11:36 am - March 16, 2026
Traditional newsrooms are overwhelmed with extensive coverage for huge events Readers primarily seek perspective and education, not multiple updates News organisations should prioritise analysis and opinion to better serve digital audiences This is from our weekly Editor’s picks newsletter. Sign up for free here I did something I do…
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…
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…
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 a search engine, according to a recent study by Adobe, highlighting a sharp shift in how people find information online. As audiences increasingly begin their queries inside social video apps, discovery is becoming more visual, personalised and platform-specific – challenging the dominance of traditional search engines. For publishers, this is…
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 at HuffPost have unanimously approved a new three-year contract that pairs wage gains with detailed guardrails on artificial intelligence. The agreement comes as a number of US newsrooms negotiate collective bargaining agreements and as AI becomes a flashpoint at the table. By securing enforceable rules on how generative tools are…
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 Leadership Breakfast when Steve Grove, CEO and publisher of the Minnesota Star Tribune, addressed a room grappling with unrest and uncertainty in local media. Grove — whose career includes senior roles at Google and YouTube and a stint as Minnesota’s commissioner of employment and economic development — has written about…
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. By pairing large language models with external data sources, it turns AI systems from static text predictors into tools that consult documents and databases before responding. For news publishers, that shift could redefine what it means to be discoverable. At its core, RAG combines a retrieval layer with a generative…
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 forum, outlining a business-led approach to artificial intelligence that pairs operational gains with tighter editorial controls. The gathering reflects a shift in tone. Indian publishers are moving beyond pilots and proofs of concept, seeking measurable returns from AI while putting governance frameworks in place to protect credibility and public trust.…
The Boston Globe halts daily print for the first time since 1872 due to a historic winter storm Disruption highlights the shifting economics towards digital news consumption Print subscribers will receive bundled editions as the industry faces weather-related vulnerabilities For the first time since its founding in 1872, The Boston…
John Mulholland brings decades of international editorial experience to the paper His appointment aims to enhance breaking coverage and long-form storytelling The outlet seeks to innovate tone, technique, and technology in local journalism Kevin Delaney, editor in chief of The San Francisco Standard, has appointed Fleet Street veteran John Mulholland…
Global podcast revenues are forecast to reach hundreds of billions by 2033, showcasing rapid growth. Technological advances and platform innovations broaden creator diversity and listener engagement. Challenges like copyright, ad saturation, and retention demand strategic industry responses. Podcasting has moved from niche pastime to core media channel, reshaping how audiences…
German media giant Axel Springer challenges agreed Mail deal The new bid offers more cash upfront and is fully funded UK regulators probe the merger, raising questions over market dominance In a fresh twist to the protracted sale of The Telegraph, German media giant Axel Springer has joined a rival…
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Publishers see significant audience growth with AI content integration Internal barriers delay adoption despite demonstrable benefits Traditional news models challenged by AI’s cost-effective scalability For the past three years I have walked into meetings with editorial teams feeling like I needed to justify my existence. I run a company…
Widespread use of multiple devices while watching TV influences audience behaviour and advertising strategies Second-screen engagement offers new promotional opportunities but also raises cognitive and health concerns Industry faces a challenge: balancing commercial aims with the potential long-term effects on attention and development Watching television with a phone in hand…
Berkshire discloses new 3% stake in The New York Times, signalling renewed confidence in digital news. Investment follows the company’s strong digital subscription growth and advertising revenue. Move coincides with Warren Buffett’s leadership transition and reflects shifting investment strategies. Berkshire Hathaway has acquired about 5.1 million shares in The New…
Rampart, Joe Aston’s investigative newsletter and podcast, generates revenue in the “multiples” of A$500,000 after one year Its low subscriber churn rate and outsourcing model contribute to rapid profitability and growth The success reflects a broader shift towards sustainable independent journalism outside traditional mastheads Australian journalist Joe Aston says his…
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Lenore Taylor announces her departure after 13 years at Guardian Australia, including a decade as editor Under her leadership, the outlet became one of Australia’s most-read news sources, with major award wins A successor will be chosen through an open process, with David Munk serving as interim editor until then Lenore Taylor has announced she will step down from Guardian Australia after 13 years in senior roles that included a decade as the title’s editor, leaving the organisation she helped establish in 2013. Taylor joined Guardian Australia as a senior member of staff at its May 2013 launch and quickly…
The Athletic integrates more live blogs with video to keep audiences engaged and protect content from AI scraping. Human-led, in-the-moment coverage aims to provide a competitive edge over automated systems. The move coincides with major sporting events, testing the effectiveness of rapid multimedia storytelling. The Athletic is expanding its use of live blogs enriched with video as part of a broader effort to keep audiences on its own sites and to blunt the impact of automated content collection by AI systems. According to a report in Digiday, the move, timed to coincide with overlapping major sporting events this week, reflects…
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Goalhanger shifts from audio-first to a multi-platform media entity with a new identity Launch of new high-trust content franchise ‘The Rest Is Science’ Focus on deep engagement and premium advertising opportunities amid evolving consumer habits Goalhanger has launched a full rebrand that shifts the company from its podcasting roots into a broader media operation incorporating video, live experiences, social content and subscription memberships. The move reflects how podcast publishers are repositioning themselves to keep pace with changing audience habits and attract higher-value commercial partners. The new identity is built around a GH wordmark and the line “For the curious.” Goalhanger…
Google rolls out its most advanced AI model, Gemini 3, into search features in the US Enhances complex query handling with richer, multimodal and interactive responses Subscribers of Google AI Ultra gain access to the most powerful capabilities, including agentic workflows Google has begun rolling out Gemini 3, its most advanced AI model, across parts of Google Search. The move brings a substantial boost to AI Overviews and AI Mode, with a model widely hailed as a match for ChatGPT’s latest generation and expected to close a long-standing quality gap in Google’s search-embedded AI. The update signals a push to…
CNN ceases to share content on Apple News amid ongoing negotiations Launch of new tiered subscription service aims to boost direct revenues The move highlights tensions between platform reliance and control over content CNN has taken its content off Apple News, ending a distribution deal that has been in place since the app launched in 2015. The network’s feed disappeared as the two sides negotiate new terms, with neither company commenting on the talks. The shift matters because it shows how quickly relationships between publishers and platforms can change as news organisations push harder for direct revenue. The move comes…
Bevan Shields resigns as editor of the Sydney Morning Herald citing health reasons Shields to return as a senior writer after nearly four years at the helm Chief reporter Jordan Baker to succeed him as editor in early 2026 Bevan Shields has resigned as editor of the Sydney Morning Herald after nearly four years, saying he needs to focus on his health and wellbeing. His exit ends a period of significant change at Nine’s flagship Sydney title and raises fresh questions about how the masthead navigates its next stage of digital transformation. In an email to staff, Shields called the…
DMGT to acquire The Telegraph in a £500 million deal, creating a dominant right-leaning media group The UK government’s Foreign State Influence rules played a key role in blocking foreign investment Acquisition prompts expectations of regulatory scrutiny and aims to boost conservative media influence The owner of the Daily Mail, DMGT (Daily Mail and General Trust), has agreed a £500 million ($650 million) deal to acquire the Telegraph, in a move that would create one of the most powerful right-leaning media groups in the UK. The agreement follows the withdrawal of US-based private investment firm RedBird Capital Partners, which had…
Emma Tucker appoints Aja Whitaker-Moore and David Crow as deputy editors in chief Dan Colarusso joins as coverage chief for business, finance and economics Moves aim to modernise newsroom and enhance reporting, including AI integration The Wall Street Journal is reshaping its senior leadership, adding two deputy editors in chief and a new coverage chief for business, finance and economics. The moves signal a push to modernise the newsroom and strengthen reporting across its desks. In a staff note, editor in chief Emma Tucker said Aja Whitaker-Moore will join the Journal as deputy editor in chief, while current executive editor…
BBC tests dozens of AI projects to optimise content production and expand formats Focus on AI to support journalists, improve localisation, and enhance audience engagement Emphasis on ethical AI use and leveraging trusted journalism amidst tech rivalry BBC News is testing dozens of artificial intelligence pilots as it looks to speed up production, repackage content and create new formats without compromising its public service remit. The work is being led by Olle Zacharison, head of News AI, who spoke about the corporation’s approach on the Newsroom Robots podcast. At the heart of the strategy is a push to understand where…
Owen Meredith leaves the NMA after five years to join DMG Media in May 2026 He will succeed Peter Wright, who played a key role in press regulation and industry negotiations The move signals a strategic focus on advocating for fair treatment of news publishers in a rapidly evolving digital landscape Owen Meredith will join DMG Media in May 2026 to succeed Peter Wright as its head of public policy. The handover comes as major publishers push for fair treatment from digital platforms and seek greater certainty from government on media regulation. Meredith has led the News Media Association for…
Garry Moroney joins Irish Times Group as new CEO with strong tech background Appointment signals focus on digital innovation and strategic expansion Moroney’s experience aims to balance technology growth with quality journalism The Irish Times Group has appointed Garry Moroney, a tech entrepreneur with global experience, as its new chief executive. Moroney will succeed interim CEO Michael Sheehan on December 1. Sheehan will return to his role as Group CFO in January. Moroney brings long experience in building and scaling tech businesses. He founded two Irish software firms, Clavis Insight and Similarity Systems, guiding both from early-stage growth through to…
Widespread global outage impacts major websites and services Root cause traced to Cloudflare’s configuration error, not cyber attack Highlights risks of dependence on centralised internet providers A major internet outage on the morning of 18 November 2025 disrupted access to thousands of websites and digital services worldwide, underscoring the extent to which the modern web depends on a handful of infrastructure providers. The disruption was traced to Cloudflare, whose content delivery network and security services handle roughly a fifth of global web traffic. The incident began shortly after 6.40am ET, when Cloudflare identified internal service degradation that rapidly spiralled into…
