AI as the New Gateway to Information

Newsweek CEO Dev Pragad emphasizes how artificial intelligence is changing the way the public accesses news. AI platforms, through search engines and conversational interfaces, influence the discovery and trust of information, often preceding visits to the publisher's website.

This shift requires publishers to rethink content distribution and focus on formats that distinguish professional journalism from automated outputs.

Beyond Traffic: Diversification and Authority

Web traffic is no longer a solid foundation for sustaining journalism. Newsweek focuses on:

  • Revenue diversification.
  • Strengthening brand authority.
  • Content formats that retain value even when summarized.

AI-Proof Content

Some forms of journalism remain difficult to "commoditize" through AI:

  • In-depth investigations.
  • Expert interviews and analysis.
  • Proprietary rankings and research.
  • Editorially contextualized video journalism.

These formats, linked to recognizable institutions, carry identity and credibility.

Trust as Editorial Infrastructure

In an era where misinformation spreads easily, trust is a key competitive advantage for journalism. Editorial credibility, once lost, is difficult to rebuild.

Collaborate, Don't Resist

Pragad calls for structured collaboration between publishers and technology platforms, with clear attribution standards and fair compensation models when journalistic work is used to train AI systems.

Redesign, Don't Resist, the Future of Media

The publishers who adapt to the AI era will be those who prioritize editorial identity and adaptability over scale alone. The enduring value of journalism lies in its ability to explain facts and hold power accountable, regardless of the interface used to deliver the news.