Google core update impact on newsbrands | National World debuts AI weather presenter
And your news diary for the week ahead
Good morning and welcome to your daily media news briefing on Monday 23 October.
At times over the past six months it’s felt like a lot of our industry conversations have just been AI this, and AI that. But with a few exceptions, most of the talk has focused on national, rather than regional, media.
Now, however, National World has taken a giant step forward in that direction using an AI-generated weather presenter in videos on at least one of its sites. Read our story to watch the presenter and see what you think, alongside a round-up of how else generative AI is being used by the UK’s local news providers so far.
Also today: October has seen one of the biggest Google core algorithm updates of the year. After the changes finished, Aisha Majid examined how it affected search visibility, a crucial indicator for many, at the UK’s biggest news websites.
And finally we have this week’s news diary from Foresight, featuring what we can expect from Israel and Gaza (as much as anything is predictable in that conflict), the birthday of detained journalist Evan Gershkovich (he’ll turn 32 in a Russian prison), and the Rugby World Cup final (though my interest in that has plummeted after Friday!).
Have a great Monday, everyone.
New from Press Gazette
Half of top newsbrands see fall in search visibility after latest Google core update
The five brands that saw the largest falls were all owned by Reach plc.
National World debuts AI-generated weather presenter on London site
London World’s unnamed weather presenter appears to be the first attempt by a UK publisher to implement a presenter who is both computer-generated and reads from an AI-written script.
News diary 23–29 October: What to expect in Israel-Hamas conflict, Evan Gershkovich birthday, Rugby World Cup final
A look ahead at the key events leading the news agenda this week, from the team at Foresight News.
News in brief
The Guardian's former environment editor, John Vidal, has died aged 74. He reported on the environment for the paper for almost 30 years until 2017 and called it the "greatest job on earth". (The Guardian)
Some newspapers in Scotland, including DC Thomson's The Courier and Evening Telegraph, have faced distribution disruption caused by Storm Babet. The Yorkshire Post, which is printed in Scotland, also faced challenges, with its editor James Mitchinson saying: “Whilst we have every faith in our amazing press and logistics teams, I would just ask our readers to bear with us should Storm Babet blow us off course a little.”
Media watchdog Newsguard says it has found that 74% of the most engaged-with Twitter/X posts about false or unsubstantiated claims around the Israel-Hamas war came from verified blue-tick users, most of whom will be paying for the privilege. Some 32% of the posts had community note corrections attached. (Newsguard)
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who is a US-Russian citizen based in Prague, has been detained in Russia on "spurious" criminal charges, making her the second US journalist held alongside Evan Gershkovich. (Committee to Protect Journalists)
G/O Media is reportedly looking for potential buyers for women's site Jezebel, according to Axios.
Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, two Iranian journalists arrested last year after covering the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody, have been handed prison sentences of more than two decades each. (Financial Times)
The publisher behind Substack-based Manchester Mill, Sheffield Tribune and Liverpool Post is launching a fourth outlet: The Birmingham Dispatch. The new publication is being led by a former Birmingham Mail local democracy reporter. (the i)
BBC News staff are to reportedly receive extra mental health support as the Israel-Hamas war drives an uptick in in-person and online abuse, as well as vicarious trauma associated with covering the war. Press Gazette wrote last year about the toll the Russian invasion of Ukraine has taken on journalists covering that conflict. (The Observer)
Podcast 58: How the Daily Mail become a hit on Tiktok
Mail Online head of social video Phil Harvey, who joined the publisher in March, told Press Gazette how and why their Tiktok strategy has transformed this year and why it is worth the investment.
He also revealed which British politician and their dog has become an unlikely Tiktok star for the Daily Mail.
Previously on Press Gazette
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