Cincinnati Business Courier reporter Steve Watkins has written a farewell to readers after 38 years in journalism, including more than three decades reporting on business, Talking Biz News reports. more

Kia Kokalitcheva has left PitchBook, where she served as senior editor of venture capital after joining in January 2025, Talking Biz News reports. more

As AI-generated cartoons and columns make their way onto opinion pages, newsrooms face increasingly urgent questions about standards, transparency and trust. In his latest “News Media Today” op-ed column, E&P’s Rob Tornoe examines some recent controversies over AI-generated content and argues that publishers need clear rules for how — and where — the technology is used. more

A federal judge has allowed core antitrust claims by Gannett, Daily Mail and a class of digital publishers to proceed against Google over its advertising technology practices. The Sept. 30 ruling preserves their pursuit of damages for alleged lost advertising revenue and excessive fees. Although Google prevailed on some claims, the decision clears a significant hurdle for publishers seeking compensation. more

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the Community NEWS Act into law Sept. 30, creating journalism employment tax credits projected to deliver more than $200 million to local newsrooms over five years. E&P Editor-in-Chief Gretchen A. Peck reports on the industry’s response, the law’s potential as a national model and Newsom’s call for changes to prevent it from subsidizing hedge funds. more

Axios has hired Thomas Novelly to cover space and is expanding its Future of Defense newsletter to twice a week, Talking Biz News reports. more

Reuters has promoted Rossalyn Warren from audience editor to deputy digital director, Talking Biz News reports. more

The Washington Post has hired Nancy Cook as a senior White House and national political reporter, with an October 12 start date, Talking Biz News reports. more

California’s new Community NEWS Act could become a national model for strengthening local journalism, argues Steven Waldman of Rebuild Local News. Beyond helping newsrooms retain and hire journalists, he says the law could encourage investment while protecting editorial independence. Waldman, whose organization served as the legislation’s lead external sponsor, explains why he believes its design matters for publishers of all sizes. more

A federal judge has granted Paramount’s settlement agreement with 12 states that sued over the company’s takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, allowing the companies to soon close their $81 billion mega merger. more

Google is testing payments to publishers whose content contributes to its AI search products, The Verge reports, citing The Information. About 100 publishers reportedly participate. more

Alan Fisco, president and chief executive officer of The Seattle Times, was honored with the Frank W. Mayborn Leadership Award on Wednesday during the Senior Leadership Conference of America’s Newspapers. more

The AP Fund for Journalism (APFJ) announced it is providing 200 local and state newsrooms across the United States with election coverage and resources from The Associated Press through the end of 2026, with support from Google, Knight Foundation, Microsoft, Lilly Endowment, the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation and several individual philanthropists. more

Workers at Mirror Indy, FPI News and parent organization Free Press Indiana have announced plans to unionize as the Indiana Local News Guild. Organizers say a supermajority of colleagues signed union authorization cards and have asked leadership for voluntary recognition. As the nonprofit expands its statewide coverage, employees are seeking to preserve benefits, establish clear workload expectations and ensure workplace policies are applied equitably. The workers would join The Indianapolis Newspaper Guild, which also represents Indianapolis Star employees. more

Roger Lynch is stepping down as Condé Nast’s chief executive after seven and a half years to lead Mattel, he told employees in a published memo. Lead independent director Mike Perlis will serve as interim CEO while the board searches for a permanent successor. more

Louisiana publisher John Georges is pursuing an AI licensing agreement with Meta, viewing such contracts as a potential source of financial support for journalism, The Lens and Gulf States Newsroom report. The story examines his company’s sponsorship and advertising relationship with the technology business. more

Publishers are putting more emphasis on repeat visits, app use and newsletter signups as they adjust to declining search referrals, Nieman Lab reports from the Future of Media Technology Conference. Speakers described building direct audience relationships and developing journalists as recognizable on-camera voices. more

A new KCUR report examines the coverage gaps left after seven Kansas City Star journalists lost their jobs in September. The affected work included police reporting and coverage of communities across the metropolitan area, according to the report and the journalists’ union. more

Promotional materials are now available for National Newspaper Week, Oct. 4–10, under the theme “Rooted in Community, Committed to Truth.” The 86th annual celebration recognizes newspapers and their employees across the United States and Canada for informing communities, holding government accountable and preserving the public record. Publishers can download materials for print, digital and social media at NationalNewspaperWeek.com. more