“Many online news outlets were already facing bleak trends such as declining public trust and fierce competition. With search traffic dwindling, they are putting an even greater emphasis on connecting directly with readers through businesses such as live conferences.”
– Isabella Simonetti and Katherine Blunt
Search-driven news sites are feeling the oressure of driwling traffic as AI-generated summaries capture more and miore og Google’s search queries. Some news publishers are responding by reducing staff and others by reimagining their business models.
The Wall Street Journal quotes one executive, Nicholas Thompson, The Atlantic’s CEO, saying ““Google is shifting from being a search engine to an answer engine.”
News Sites Are Getting Crushed by Google’s New AI Tools | THE WALL STREET JOURNAL | June 10, 2025 | by Isabella Simonetti and Katherine Blunt