2:23 am - March 30, 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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The Murdoch-owned behemoth reports Q1 declines in ad revenues but growth from data licensing and subscription models. News Corp has been strategically pivoting away from its dependence on digital advertising, which CEO Robert Thomson described as “volatile”, amid continuing reductions in ad revenue. This transition was detailed during the company’s Q1 2025 earnings call, which highlighted a significant shift in business strategy towards data licensing and subscription models, particularly in the area of artificial intelligence (AI). For the quarter reported, the Dow Jones division, which encompasses major titles such as The Wall Street Journal and Barron’s, documented a $6 million…
Media organisations are pondering whether a second Trump presidence will have the same positive effect on their traffic and subscription numbers as the first. The 2016 presidential election, which saw the victory of Donald Trump, catalysed a significant surge in subscriptions for prominent newspapers such as The New York Times and The Washington Post. This surge was attributed to readers seeking to understand the implications of Trump’s administration and the broader political climate. These organisations leveraged the increase in subscriptions by launching advertising campaigns specifically targeting their new audience base. The Washington Post, for example, introduced the slogan “Democracy Dies…
With proposals to improve online safety for young users, Australia wants to act as a beacon for the rest of the world. Australia is on the cusp of implementing new regulations that could ban users under the age of 16 from social media. This development follows statements made by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who highlighted the government’s commitment to increasing the safety of young people on social media. “Social media is doing harm to our kids and I’m calling time on it,” he said. The proposed regulations are a response to growing concerns over the online safety of children, as…
As true crime shows soar in popularity, experts caution about the potential mental health implications of consuming such content. The rise in popularity of true crime content is unmistakable, with streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime witnessing a significant surge in viewer interest. Podcasts and newspapers have also been increasingly drawn towards this content type. Since 2018, data from Parrot Analytics indicates that there has been over a 60% increase in the consumption of true crime shows. From gripping documentaries like “Making a Murderer” to psychological thrillers such as “Mindhunter,” audiences are increasingly captivated by the darker…
As the media landscape evolves, publishers are shifting from traditional revenue models to innovative approaches, focusing on sustainable strategies and diversified income streams. Faced with an increasingly complex and competitive marketplace, publishers are having to hone their strategies in revenue diversification. No longer can you say that publishers are “ad-focused” or “subscriptions-based” – many are both. The clearer direction came into focus during discussions at the Digiday Publishing Summit held in Barcelona at the end of October. Hannah Buitekant, the Managing Director of Digital at Mail Metro Media, articulated a shift in strategy. “We don’t sell ad space any more; it’s…
The publisher aims to enhance cooking experiences for home chefs through personalised recipe suggestions. News Corp Australia has unveiled the introduction of an AI-powered virtual recipe assistant, dubbed “TasteBud”, within the popular Taste app. The new feature aims to assist Australian cooking enthusiasts in streamlining their culinary quests by offering tailored recipe suggestions based on the ingredients they have on hand and their specific dietary preferences. TasteBud is embedded in the Taste app, leveraging the well-established culinary resources of the brand, which boasts 50,000 tested recipes. This new feature is designed to interact with users in a conversational manner, allowing…
Financial firms offer many lessons for publishers in how to name their AI assistants, with varied strategies emerging that influence user engagement and perceptions of technology. Financial firms are increasingly exploring the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) assistants into their services, presenting a modern approach to customer service and operational efficiency. A significant design consideration that these firms face is the naming of their AI tools. The debate centres on whether giving an AI a human name encourages user engagement or creates confusion about the AI’s capabilities. Various financial companies have adopted differing strategies. Bank of America’s AI assistant, “Erica”,…
As AI technology continues to evolve, content creators must be sure to comply to search engine requirements. AI-powered content creation tools have become increasingly popular, with well-known tools like ChatGPT leading the charge. These tools offer a plethora of advantages that content creators find invaluable. These include the ability to produce content quickly, improve the quality and optimisation of written material and increase efficiency and scalability. Additionally, these tools facilitate consistency in content creation, assist with keyword research and enhance branding through producing polished, error-free content. However, the rise of AI in content generation is not without its challenges. A…
If the US authorities move to break up the search giant, it could lead to a transformative shift for digital publishers, enhancing competition and transparency in advertising and challenging existing market dynamics. The potential dismantling of Google, a decision currently under contemplation by US federal courts, could signal a transformative era for digital publishers and the advertising ecosystem at large. The central focus of the legal scrutiny is Google’s perceived monopolistic grip on search technology and its vast influence over digital advertising. Google’s substantial slice of the digital advertising pie has historically tethered countless digital publishers to its platforms for…
Prime Video launches an AI-driven feature that offers summarised recaps to help viewers easily catch up on shows without spoilers. Prime Video has enhanced its streaming platform with the expansion of its X-Ray feature. Known for providing interactive on-screen information such as actor credits, trivia, and production details, X-Ray now includes a new functionality called X-Ray Recaps. It utilises generative AI technology to offer summarised recaps of entire seasons, individual episodes or even sections of episodes from Amazon MGM Studios Original series. This development caters to viewers who may have paused a series or lost track of plot developments and…
