deal’s termination amid regulatory hurdles Getty Images is set to walk away from its $3.7 billion tie-up with Shutterstock after…
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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 discovery results, in a move that could give the AI chatbot access to a more authoritative pool of visual material. The partnership is aimed at improving the quality and relevance of image-rich responses inside ChatGPT, while keeping the arrangement limited to display rather than model training. Getty said OpenAI will…
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 and draw in younger audiences who increasingly consume news and entertainment through creator feeds rather than legacy publisher channels. The initiative, called Forbes Creator, was unveiled this month as a social-first network built around video, podcasts and live experiences. Forbes says the project is intended to combine its journalistic brand…
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The New York Times beat analyst expectations with strong results. The New York Times added 250,000 digital-only subscribers in the first quarter of 2025, helping push total revenue up 7.1% to $635.9 million and delivering better-than-expected profits despite continued pressure on its print business. Nearly half of its digital subscribers now take more than one product, a sign that its bundling strategy – which combines news, lifestyle, games, The Athletic and Wirecutter – is gaining traction. Average revenue per user rose to $9.54, up 3.6% year-on-year. Digital advertising also grew strongly, up 12.4% to $70.9 million. Total ad revenue rose…
The paper has relaunched its mobile app with personalised content, a dedicated podcast tab and text-to-speech functionality. The Guardian has relaunched its mobile app with a new focus on personalisation, audio features and visual storytelling, part of a broader strategy to cement direct relationships with its growing global audience. It also redesigned its web homepage with a focus on being “mobile first”. The redesigned app introduces a dedicated podcast tab and a text-to-speech feature that lets users listen to articles, reflecting the publisher’s push into audio as a key driver of engagement. An in-app audio player and a new puzzles…
The German publisher has transformed its subscription model by introducing daily news quizzes and a debate-based commenting systems. Der Spiegel has overhauled its subscription strategy with a suite of interactive features designed to build reader habits and foster community. Central to the approach are daily news quizzes and a reimagined commenting platform, both of which have measurably increased engagement and time spent on site. The strategy was outlined by the title’s product manager Dr Laura Badura in a session at WAN-IFRA’s World News Media Congress in Krakow this week. The quiz, linked prominently in Der Spiegel’s morning newsletter, draws around…
The winners of the 2025 Digital Media Awards were announced in Krakow this week. The World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) has revealed the winners of the 2025 Digital Media Awards Worldwide, honouring innovative approaches in digital news media across regions including Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The selection process involved 674 entries from five regions, demonstrating how news publishers are utilising digital tools to enhance journalism and engage audiences effectively. The awards ceremony took place during WAN-IFRA’s World News Media Congress in Krakow this week. “While we talk a lot about the challenges facing news publishers, WAN-IFRA’s Digital…
The Newsroom AI Catalyst programme is broadening its reach with two new cohorts and a launch down under. The Newsroom AI Catalyst programme, developed by WAN-IFRA and OpenAI to support responsible AI adoption in journalism, is expanding to include two new cohorts and, for the first time, newsrooms in Australia and New Zealand. The global initiative has already reached 128 news organisations across Europe, Asia, South Asia and Latin America. With the addition of the new cohorts, 24 more editorial teams will receive hands-on support to integrate AI tools into their operations. Applications for the Australia and New Zealand phase…
The market, valued at $670.3 million in 2023, is projected to exceed $2.4 billion by 2032. The global market for AI writing assistant software is on a steep growth trajectory, with its value projected to rise from $670.3 million in 2023 to more than $2.4 billion by 2032, according to a new report from DataIntelo. This represents a compound annual growth rate of 15.5 percent, driven by accelerating demand across e-commerce, education and hybrid work sectors. As digital communication and content personalisation become central to business operations, AI writing tools are increasingly used to scale content creation, reduce human error…
The country is moving forward with a new AI bill that embraces self-regulation and collaboration over punitive measures. Japan is moving to establish a formal AI regulatory framework designed to promote innovation through self-regulation and minimal enforcement – part of a wider effort to position the country as the world’s most “AI-friendly” economy. The bill, already approved by the House of Representatives and expected to pass in the upper house where the ruling coalition holds a majority, emphasises collaboration over control. Rather than setting binding rules, it encourages AI developers to act responsibly, promising support from the government and proposing guidance,…
The Norwegian paper has launched heiVG, an AI-driven news assistant powered by ChatGPT. Norwegian news outlet VG has launched heiVG, a conversational AI assistant developed in collaboration with Aftonbladet, its Swedish sister paper in the Schibsted Media stable. Powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT, the tool allows users to interact with news content, access summaries of current events and receive practical information on everyday topics from meal ideas to local updates. Described as a non-editorial service, heiVG is embedded in selected VG articles and available directly via the VG website. It enables users to ask questions about VG’s reporting or broader news…
Thousands of global news organisations unite under the ‘News Integrity in the Age of AI’ initiative, setting five core principles to promote responsible AI use and protect truth in journalism amid rising misinformation concerns. Thousands of news organisations around the world have backed a new global initiative to promote responsible use of artificial intelligence, setting out five principles aimed at protecting journalism and restoring trust in news. Launched by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) at the World News Media Congress in Krakow, the “News Integrity in the Age of AI” initiative calls…
HBM Advisory has added publishing, data scientist and entrepreneurship to its portfolio in just a few months. We have spent the past four years at HBM Advisory advising publishers on how to grow their digital businesses. But over the past six months AI hasn’t just changed how we work – it has changed what we do. At the WAN-IFRA World News Media Congress in Krakow, we told the story of how a former newspaper journalist and a former CMO became publishers again. And product people. And data science partners. This didn’t happen because we set out to change things…
