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  • MediaMorph Edition 43 - by HANA News

MediaMorph Edition 43 - by HANA News

Bot-apocalypse

MediaMorph Edition 43 - by HANA News

Bot-apocalypse

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The written-by-a-human bit

Last month, TollBit published AI Scraping Is On The Rise -TollBit State of the Bots - Q4 2024, sending shockwaves around the media chatterati. Long feared, it seemed to confirm that AI search summaries are woeful at sending referral click-throughs. The percentage of bot traffic vs. total traffic is small, 2.5%, but it is growing fast. The comparative click-through is a meagre 0.74% compared to 8.63% for traditional Google SERP results.

This should be taken with a small pinch of salt, as Tollbit has seen an opportunity here, offering analytics, bot paywalls, and licensing agreements. But any media reliant on traditional Google search traffic should be looking at their bot traffic and moving to shore up their defences.

Academic publishers have woken up to this, as we report this week after The Times Higher Education spoke to product strategy director John Campbell, who explained how the launch of Google’s AI-powered search summaries had led to a 19% drop in click-through to the academic source material. The AI summaries were not only fallible but created “zero-click user journeys” and a “terrible return on investment”.

Transition phases are always painful, but this one is becoming existential for content creators. I am an eternal optimist and a glass-half-full kind of guy regarding AI adoption inside news organizations. But the weather is looking bleak. As always, the answer to AI problems is often AI countermeasures. We should watch TollBit, ProRata and Sureel to see if they can rise to the occasion.

Mark Riley, CEO of Mathison AI

AI and Media and Journalism

Local Gannett-owned websites are using AI to help write articles

GBH - March 11, 2025

Boston-area news outlets are increasingly using AI tools like Espresso to generate articles from community announcements, sparking discussions about trust and ethics in journalism. While companies like Gannett face criticism for their AI-generated content, platforms like Patch leverage generative AI to expand community engagement without increasing staff, highlighting the evolving landscape of local news reporting.

Read more at GBH (5 mins)

This AI tool could give newsrooms “eyes and ears where they don’t have them”

Nieman Lab - 

Former journalists Kaveh Waddell and Patrick Swanson created Roganbot, an AI tool designed to analyze Joe Rogan's podcast episodes, generating searchable transcripts and insightful summaries to help journalists track the evolution of ideas in the right-wing media ecosystem. Their project not only enhances journalism capabilities but also challenges preconceived notions about Rogan's influence, revealing a mix of casual conversation and controversial topics in his interviews.

Read more at Nieman Lab (5 mins)

Can AI do journalism?

Arizona Agenda Substack - March 11, 2025

The journalism industry is navigating significant challenges, from declining trust to the ethical implications of AI integration in newsrooms, as major publications grapple with how to balance efficiency and responsibility. Meanwhile, political conversations are heated, with figures like Sen. Ruben Gallego humorously embracing profanity as part of a shifting discourse in Congress.

Read more at Substack (9 mins)

Generative AI in journalism: Avoiding fake, harmful content and using tools to improve news consumption

Windy City Times - March 12, 2025

As AI reshapes journalism, experts like Dr. Michael Spikes caution against the risks of generative content, which can perpetuate stereotypes and oversimplify complex issues. Emphasizing the need for media literacy, he advocates for consumers to critically evaluate news sources and utilize AI tools to enhance their understanding of content in an increasingly automated landscape.

Read more at Windy City Times (4 mins)

Dak’s Take: AI isn’t killing journalism but it could kill inefficiency

NewscastStudio - March 11, 2025

The evolving role of AI in journalism presents both opportunities and challenges, acting as a productivity tool that streamlines tasks while raising concerns about biases and editorial integrity. A balanced approach prioritizing cloud transformation and digital literacy will be essential for newsrooms to harness AI's potential without compromising journalistic values.

Read more at NewscastStudio (5 mins)

Debunking the Disguises: Misinformation, AI and Social Media

News Literacy Project - October 4, 2023

Join the free edWebinar on October 25, 2023, at 5 p.m. ET, presented by the News Literacy Project, where expert Alexa Volland will equip educators with strategies and resources to teach students how to navigate misinformation in the age of social media and generative AI. Ideal for middle and high school teachers, librarians, and school leaders, this session will empower students with critical thinking skills essential for discerning credible information.

Read more at News Literacy Project (2 mins)

Media Alliance Welcomed 17 New Members in 2024

News/Media Alliance - March 14, 2025

The News/Media Alliance has urged the U.S. government to prioritize responsible AI development through a proposal emphasizing intellectual property protection, voluntary licensing, and transparency in the AI sector. Highlighting the economic significance of the publishing industry, the Alliance calls for measures to safeguard creators and promote fair competition against Big Tech's dominance.

Read more at News/Media Alliance (5 mins)

WTF is ‘shadow AI’ and why should publishers care?

Digiday - March 12, 2025

The rise of generative AI in journalism has led to the emergence of "shadow AI," posing risks such as inconsistent standards, confidentiality breaches, and legal issues, prompting media companies to establish formal policies and training to manage its use effectively. As organizations grapple with these challenges, experts emphasize the need for clear guidelines and proactive measures to ensure responsible AI integration in newsrooms.

Read more at Digiday (7 mins)

What Journalists Should Know About Deepfake Detection in 2025

Cjr - 

In January 2024, a significant incident in the greater Baltimore area sparked urgent discussions on community safety and social issues, prompting local journalists to deliver timely updates and eyewitness accounts. This event highlighted the crucial role of local media in fostering informed dialogue while navigating the challenges of responsible reporting.

Read more at Cjr (1 min)

Dow Jones CEO Almar Latour on AI, press freedom, and the future of news

The Verge - March 10, 2025

In a recent interview, Almar Latour, CEO of Dow Jones and publisher of The Wall Street Journal, discussed the challenges facing the news industry, emphasizing the importance of high-quality journalism and strategic investments in AI and analytics to navigate a competitive landscape filled with free content. He highlighted ongoing initiatives, including partnerships with OpenAI, a commitment to press freedom, and a focus on enhancing the newsroom's capabilities while addressing the evolving demands of readers in a turbulent information environment.

Read more at The Verge (48 mins)

AI and Academic Publishing

AI search summaries cannibalise academic publishers’ web traffic

Times Higher Education (THE) - March 11, 2025

At the Academic and Professional Publishing Conference, John Campbell from Oxford University Press highlighted the urgent need for scholarly publishers to showcase the rigorous efforts behind original research, especially as AI-generated summaries lead to declining engagement with academic content. He emphasized the importance of linking these summaries back to original works and positioning publishers centrally within networks to enhance impact and foster collaboration.

Read more at Times Higher Education (THE) (3 mins)

Faculty claims new software can detect AI use in research

The Stanford Daily - March 13, 2025

Stanford Libraries' Office of Scholarly Communications has introduced iThenticate, a tool to detect AI-generated text in research papers, in response to rising concerns over academic integrity following incidents like fabricated citations by a faculty member. This initiative aims to support researchers in meeting publication standards and protect their reputations amidst growing scrutiny of AI's role in scholarly work.

Read more at The Stanford Daily (4 mins)

Zendy Introduces AI Revenue-Sharing for Publishers

EdTech Innovation Hub - March 13, 2025

Zendy has introduced a revenue-sharing model for its AI assistant, ZAIA, compensating academic publishers whenever their paywalled research is cited, thereby addressing concerns about content usage. This collaborative approach not only supports traditional publishers but also explores compensation for open-access content, ensuring fair attribution and revenue distribution.

Read more at EdTech Innovation Hub (2 mins)

(PDF) AI In Academic Cybersecurity Data Using Natural Language Writing Research: Automating the Detection

Researchgate - 

This research leverages advanced NLP and machine learning techniques to enhance the detection of disclaimers in text, aiming for improved compliance and transparency. The study's findings reveal promising advancements in automated disclaimer identification, with potential applications across legal, marketing, and regulatory domains.

Read more at Researchgate (1 min)

Publishing: Wiley Releases AI Guidelines For Authors

Library Journal infoDOCKET - March 13, 2025

Wiley has introduced new guidelines for the responsible use of AI in authorship, aimed at helping writers effectively navigate AI tools with practical insights on prompt development and tool comparison. These guidelines, unveiled at the London Book Fair, also emphasize the importance of tracking and disclosing AI usage in published works, with more tailored FAQs for researchers expected soon.

Read more at Library Journal infoDOCKET (1 min)

AI-generated Paper asses peer review

Research & Development World - March 15, 2025

Tokyo-based startup Sakana AI has gained attention after its AI-generated paper on neural network generalization passed peer review at ICLR 2025, marking a milestone in AI's role in academia despite noted weaknesses. As institutions establish guidelines to navigate AI's integration into scientific publishing, Sakana AI emphasizes that the future of research may lie in collaboration between AI and human expertise rather than replacement.

Read more at Research & Development World (3 mins)

Exploring the future of AI: Insights from Springer Nature's AI eBook Collection

Springernature - 

Springer Nature has launched the AI eBook Collection, featuring over 70 titles that explore cutting-edge topics across various fields, including healthcare, fintech, and the humanities. This dynamic collection is designed to support researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers by reflecting the latest trends in artificial intelligence research and applications.

Read more at Springernature (6 mins)

“Adaptability will be key to navigating new challenges” for the academic media sector, says Anca Babor, Director of Customer and Markets, Publishing, and Events

BMJ Group - Helping doctors make better decisions - March 10, 2025

The evolving academic media landscape demands a focus on digital excellence and peer-reviewed content to uphold research integrity, while also embracing diversity and inclusion to enhance innovation and address global challenges. By implementing targeted strategies and fostering collaboration across sectors, institutions can create supportive environments that amplify diverse voices and contribute to equity in research.

Read more at BMJ Group - Helping doctors make better decisions (3 mins)

Medical journals shine light on practices of predatory publishers

American Medical Association - March 17, 2025

Leading medical journal editors are sounding the alarm on the rise of predatory journals that threaten scientific integrity by soliciting manuscripts without proper peer review. A recent JAMA editorial urges authors to adopt a "think, check, submit" strategy to ensure their work is published in reputable outlets, highlighting the importance of both quality and quantity in academic publishing.

Read more at American Medical Association (5 mins)

Weekend reads: Frustration over unpaid peer review; NIH axes research grants; publishers sue Meta

Retraction Watch - March 15, 2025

This week at Retraction Watch, discussions revolved around potential retractions of the Stanford Prison Experiment, a misconduct investigation in Osaka leading to multiple retractions, and the impact of AI on publishing. Notable issues included a lawsuit against academic publishers, NIH grant terminations, and ongoing controversies surrounding research integrity and funding challenges in the academic community.

Read more at Retraction Watch (4 mins)

This newsletter was partly curated and summarised by AI agents, who can make mistakes. Check all important information.For any issues or inaccuracies, please notify us here