Publishers Reemphasize Websites as Destinations Amid Declining Social Traffic
Semafor, a prominent news outlet, has made headlines with its latest innovation in the ever-evolving field of journalism. In response to the decline in social traffic and the growing importance of search, publishers are reemphasizing their websites as destinations. Semafor has developed a groundbreaking tool called Signals, which promises to revolutionize the news curation process.
Signals is essentially a collection of curated and summarized links to stories from around the web. It aims to provide readers with a comprehensive and diverse selection of articles in an efficient manner. To achieve this goal, Semafor has leveraged the power of artificial intelligence (AI) through its custom-built bot named MISO.
MISO, built on OpenAI’s platform and utilizing Microsoft’s Bing search engine, acts as an AI-powered search tool. It assists reporters in finding a wide range of stories in different languages, making the curation process exponentially more efficient. Reporters can now easily access content that may not be easily found, especially on non-English sites.
However, despite the help of MISO, the final decision-making process rests with humans. Reporters exercise their editorial judgment to handpick insights that are the most relevant and engaging. This ensures that the published work maintains its high standards and integrity.
MISO currently supports English, Spanish, and Chinese languages. However, Semafor has plans to expand its linguistic capabilities by introducing more languages in the future. The ultimate goal is to offer a comprehensive news curation tool that caters to readers worldwide.
In an exciting development, Semafor is open to utilizing the Microsoft tool to cover Microsoft and OpenAI-related news. This move would parallel newsrooms’ use of Google Search to enhance their coverage. Semafor’s partnership with Microsoft goes beyond this collaboration as they embark on joint research endeavors. The two entities aim to explore responsible AI use in journalism, ensuring that AI is harnessed ethically and responsibly.
As part of their overall strategy, Semafor is shifting its focus to the web, with the eagerly anticipated Signals occupying a central role on their redesigned website. This highlights the significance of this AI-powered tool in streamlining news curation and making Semafor’s website a go-to destination for readers seeking comprehensive and well-curated news.
Furthermore, Semafor’s Signals has also become a crucial part of Flipboard’s federation launch. This collaboration signifies the recognition and endorsement of Signals as an innovative and impactful solution in the news industry.
Overall, the introduction of Signals and its integration with MISO represents a significant step forward for publishers in adapting to changing digital landscapes. With the decline in social traffic and the importance of search, publishers are actively exploring new avenues to maintain their relevance in an ever-evolving media landscape.
“Zombie enthusiast. Subtly charming travel practitioner. Webaholic. Internet expert.”