The Week That Was: IT and Media news week 48
Artificial intelligence and Machine Learning together with biotech continue to dominate for investments, according to financial data firm PitchBook. AI & ML represented the largest area of investment, accounting for $641.7 million across 16 deals. This was followed by biotechnology with $580.0 million across six deals, healthtech & wellness with $248.4 million across 13 deals, fintech with $237.3 million across 17 deals, and infosec with $153.0 million across six deals, the report shows.
Not only newspapers’ print circulation is falling. Also overall, digital traffic to US newspapers’ websites is declining. The average monthly number of unique visitors to the websites of the US top 50 newspapers declined 20% to under 9 million in the fourth quarter last year, down from over 11 million a year earlier, according to Comscore data. A declining share of US adults are following the news closely, according to Pew Research Center surveys.: “And audiences are shrinking for several older types of news media – such as local TV stations, most newspapers and public radio – even as they grow for newer platforms like podcasts, as well as for a few specific media brands.”
A provisional agreement on new EU rules to protect those targeted with strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP), such as journalists and rights defenders, has been reached by the European Parliament and the European Council. The SLAPP lawsuits are used trying to silence critics. The Directive creates a system of safeguards for cross-border SLAPP cases.
Women’s elite sports, like football, are attracting growing TV audiences. In 2024, women’s sports are expected to break the billion-dollar revenue barrier for the first time, reaching US$1.3 billion in total forecast revenues. This growth is fuelled by commercial revenue, followed by income from broadcast and matchday sources, consultancy Deloitte predicts. Football/soccer and basketball are the most popular while cricket, volleyball, and rugby are also showing promising momentum, the report says.
Workplace wellbeing initiatives like meditation apps, subsidised gym memberships, yoga and free lunches, are a waste of employers’ time and money, according to new research. Employees prefer to pursue happiness in their own way, with the employer responsible for providing sufficient work-life balance and decent pay, say researchers at London School of Economics.
Moonshot News is an independent European news website for all IT, Media and Advertising professionals, powered by women and with a focus on driving the narrative for diversity, inclusion and gender equality in the industry.
Our mission is to provide top and unbiased information for all professionals and to make sure that women get their fair share of voice in the news and in the spotlight!
We produce original content, news articles, a curated calendar of industry events and a database of women IT, Media and Advertising associations.
