3:19 am - September 18, 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 York Times says its new generative AI tool, BrandMatch, is leading to increased click-through rates on campaigns. The New York Times (NYT) has announced an ambitious investment in generative artificial intelligence as part of a broader strategy to enhance its self-reliance amid widespread external disruptions. With increasing constraints imposed by privacy laws, browser tracking restrictions and the diminishing efficacy of third-party signals, publishers like the NYT are compelled to innovate in order to sustain their advertising revenues. Valerio Poce, Executive Director of Ad Product Marketing for New York Times Advertising, highlighted the pressing need for new methodologies in…
Andrew Morse leads a bold $150 million initiative to rejuvenate the AJC, addressing the crisis in local journalism and enhancing community engagement. The local news industry across the United States is grappling with profound difficulties, characterised by closures and job reductions. In a bold countermeasure, Andrew Morse, the president and publisher of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC), has implemented an ambitious plan to revitalise the publication. With a substantial investment of $150 million secured over the next few years, Morse’s vision aims to bolster the newspaper’s relevance and sustainability. Morse’s tenure at AJC began in January 2023, following his departure from…
Sir David Attenborough is among a number of famous people who have expressed their dismay about their voice being used for AI-generated deepfakes. Prominent public figures, including Sir David Attenborough and Scarlett Johansson, have expressed their growing unease over AI-generated voice cloning. American websites are increasingly using advanced AI technology to clone the voices of well-known personalities, stirring up public debate over identity and privacy rights. Sir David Attenborough said he was deeply concerned upon discovering that partisan news outlets in the United States have been replicating his voice without permission. These AI-generated imitations have been used to present news…
Ruling highlights the EU’s ongoing efforts to regulate major digital platforms and ensure fair competition. Meta Platforms Inc. has been fined $840 million by the European Union for anti-trust violations relating to its digital advertising business. This latest penalty is part of a broader regulatory campaign conducted by EU competition authorities against major digital platforms. Meta, which operates social media giants Facebook and Instagram, has been under increasing scrutiny from regulators worldwide, particularly in Europe where stringent privacy and competition laws are enforced. The European Commission, spearheading this action, cited Meta for practices they deem restrictive to competition within the…
The German-language initiative outlines innovative strategies to engage younger readers by adapting local journalism to the digital age. Local journalism must be revitalised with fresh formats, advanced digital technologies and collaborative efforts across publishing entities to attract younger audiences, according to a newly published white paper from the Drive (Digital Revenue Initiative) project. Drive, founded in 2020 by the German press agency dpa and advisory firm Highberg (previously known as Schickler), assists regional publishers in navigating the digital transformation landscape. By sharing data analyses and AI algorithms among its members, Drive supports around 30 publishers across Germany, Austria and Switzerland…
This digitally native generation accounts for 40% of the global mobile user base and they show show a strong preference for fast fashion and social media. Understanding what attracts Gen Z is not just about the future, but the present as they now account for about 40% of the global mobile user base. Their preferences have the ability to shape the digital marketplace, as a recent analysis of their app downloads in America has shown. At the top of Gen Z’s list is the Chinese fast-fashion retailer, Temu, wwith an impressive 41.98 million installs, according to a recent analysis by…
The UK-based newspaper has announced it will stop posting on the social media platform X, deeming it a ‘toxic media platform’ filled with disturbing content. The Guardian, a prominent British newspaper, announced on Wednesday that it would discontinue posting from its official accounts on the social media platform X. The decision stems from the newspaper’s assertion that X, owned by the billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, has evolved into a “toxic media platform” rife with “often disturbing content.” In a statement on its website, The Guardian articulated the rationale behind its departure from X, where it boasts nearly 11 million followers.…
Bluesky is rapidly emerging as a popular alternative to traditional social media platforms, boasting over 15 million active users and was given a big boost post-US election. Bluesky has emerged as the big thing among social networks as the second Trump era begins, gaining traction among users seeking more control over their digital experience. This platform, designed as an open-source, decentralised network, offers an alternative to traditional social media, boasting features that put users in charge of what they see and share. Over the past year, Bluesky’s user base has expanded significantly, particularly following the US election. With more than…
The search giant has launched a limited test in several EU countries, temporarily excluding results from EU-based news publishers amid regulatory challenges. Google has begun a limited test in several European Union countries by temporarily omitting results from EU-based news publishers. Described by Google as a “small, time-limited test,” the trial involves excluding news content from the search engine’s results, Google News, and the Discover feed. This experiment affects approximately 1% of users in Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain. The users will still have access to news from non-EU sources. The specific duration of…
The US financial newspaper is trialling a Key Points box to enhance reader engagement. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has embarked on a trial of AI-generated article summaries, marking its latest venture into integrating technology within journalism. The experimentation involves a Key Points box placed prominently at the top of news stories, designed to encapsulate the essence of the article in bullet points. This initiative aims to evaluate how readers interact with and benefit from AI-driven summaries. Each Key Points box includes a notice clarifying the involvement of artificial intelligence in creating the summary. It reassures readers that despite the…
