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…