12:58 am - March 25, 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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Staff at Daily Mail and MailOnline brace for potential job losses as DMG Media prepares to merge its teams. Staff at Daily Mail and MailOnline are preparing for potential job cuts as DMG Media, the publisher’s parent company, inches closer to introducing full seven-day editorial and commercial teams. Management described the moves as a response to a “significant structural transformation” within the news industry. The advent of a full seven-day operation at the Mail titles leaves The Times and The Sunday Times as the only two sibling titles on Fleet Street to retain separate newsrooms, though they have moved much…
The upcoming summit at Gallup’s headquarters aims to tackle the troubling decline in public trust in news. Semafor is set to host a National Trust in News Summit on February 27 at Gallup’s headquarters in Washington,, with a focus on addressing the alarming decline in public trust in media, highlighted by a recent Gallup poll. The summit will feature prominent figures from news, entertainment and technology, aiming to foster discussions on rebuilding audience confidence amid a backdrop of increasing disengagement from traditional news sources. The Gallup poll, released in October, indicated that only 31% of the American public expressed a…
The US Copyright Office has said artists can obtain copyright for works created with AI assistance. The US Copyright Office has published a comprehensive report affirming that artists can obtain copyright for works created with AI assistance, marking a significant development in the complex intersection of copyright law and AI technology in creative industries. The Copyright Office, an independent agency within the Library of Congress, processes about half a million copyright applications annually, including a growing number of claims involving AI-generated works. The report outlines the office’s ruling that while AI can assist in the creation of art, the presence…
The food website now reaches one in four Australians and grew nearly 15% year on year. Taste.com.au pivoted its content to target men and younger demographics and now leads Australia’s lifestyle category with an impressive 5.47 million users in December, representing a 14.4% increase compared to the previous year. This growth places Taste.com.au 1.36 million users ahead of its closest competitor. The latest statistics indicate that the platform reaches one in four online Australians, amassing 100 million page views in December alone. Engagement levels on the site are reported to be three times greater than those of its rivals. In…
The London-based newspaper has seen improved subscription metrics following the launch of its AI-powered paywall. The Financial Times has seen lower conversion rates but higher customer revenue since it introduced an AI-powered paywall a year ago. Talking to Digiday, Fiona Spooner, managing director of the FT’s Consumer Revenue Group, said that while the average revenue per user (ARPU) has risen by 6% year on year, there has been a 10% drop in the conversion rate to paid subscriptions since the launch of the paywall. Despite this, Spooner views the results as a positive indicator of the model’s efficacy, stating…
LinkedIn has extended its News Banner feature to India in a further challenge to news publishers. LinkedIn has rolled out a trial of its News Banner feature in India, offering access to timely news for users on its platform. The feature will be prominently displayed at the top of users’ feeds on mobile, highlighting significant developments and breaking news relevant to the professional landscape. The banner is only available to users in America, Canada and India for now. News publishers will watch the development closely as it is another example of a significant digital platform with a huge user base…
The development of AI tools and services is moving so fast that firms fear they might miss the opportunity, according to a recent podcast recorded at Davos Agentic AI is the next frontier of the revolution sweeping through all industries, not just publishing. Shrinking development horizons have meant that already it is being used widely. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, there were warnings that businesses must act now or be left behind. Speaking in Davos on a special episode of Take on Tomorrow, a podcast by PwC, Matt Wood, PwC’s Global and US Commercial Technology and Innovation Officer,…
New research reveals significant shifts in newspaper coverage following the adoption of paywalls, raising concerns about local journalism and the implications for democratic accountability. A new study has shown a marked shift in local newspaper coverage following the adoption of paywalls, raising significant concerns regarding the implications for local journalism and democratic accountability. As news outlets transition away from advertising as their primary revenue source towards subscription-based models, the focus and priorities of their content are undergoing notable changes. The findings, published in PNAS Nexus by researchers Paramveer S. Dhillon and his team, examined 17 major regional newspapers in the…
The business publisher has unveiled its Intelligence Newsroom which use AI to summarise news stories. Quartz is expanding its experiments with AI-written journalism. In a development first reported by TechCrunch, the business publication’s new initiative Quartz Intelligence Newsroom sees articles on a variety of topics reported by AI and drawing on sources, which it names at the start of the article. Since initiating its AI-generated reporting several months ago with corporate earnings reports, Quartz has begun publishing articles that largely consist of 400-word summaries derived from the original work of human journalists. Most of the stories appear to be routine…
Building subscriptions with other publishers and services offers a strategy to enhance subscriber engagement and diversify offerings. Last week Axios reported that The New York Times has been exploring subscription partnerships with other American publishers, as it has done with international publishers. The initial talks with The Ankler, which covers the entertainment industry, haven’t come to anything but it is clear that the publisher is keen to build its bundle even further. Its latest quarterly earnings report revealed that nearly half (46%) of the NYT’s 11m subscribers are signed up to their bundle or multiple products from their suite…
