Description

In this week’s High Value Publishing session, Eric Shanfelt and Jez Walters break down the biggest digital media issues publishers should pay attention to right now, and what to do about them.

They cover a major Google Discover update, why transparency matters more than ever, and how AI is reshaping on-site engagement and search behavior.

Topics covered:

• What the Feb 2026 Google Discover update targets
• Why “show your sources” is becoming a ranking and trust advantage
• How spammy content is impacting Discover quality
• Why paid subscribers should get an ad-free experience
• What Taboola’s “Deeper Dive” means for conversational, on-site search
• Why publishers need a real video strategy (not just articles on social)

Links and resources:

• Next Gen News: https://www.next-gen-news.com/
• Google Discover documentation: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/google-discover
• Google Search Console: https://search.google.com/search-console
• Collaboration for publishers (James Breiner): https://jamesbreiner.substack.com/p/youre-not-alone-find-a-partner-and
• Digiday on AI rewriting publisher sites: https://digiday.com/media/bold-call-ai-will-rewrite-publishers-websites-in-2026/
• Marfeel community thread on Discover shift: https://community.marfeel.com/t/google-discover-s-shift-to-ai-youtube-and-x-what-publishers-are-losing/131424
• Simon Owens on subscriber experience: https://simonowens.substack.com/i/187043016/why-does-business-insider-hate-its-subscribers-so-much
• Taboola Deeper Dive: https://discover.taboola.com/deeperdive-ai/
• Direqt: https://www.direqt.ai/
• A Media Operator on the data + subscription + events model: https://www.amediaoperator.com/analysis/data-subscription-events-the-media-model-driving-ma/

Learn more at https://nearviewmedia.com/