How Google AI Overviews is hurting clickthrough from search for Mail Online
Plus: Insight into Immediate Media's major shift towards video production and surveys reveal impact of generative AI on journalism jobs and income
Good morning and welcome to your daily Press Gazette news briefing on Tuesday, 13 May, brought to you in association with INMA - a leading provider of global best practice for news media companies. Register now for INMA's World Congress of News Media in New York May 19-23.
Journalists are on the frontline of the AI revolution in many ways, but so far the technology does not appear to be replacing us.
This was the finding of two major surveys quoted in Press Gazette today, which also found that adoption of generative AI technology is widespread in news media.
Journalists are using AI to brainstorm story ideas, angles and interview questions, for drafting article outlines, summaries and breaking news reports, and for summarising research materials and interview transcripts.
It's helpful, the surveys conclude, but not yet game-changing when it comes to the production of news content.
The same cannot be said for the consumption of media.
Read our report of Mail head of SEO Carly Steven's presentation to the recent World News Media Congress which flatly contradicts public assurances given by Google about the impact of AI Overviews.
All this raises the question of why Google is working so hard to steal publisher website traffic if (as Google claims) news is worth nothing to it financially? Is it out of sheer badness?
Google says it does not deploy AI Overviews on news but this is rubbish.
If you ask Google how much money it made from UK advertising in 2024 the answer is only something a journalist could find out (so this is a news search). The answer, £20bn, is provided in the AI Overview taken by reading a Press Gazette exclusive news report and going straight to the answer (removing the need for a reader to click through).
We also have more news on the widespread consumer publisher race to video which we have been covering so much of recently. Radio Times publisher Immediate Media has revealed how it has driven up video views and revenue over the last few years to counteract declining circulation and conventional print/digital advertising revenue.
Overall, Immediate grew its revenue by 3.1% to £182m in 2023 proving that consumer magazine publishing does not have to be a story of decline.
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On Press Gazette
Google AI Overviews leads to dramatic reduction in click-throughs for Mail Online
Carly Steven said that when a Google AI Overviews appears for a search query, the Mail’s average clickthrough rate was 56.1% lower on desktop and 48.2% lower on mobile. She described the drop as “pretty shocking”.
Study finds journalists are on AI frontline and yet to be replaced by tech
Two major surveys asked whether journalists have been impacted financially by AI rollout.
Immediate reports video revenue up 60% since 2022 strategy change
Paul Doyle sets out reasons behind Good Food and Radio Times publisher's video growth.
News in brief
The NUJ chapel at PA Media has said it will consult members over next steps in response to proposals to cut 8% of UK editorial staff - including potential industrial action. "We have seen little evidence to back up the management claims these cuts are needed to respond to what PA customers most value, and to make necessary cost savings." (Press Gazette)
The House of Lords has backed an amendment to the Data Bill requiring AI companies to reveal the copyrighted material used in their models in a blow to the Government's planned approach. (The Guardian)
Ofcom is proposing to change the Broadcasting Code so that politicians cannot act as a newsreader, news interviewer or news reporter in any type of programme - currently they can in current affairs but not news - without "exceptional justification". (Ofcom)
The US Copyright Office has said in a report there are limitations on how much AI companies can rely on "fair use" as a defence. Trump has since fired the director of the Copyright Office. (Techcrunch)
Fox streaming service which will include content from Fox News, Fox Business and Fox Sports will be called Fox One and launch ahead of the American football season starting in the autumn. It will be promoted in ways designed not to cannibalise the linear TV audience. (Deadline)
Financial Times names Karl Oskar Teien as chief product officer joining from Schibsted where he was director of product. (FT)
Pope Leo XIV has called for the release of imprisoned journalists around the world and for the "precious gift" of free speech to be protected in an address to the media. (BBC News)
Also on Press Gazette
New York Times editor Joe Kahn defends publishing Trump story every half hour
How Google forced publishers to accept AI scraping as price of appearing in search
Premium news subscriptions offset falling tabloid web audience for News Corp
Police told to do better to fill information void like one that fuelled Southport riots
‘Search is going off a cliff’: CNN, BBC and Economist chiefs on future of news
OpenAI content boss on Google ‘ten blue links’ and arrival of ChatGPT search
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