6:41 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 social platform rival to Elon Musk’s X has been steadily growing out of the limelight. Just 16 months after its launch, Threads has reached 275 milliion monthly active users, according to Adam Mosseri, the Head of Threads and Instagram. This milestrone marks a significant chapter in Meta’s challenge to competitor X, formerly known as Twitter. Launched in July 2023, Threads was developed as an alternative to X, targeting users seeking new and engaging social networks. The platform experienced a remarkable uptake in the early stages, buzzing with over 100 million sign-ups within its first week. This swift adoption was…
The dynamic CEO has been reshaping Hearst UK, focusing on direct consumer relationships and innovative approaches to the magazine space. Katie Vanneck-Smith, a seasoned leader in the media industry, has been spearheading a strategic transformation at Hearst UK since her arrival in December 2022. Having transitioned from her role as co-founder and publisher at Tortoise Media, Vanneck-Smith took up the challenge at the glossy magazine publisher, which boasts well-known titles such as Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Women’s Health, and Country Living. At Hearst UK’s London headquarters, located just off Leicester Square, Vanneck-Smith has implemented a comprehensive overhaul to adapt the…
The paper failed to meet analyst expectations as it reported an increase of 260,000 paid digital subscribers in Q3, reaching over 11 million. The New York Times fell short of expectations for subscriber growth in the third quarter of the year, from July through September, as it added 260,000 new paid digital subscribers. This was about 20,000 shy of predictions but its total subscriber count did grow to more than 11 million for the first time. This total includes 10.47 million subscribers exclusively to digital offerings, separate from its traditional print service. Adjusted operating profit saw a rise of 16.1…
The CEO of the Los Angeles Tribune prepares to unveil The Great Media Reset, a book proposing a shift in journalism towards positivity and community empowerment. Moe Rock, the CEO of the Los Angeles Tribune and a prominent figure in the media industry, wants to disrupt traditional journalism practices with an approach that blends positivity, integrity and inclusivity. In his upcoming book, The Great Media Reset, scheduled for release in the upcoming months, Rock proposes a transformative strategy for journalism. He advocates for media outlets to transcend conflict-centric narratives and instead focus on empowering audiences with constructive, solution-based reporting. The…
Veen Bosch & Keuning’s AI experiment in translating commercial fiction into English has raised concerns in the book publishing industry. Dutch publishing behemoth Veen Bosch & Keuning (VBK) has announced its intention to begin experimenting with artificial intelligence (AI) to translate selected books into English. The publisher, which was recently acquired by Simon & Schuster, aims to trial this technology on a limited scope, focusing exclusively on commercial fiction titles. “This project contains less than ten titles – all commercial fiction. No literary titles will nor shall be used,” said Vanessa van Hofwegen, VBK’s commercial director. “This is on an…
The new messaging application Daze has captivated Generation Z with over 100,000 followers on TikTok and more than three million views on promotional videos A new messaging application, Daze, is taking the digital world by storm, primarily capturing the interest of Generation Z, even before its official launch on November 4. Even before being available for public download, Daze’s boasted over 100,000 followers on TikTok. Videos that showcase the distinct features of the app have amassed over three million views, which signals a significant level of intrigue and anticipation among potential users. Daze has been crafted with the ambition of…
A survey by a youth charity highlights the heavy reliance on digital devices among young people. A recent study conducted by the youth charity OnSide has shed light on the pervasive use of digital devices among today’s youth and the challenges they face in trying to reduce screen time. The survey, which included 5,213 participants aged 11 to 18, highlights a strong dependence on screens outside school hours, underpinning the phenomenon dubbed as “Generation Isolation.” The data reveals that 76% of young individuals spend most of their leisure time on screens due to habit, boredom, and a fear of missing…
The AI search company is offering AI-generated insights on voting, details about candidates, and will track vote counts live on election day. Perplexity has offered a glimpse into how it will cover big events with the launch of its Election Information Hub. This new platform provides AI-generated responses to inquiries related to voting processes, candidate summaries, and will live track vote counts on November 5, using data from The Associated Press (AP). The information encompassed within the hub, such as polling requirements, locations and timing, is derived from data provided by Democracy Works, a well-regarded source that also powers similar…
Chai Vasarhelyi brought diaries and letters to life with synthetic voices in her latest work on the legendary expedition of Sir Ernest Shackleton Academy Award-winning filmmaker Chai Vasarhelyi has brought to life the harrowing and legendary expedition of Sir Ernest Shackleton in her latest documentary film, Endurance. Delving into the well-known story of Shackleton’s 1914-1917 expedition to Antarctica, she used AI to add human “colour” to the tale. Vasarhelyi, alongside her husband and fellow filmmaker Jimmy Chin, is well known for her compelling storytelling in films such as Free Solo and Nyad, which focus on individuals overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds.…
ESPN has built fantasy sports results and betting functionality into Flagship, its new direct-to-consumer proposition, as it attempts to win back ‘cord cutters’. ESPN has announced the launch of its new direct-to-consumer (DTC) platform, internally dubbed ‘Flagship’, which is set to go live in 2025. This innovative service is designed to combine the offerings of ESPN’s main channel and ESPN+, incorporating a broad range of digital features such as ecommerce, betting, and personalisation tools. The move is part of ESPN’s strategic shift towards catering to the growing market of sports fans who are moving away from traditional cable and satellite…
