Google: We come in peace | Deep-dive on the demise of The Messenger
And could Microsoft and Amazon hold the key to a sustainable future for the news industry?
Welcome to this week’s Future of Media newsletter from Press Gazette on Thursday 8 February 2024, brought to you in collaboration with Livingdocs, the modern digital content creation and publishing system used by some of the biggest news publishing brands and digital media companies in the GSA market. Check out their white paper, Making Change Easy: How to Tackle the Key Challenges of Digital Transformation in News Publishing, available for download here.
It’s fair to say that recent comment pieces appearing in Press Gazette have gotten a little salty in their criticism of Google. See: Publishers: Ditch Google search addiction or die and Why news publishers should fight to stop rollout of Google Privacy Sandbox etc…
So it’s only right that the tech giant should have its right of reply.
It’s encouraging to hear that Google still wants to work constructively with publishers. I’d argue that its core search and advertising businesses still rely heavily on professionally-produced content. The proof will come in the execution of two key Google projects: Search Generative Experience (the AI-enhanced version of its search engine) and Privacy Sandbox (its alternative to third-party cookies).
We also have a fantastic longer read here from Charlotte Tobitt looking at the brief rise and then calamitous fall of The Messenger - the biggest news start-up (and closure) of the last year. It is the only piece you need to read about where it all went wrong with some excellent insight from insiders and US media analysts.
And finally, back on the subject of Google - I’ve spoken to Ricky Sutton about why he thinks Microsoft and Amazon hold the keys to a sustainable future of the news industry. He’s a former online editor of the News of the World turned tech entrepreneur turned news industry soothsayer and he has some forthright views about our friends in Mountain View.
Personally, I’m a bit torn. Day to day Google sends Press Gazette lots of traffic and its search engine is undoubtedly an excellent service. But zooming out I can’t help but be concerned about the fact all the ad revenue that once funded journalism is now mainly in the hands of Google and Facebook.
I’d be really interested to hear whether you think Google is now a friend or a foe for the news industry?
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New from Press Gazette
Comment: How Google is helping publishers to harness AI and maximise advertising revenue
Google's Benedicte Autret says tech giant is committed to helping news publishers.
Life after Google: Should news industry embrace Amazon and Microsoft?
Ricky Sutton on the prospects for working with tech giants in the age of generative AI.
From changing journalism to chasing clicks: Why The Messenger failed
In a media ecosystem where the riches are in the niches, the launch of general news site The Messenger in May last year was “doomed from the start”, experts have told Press Gazette.
Our latest podcast
Podcast 65: Beyond Google? Amazon and Microsoft are future says Ricky Sutton
Ricky Sutton joins Dominic Ponsford to talk Duopoly, AI and how future of news can be brighter.
Must-reads this week from Press Gazette you might have missed
News media job cuts 2024 tracked: Year starts with at least 980 redundancies
ITN sounds alarm over fake online content featuring Robert Peston, Mary Nightingale and others
Publisher ad tech platforms Ozone and Mantis advance amid fight to save journalism on open web
Politico reshuffles London team after year of headcount and revenue growth
