April 17, 2025
In this week's edition: the forces shaping the media landscape, digital media and AI trend reports for 2025, why we should speak slower, why we fall for fake news, "views" are lies, and much more...
2025 Digital Media Trends: Social platforms are becoming a dominant force in media and entertainment - “While studios and streaming providers are busy competing with each other, tougher competition is coming from social video platforms that are hyperscale and hyper-capitalized.” (Deloitte)
The 2025 AI Index Report - “AI business usage is… accelerating: 78% of organizations reported using AI in 2024, up from 55% the year before. Meanwhile, a growing body of research confirms that AI boosts productivity and, in most cases, helps narrow skill gaps across the workforce.” (Stanford HAI)
The forces shaping the media landscape for the next generation - “Introducing the 5is - internet-only, intelligent, intermediated, interactive, immersive. Our 5i's are the way we view how media is evolving.” (BBC)
How Speaking Slower Influences Consumer Behavior - “In social interactions, speaking a little more slowly makes people seem more empathetic, which leads others to like them more and be more satisfied with the interaction.” (Wharton)
PR campaign may have fuelled food study backlash, leaked document shows - “Eat-Lancet report recommended shift to more plant-based, climate-friendly diet but was extensively attacked online.” (Guardian)
Decoding Misinformation: Why we fall for fake news - “Understanding the factors that influence a person's ability to distinguish between real and fake news is crucial to tackling the misinformation crisis.” (Ipsos)
Will A.I. Save the News? “Artificial intelligence could hollow out the media business—but it also has the power to enhance journalism.” (New Yorker)
People Magazine's New Scrollable, TikTok-like App Is Powered by a Team of 70 - “The release comes as more publishers are experimenting with owned-and-operated products to counter the volatility of social and search traffic.” (Adweek)
Views’ are lies - “Consider this a reminder or a PSA: a “view” on the internet means even less than you think.” (The Verge)
Best times to post on social media in 2025 - “The overall best times to post on social media are generally Mondays through Thursdays between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., varying slightly by platform.” I think I’ve shared a few of these, and each is different. (Sprout Social)
Bluesky Can’t Take a Joke - “Bluesky has been a safe haven for users fleeing X and Threads. But while there’s less hate, there’s also fewer lolz.” (Wired)
Google quality raters now assess whether content is AI-generated - "Automated or AI-generated content may now earn a Lowest rating. Here’s what else changed in the latest quality rater guidelines update.” (SearchEngineLand)
What news audiences can teach journalists about artificial intelligence -
“Generative AI is changing journalism. Audiences have clear expectations for how it’s used.” (Poynter)
And finally, the most popular article from last week was Thought Leadership Messaging Framework by Jamie Griffiths.