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Technology

Unethical AI Training Harms Creators and Society, Argues AI Pioneer

Ed Newton-Rex, founder of Fairly Trained, argued at a recent forum in Washington, D.C., that AI companies’ unlawful use of creative works to train AI models has had deleterious effects on artists’ incomes, livelihoods, and on the open internet.

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/conferences/article/97528-unethical-ai-training-harms-creators-and-society-argues-ai-pioneer.html

UK Publishers and Cambridge Call out Meta and Piracy in Generative AI Training

https://publishingperspectives.com/2025/03/uk-publishers-and-cambridge-call-out-meta-and-piracy-in-generative-ai-training/

Google’s AI Search Shift Disrupts Publishers

Many publishers have reported a 70% or more decline in traffic, leading to lost revenue and some even shuttering operations.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-07/google-ai-search-shift-leaves-website-makers-feeling-betrayed

Google’s AI Mode is changing search

“RIP traffic.” That’s what The Rebooting’s Brian Morrisey warned of in 2023, citing declines in social and search traffic alongside fears about AI search’s impact on publishers. Unfortunately, the future is now for many web publishers since Google has rolled out a new AI Mode with the potential to rock the status quo of search traffic worldwide.

https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/googles-ai-mode-is-changing-search,255134

The origins of Patch’s big AI newsletter experiment

How Patch transitioned from human-curated local newsletters, which were shut down in November 2023, to AI-generated newsletters, which have 400K+ subscribers

https://www.niemanlab.org/2025/04/the-origins-of-patchs-big-ai-newsletter-experiment/

Google’s AI Mode now lets users ask complex questions about images

https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/07/googles-ai-mode-now-lets-users-ask-complex-questions-about-images/

Netflix tests out new AI search engine for movies and TV shows powered by OpenAI

Netflix is testing an OpenAI-powered search engine that lets users find shows via inquiries that go beyond genres or actors’ names, like the subscriber’s mood

https://mashable.com/article/netflix-tests-ai-search-engine-powered-by-openai

Being more intentional in the age of AI

HT @neilperkin via @faris

https://onlydeadfish.co.uk/2025/04/08/being-more-intentional-in-the-age-of-ai/

Amazon can now buy products from other websites for you

Amazon experimenting w showing product & inventory from other companies’ websites within search results if it doesn’t stock the product itself, using AI agent to help the user buy from that website.

https://www.theverge.com/news/642947/amazon-ai-buy-products-other-websites

Apple won a patent for all-glass device embodiments for Apple Watch, Mac & an iPhone that allows Imagery on both Front and Backsides

https://www.patentlyapple.com/2025/04/apple-won-a-patent-for-all-glass-device-embodiments-for-apple-watch-mac-an-iphone-that-allows-imagery-on-both-front-and-ba.html

Publishing & Media

Spotify Invests €1 Million To Help Authors and Publishers Produce More Audiobooks

Spotify is investing €1 million to increase the production of audiobooks in non-English languages, starting with French and Dutch.

https://newsroom.spotify.com/2025-04-11/spotify-invests-e1-million-to-help-authors-and-publishers-produce-more-audiobooks/

Most Americans want to read more books. We just don’t.

https://www.npr.org/2025/04/07/nx-s1-5333652/books-reading-poll

Print is still top-three revenue driver for US publishers says Alliance for Audited Media chief

The “unsexy truth” is that for many publishers print remains a key revenue driver. “It’s generally in the top three.”

https://pressgazette.co.uk/north-america/alliance-for-audited-media-aam-digital-circulation-change/

Quartz sells again

G/O Media has sold business news brand Quartz and commerce site The Inventory to Canadian software firm Redbrick.

https://www.axios.com/2025/04/04/quartz-sold-redbrick-go-media

ALA State of America’s Libraries 2025 Report

According to ALA’s annual State of America’s Libraries report, nearly 72% of censorship attempts last year were initiated by organized groups. That number is up from 2023, when organized campaigns were tied to 35% of censorship attempts. It’s not a “concerned parent” movement!

https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/ala-releases-state-of-americas-libraries-2025-report/

Resources & Opportunities

Support my fundraiser for NAMI and their walkathon w #teamPRH

Did you know that 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience a mental illness. The Other 4™ are their family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors. Thank you for considering supporting my walk with #teamPRH #NAMIWalks

https://www.namiwalks.org/participant/Kathy-Sandler

Pivot into Possibility: Career Breakthroughs for Uncertain Times

LAST CHANCE TO SIGN UP FOR THIS IN-PERSON EVENT!

Join Michelle Garside, Author, Speaker, and Co-Founder of Soul Camp Creative, for a transformational evening to celebrate the evolution of your professional identity, honoring where you stand today and the growth that awaits you. Michelle has worked with thousands of authors, consultants, creatives, founders, and entrepreneurs to redefine their brands and reposition themselves in powerful ways. Typically, her breakthrough brand sessions are valued at $3,500, but attendees will receive an exclusive laser coaching session as part of their attendance fee.

Thursday, 4/17 6-8pm Grae Wellness, 89 5th Ave. (btwn 16th & 17th St.), NYC

$30 WMG members; $39 for non-members

https://www.womensmediagroup.org/event-6090758

The New Fourth Estate: How Newsletters Are Reshaping Independent Media

This discussion explores how digital newsletters on platforms like Substack and others have transformed the media landscape, creating new opportunities for independent journalists and content creators. We’ll discuss the economic viability of newsletter-based journalism, the challenges of building sustainable audiences, and what this trend means for the future of news, commentary, and specialized content. Join us for insights on how these nimble, focused publications are redefining what it means to be a journalist in the digital age.

Panelists:

Marisa Kabas (Writer, Reporter, and Author of The Handbasket newsletter and website)
Jo Piazza (Bestselling author, podcast creator, award-winning journalist, and Author of Over the Influence on Substack)
Leigh Stein (Author, Writer, and creator of Attention Economy on Substack)
Kat Tenbarge (Award-winning Journalist and Writer of the Spitfire News newsletter)
Moderator: Kathleen Schmidt (Founder of Kathleen Schmidt Public Relations and Author of Publishing Confidential on Substack)

Tuesday, 4/22 12-1:15pm ET via Zoom

FREE for WMG members; $15 for non-members

https://www.womensmediagroup.org/event-6121737

Podcast Startup and Growth – Creating, Marketing & Scaling Your Show

Whether you want to start your own podcast or are already an experienced podcaster, this session will help you get started, craft compelling content, plan strategic marketing, and grow your audience. What You’ll Learn:

Craft Engaging Content – Structure episodes that captivate listeners and build a loyal audience.
Enhance Audio Quality – Use AI-powered tools to improve sound clarity and production value.
Design Standout Cover Art – Create professional visuals that make your podcast stand out.
Boost Your Podcast’s Reach – Leverage social media, SEO, and strategic partnerships.
Monetize & Scale – Explore revenue streams and sustainable growth strategies.

Join us for expert guidance and a live Q&A to get your podcast noticed and thriving! Plus, apply what you learn at this event right away with a 30-day free trial to Adobe Podcast.

4/30 via Zoom 12-1pm ET. FREE for WMG members; $15 for non-members

https://www.womensmediagroup.org/event-6129568

Taste, Talk, and Connect: A Special Night at Tsion Cafe in Harlem

Join us for a memorable evening of networking, culture, and cuisine at Tsion Cafe, the popular Harlem restaurant of chef and author Beejhy Barhany. In celebration of her new cookbook, Gursha: Timeless Recipes for Modern Kitchens, from Ethiopia, Israel, Harlem, and Beyond, Beejhy invites WMG members and friends to experience the flavors and traditions of Ethiopian and Israeli cuisine. She will be joined by literary agent Sally Ekus, Knopf senior editor Tom Pold, and writer and cookbook collaborator Elisa Ung for a discussion about bringing this unique cookbook to life.

Guests will enjoy:

A plant-based buffet dinner featuring dishes inspired by Gursha
A signature cocktail crafted from a recipe in the book
A panel discussion on the making of Gursha with Beejhy Barhany, Sally Ekus, Tom Pold, and moderator Elisa Ung
A traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony led by Beejhy Barhany
Dessert, book sales, and a signing with the author

This is a great opportunity to connect with fellow food lovers, gain insight into cookbook publishing, and learn about the culture and traditions of the Ethiopian Jewish community. All are welcome!

5/15 6-8pm ET at Tsion Cafe in Harlem. $45 for WMG members; $55 for non-members

https://www.womensmediagroup.org/event-6140428

What the Trump Administration Could Mean for Freelancers

May 19, 2025, 12:00 pm-1:00 pm ET. Free for ASJA members, $20 for nonmembers.

https://www.asja.org/resources/webinars/what-the-trump-administration-could-mean-for-freelancers/

The Data Institute

This free, intensive workshop teaches journalists how to use data, design and code. This year’s Data Institute will be in person from July 7-18 in Atlanta, GA. Deadline 4/25.

https://cjddatainstitute.org

Pulitzer Reporting Grants and Fellowships

The Pulitzer Center provides support to freelance and staff journalists to pursue underreported enterprise stories in two ways:

Reporting grants: Funding for in-depth journalism projects
Fellowship programs: Funding; training; data and research support; and a cohort experience with journalists pursuing similar in-depth or investigative stories

These opportunities also grant access to a community of thousands of journalists, editors, and engagement specialists that make up the Pulitzer Center’s broader network.

https://pulitzercenter.org/opportunities/reporting-grants-fellowships

Applications Open for Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund Programming Grants

The Freedom to Read Foundation distributes grants for organizations to support activities that raise awareness of intellectual freedom and censorship issues during the annual Banned Books Weeks celebration (October 5-11, 2025). Staff at all types of libraries, schools, universities, and non-profit community organizations are encouraged to apply. Grants are awarded for $1,000. Deadline 4/30.

https://www.ftrf.org/page/Krug_BBW

The NYWIFT Nancy Mysel Preservation Scholarship

New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) has a new scholarship furthering the organization’s support of women’s media legacy. The Nancy Mysel Scholarship Fund will provide one student $5,000 annually for The NYWIFT Nancy Mysel Preservation Scholarship. Deadline 4/25.