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Local news audiences are falling sharply — but this is less a sudden collapse than the latest phase of a long-standing pattern. From the dotcom boom to AI search, the industry has repeatedly reacted late to structural change. Now, as “no-click” consumption grows, the challenge is no longer traffic, but how journalism captures value in a platform-driven world.

Have you read the story of Starbucks' recent PR disaster in South Korea? Reportedly shaped by AI and approved without proper review, the poorly judged promotion triggered protests, boycotts and leadership fallout.

“AI slop” has become a familiar sight online: formulaic, soulless content churned out at scale with minimal oversight. While AI can be a powerful tool, overreliance on it risks damaging trust, diluting brand identity, and harming visibility. Quality content still demands human judgment, originality, and editorial care.

AI tools increasingly shape which news stories the public sees, often favouring outlets with licensing deals while overlooking others. As people turn to AI for business news, earned media in trusted publications becomes essential to ensure your organisation’s story is visible, accurate and not overshadowed by competitors.