9:41 am - September 16, 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…
Top stories
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…
Deep dive with
our insights
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…
All stories
A coalition of 40 French media outlets has launched a legal action against the site for allegedly using AI to steal their content. A collaborative legal action has been initiated by a coalition of 40 French media outlets against the website NewsDayFR, alleging that the platform utilises AI to plagiarise their content. The lawsuit, spearheaded by the newspaper Libération, claims that NewsDayFR generates up to 6,000 pieces of content daily derived from other media sources, without attribution to the original authors. The legal proceedings are taking place in the Paris District Court, where the Alliance of General Information Press (APIG)…
The Washington Post’s Opinions section undergoes a significant move under its billionaire owner Jeff Bezos. Jeff Bezos, owner of the Washington Post, has announced a significant shift in the newspaper’s Opinions section, framing it as a platform to advance concepts of personal liberties and free markets. The announcement to staff on Wednesday aligns with Bezos’s evolving political ideologies and marks a departure from the prior mission statement that framed the Post as an advocate of truth-to-power journalism, famously encapsulated by the motto “Democracy Dies in Darkness,” which was adopted during Donald Trump’s first presidency. In a follow-up communication, publisher Will…
In a recent interview, the former CEO discussed key strategies that have driven Industry Dive’s growth. Sean Griffey, the former CEO of Industry Dive, recently shared insights into the company’s successful strategies during an appearance on The Rebooting Show, hosted by Brian Morrissey. The discussion highlighted key principles that have been instrumental in Industry Dive’s growth, which may offer valuable lessons for professionals in the B2B publishing sector. One of the notable aspects of Industry Dive’s approach is its emphasis on targeting a specific audience. Griffey noted that the company would intentionally turn off advertisements if a news story gained…
Dow Jones’ Factiva introduces an AI-driven marketplace, connecting publishers with corporate clients for enhanced content accessibility and licensing. Dow Jones has developed an AI marketplace through its business information and research company, Factiva, enabling publishers to license content to corporate entities. This initiative has seen rapid growth, increasing its network of publishing partners from about 4,000 in November to nearly 5,000 in recent weeks, reflecting a significant uptick in interest since its inception. Factiva, which maintains relationships with more than 30,000 global news, data, and information sources, is leveraging its content network to enhance research and data tools for hundreds…
All major publishers have called on the government to reconsider reforms to copyright laws that could allow AI firms to extract content unlicensed, jeopardising the lucrative creative sectors. Every major UK news publisher has called on the government to reconsider proposed reforms to copyright laws that could facilitate the unlicensed extraction of content by artificial intelligence (AI) firms. This plea comes on the final day of a government consultation regarding these proposals, amid warnings that such changes threaten the lucrative creative industries, which generate £126 billion annually for the UK economy. The so-called Creative Rights in AI Coalition, encompassing a…
The Danish podcast platform has reached milestone by focusing on localised content and creator relationships. Podimo, the Danish podcast platform, has announced that it has reached 1 million paying subscribers globally, which underscores its rapid growth and expansion since its inception. Founded in 2019, the podcast subscription platform now operates across six markets in Europe and Latin America, claiming profitability in three of these regions. According to Podimo’s CEO and founder, Morten Strunge, the platform’s growth is attributed to its commitment to localising content and strategic acquisitions, including Dag en Nacht Media, Tonny Media, and PodAds. Speaking to RedTech, Strunge…
The Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry has published a provisional report addressing the threats posed by major digital platforms to local news media. The Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry (MDPMI) in South Africa has released its provisional report, detailing findings and recommendations aimed at addressing the challenges faced by the local news media in the digital landscape. This inquiry comes in response to concerns that the American tech giants are undermining competition and restrict the viability of news media in South Africa. It has undertaken a comprehensive process over the past 16 months, which included public hearings, evidence…
The School of Journalism & Strategic Media has introduced modules on AI and media literacy. The University of Arkansas (UA) School of Journalism & Strategic Media is experiencing a surge in student enrolment as interest in journalism education remains robust despite the industry’s challenges, particularly after Arkansas State University (ASU) discontinued its multimedia journalism programme last spring. Bret Schulte, the school’s director, said that while this change may not have directly influenced UA’s rising numbers, it underscores the need for sustained journalism training. “Every time we lose a journalism training ground, we lose a little journalism,” said Schulte. “We need…
A small decline in circulation is balanced by strong growth in its Espresso app. The latest circulation results from The Economist reveal a decline in both digital and print subscriptions. The publication reported a global digital circulation of 970,074, which marks a 2% decrease, alongside a print circulation that fell by 10% to 442,957. A spokesperson for The Economist said that the decline in subscriptions is partially attributed to the way the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) accounts for bundle subscriptions. Specifically, the ABC counts these bundles as two subscriptions, so when bundles are cancelled, the overall decline in recorded…
As digital publishers cling to traffic numbers, the need for quality engagement metrics becomes increasingly vital for success and sustainability. I’ve dubbed this piece “the traffic jam,” and I can assure you it has nothing to do with the 405 in Los Angeles, the M25 in London or the Boulevard Périphérique in Paris at rush hour. Rather, it’s about how so many digital publishers still cling to the idea that sheer volume of clicks, views and page impressions is the be-all and end-all of success. For far too long at HBM Advisory, we have watched publishers treat traffic like…
