Last week (30 June), journalists and technologists gathered to discuss the intersection of AI and journalism at the second event of Source Code, our spiritual successor to the Hacks Hackers events of old.

We heard from seven speakers from organisations like the Reuters Institute, the BBC, PA Media, the i Paper, and independent publishers, who addressed how AI is reshaping how news is made, distributed, trusted and monetised.

Really, the standout part of the event was an engaged audience that asked plenty of tough and smart questions. We picked the best ones, and if you want to come and ask a question (or be a speaker at the next event), do get in touch.

1. Digital News Report 2026:

Jim Egan, Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism

Context:The Reuters Institute Digital News Report is second to none as a study of global news consumption, but this year it featured a new lead author, Jim Egan, whose career spans top roles at FT Strategies, MDIF, BBC News and Ofcom. He presented a few of his most surprising findings, namely that news creators and influencers are supplementing — not replacing — traditional news brands. News avoidance and distrust are also rising, especially in the UK.

Key fact:In the UK, three quarters (77 per cent) of people worry about fake news and disinformation, and it is the lowest market in the study for trust in news on AI chatbots.

Audience Q&A:Q: Your data suggests there’s a reduction in loyalty to specific news outlets, and an increase in trust to a wider variety of sources on the third party platforms. There’s a deep sense of loyalty in a small group of loyal subscribers. Is this healthy?”A: It depends on the audience. People who mainly get news on social media tend to have the lowest interest in news and come across it incidentally. For publishers focused on subscriptions, these aren't the people you’re likely to convert anyway —it’s hard to monetise or build loyalty on third-party platforms. For policymakers, though, there's a bigger concern about the democratic impact of people drifting away from news. So, the significance of this shift really varies depending on your perspective.

2. CMA vs Google: How publishers should fight back

Chris Dicker, CANDR Media Group

Context:The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has ruled against Google’s dominance, but publishers still face a booming, unregulated AI scraping their websites, which erodes their commercial power.

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