The Media Copilot

Darla Cameron, Chief Product Officer at The Texas Tribune, discusses her innovative approach to integrating AI in journalism. She shares surprising successes and notable failures with AI tools in reporting, emphasizing the importance of trust and careful experimentation. From analyzing podcasts to enhancing audience interaction with chatbots, Darla's insights reveal how AI can reshape newsrooms while preserving journalistic integrity. She also addresses the cautious adoption of AI-generated images and highlights the need for adaptable hiring practices to navigate this evolving landscape.

Adam Singolda, Founder and CEO of Taboola, shares insights on the rapid evolution of digital media. He discusses how AI is reshaping audience discovery and publisher strategies. Singolda highlights the launch of USA Today’s Deeper Dive, its impact on news consumption, and the necessity for publishers to embrace chat-based interfaces. He emphasizes the importance of building trust with audiences and experimenting with AI to stay competitive. With unique perspectives from the forefront of advertising, he outlines the challenges and opportunities for media in the open web era.

Mark Howard, Chief Operating Officer at Time, discusses the media giant's groundbreaking approach to AI. He shares how Time embraced AI as a transformative tool for journalism rather than a fleeting trend. The conversation delves into partnerships with AI companies, the creation of the Time AI Agent using its extensive archive, and innovative projects like AI-generated audio briefings. Howard emphasizes the importance of accuracy and trust in news while preparing for an AI-driven future and expanding global access to quality content.

Michael Rubenstein, Co-CEO of Firsthand and veteran ad-tech executive, discusses the revolutionary concept of AI-driven brand agents. These agents engage consumers in real-time, transforming digital advertising from traditional static ads to dynamic interactions. Rubenstein highlights how brand agents prioritize opt-in privacy over cookie tracking and can adapt to various content formats. The conversation also explores the impressive engagement metrics they generate and their potential to redefine how brands communicate with audiences across multiple sectors.

John Levitt, COO and co-founder of Elvex, an AI platform for media, shares insights on the practical use of AI in newsrooms. He discusses how AI aids in reporting, fact-checking, and sales operations, emphasizing the importance of company culture for successful adoption. Levitt introduces concepts like 'context engineering' and agent-to-agent workflows, which promise personalized news experiences. He advocates for safe experimentation and highlights fast-adopting teams, focusing on how AI can transform rather than replace journalists.

Tony Stubblebine, CEO of Medium, discusses the evolving landscape of writing in an AI-influenced world. He argues that AI can enhance creativity rather than replace it, signaling a writing renaissance. The conversation touches on the shift from free-content economics to smaller writing communities, the Really Simple Licensing (RSL) standard for negotiating with AI, and the potential for AI tools to increase writers’ productivity. Stubblebine believes this era will deepen connections between writers and their audiences.

Trip Adler, co-founder of Scribd and CEO of Created by Humans, dives into the evolving landscape of AI and copyright. He discusses his mission to help authors get paid for their work used by AI, emphasizing the need for distinct "AI rights." Trip introduces his "Fourth Law of Robotics" aimed at protecting creators. He reflects on the significant Anthropic case and outlines how books could become a major revenue stream as authors license their content. Insightful, thought-provoking, and crucial for writers navigating the AI age!

In a compelling discussion, Marc McCollum, Chief Growth Officer at Raptive, shares insights on how AI is reshaping the publishing landscape. He argues that despite AI summaries taking clicks away from creators, there's an opportunity to rebuild the open web with a creator-first approach. Marc emphasizes the importance of owning audiences and website traffic, highlights recipe sites as resilient to AI disruptions, and reveals the untapped potential of Google Discover for growth. A must-listen for those invested in the future of media and creator independence!

Ryan Heafy, co-founder and COO of 6AM City, shares insights into revolutionizing local journalism by focusing on newsletters without the typical chaos. He discusses their impressive expansion from a handful of cities to over 410 markets, utilizing AI for responsible scaling while retaining human oversight. The conversation reveals their anti-scraping strategy for accurate reporting and the recent acquisition of AI startup Good Daily to enhance their tech infrastructure. Heafy emphasizes the future of personalized, modular content that adapts across multiple platforms.

Social feeds turned news into a rage machine. Cory Ondrejka says it’s time for a reset! Use AI to cut the noise, respect your time, and deliver journalism that actually matters.For years, the way we consume news has been warped by engagement algorithms that reward outrage and overwhelm. With attention hijacked and trust eroding, millions have simply tuned out. But what if AI could help fix what it broke?On this episode of The Media Copilot, host Pete Pachal talks with Cory Ondrejka, former Facebook and Google exec (and co-creator of Second Life), now at SmartNews, where he leads the development of NewsArc; an AI-powered app that curates the best single article on each major news event. No doomscrolling, no junk summaries, and no ragebait. Just clarity, curation, and a front page you can trust.Why this matters now:News avoidance is at record highs, and trust in media is cratering. NewsArc offers an alternative: a shared, AI-assisted “Daily Dozen” that highlights the most informative reads, respects journalistic integrity, and compensates publishers fairly. With LLMs used for claim-checking, not content theft, the app delivers a smarter, calmer news experience for readers who want to be informed, not inflamed.Key Topics:🔹 Why social feeds broke the news🔹 How NewsArc uses AI to elevate not replace journalism🔹 The problem with summaries and the power of “claim-level” analysis🔹 Why a shared front page matters in a polarized world🔹 How SmartNews compensates publishers in the LLM era🎙 Guest: Cory Ondrejka | EVP, SmartNews / Creator of NewsArc LinkedIn | smartnews.com 📩 Enjoyed this episode?Subscribe to The Media Copilot on Substack, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite app.On YouTube? Tap the Like button and Subscribe to the channel 🔔For more AI tools and resources built for media professionals, visit MediaCopilot.ai.🎧 Produced by Pete Pachal and Executive Producer Michele Musso 🎬 Edited by the Musso Media Team © 2025 Musso Media. All rights reserved.🎵 Music: “Favorite” by Alexander Nakarada, licensed under CC BY 4.0© AnyWho Media 2025