Welcome to ICYMI – a weekly snapshot of European news stories that have given me pause for thought. ICYMI is a chance for you to go beyond the front-page headlines and find out what other stories may be worthy of your attention. This week:
- Germany wakes up to a new political reality as the country shifts to the right
- The UK refocuses its AI policy on national security threats
- Innovation in the newsroom offers a rare glimpse into the future of journalism
Following the collapse of Germany’s traffic light coalition in November, the country headed to the polls yesterday hoping for a decisive result would end several years of deadlock between the major political parties. However, that wasn’t to be.
Although the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) secured 28.5% of votes and almost one-third of the 630 seats up for grabs in the Bundestag, the party fell short of the 316 seats required to form a government.
This is in part due to a shift toward the right across Germany, with Alternative for Germany (AfD), a party known for its far-right, nationalist policies, securing a fifth of all votes – making it the second largest party in the country. An achievement that US president Donald Trump was quick to call a “great day for Germany.”
“Let’s get this party started!”
At the time of writing, what happens next is yet to be confirmed, however CDU leader Friedrich Merz has expressed his desire to “get the party started” quickly.
It’s expected that he may pursue a coalition with the Social Democratic Party (SPD). A coalition is not unusual, with parties often joining forces to govern the country. However, the surge in votes for AfD could shape Germany’s political and economic landscape significantly, intensifying debate around migration and national security.
In the short-term, Russia’s war on Ukraine is likely to be front-of-mind. Last week, Donald Trump ruffled feathers across Europe by pursuing peace talks with Russia without involving Ukraine or any European leaders, causing widespread dismay ahead of his meetings with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron in the next few days.
So, it’s no surprise that Friedrich Merz appears to be promoting “Europe-first” style policies to strengthen Germany’s independence from the US and China while seeking to revive the country’s stagnant economy.
In reality, this is likely to involve a focus on deregulation to stimulate innovation and make Germany more attractive for start-ups, government subsidies for some sectors, and strategic investment in technologies such as AI and data centre infrastructure that are critical in enabling and accelerating digital transformation across the country.
The UK Pivots on AI Strategy at Munich Security Conference
At last week’s Munich Security Conference, world leaders, defence officials, and technology experts gathered to discuss pressing global security challenges.
The conference, known for shaping international security policy, highlighted concerns about AI’s role in warfare, cyber threats, and geopolitical tensions.
Against this backdrop, the UK government announced something of a U-turn on AI, shifting policy away from ethical concerns like bias and misinformation toward national security threats.
Speaking at the conference, the UK’s Science Secretary, Peter Kyle, revealed that the AI Safety Institute has been rebranded as the AI Security Institute, recognising the significant risks that AI can pose, such as AI-enabled cyberattacks, bioweapon development, and fraud.
This marks a sharp turn in the UK’s AI strategy, positioning it more in line with military and intelligence priorities rather than broader societal concerns.
Read All About It: AI, Newsletters, and the Next Era of Journalism
In the past week, several stories have highlighted how journalism is evolving in the age of AI, niche content, and subscription-driven models.
The New York Times announced it is integrating AI tools into its newsroom for tasks like editing and summarising – marking a clear step toward AI-assisted journalism rather than AI-driven reporting.
In the UK, the Press Gazette reports that London-focused news outlets are doubling down on hyper-local and niche reporting, with subscription-based newsletters as a primary revenue stream.
These developments reflect a broader trend that I wrote about recently: the media is becoming more specialised and leaning into niches, engaging with smaller but highly engaged (and highly valuable) audiences instead of chasing mass reach.
Not only this, but the way that stories are sourced and shaped is also evolving, as AI models like ChatGPT and Google’s AI tools increasingly pull information from news sources to generate content.
This shift means PR teams must consider how their messages interact with AI-driven news aggregation, ensuring their narratives are surfaced accurately and effectively in an era where AI is both a news consumer and a content creator. Something Tyto’s Insight and Strategy lead, Sven Winnefeld, shared his thoughts on recently.
At the same time, the rise of subscription-based newsletters and niche media could mean that reaching audiences will require a more targeted approach. These shifts signal a move away from broad media strategies in favour of focused storytelling, deeper expertise, and direct audience connections.
