11:20 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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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…
