8:09 pm - March 24, 2026
Highlights the importance of audience teams in newsrooms Critiques their ongoing marginalisation despite proven value Advocates for promoting audience specialists to leadership roles This first appeared in our weekly newsletter Editor’s picks. Sign up here I have long believed that op-ed columnists should be given five years in the…
dpa partners with Google to foster collaboration between newsrooms and digital creators The programme aims to enhance fact-based reporting and experiment with new formats Participants will showcase findings at a Hamburg event with practical industry recommendations Deutsche Presse-Agentur has launched a programme to connect traditional newsrooms with digital-first creators, aiming…
Axios embraces AI as a core part of its growth and innovation strategy The company is automating tasks and reducing staff amid rapid technological change Leadership emphasises maintaining journalism quality through exclusive reporting and expert insights Axios is accelerating its use of artificial intelligence as it seeks to expand its…
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 1.5 million research papers through AI-assisted editorial workflows in 2025 and expects that figure to rise by a further 25 per cent in 2026 as it expands the technology across its journals. The publisher says nearly 60 AI tools are now embedded in different stages of manuscript handling to assist…
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 here Food portions, the economy, TVs, apartment blocks, wars and people – a week in New York has reminded me that America just keeps getting bigger. You could add the New York Times to that list. This week AG Sulzberger, its publisher, revealed that its newsroom has now grown to…
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 for culture and entertainment, but fresh research points to a weakening bond between the generation and the app once famed for its carefree, algorithm-driven creativity. A survey conducted by The Harris Poll finds that while 37% of Gen Z users still make TikTok their first stop for entertainment, pop culture…
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…
News Corp’s CEO outlines a strategy combining licensing and litigation to protect journalism content The company has secured multi-million dollar deals with tech giants like Meta and OpenAI for AI training data Thomson emphasises the importance of reliable news sources for AI development and warns against unauthorised use News Corp…
Nearly half of US consumers now turn to TikTok for search, a 20% increase in two years Gen Z is the most active, with 64% using TikTok for online searches Marketers should focus on short-form, visually engaging content to optimise discovery Nearly half of US consumers have used TikTok as…
Unanimous approval of a three‑year contract by HuffPost Writers Guild of America East members Agreement includes AI content review, advanced deployment notice, and protection against impersonation Salary minimums increase by nearly 10%, with improved parental leave, sick leave, and professional development funds Members of the Writers Guild of America East…
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…
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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,…
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…
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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 help young media executives lead responsible AI adoption and strengthen newsroom management. The tuition-free scheme reflects WAN-IFRA’s effort to back a more diverse generation of leaders and narrow the innovation gap between well-funded global publishers and smaller, mid-sized and local news organisations. “To take full advantage of the opportunities AI…
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…
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The funding will support the development of AI tools at the University of Maryland and Arizona State University. The Scripps Howard Foundation has allocated $2 million in funding to the Howard Centers for Investigative Journalism at the University of Maryland and Arizona State University, aiming to enhance journalistic practices through AI tools. Over three years, this investment is intended to develop and pilot various AI applications which will bolster local news reporting. The foundation originally established the Howard Centers in 2018 in honour of Roy W. Howard, the former chairman of the Scripps-Howard newspaper chain. The centres focus on nurturing…
At the On Air Fest in Brooklyn, podcast executives discuss innovative subscription strategies to diversify income amid changing market dynamics. Podcast executives described how they are exploring a range of subscription models to increase recurring revenue at the On Air Fest podcast event, held this week in Brooklyn, New York. These efforts are seen as both complementary and sometimes as alternatives to traditional advertising models, as the industry focuses on diversifying income streams amid evolving market conditions. A prominent example of this trend can be seen with The New York Times, which has taken steps to monetise its audio content.…
Ruadhán Mac Cormaic reflects on two decades of change in journalism at the University of Galway’s annual lecture. Irish Times editor Ruadhán Mac Cormaic delivered the annual John Cunningham Memorial Lecture at the University of Galway last week, highlighting the seismic shifts in journalism over the last two decades. The event pays tribute to the late John Cunningham, who served as the editor of the Connacht Tribune and was a long-time journalism lecturer. In his address, Mac Cormaic, who started his career as a journalist in 2007 — the same year the iPhone was launched — elaborated on the evolving…
Despite $13 billion in revenue in 2024, Steve Swartz signals a challenging journey ahead due to shifts in the media landscape. Hearst Corp achieved record revenue and profits in 2024, but its CEO, Steve Swartz, has warned of a challenging landscape ahead for 2025. In his annual letter to Hearst employees, Swartz revealed that the company reached $13 billion in revenue last year. The primary contributors to this financial success were the credit rating agency Fitch and the company’s local television stations, which both saw improved performance. Swartz said that these two divisions helped to offset the difficulties faced by…
The NZ Herald is restructuring its newsroom to enhance audience engagement and reducing its workforce by about 30 roles. The NZ Herald has announced significant operational changes aimed at reshaping its newsroom, including a greater emphasis on video content and a reduction in staff, effective by mid-March. The editor-in-chief, Murray Kirkness, expressed support for the proposed video initiatives, which include the launch of a new daily video stream dubbed Herald Now. He noted that embracing video could create new audience engagement and revenue opportunities for the publication. “It would be folly to ignore it,” Kirkness said. As part of the…
Despite economic challenges in Sweden, the broadsheet has achieved a significant increase in profits. Dagens Nyheter (DN) has reported a robust financial performance for the year, achieving a profit of 245 million kronor ($20.5 million), up from 220 million kronor in 2023, despite a challenging economic environment in Sweden. This result highlighted DN’s resilience and the ongoing reader demand for quality journalism, according to Bonnier News CEO Anders Eriksson. The media industry in Sweden has faced difficulties stemming from a weak economy and fundamental shifts in the advertising market. Schibsted, a media group that owns major newspapers such as Aftonbladet…
Amazon Prime Video’s new blockbuster is a high-stakes reality competition that is redefining video and TV. Amazon Prime Video’s new reality competition series, Beast Games, hosted by popular YouTuber MrBeast, is attracting significant attention, despite a range of criticisms regarding its production quality. The series, which debuted recently, features 1,000 contestants, all competing for a whopping $5 million cash prize — a sum that MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, frequently highlights as the largest in entertainment history. Set against extravagant backdrops including a bespoke city and a private island, the series draws inspiration from the Netflix dystopian hit,…
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung’s news app, Der Tag, has undergone a major update with a user-friendly design and enhanced feature. Just ahead of its tenth anniversary, the news app Der Tag by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) has undergone a significant redesign and enhancement, introducing a variety of new features aimed at improving user experience and accessibility. The refreshed Der Tag app now has a modern horizontal layout, allowing for more intuitive navigation through the most pertinent news and topics of the day. This design choice is intended to cater to users looking for a quick and effective way to keep…
Niche events are a low-risk way of entering the events space, and can be the harbinger of bigger things. Niche publishing is a trend that is proving resilient and profitable as the media landscape continues to undergo seismic shifts. By focusing on the specialist needs, interests and passions of their users, creator, consumer and B2B media can build and unlock opportunities built around highly engaged communities. One such opportunity is virtual and in-person events, arguably the purest form of direct audience engagement that publishers can develop. Niche media is far from a new phenomenon, but its enduring value remains…
The paper has approved AI tools for editorial tasks, setting guidelines and emphasising human oversight The New York Times has approved the use of artificial intelligence tools within its newsroom, permitting staff to utilise these technologies for tasks such as editing, summarising, coding and writing. This decision was communicated to employees through an internal email and was first reported by Semafor. As part of this initiative, product and editorial staff will receive training on AI, with a focus on a new internal tool named Echo. This tool is designed to summarise articles, briefings and other company activities. Alongside Echo, additional…
