Zetland expands, The Guardian’s visual shift, TikTok’s news surge, print’s revival, and NYT & WaPo on AI | Adrian, your AI curator

Zetland’s Successful Model Expands

Press Gazette, CEO of Zetland: ‘It’s bullshit to say young people won’t pay for news’

Bonnier News has bought a majority stake in Denmark’s Zetland to accelerate its audio-first, subscription business across the Nordics. Zetland has 70,000 members, expects ~€10m in financial year revenue, gets 80%+ from subscriptions (no ads), and is profitable in Denmark since 2019, with Finland nearing breakeven.

Their successful format is long-form, constructive storytelling published in text and audio (over 80% of consumption is audio) that resonates with 20s–30s, supported by a hard paywall that still allows member sharing to “teach” payment. The fresh capital backs expansion: Finland launched in January (Uusi Juttu) and Norway is next, showing the model can travel without sacrificing journalistic mission.

The Guardian Bets on Visual, Global Growth

Press Gazette, Katharine Viner interview: Guardian editor sets out multi-year transformation plan

Marking 10 years as editor-in-chief, Katharine Viner says The Guardian has secured Scott Trust funding for a multi-year transformation to become more visual, digital, and globally coordinated across the UK, US, and Australia.

Near-term “no-brainers” include expanding its small social team, with larger changes from April 2026 and new hiring in design, video, and visuals. The strategy aims to offset search declines and audience fragmentation, while leaning into work AI can’t do—accountability and on-the-ground reporting.

TikTok’s Rapid Rise as a News Source

Nieman Lab, More Americans than ever now get news on TikTok, Pew finds

A new Pew survey shows TikTok has become one of the fastest-growing platforms for news in the U.S.: 20% of Americans now say they regularly get news there, up from just 3% in 2020. The shift isn’t limited to Gen Z — nearly half of adults under 30 and one-quarter of those aged 30–49 now use the app for news.

Among TikTok users specifically, the share who rely on it for news rivals that of Facebook, X, and Truth Social. The findings highlight TikTok’s growing influence on how Americans consume news and come at a time when U.S. policymakers weigh creating an American-owned version of the app, raising fresh questions about its role in shaping access to information.

Print’s Comeback: Why Premium, Niche, and Collectible Win

Media Voices, Why the print revival is happening now

While the print mass market has shrunk, a $60B global print sector persists as publishers pivot to shorter runs, lower frequency, and tighter niches backed by strong digital.

The pandemic reintroduced readers to print’s lean-back value, while Gen Z–driven nostalgia, collectibility (think special covers), and direct-to-consumer ecommerce broadened demand. At the same time, digital headwinds—weak platform referrals, shaky ad yields, paywall leakage, and zero-click/AI search—make owned, tangible products attractive for revenue and trust.

The model that works now: premium print as a “more from less” flagship, paired with utilities like apps, newsletters, podcasts, and events to deepen direct relationships. Net: print isn’t replacing digital; it’s the high-value half of a hybrid strategy that rewards quality, community, and brand control.

How the NYT and Washington Post Are Testing AI in the Newsroom

Nieman Lab, A look inside the AI strategies at The New York Times and The Washington Post

At the most recent Digiday Publishing Summit, The New York Times and The Washington Post outlined their AI strategies.

The Times is prioritizing AI for reporting support, such as transcribing messy notes or speeding up investigative research, with a focus on building repeatable workflows and cautioning staff on responsible use. They also keep an open Slack channel to share AI use cases across the newsroom.

Meanwhile, the Post is applying AI to its business model, using machine learning to power a dynamic paywall that adapts to reader behavior, boosting customer lifetime value by 20%.

Both outlets stress cautious experimentation, balancing efficiency gains with editorial and legal safeguards.