2:38 pm - March 29, 2026
Reddit CEO Steve Huffman urges tech firms to focus on hiring recent graduates skilled in AI Industry leaders see young, AI-native workers as vital for future innovation and leadership Despite automation trends, companies emphasise the importance of training entry-level staff for long-term success Steve Huffman wants companies to stop overlooking…
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…
Investigative journalist Julia Angwin sues Grammarly over unauthorised use of her name in AI tool The case questions whether AI companies need explicit licences for referencing real individuals The lawsuit highlights broader concerns about transparency, consent, and attribution in AI practices A proposed class action in Manhattan federal court accuses Grammarly, the AI writing tool, of using the reputations of well-known journalists, authors and academics to market an AI editing feature without their permission. The complaint, filed by investigative journalist Julia Angwin, alleges the company’s “Expert Review” tool presented editing suggestions as if they were drawn from named writers, creating…
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…
Axel Springer acquires Bisnow, integrating it into Brew Media Group The deal aims to strengthen Axel Springer’s US B2B and event-led offerings Bisnow remains operationally independent with senior management intact Axel Springer has agreed to acquire Bisnow, adding the events and editorial business to a new US-focused division that will…
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…
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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 journalism by AI developers. Leaders of the BBC, Financial Times, Guardian, Sky News and Telegraph Media Group have signed an open letter announcing SPUR , Standards for Publisher Usage Rights. The group says it will press for clearer rules and compensation when original reporting is used to train artificial intelligence…
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…
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Norwegian media group Amedia has announced the acquisition of Denmark’s Berlingske Media, aiming to strengthen its position amid increasing global competition and digital shifts in the industry. Norwegian media group Amedia has announced the acquisition of Denmark’s Berlingske Media from Belgian media company DPG Media. The deal, announced on Tuesday morning, brings together two major players in the region, with Berlingske Media’s prominent titles, including Berlingske, BT, Weekendavisen, and Euroinvestor, joining Amedia’s extensive portfolio. Amedia CEO Anders Opdahl emphasised the strategic rationale behind the acquisition, citing the increasingly challenging environment for media companies. “Nordic media companies face tougher global competition…
Louise Holmes from Meta argues that AI can enhance creativity in the media sector, urging industry leaders to embrace the technology as a tool for innovation. Artificial intelligence is increasingly being viewed as an opportunity for creativity and productivity rather than a threat, according to Louise Holmes, director of global partnerships for EMEA at Meta. Speaking at Content London this week, Holmes asserted that fears surrounding AI stem from a lack of understanding, reiterating the technology’s potential to enhance, rather than replace, creativity in the media and publishing sectors. In her keynote address, Holmes outlined AI’s capabilities in supporting creative…
The communications regulator’s latest review reveals the BBC’s expansion into local journalism significantly impacts commercial enterprises, with local page views shifting towards the BBC. Ofcom’s Review of Local News in the UK has identified the BBC as a contributing factor to the challenges faced by commercial local news publishers. The communication watchdog’s report highlights how the BBC’s increased investment in local online journalism is displacing commercial page views, thereby exacerbating the ongoing decline of traditional local media outlets. The report points to significant shifts in audience behaviour, including news avoidance and changing referral patterns from platforms like Google and Facebook,…
Vox Media’s tech news site, The Verge, is launching a subscription service marking their third investment in subscription models. Vox Media’s tech news website, The Verge, is set to introduce a paywall, marking a significant shift in its access model, as reported by Max Tani of Semafor. The new subscription service, which will go live imminently, will charge users $7 per month or $50 annually, granting comprehensive access to the vast array of content on The Verge, including its previously paywalled newsletters, Command Line and Notepad. The introduction of this paywall represents Vox Media’s third major foray into subscription services,…
Answer engine optimisation (AEO) is the next stage in the rapid transition away from traditional SEO. Publishers have spent the past decade or so honing their strategies to best use SEO. Now they have to learn a new skill – answer engine optimisation, or AEO. This innovative strategy focuses on enhancing the accessibility and relevance of content by providing users with direct, concise answers to their queries, in response to the evolving expectations from search engines like Google. In traditional SEO, the emphasis is on rankings within search engine results pages (SERPs) through keywords, backlinks and on-page elements. AEO shifts this…
The term ‘brain rot’ has emerged as the university publisher’s 2024 Word of the Year, illustrating concerns over the impact of short-form video content on youth cognitive engagement. The phenomenon of consuming short-form video content has led to the emergence of the term “brain rot” as Oxford’s 2024 Word of the Year, reflecting the rapid shift in media consumption habits among younger audiences. This term, which has seen a surge in usage by 230% from 2023 to 2024, encapsulates the detrimental effects of incessantly watching seemingly meaningless social media content. Casper Grathwohl, president of Oxford Languages, articulated the significance of…
A recent study from Columbia University highlights significant inaccuracies in OpenAI’s ChatGPT Search regarding news citations, with 153 of 200 evaluated responses found incorrect. OpenAI’s ChatGPT Search is reportedly facing significant challenges in accurately citing news publishers, as highlighted in a recent study conducted by Columbia University’s Tow Center for Digital Journalism. This scrutiny arrives shortly after OpenAI’s launch of ChatGPT Search, which had previously claimed extensive collaboration with the news industry to ensure proper attribution and visibility for publishers. The study’s findings raise concerns regarding the potential misquoting and incorrect attributions that could undermine the credibility of news organisations.…
Leading media organisations have launched legal action against OpenAI for the unauthorised use of their articles in AI training. A coalition of prominent Canadian media organisations has initiated legal action against OpenAI, citing the unauthorised use of their articles in the training of its artificial intelligence models. This lawsuit, first reported by The Guardian, was filed on Friday and marks a significant move in the ongoing discourse about the ethical use of AI-generated content and the implications for copyright and intellectual property. The coalition, which includes influential entities such as The Globe and Mail, the Canadian Press, the CBC, the…
The independent Australian business publication has successfully launched with a subscription model targeting younger audiences. Capital Brief, a recently established independent business publication in Australia, is carving out its niche in the digital media landscape with a subscription-based model aimed at engaging a younger audience. CEO Chris Janz spoke to Crikey regarding the publication’s progress in its first year since launch. Launched with a goal to provide high-quality journalism free from targeted advertising, Capital Brief positions itself as a contemporary alternative to established publications like the Australian Financial Review. It offers subscription rates of $39 per month or $348 annually,…
Dave Strauss, The Guardian’s VP of revenue operations, discusses the move from open auctions to curated private marketplaces, highlighting the importance of first-party data and direct relationships with publishers. Programmatic advertising is shifting its focus from open auctions to curated private marketplaces (PMPs), creating new opportunities for publishers, particularly those with dedicated audiences and strong first-party data. This was highlighted by Dave Strauss, The Guardian’s new vice president of revenue operations and strategy for North America, who shared insights into the publisher’s evolving revenue strategies in an interview with AdExchanger. Strauss, who assumed his role in October 2023 after leading…
