AGP Executive Report

Meta Terms Delayed: After publishers and advertisers challenged its website-crawling rules, Meta pushed revised commercial terms to Nov. 20. Publishers say the pause is not enough and want binding protections for their content. Audience Trust: In the Philippines, trust in news fell to 28%, while 51% of respondents said they sometimes or often avoid the news, adding pressure on outlets to rebuild engagement. Publisher Shake-up: Catapult Book Group is set to end operations Oct. 30 after a sale of its assets; staff jobs are not continuing, and the fate of 16 spring 2027 titles is unclear. AI in Newsrooms: At an Oklahoma summit, media leaders discussed AI’s role in journalism, urging newsrooms to use it thoughtfully without handing over editorial judgment.

Platform Power: Meta delayed its new commercial terms to Nov. 20 after publishers and advertisers objected to clauses they say could let it scrape their content for AI. Publishers are still pushing for a fair framework. Newsroom Restructuring: The Telegraph’s new Axel Springer owners plan up to 100 job cuts as they reshape the paper into an AI-powered global media and intelligence business, with a push into video, audio, events, licensing and other revenue streams. Public Media: Czech lawmakers fast-tracked a bill ending TV and radio licence fees, drawing warnings that state-budget funding could threaten broadcaster independence. Growth & Reach: Italy’s La Stampa has launched a US digital operation, starting with teams in New York and Washington and plans to build a contributor network across all 50 states.

Platform Terms: Meta’s revised commercial terms still raise concerns for publishers and advertisers: the company removed language about using scraped content to train AI, but questions remain about what its crawlers can collect and whether businesses can opt out. Ad Tech: The IAB Tech Lab chief says Apple’s ad-tech blocking is harming publishers, adding to pressure on their digital revenue. Subscriptions: Bloomberg is expanding its India newsroom, video production and local digital offering as it targets sustained double-digit subscription growth. Local News: The Cottage Grove Sentinel will close after 137 years, citing sharply declining ad revenue; a local journalist hopes to launch a successor in 2027. Audience Shift: In the Philippines, social media and video are now the most-used news sources, while trust in news fell 10 points and weekly use of news sites and apps dropped to 42%. AI and Revenue: Yahoo’s CEO warns AI search threatens publishers’ survival, while the Guardian is reshaping its reader-revenue pitch around the World Cup.

Platform Power: Publishers and advertisers asked EU and UK regulators to suspend Meta’s new terms, arguing they could let the company use website content for AI without an opt-out. Meta disputes the complaint. AI and Traffic: Yahoo CEO Jim Lanzone warned that AI answer engines threaten publishers by keeping users from source sites, citing reported traffic drops of 60–70%. A German study warns journalist numbers could fall by up to half by 2035 as tech platforms squeeze media revenues. Newsroom Investment: CBC/Radio-Canada selected Dalet to unify content planning and distribution across its platforms. In Nigeria, Media Trust launched an AI-powered newsroom, with the technology agency chief urging newsrooms to use AI for verification, not to replace journalists. Industry Moves: Publishers Group UK named Alex Goatman and Deborah Dyson joint managing directors, with co-founder Medwyn Hughes becoming executive chairman. Press Freedom: Reform UK’s police complaint and legal threat against ITV over its undercover racism investigation drew condemnation from the News Media Association, which warned against using legal action to stifle public-interest reporting.

Newsroom Access: Two University of Maryland student reporters say campus police were called after they tried to question football players, while the White House Correspondents’ Association condemned the removal of a reporter from a presidential travel pool as retaliation. AI and Publishing: Korean publishers are seeking safeguards after suspicious bulk book orders raised fears of AI training without permission. Meta has also removed explicit AI-training language from its commercial terms, but publishers’ concerns remain as the revised terms still allow broad automated collection of website content. Audience Shift: YouTube has overtaken TV as the leading source of political news, underscoring the pressure on publishers to reach audiences across platforms.

AI and Publisher Rights: News publishers are pressing EU and UK regulators to challenge Meta’s new terms, which they say could let the company copy linked website content to train its AI products. Canadian publishers have also sued Anthropic, alleging copyright infringement. Audience and Traffic: Publishers face another AI-driven threat as search summaries divert visitors from news sites, while Forbes is testing a Google AI partnership to find value beyond clicks. Newsroom Labor: Embarcadero Media Foundation staff have secured their first contract, including a median 10% pay increase, annual raises and stronger job protections. Broadcast Media: Christiane Amanpour is leaving CNN after 43 years, ending a defining chapter in the network’s journalism.

Platform Power: German publisher groups are urging the EU to halt Meta’s planned terms change, which could let it collect and analyze publishers’ posts and linked websites from business accounts, including for AI products. AI and Traffic: Publishers are also grappling with AI search cutting referral traffic, while newsrooms adopt AI to speed production without handing over editorial judgment. Copyright: Canadian news publishers have sued Anthropic, alleging copyright infringement—another front in the fight over how AI companies use published work. Ad Business: Advance Local selected ADvendio to consolidate its advertising operations. Local News Funding: Maryland’s governor has directed state agencies to put at least half their ad budgets into local news outlets, offering a potential boost to print, digital and broadcast publishers. Publisher Pressures: LGBTQ+ outlet Star Observer has restructured as it seeks a deal with creditors and tries to avoid liquidation.

CNN Shake-Up: Christiane Amanpour is leaving after 43 years, as CNN enters a new era under Skydance-owned Paramount following its $81 billion Warner Bros. Discovery deal. AI and Publishers: Canadian news publishers have sued Anthropic over alleged copyright infringement, while Meta revised terms after publisher backlash over content scraping. A new study found 70% of Canadian news sites block at least one AI crawler, highlighting the fight over how publishers’ work is used and discovered. Newsroom Strategy: Publishers are adopting AI to speed up journalism but remain wary of betting on it as a business model; others are looking to archives and creator-led ventures to compete for audiences. Local Media: UC Berkeley journalism students have launched Emeryville Today to fill a local reporting gap, while Getty Images and Lee Enterprises are expanding access to local editorial photography and video. Ad Revenue: Taboola and Adnimation say their partnership can lift publisher ad revenue by 32%, as outlets explore new commercial models.

Media Leadership: Cebu Daily News Digital chief reporter Pia Piquero joins WAN-IFRA’s women’s leadership accelerator, while Christiane Amanpour will leave CNN in June 2027 after more than 43 years; her PBS show ends this year. AI and the Business Model: A study of 160 newsroom AI projects finds publishers are using the technology mainly to speed up production, with far fewer testing new revenue, subscription or fundraising models. Publisher Rights: Canadian news publishers have sued Anthropic over alleged copyright infringement, and Meta dropped “train” from its business terms after publisher backlash, though concerns about scraping remain. Ad Tech: Advance Local is working with ADvendio to modernize its advertising infrastructure, as publishers look for ways to strengthen digital operations. Audience Trust: Native advertising remains a balancing act for entertainment brands: sponsored content can fit naturally into fan experiences, but poorly disclosed or mismatched placements risk undermining trust. Newsroom Change: China’s newspaper industry is being urged to modernize through digital innovation, AI and stronger audience engagement.

Platform and AI Deals: Meta removed “train” from its business terms after publisher backlash, but its revised crawling rules still leave scraping concerns. Google is adding prominent publisher links to AI search as news outlets warn of falling traffic. Publisher Finances: Six bidders are in the final round to take control of South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo, with new investment seen as vital to the cash-strapped publisher. Newsroom Strategy: Publishers are exploring AI automation, but many cannot afford agentic systems — and risks to accountability remain. Press Freedom: Israeli police arrested 10 people over attacks on a Washington Post photographer and European diplomats, while the state continues to oppose independent journalist access to Gaza.

Newsroom Restructuring: NZME plans cuts across its newsroom, product and development teams, as Media Trust brings five newsrooms together in a digital convergence push. AI and Publishing: Publishers are weighing automation against cost and trust: one report says most cannot afford agentic journalism, while The Seattle Times says AI may assist but humans will write the news. Google is also expanding publisher partnerships and adding prominent links in AI search. Local News: At least 170 U.S. newspapers have closed this year, leaving more communities without routine coverage of local government. Music Royalties: Amazon Music is seeking to lower songwriter royalty rates from 15.3% to 13.4% for 2028–32, prompting pushback from music publishers. Press Safety: Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine was seriously injured in a West Bank settler attack; U.S. and European officials are pressing Israel to investigate and prosecute those responsible. A journalist in India was also beaten to death after seeking an advertisement for his newspaper.

AI & Publishing: Publishers warn that AI companies are using journalism without permission, potentially diverting traffic and revenue. Newsrooms are also drawing boundaries on automation and accountability as AI tools move into production. Publisher Business: Condé Nast’s UK profits fell by more than a third, while its parent ruled out a sale of the Vogue publisher. Press Freedom: Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine was seriously injured in a West Bank settler attack; US officials are urging Israel to investigate and prosecute those responsible. Media Policy: Bangladesh’s Editors’ Council is seeking court approval for arrests, searches and surveillance of journalists under proposed cyber laws, with rapid court review of emergency action.

AI & Publishing: Google’s AI news pilot has expanded to 400 publications, with CNN and the Financial Times joining as the company also pays publishers for content. Publisher Revenue: Google’s AI search changes are raising concerns over falling referral traffic, while Meta’s updated terms could allow it to use news websites to train AI. Advertising: Torstar chair Jordan Bitove urged advertisers to support Canadian journalism, as publishers seek sustainable funding. Media Ownership: The UK cleared Axel Springer’s takeover of the Telegraph newspaper group, marking a major shift in the country’s publishing landscape.

AI and Publishing: Google is making publisher links more prominent in AI Search and expanding news partnerships, as publishers warn that search traffic is falling. CNN, Axios and other outlets have joined its AI news program. Copyright: “Gruffalo” illustrator Axel Scheffler is considering legal action over AI-generated images resembling his work, adding to pressure for stronger protections for creators. Media Business: The UK cleared Axel Springer’s takeover of the Telegraph newspaper group, while Torstar’s owner urged advertisers to support Canadian journalism. Newsroom Innovation: Publishers are exploring AI-native newsrooms and tools to help local outlets sustain coverage, even as concerns grow over AI systems scraping content without permission.

AI and Publisher Revenue: Google is expanding its AI news program, paying publishers and adding links to AI search results as outlets warn of sharp referral-traffic losses. Meta’s new terms may also allow news sites to be scraped for AI training, intensifying the fight over consent and compensation. Advertising and Local News: Torstar’s owner urged advertisers to support Canadian journalism, while research points to mounting pressure on local papers as closures accelerate. Press Freedom: A Washington Post photographer was hospitalized after Israeli settlers attacked her while she covered a Palestinian olive harvest; the incident has drawn condemnation and calls for an investigation. In Maryland, Republican Andy Harris faced backlash for threatening a student journalist who tried to record him. Media Business: CJ Group may join Daou Kiwoom in a bid for JoongAng Ilbo, which is seeking a buyer amid financial strain.

AI and Publisher Deals: Google says 400 publications now take part in its AI news program, which pays publishers for content; CNN, Axios and others have joined as the company makes links more prominent in AI search. Publishers are still warning that AI-driven search is cutting referral traffic. Rights and Revenue: More than 40 publishers have joined a coalition seeking to stop AI companies from using journalism without permission, while UK publishers are pressing the government to curb stealth bots that scrape their content. Press Freedom: Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine was hospitalized after Israeli settlers beat and robbed her while she covered an olive harvest in the West Bank. In India, journalists covering protests faced detentions and alleged assaults; in Turkey, monitors condemned a broadcaster takeover and the jailing and house arrest of journalists. Newsroom AI: Local news leaders say most organizations are still at the beginning of their AI journey, with experts urging teams to start by identifying who a tool should help and what it should improve.