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- MediaMorph Edition 68 - by HANA News
MediaMorph Edition 68 - by HANA News
Aggregated to death
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The written-by-a-human bit
Reviewing the current AI and media landscape, one emerging theme is that AI is very good at aggregation. AI-powered media start-ups are popping up every week, offering more and more personalised aggregation of other people’s content. Some have come and gone — Artifact stumbled despite its high-profile founders, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. Curio.io also came a cropper.
Others persist - Particle being a case in point. Particle has a gorgeous UI and partnerships in place, but no discernible business plan. Media veterans Alan Hunter and Michael Brunt launched Tomorrow’s Publisher, an AI-powered aggregator of media stories, powered by Ivan Massow’s Noah Wire Services. Meanwhile, Japanese start-up SmartNews continues to grow partnerships and downloads, claiming 100,000+ paid subscribers
Of course, there is nothing new about news aggregation. Google News, Apple News, Inkl, Flipboard, and Factiva are all established wire services with proven business models. The Week and The Knowledge are human-curated aggregators. They work due to robust value exchanges and reward systems. Factiva has over 32,000 written licensing deals in place.
The difference with AI, however, is that we have all become aggregators. Anyone with a ChatGPT subscription can now train an AI agent to perform a daily crawl, fetch, and summary of any given topic. The results are predictably rubbish, but they will become more innovative, intuitive, and personalised. Add some basic vibe coding, and anyone can have their own niche, content-rich news platform.
So what marks out a good aggregator from a grey or flat-out bad aggregator?
There is a non-scientific sniff-test - some just look and smell dubious, churning out AI mulch. The News/Media Alliance clearly thought that Good News Daily failed the sniff test - see their cease and desist letter.
Others look well edited and cited. My answer is attribution, a shared revenue structure and a human-in-the-loop. Respect the source, share the upside and verify the content.
Seasoned hacks will argue that content has always been repurposed, recycled, borrowed and poached. This is just an automation of an age-old practice. The problem now is that the poaching is on an industrial scale.
Henry Blodget has an interesting take on this week’s Channels Podcast with Peter Kafka (worth a listen in full). He admits repurposing from wires has been going on forever, but he thinks the AI aggregator model is unsustainable:
“Why is it not sustainable? Because I think that everyone, if it really works and it starts to drive economics, everyone will build the capability. Most smart journalism organisations are looking at how we can use AI.”
In the end…
“…the actual gathering of information, primary information, usually human to human, involving telephones or face-to-face communication, is not going away anytime soon. And I think the analytical and storytelling will be preserved for a while. We as humans form relationships with other humans. “
Mark Riley, CEO Mathison AI
Out today and available to buy on Amazon - The AI Prophet — A Human Survival Guide For The Coming Machine Age by Mark Riley amazon.com. amazon.co.uk
Hi
AI will be a substantial competitive advantage for those who master it. But most are still struggling with adoption because rolling out a chatbot or copilot isn’t enough to get people using it.
At Mathison AI, we are helping CEOs like you rapidly discover and prototype high-impact AI use cases tailored to your business.
We’re currently working with global and local enterprises to identify areas where AI can drive real operational value — from automation and cost savings to entirely new product ideas.
If you’re exploring AI and want a clear, low-risk way to get started, I’d love to share how we approach it through fast education sessions and hands-on prototyping.
AI and Journalism
Some French publishers are giving AI revenue directly to journalists. Could that ever happen in the U.S.? In a significant contrast to the U.S., where newsroom staff typically see no compensation from AI licensing deals, French news publishers like Le Monde are leading the way by redistributing 25% of their AI earnings directly to journalists, thanks to groundbreaking agreements with trade unions. This shift follows France's "neighbouring rights" law, which ensures that creators are compensated for their work used by tech companies, setting a new industry standard that other media groups may soon adopt. |
Destigmatize AI in Journalism The Daily Texan - September 1, 2025 The rise of AI tools in journalism, while sparking concerns about ethics and credibility, offers opportunities for enhanced efficiency and innovation, as seen with start-ups like BeatNews.ai. To effectively serve communities, news organizations must balance the use of technology with a commitment to journalistic integrity, ensuring that quality storytelling and audience engagement remain paramount. |
Journalism in the age of AI Isthmus | Madison, Wisconsin - September 4, 2025 As AI becomes increasingly integrated into journalism, UW-Madison's Tomas Dodds is spearheading initiatives to educate reporters on responsible AI use through the Public Tech Media Lab, emphasizing the importance of developing in-house systems that align with newsroom values. Meanwhile, local organizations are exploring AI policies and practices to ensure ethical implementation and enhance editorial integrity. |
#IFJBlog: AI and Journalism: Threat or Opportunity? Ifj - September 4, 2025 As AI becomes increasingly integrated into journalism, it offers both opportunities for efficiency and significant risks, including reliability issues and job displacement. The future of journalism hinges on the collaboration between human reporters and AI, emphasizing the need for ethical oversight and accountability to ensure the integrity of news reporting. |
View / How AI will upend the news Semafor - August 28, 2025 The rise of AI is transforming journalism, raising crucial questions about content creation, audience engagement, and the sustainability of traditional revenue models. As readers increasingly expect personalized news experiences, journalists must adapt to evolving habits while navigating ethical challenges and the risk of filter bubbles. |
French press take on digital databases to defend journalist copyright against AI Rfi - Two major French journalist organizations representing 800 newspapers and magazines are calling for urgent reforms to tackle declining revenues, the impact of digital platforms, and the need for stronger protections for journalists, highlighting the crucial role of journalism in democracy. |
Exploring the Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the Teaching Hospital Model Journalism Education in Resource-Constrained Zambia This reflection essay explores the integration of AI in journalism education at the University of Zambia, emphasizing the need for a mobile-first approach and interdisciplinary collaboration to overcome resource constraints and enhance AI literacy among faculty and students. It advocates for innovative strategies that turn limitations into opportunities while addressing the inherent biases of AI technologies. |
Keeping AI-generated content authentic LAS News - September 5, 2025 Kaili Meyer, a 2017 journalism graduate, founded Reveal Studio Co., a web copywriting business that harnesses AI to enhance communication authenticity. Initially skeptical about AI, she created innovative tools like The Complete AI Copy Buddy and The Sales & Copy Bestie, helping diverse professionals improve their messaging while balancing her entrepreneurial success with creative pursuits such as poetry and novel writing. |
Generative AI and the crisis of objectivity Meer - September 3, 2025 As generative AI reshapes our understanding of truth and objectivity, it produces plausible information that blurs the lines of accountability, challenging traditional knowledge systems in science and journalism. The upcoming essay, "Retrieval-Augmented Generation and the Future of Knowledge," explores how hybrid AI systems transform knowledge from a static entity to a dynamic process co-created through interactions between humans and machines. |
AI and OTT use up, NextGen TV use drops at local TV stations Rtdna - The latest RTDNA/Newhouse School Survey reveals a significant uptick in technology adoption among TV news stations, with 32.6% now using artificial intelligence and 62.2% engaging in over-the-top (OTT) services. However, interest in NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) has waned, dropping to just 18.3%. |
AI and Academic Publishing
Anthropic settlement a big step for AI law A landmark case involving major tech companies and artists has ignited a debate over the legality of using copyrighted materials to train AI models, raising concerns about creators' rights. As lawmakers consider new legislation to protect artists while promoting innovation, the outcome could significantly impact the future of copyright law in the age of AI. |
WLY Q1 Deep Dive: AI Licensing Momentum and Mixed Academic Publishing Performance Yahoo Finance - September 5, 2025 Wiley is poised for growth through AI partnerships and open access journal momentum, despite risks in consumer segments, while StockStory shines today with its innovative platform that combines advanced analytics and storytelling to empower investors. The success of StockStory stems from increased user engagement, positive feedback, and a commitment to transparency, making financial information more accessible and engaging. |
Opportunities and threats in academic media BMJ Group - Helping doctors make better decisions - September 3, 2025 The academic publishing landscape is rapidly evolving with the rise of digital platforms and generative AI, presenting both opportunities for enhanced research workflows and challenges in maintaining integrity. As publishers navigate open access models and sustainability efforts, prioritizing equity, community engagement, and robust peer review processes will be essential for ensuring credible and impactful research dissemination. Read more at BMJ Group - Helping doctors make better decisions (3 mins) |
RSC partners with Enago for AI Research Information - September 2, 2025 The Royal Society of Chemistry has teamed up with Enago to enhance the manuscript submission process through AI technology, which screens submissions for compliance with journal requirements and offers targeted guidance to authors. This initiative aims to streamline submissions, reduce rejection rates due to formatting errors, and improve the efficiency of editorial and peer review processes. |
Can we measure trust in scientific publications? Lse - Jonathon Coates explores a multidimensional framework for evaluating trustworthiness by combining static indicators, like historical performance and reputation, with dynamic indicators such as real-time user interactions and feedback. This integrated approach enhances decision-making in critical contexts, adapting to the complexities of today’s digital landscape. |
Altmetric adds Sentiment Analysis to social media tracking Digital Science has introduced an AI-powered Sentiment Analysis feature in Altmetric Explorer, offering researchers valuable insights into public reactions to their work on social media. This innovative tool enables teams to assess sentiment scores and visualize discussions, helping them refine communication strategies and better understand the impact of their research. |
Frontiers institutional partnerships update – summer 2025 Frontiers Science News - September 3, 2025 In the last quarter, Frontiers has made significant advancements in open access publishing by establishing flat fee agreements with various institutions, enhancing author support and promoting equitable access to knowledge. The organization is also improving its integrity checks through AI integration and collaborating on initiatives that highlight emerging technologies and address climate challenges. |
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