Welcome to another exciting round of Friday 5, where we track the trends shaping the media landscape. This week, we’re looking at how publishers are tackling news fatigue, experimenting with global-local subscription bundles, enticing users with “one hour access,” navigating the legal and licensing battles around AI content, and even rolling out counterpoints generated by AI to help curb echo chamber effects. Let’s break it down.
‘I can’t cope with it any more’: Newsrooms scramble to retain audiences amid the big switch-off
News organizations are witnessing a sharp decline in audience engagement as many readers experience news fatigue and choose to avoid it altogether. As a result, outlets are exploring new formats, such as “constructive journalism” which focuses on progress and problem solving. They hope that by incorporating more light content, they can regain reader trust and interest, especially among younger Gen Z audiences. This shift reflects a broader movement by publishers to remain relevant without overwhelming their audiences, with some questioning how often they publish to combat reader burnout. Read more on The Guardian.
New York Times bundles give European publishers a subscription boost
By partnering with The New York Times to offer bundled subscriptions, several European publishers have a notable increase in subscribers. These bundles give readers access to both the NYT and local publications at discounted rates. Publishers view this initiative as a win-win, particularly for younger and more globally-minded audiences. While early results are promising, it remains to be seen whether this model will deliver long-term success. Read more on Nieman Lab.
How the French financial newspaper Les Echos boosted account creations with a new “app hour” feature
Les Echos launched an “app hour” campaign, where premium content is temporarily free for registered users on its mobile app, typically for one hour each day. This strategy has quickly led to a surge in account signups and customer engagement. By creating a time-based incentive, the paper aims to blend gamification with habit-building, a creative approach to boost interest and retention. Read more on The Fix.
Who’s suing AI and who’s signing?
News publishers are taking varied approaches in response to AI companies' use of their content. Some, including The New York Times, Mumsnet, and a coalition of Canadian outlets, have filed lawsuits against firms like OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging unauthorized use of their material to train AI models. Yet other publishers, including The Guardian, Financial Times, and News Corp, have entered into licensing agreements with AI companies like OpenAI, allowing the use of their content in exchange for compensation. These differing strategies reflect an ongoing industry debate over how best to protect both content and revenue as generative AI continues to evolve. Read more on PressGazette.
Don’t like a columnist’s opinion? Los Angeles Times offers an AI-generated opposing viewpoint
The Los Angeles Times has introduced a buzzworthy new feature that uses generative AI to spin up opposing perspectives to opinion columns. Called “Insight,” the feature aims to give readers a fuller picture of the topic in order to reduce the echo chamber effect. While innovative, this move has sparked discussion about AI’s role in shaping discourse and its impact on journalistic integrity. Read more on AP News.