Eva Johnson

Friday Five: AI Prospects in Publishing, Print Comebacks, Podcast Power Shifts, and Paywall Protection

Welcome back to Friday Five, where we bring you the latest news and buzz from the industry! In this week’s edition, we’re discussing the impact of Google’s AI summaries on publishing visibility, SPIN magazine’s returning to its printing roots, Apple losing ground to YouTube and Spotify in the podcasting landscape, the future of journalism with AI, and how the News/Media Alliance has recently thwarted attempts to bypass paywalls. 

Google AI overviews rollout hits news publisher search visibility 

Research from Authoritas indicates that Google’s AI summaries, which now appear in 17% of search results in the US and UK, are reducing publishers’ online visibility and traffic by pushing down their organic listings. Some summaries contain outdated and/or inaccurate information, which also affects the overall credibility of this content. As these AI summaries become more common, publishers may need to adapt their strategies to retain visibility and engagement. Read more on Press Gazette.

SPIN Magazine Returning to Print

Spin Magazine is returning to print for the first time in over a decade, with its founder Bob Guccione Jr. back as editor-in-chief. The new quarterly edition aims to evoke nostalgia and attract both old and new readers by offering in-depth articles and photography focused on music culture. It will be available at major retailers and independent stores across North America, reflecting a strategic move to revive interest in print media within the publishing landscape. Read more on Billboard.

Apple Loses Its Podcasting Lead to YouTube and Spotify

Despite Apple’s longtime dominance in podcasting, YouTube has now become the most popular platform, with Spotify also surpassing Apple. This shift is attributed to YouTube’s recent video podcasting focus and Spotify’s exclusive content deals. This trend highlights changing consumer preferences and growing competition within the podcast industry. Read more on Bloomberg.

What does the future hold for AI in journalism? 

In her new blog, Sonali Verma, a Generative AI Initiative Lead at INMA, poses the future of what she refers to as the “information ecosystem.” She discusses five key scenarios for how AI could transform journalism in the next five to 15 years, including the idea of "AI on a leash" where the use of this technology may be restricted due to the inability of legacy news media to adapt. Read more on INMA.

News/Media Alliance succeeds in takedowns by platforms using illegal technology to bypass news publisher paywalls

The News/Media Alliance claims it has thwarted attempts by unscrupulous third parties to bypass paywalls and make news content freely accessible. Danielle Coffey, the News/Media Alliance President and CEO asserts in the article that: “Quality reporting is not free. Our members make significant investments to produce the journalism that is vital to civic engagement.” The Alliance says that it will continue to champion the rights of its members’ intellectual property and protect the future interests of journalism. Read more on InPublishing.



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