Thomson Reuters Leans on Legal AI Services to Battle SaaS-Pocalypse
Thomson Reuters posted a 10% revenue increase to $2.1 billion in Q1 2026, driven by a 10% rise in recurring revenue and a 15% jump in transaction fees. Adjusted EBITDA grew 9% to $881 million, keeping a 42.3% margin. The company highlighted its new “fiduciary AI” tools, including Westlaw Advantage and an upgraded CoCounsel, as a defense against the SaaS‑pocalypse sparked by Anthropic’s plug‑ins. Despite a 15% share‑price dip, Thomson Reuters kept its full‑year outlook unchanged.
The Limits of Digital-First When Your Audience Is on the Farm
Farmers Guardian, the UK’s oldest ag‑media brand, is juggling a steep print decline—circulation fell 9% YoY and print now accounts for about 75% of revenue—with a rapid digital push. 2025 revenue was £7.6 million (≈$9.7 M) and EBITDA £2.1 million (≈$2.7 M), a 6.4%...
People Inc. Sees Higher Digital Growth—Not Enough to Offset Legacy Headwinds
People Inc., the newly rebranded IAC, posted a 2% decline in Q1 revenue to $385.7 million, with print sales down 16% and digital revenue up 8%—non‑session digital revenue surged 24%. Advertising grew modestly 1% thanks to premium health, CPG, and tech...
How Dow Jones Launched a New Product in 10 Days—Without Building Anything New
Dow Jones launched the free "Crisis Monitor: Middle East" newsletter in just 10 days, repurposing proprietary risk and energy analysis from its B2B brands for a consumer audience. The weekly email draws on experts from Dragonfly, Risk Journal and other...
CloserStill Trades: What’s Next?
Providence Equity Partners and Searchlight Capital have agreed to acquire CloserStill Media for £1.3 billion (approximately $1.77 billion), marking the largest recent transaction in the UK events sector. The deal values the company at a forward 13.5‑15x EBITDA multiple, based on projected...
CloserStill Media Acquired by Current Investor Providence in Partnership With Searchlight for £1.3B
Private equity firm Providence Equity Partners is reacquiring UK B2B events operator CloserStill Media in partnership with Searchlight Capital for a reported £1.3 billion (≈ $1.65 billion). The deal gives both investors co‑control and positions them to fund the next growth phase, including...
How News Organizations Can Ethically Use AI, According to an Auditor Offering Ethical AI Certification
The Alliance for Audited Media (AAM) has introduced a free ethical AI certification for its member news publishers, aiming to assure advertisers and readers that AI is used responsibly. The certification requires documented policies, clear disclosures, human oversight, rights clearance,...
Building a Defensible Data Business: The Publisher’s Playbook
The article outlines how B2B publishers can monetize latent data assets by building defensible data businesses, citing 67 Bricks' work with the Economist Intelligence Unit, IWSR and others. It presents a taxonomy of five data‑business categories—risk management, regulatory compliance, operational decisions,...
Endeavor Sues Stagwell Subsidiary Over $350,000 in Alleged Unpaid Invoices
Endeavor Business Media LLC filed a New York Supreme Court complaint accusing Stagwell’s subsidiary Crispin, formerly MMI, of withholding roughly $356,000 for ad placements run between January and October 2023. The publisher says the agency received payments from its clients...
Future Guarantees Advertisers Its New Audience Intelligence Platform Will Boost CTR
Future plc has introduced Helix, a new audience intelligence platform that replaces Aperture and uses first‑party purchase data to match advertisers with high‑intent audiences. The company is guaranteeing advertisers a minimum click‑through‑rate uplift, citing test results showing up to a...
This Family-Owned Events Company Is Hungry for Acquisitions
Cambridge Innovation Institute (CII), a family‑owned events and media firm based in Needham, Massachusetts, generates $50‑$100 million in annual revenue and runs flagship conferences in life sciences, AI and energy. The company announced it is actively seeking acquisition targets with $0.5‑$1 million...
Reach US Reinvents Itself for Video, Social After Stunning Traffic Drop
Reach PLC’s U.S. operation saw a sudden 30% traffic loss after Google Search and Discover algorithm changes, prompting a rapid shift away from reliance on its own site. The company redirected resources to social and syndication platforms—Facebook, MSN, Yahoo News,...
Awful Events Drove This Entrepreneur to Create His Own B2B Media Company
James Dice founded Nexus Labs after finding smart‑building media saturated with vendor‑driven buzzwords and lacking technical depth. He turned his newsletter and podcast into a 9,000‑subscriber community, which birthed NexusCon—a 600‑person conference that charges $10,000 for exhibitor booths and $800‑$1,600...
B2B Trade Show Group Expands to Diversify From Tradition, Add Delegate, Sponsor Revenue
London‑based Montgomery Group, a family‑owned B2B events firm, announced the acquisition of Sustainable Aviation Futures (SAF) and Halldale Group to broaden its revenue mix beyond traditional trade shows. The deals, financed with cash and a $2.5 million loan at 5% interest,...
WSJ’s Newsroom Staff Ranks Themselves As Intermediary or Above in AI. How Did Leadership Win Them Over?
The Wall Street Journal’s newsroom has moved from early AI curiosity to an intermediate‑or‑higher proficiency, with staff self‑rating their AI skills above many peers. Director of newsroom data and AI Tess Jeffers reports that experimentation doubled in a year and...
The Guardian Launching First US Podcast Amid Reader Revenue Growth
British newspaper The Guardian is debuting its first U.S.-focused video podcast, "Stateside," on May 13, distributing episodes three times weekly via a dedicated YouTube channel. The launch comes as U.S. reader revenue surged 32% year‑over‑year to roughly $70 million, with ad...
Hearst Newspapers Expands AI-Powered Tax Tool in Texas After Seeing Strong Conversions
Hearst Newspapers is rolling out its AI‑driven property‑tax protest platform, TX Tax, to six additional Texas counties after a successful pilot with the Houston Chronicle. The pilot generated 52,000 visits, added roughly 500 new newspaper subscribers and emerged as the highest‑converting...
Your Media Company Has a Data Business Hidden Inside It
In October 2025 S&P Global agreed to acquire With Intelligence, a private‑markets data firm, for $1.8 billion—about 13.8 times its projected 2025 revenue of $130 million. The deal highlights the premium investors place on data‑as‑a‑product businesses compared with traditional digital media. Consulting...
When to Copy and When to Build: The Strategic Gamble Behind Taking Events Global
European event operators are accelerating U.S. expansion by cloning proven shows, acquiring local brands, or launching from scratch. Easyfairs demonstrated the geo‑cloning model with its Coiltech exhibition in Michigan, while Hyve Group leveraged acquisitions such as Shoptalk to seed new...
Bundling for Independent Journalist Subscriptions Moves One Step Closer
Trustfnd, a startup targeting independent journalists on Ghost and beehiiv, introduced its first paid bundle in March, offering a 30‑day trial pass to three progressive newsletters for $8.50. The bundle, featuring Kat Tenbarge, Marisa Kabas and Katelyn Burns, generated roughly...
WTWH Media Acquisition Targets Hosted-Buyer Executive Events
WTWH Media announced the acquisition of HealthLeaders, a niche B2B health‑care events firm, earlier this month. The deal adds HealthLeaders’ 23‑person team and its invite‑only Exchange series to WTWH’s 220‑employee portfolio, which already spans 35 live events across engineering, foodservice...
This News Company Built Its Database on Its Editorial Chops
ImpactAlpha, the impact‑investing news outlet, launched ImpactAlpha Edge, a subscription‑based data and insights platform that converts a decade of editorial reporting into an actionable intelligence database. Priced at $6,995 per year, the service aggregates roughly 2,100 limited‑partner and general‑partner profiles,...
Partnerships, JVs, Stakes: How One Mid-Sized Trade Show Company Makes It Work
ExpoDevCo, a mid-sized trade‑show operator, has built a four‑event portfolio through partial ownerships, joint ventures and strategic partnerships. Its flagship Independent Hotel Show Miami, co‑owned with London’s Montgomery Group, draws about 2,000 professionals and drives the bulk of profit. The...
How InStyle Went From Deathbed to a Powerhouse at People Inc.
People Inc. revived InStyle by launching "The Intern," a short‑form digital series that has generated over 37 million views and a single episode that attracted 7 million viewers, 99% of whom were new to the brand. The series, now in its eighth...
Inside the Invite-Only Space Tech Dealmaking Summit Launching This Year
Up/Link: The SpaceTech Business Summit, an invitation‑only event, launches Oct. 20‑21 in New York City. Targeting 200 senior executives, founders, investors and government leaders from the $1 trillion space economy, the summit charges $1,750 for standard tickets and $2,250 for VIP passes...
Crypto Media Sustainability? The Big Whale Hopes So
The Big Whale, a crypto‑focused media firm founded in 2022, has pivoted from a news‑centric model to a subscription‑based market‑intelligence service. After raising €1 million ($1.15 million) from angel investors, it now serves 150 clients—including 20 European banks—with license fees ranging from...
Politico Co-Founder Invests in European Defense Tech Media in Kyiv
Politico co‑founder Robert Allbritton has taken a minority stake in The Arsenal, the B2B defense‑tech news and consulting brand that operates under Tim Mak’s The Counteroffensive out of Kyiv. The Arsenal, launched in 2024, currently has about 3,300 free subscribers...
The Economist Refines B2B Offering to Jump Start Growth
The Economist Group launched Economist Enterprise, consolidating its B2B information services and media solutions into a single brand. For the six months to Sept. 30 2025, the B2B segment generated £53.8 million (about $67 million), a 2.2% decline year‑over‑year, while rivals such as the...
Axios Expands AI+ Summit Franchise Into Three-City Series
Axios is scaling its AI+ Summit from a single‑city event to a three‑city series—Washington, D.C., New York, and San Francisco—each with a distinct thematic focus. The 2026 DC edition adds a “Takeover Week” of sector‑specific evening receptions and live demos, including...
The Observer Opens Voluntary Redundancy Round
The Observer, now owned by loss‑making start‑up Tortoise Media, has opened a fresh voluntary redundancy round, extending buyout offers to staff hired after the 2025 acquisition. The package mirrors the terms of the previous round, but Tortoise has not disclosed...
OMG Stop Forwarding & Pay Already: Breaker Media’s Fed Up
Breaker Media founder Lachlan Cartwright announced a new user agreement that caps newsletter forwarding at three recipients per month and introduces discounted group subscriptions. The policy, rolled out on March 8, triggered an immediate uptick in paid subscriptions within the...
Dow Jones Targets $1B EBITDA, Intros $7,499 Super Consumer Bundle
Dow Jones aims for $1 billion EBITDA within five years, a 70% increase from 2025, according to CEO Almar Latour. To reach the target, the company is rolling out a $7,499 “super consumer” bundle and accelerating direct‑to‑consumer products, while expanding high‑margin...
Arena Group’s Ad Revenue Dependency Shrinks as 2025 Revenue Rises
The Arena Group posted full‑year 2025 revenue of $134.8 million, up from $125.9 million in 2024, driven by expanding non‑advertising streams. Advertising now accounts for 64% of revenue, down from 74% a year earlier, as the company pushes video, syndication and performance‑marketing...
Future, Ziff Davis to Struggle Most From Traffic Drops
Google’s AI‑driven Overview feature has slashed organic traffic for major tech publishers, with drops ranging from 30% to over 90% according to Growtika’s Ahrefs analysis. Ziff Davis and Future, which own several of the hardest‑hit sites, saw affiliate and advertising...
Emerald Reports Higher Revenue but Growth Lags Peers
Emerald Holding posted 2025 revenue of $463.4 million, up modestly from the prior year, but organic growth slowed to 1.1% and the company recorded a $30.7 million net loss. Acquisitions added 4.8% to revenue, while dividends consumed a third of free cash...
Informa Boss Relaxed on Middle East Uncertainty as Q2 Events Rescheduled to Q4
Informa posted 2025 results showing revenue of £4 billion, up 13.7% year‑on‑year, and adjusted operating profit of £1.1 billion. CEO Stephen A. Carter said the Iran‑related war will have limited impact, having moved six Q2 events to Q4 and securing the LEAP...
Informa TechTarget Promises Growth; EBITDA Higher Amid Goodwill Loss
Informa TechTarget, the 2024 merger of Informa and TechTarget, reported full‑year revenue of $486.8 million and an adjusted EBITDA of $87.3 million for 2025, surpassing its $85 million guidance. The company projected 2026 adjusted EBITDA between $95 million and $100 million, signaling a return to...
Daily Mail Publisher Bundles Brands Into ‘Stack’ B2B2C Offer
DMG Media has introduced Stack, a B2B2C bundle that gives partners access to DailyMail+, The i Paper and New Scientist at heavily discounted rates. The seat‑based pricing starts at £2.99 per month for under 10,000 users and drops to £1.99...
Operators Love CEO Products: How’s That Going?
Major media publishers such as The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, and The Economist are launching high‑priced C‑suite membership programs that combine exclusive events, networking, and concierge services. These offerings aim to address CEOs' isolation and rapid disruption from geopolitics and...
Emerald’s MJBizCon’s Evolution Amid Industry Overhaul
Emerald Holding acquired MJBiz, the premier cannabis B2B event, for $120 million in 2022, betting on a booming market. Since the purchase, exhibitor numbers have slumped from roughly 1,400 to 557 and attendance data has become opaque, reflecting a broader industry...
AI in Practice: SISO CEO Summit to Explore What’s Actually Happening
The SISO CEO Summit convenes March 9‑12 at Kiawah Island, South Carolina, under the theme “Innovation in Action,” shifting focus from AI hype to concrete implementation. Attendees—C‑level leaders from trade shows, media groups, and suppliers—will explore evolving KPIs, AI‑driven M&A...
Axel Springer Buys B2B Real Estate Media Co. Bisnow: Exclusive
Axel Springer announced the acquisition of Bisnow, a B2B commercial‑real‑estate media and events firm, and created a new Brew Media Group to oversee the deal. The unit will be led by Robert Dippell, CEO of Morning Brew, while Bisnow and...
How Skittle Media, an Unexpected Events Company, Is Using Video to Stand Out in Its Niche
Skittle Media, founded in 2024 by Richard and Clare Springham, has carved a profitable niche in pharma‑focused B2B media by concentrating exclusively on paid advertising. The company’s flagship brand, Solli, delivers daily news, thought leadership and on‑demand professional‑development lessons, attracting...
USA Today Co. Reports Drop in FY 2025 Revenue; Expects Flat to Down 2026
USA Today Co. posted a fourth‑quarter revenue of $585 million, a 5.8% year‑over‑year decline, and its full‑year 2025 revenue fell to $2.3 billion. Digital‑only subscriptions plunged 30% to 1.37 million, while average monthly unique visitors slipped 11% to 179 million. The company recorded a...
Digital Revenue for Events Companies: Must-Have or Distraction?
Questex now derives roughly 30% of its earnings from digital media extensions such as product catalogs, RFID lead tools and post‑show webinars. Industry leaders are split: some, like Events Venture Group’s Marco Giberti, argue digital revenue must climb to 10‑25%...
Ziff Davis Sees Big Hit to Affiliate Revenue in Q4
Ziff Davis reported Q4 2025 revenue of $406.7 million, a modest 1.5% decline, as affiliate commerce commissions fell $25 million, half of which occurred in the quarter. Tech and shopping segments saw revenues drop 18‑19% year‑over‑year, driving a 14% share plunge....
The Post-Scale Media Model Is Taking Shape in Gaming Journalism
Gaming journalism is pivoting from large, ad‑driven operations to lean, subscription‑focused models. Mothership reached 2,000 paying subscribers within a week of launch, while worker‑owned sites like Jank and Aftermath are gaining traction with modest fees. The contraction of legacy outlets...
NY Mag Deploys Scarcity in Dior-Sponsored Limited Run Book
New York Magazine quietly mailed a limited‑run, Dior‑sponsored book titled “The Parisian Man” to a select group of about 20,000 subscribers in Manhattan and Brooklyn. The digest‑size publication, featuring portraits of 40 French men, is not for sale and was...
Axios Could Save Millions with AI
Axios CTO Dan Cox reports that AI‑driven “agent teams” compressed a three‑week engineering project into just 37 minutes, prompting a rapid productivity surge. The company trimmed its product and tech staff from 63 to 43, saving millions in salaries while...
Audience Engagement Metrics Drive B2B Media Co. As It Makes M&A Moves
Connect Media has acquired Networld Media Group, adding nine news platforms and nine live events to its portfolio and expanding its reach to roughly 1.1 million users. The company’s focus on loyalty‑based audience metrics and snackable content drove a 24% engagement...