Media Briefing: Affiliate isn’t dead, say publishers – but it must evolve in the AI era

This week’s Media Briefing looks at the state of publishers’ commerce and affiliate businesses, given the recent news that Business Insider is shutting down most of its commerce division in light of search referral traffic declines.

• Publishers say affiliate and commerce businesses aren’t dead in the AI search era, but personal, voicey and category-specific recommendations are key.
• The Washington Post opens up opinion section, TechCrunch shuts down European division, and more.

Some are calling it the “great decoupling”: Google search is shifting, with clicks falling even as impressions hold steady. 

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