- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
Gannett, the parent company of USA Today and dozens of local newspapers, says Google’s artificial intelligence tools have become a major drag on its business — not only online, but also in print. The media giant claims that Google’s growing use of AI in search and advertising has caused a sharp decline in digital traffic and ad revenue, which in turn is hurting its already struggling print operations.
As Google’s AI increasingly answers users’ questions directly in search results, fewer people are clicking through to Gannett’s news sites. This drop in online readership reduces the flow of audience attention that supports both digital and print advertising sales. Advertisers, seeing less engagement across Gannett’s digital properties, are less likely to invest in print ads or bundled media packages — long a key source of revenue for local newspapers.
Additionally, Google’s AI-powered ad systems allow businesses to target customers more efficiently through Google’s own platforms, diverting spending away from local print advertising. For Gannett, which depends on advertising to sustain its print operations, this shift has further weakened its newspapers’ financial foundation.
The rise of AI-generated content has compounded the challenge, competing for readers’ attention and diminishing the perceived value of traditional journalism. With less traffic, fewer ads, and declining circulation, Gannett’s print business faces mounting pressure.
In short, as Google’s AI transforms how people find information and how companies advertise, it’s not only reshaping the digital landscape — it’s also accelerating the decline of the print newspaper industry, leaving legacy publishers like Gannett fighting to adapt in an AI-dominated era.
Click here for more information!
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.