10:20 pm - September 17, 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…
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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…
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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…
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The new online news site offers consumers access to individual articles through a micropayment system, addressing challenges posed by traditional subscription models. Content Credits has launched a new online news site called The Cincinnati Exchange, designed to showcase its micropayment platform that allows consumers to access individual articles outside the confines of traditional subscription paywalls. This initiative is seen as a response to a shifting media landscape where many established publications are struggling to maintain viewership and subscriber bases. Founded earlier this year, Content Credits is based in Covington, Kentucky, across the river from Cincinnati. The company aims to provide…
Survey identifies subscription growth, AI integration and audience engagement as key areas of focus for next year. A recent survey conducted by the Alliance for Audited Media (AAM) reveals insights into the objectives and expectations of American digital publishers heading into 2025. They reported significant changes this in digital subscription growth, advertising strategies and the integration of artificial intelligence in their operations, all of which will shape their future policies and practices. Of the 32 AAM-audited publishers surveyed, 53% indicated a positive trend in digital subscriptions, with a further 38% experiencing growth in sponsored content. Additionally, 34% of publishers successfully…
Research highlights the diminishing trust readers have in AI-influenced journalism and the need for clearer communication on the role of AI in content creation. Research from the University of Kansas suggests that when readers are made aware that AI played a role in news production, their trust in the credibility of that content tends to diminish. This research was undertaken by Alyssa Appelman and Steve Bien-Aimé, both associate professors at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications, who conducted experimental studies to assess how different bylines — specifically those indicating AI involvement — affect readers’ perceptions. The…
The tech journalist discusses his innovative approach to content distribution and monetisation. Eric Newcomer has successfully turned his newsletter business focused on start-ups and venture capital into a significant revenue stream, achieving $2 million in earnings. In an interview with Simon Owens, published by Talking Biz News, Newcomer discussed his approach to content distribution and monetisation strategies in the digital publishing landscape. Newcomer gained early traction in his career by securing interviews with influential CEOs, including Dara Khosrowshahi of Uber and Tony Xu of DoorDash. A pivotal moment for his newsletter occurred in January 2021 with the release of a…
Patrick Soon-Shiong and Jeff Bezos have spoken about how to tackle bias and restore trust in journalism. Efforts to modernise the news publishing sector in the United States have been met with both innovation and criticism, particularly in light of recent initiatives by tech billionaires Patrick Soon-Shiong and Jeff Bezos to restore credibility within their respective organisations. Soon-Shiong, the biotech entrepreneur and owner of the Los Angeles Times since 2018, has unveiled plans for an artificial intelligence-driven “bias meter” aimed at providing readers with insights into potential bias within news stories. Speaking on a radio show hosted by political commentator…
The world’s oldest Sunday newspaper, the Observer, has been sold to Tortoise Media, with the Scott Trust becoming a key shareholder and promising significant investment to enhance its digital offerings. The sale of The Observer, the world’s oldest Sunday newspaper, to Tortoise Media has been agreed in principle, with current owner the Scott Trust set to become a key shareholder and provide significant investment. Ole Jacob Sunde, chair of the Scott Trust, said it had sought a well-resourced partner to help evolve The Observer. “We knew we needed the right combination of resources and commitment to build a new platform…
It’s very early days but publishers are reporting promising signs from their engagement with Bluesky. Publishers are exploring the nascent social media platform Bluesky, assessing its potential compared to established platforms like X and Threads. As Bluesky experiences a surge in new users, the level of referral traffic generated by this fledgling platform remains significantly lower than that from X, prompting many media organisations to adopt a cautious, test-and-learn approach. According to data sourced from analytics firm Chartbeat, Bluesky has thus far generated around 0.017% of social traffic referrals to publishers from November 1-21, which equates to 0.8% of the…
Troels Behrendt Jørgensen discusses the challenges and opportunities faced by news publishers in a digital economy shaped by AI, highlighting the Danish publisher’s strategies for revenue generation and audience engagement. Troels Behrendt Jørgensen, the digital director of Politiken, a leading Danish media corporation, shared insights on the evolution of the media landscape during an interview with digital media consultant Mark Challinor as part of The Drum’s News Horizons series. Jørgensen, who boasts over 25 years of experience in digital transformation and media strategy, discussed the various challenges and opportunities that await news publishers, particularly in the context of a digital…
Amazon introduces its AI model platform, Amazon Nova, which aims to revolutionise content creation and analysis while providing cost-effective solutions for publishers. Amazon has unveiled its new AI model platform, Amazon Nova, designed to enhance its competitiveness in the artificial intelligence sector against formidable players like Meta and OpenAI, known for ChatGPT. This initiative focuses on providing a suite of advanced tools that streamline content creation and analysis while significantly reducing operating costs. Amazon Nova comprises six distinct AI models capable of generating text, images and videos, as well as conducting document and graphic analysis. According to a press release…
The Sky News chief has been appointed as the president of the Society of Editors, succeeding Kamal Ahmed. Sky News’ Sarah Whitehead has been appointed as the new president of the Society of Editors, following her unanimous election during the Society’s annual general meeting on December 4. Whitehead, who has been with Sky since 2011, has held several significant roles, including Head of International News and Head of Home News, before being elevated to Director of Newsgathering earlier this year. Dawn Alford, executive director of the Society, expressed her support for Whitehead’s election, stating that her leadership in the industry…
