Reach publisher cuts 220 editorial positions to cope with the impact of AI summaries

According to The Guardian, UK media publisher Reach, which includes The Mirror and The Express, announced the layoff of 220 editorial positions due to a significant shift in reader behavior towards AI-generated summaries, resulting in a substantial decline in website traffic.

David Higgerson, the company's Chief Content Officer, stated that this is the result of a "huge shift" in how audiences access content. Reach's data shows that traffic from Google has decreased by 46% year-on-year, and digital revenue has also slightly declined to £128.9 million.

Meanwhile, the company will close three online brands: KentLive, AberdeenLive, and GalwayBeo, while adding approximately 60 editorial positions, focusing on subscription services and long video content to seek a sustainable development path.