Our Scans · (ZY.4.18) Media Studies · Weekly Summary

• [New] Critical thinking, digital literacy, creativity, collaboration, communication, and emotional intelligence will be the key future skills. FairGaze skills Pvt Ltd
• [New] Hybrid infrastructure models and mixed media storage architectures will gain ground as organizations confront rising flash prices, mounting AI workloads and the risks of over-centralised cloud computing. IT Brief Australia
• [New] Until now, Western traditional media companies have shied away from AI presenters, partly to allay fears about job cuts, though there has been less reticence in Asia and Africa. Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
• [New] CNN Creators is a new brand that will launch fully in 2026, an attempt to capture the informality and tone that works with younger audiences - on television as well as social media. Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
• [New] Trusted, high-quality, accurate content will be increasingly valued in a world of AI slop, deep-fakes, and toxic social media debates. Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
• [New] In 2026, IC teams will need to demonstrate how communication has a quantifiable impact on company performance, employee engagement, and retention. PoliteMail for Outlook Internal Communications Email Br
• [New] Research examining 290 United States digital media experts revealed 61% expressing excitement about AI-generated content opportunities, yet 53% identified unsuitable adjacencies as their top 2026 challenge. PPC Land
• [New] The popularity of creator-owned, direct-to-consumer platforms will continue to grow in 2026 as both creators and fans find new channels to authentically engage with their digital communities outside of the walled gardens of social media. TV Tech
• [New] We will see a massive expansion of voice AI across every corner of communication in 2026 - both B2B and B2C. GTMnow
• [New] Social media in 2026 will reward brands that stop chasing control, trends and quick wins. Marketing-Interactive
• [New] Other publishers are experimenting with building in-house, media buying AI agents to help automate the process of analyzing, planning and curating RFPs - another area that will evolve in 2026. Digiday
• [New] Expect to see publishers integrate AI more deeply into their media buying, yield management and ad sales functions in 2026, using it to price inventory, package audiences more effectively and extract more value from fewer visits. Digiday
• [New] In 2026, identity verification will become a mandatory layer of communication security. Blackberry
• [New] Shift to Metadata Shielding: Effective defence in 2026 will require a decisive break from current practices, moving toward solutions that limit what outside systems can observe about an organization's communication footprint. Blackberry
• [New] Successful brands in 2026 will focus on quality over quantity, treating earned media as infrastructure and building cohesive narratives. CBC
• [New] Despite breathless headlines warning of a robot takeover in the workforce, a new research briefing from Oxford Economics casts doubt on the narrative that artificial intelligence is currently causing mass unemployment. Fortune
• [New] Traditional media companies should welcome opportunities to work with creators and embrace their importance. KSAT San Antonio
• [New] In 2026, Firms should expect examiners to test substantiation, disclosure consistency, and internal review controls over marketing materials, including digital and social media content. Vigilant LLC
• [New] 2026 will be the year of revolution in media. The Media Leader
• [New] 2026 will be the year of valuing trusted media. The Media Leader
• [New] 2026 will be the year of reckoning in media. The Media Leader
• [New] AI-powered tools are now a staple in social media, and in 2026 we expect their use to grow even further. Cariad Marketing
• [New] Social media success in 2026 will depend on adaptability, intelligence, and human connection. Social Lady

Last updated: 15 January 2026