In a conversation highlighting the challenges and adaptations of media in a dynamic landscape, I spoke with Paul Bascobert, the president of Reuters. This discussion is part of a special Thursday series that focuses on how executives from major corporations navigate an ever-evolving environment.
Reuters serves as an excellent starting point for this series due to its long-standing history. Established in 1851, the organization emerged at a time when the telegraph was revolutionizing media, presenting the innovative idea of a “wire service.”
In today’s landscape, technology has significantly evolved, radically altering the media distribution model. The current environment, characterized by smartphones and artificial intelligence, contrasts sharply with the era preceding the advent of radio and even the early days of the internet.
During our dialogue, we delved into the pressing issue of how a historic entity like Reuters continues to resonate with audiences amidst the predominance of social media platforms. With traditional newspaper readership declining, it raises important questions about the engagement strategies for upcoming generations of news consumers. Reuters is proactively working to ensure its content reaches these new demographics.
Listeners of Decoder are likely aware of my keen interest in how generative AI will reshape the news industry. We explored how major media outlets are approaching licensing their content to AI firms, navigating legal challenges with these entities, and even collaborating on innovative products.
Paul offered insightful perspectives on this topic, given that Reuters has always engaged in licensed content agreements, which are fundamental to what wire services do. He articulated a vision connecting these established practices to the potential opportunities presented by AI and its training data. Our exchange was invigorating, and listeners can look forward to the engaging discourse.
For further insights from our conversation, please refer to the links below:
- The Trust Principles | Reuters
- Brendan Carr’s FCC is an anti-consumer, rights-trampling harassment machine | Verge
- AP wins reinstatement to White House events | AP
- NYT publisher AG Sulzberger on Trump, OpenAI, and the economy | Channels
- Dow Jones CEO Almar Latour on AI, press freedom, and the future of news | Decoder
- Platforms need the news — but they’re killing it | Decoder
- Why The Atlantic signed a deal with OpenAI | Decoder
- Platformer’s Casey Newton on surviving the great media collapse | Decoder
If you have any questions or comments about this episode, feel free to reach out to us at decoder@technologynewso.com. We value your feedback!
Decoder with Nilay Patel
A podcast from Technology News focusing on significant ideas and contemporary issues.
