Perplexity enters the personal agents race; Americans now listen to more podcasts than talk radio

Your Thursday recap. Please consider the paid version

🔵 NEWS & CULTURE

• Perplexity launches “Computer” and enters the personal agents race
https://moncarnet.com/2026/02/26/perplexity-lance-computer-et-entre-dans-la-bataille-des-agents-personnels/

Photo by Andrea De Santis on Unsplash

• TikTok Highlights from Milan Cortina Olympics

🇮🇹🥇Les moments forts de Milan-Cortina 2026, ça se passait sur TikTok

• Crave surges in Quebec as Netflix and Prime Video stall
https://www.lapresse.ca/arts/television/2026-02-26/sondage-sur-les-abonnements-aux-plateformes/crave-en-forte-croissance-netflix-et-prime-video-plafonnent.php?

• Quebecor posts its 2025 financial results : profits of C$856 million
https://www.newswire.ca/fr/news-releases/quebecor-inc-annonce-ses-resultats-consolides-pour-l-exercice-2025-et-le-quatrieme-trimestre-2025-827565362.html

• Quebecor Content to adapt hit game «Hitster» TV show
https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2026/02/26/quebecor-contenu-adaptera-le-jeu-a-succes-hitster

• Canada considers regulation for virtual assistants
https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2026/02/25/apres-la-tuerie-de-tumbler-ridge-ottawa-ouvre-la-porte-a-une-regulation-des-assistants-virtuels

• Fact‑checking Trump’s false claims in his Union 2026 address
https://www.noovo.info/nouvelles/international/article/retour-sur-les-affirmations-fausses-et-mensongeres-de-trump-dans-son-discours-sur-letat-de-lunion/

invite-de-8h20-le-grand-entretien-du-jeudi-26-fevrier-2026-4058420

• YouTube video : my analysis on the State of the Union 2026 for InfoBref

• «A portrait of France like no other» — La Presse pays tribute to Louis-Bernard Robitaille, its former Paris correspondent (and novelist). RIP.
https://lp.ca/bT1rdL?sharing=true

• OPINION - Canada seen as the “51st digital state”
https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2026/02/26/le-canada-est-deja-le-51e-etat-numerique

• Job posting: Executive Director at Graffici media in Quebec
https://graffici.ca/actualite/offre-demploi-direction-generale/

• How AI protects Quebec’s music industry
https://mila.quebec/fr/nouvelle/quand-lia-protege-lindustrie-musicale-quebecoise

• YouTube, AI and deepfakes: Radio‑Canada explains the risks
https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2232199/youtube-ia-fausses-nouvelles-hypertrucage?partageApp=appInfoiOS&accesVia=partage

• 1200 fake articles targeting Mark Carney & Ryan Reynolds in Canada
https://www.journaldequebec.com/2026/02/27/1200-faux-articles-sur-mark-carney-et-ryan-reynolds-pour-une-seule-campagne-frauduleuse

• Practicing photojournalism in the age of ICE
https://www.ledevoir.com/culture/medias/958926/exercer-photojournalisme-ere-ice

• Michel Bergeron ends his long career in Canada as sports analyst and NHL coach
https://www.journaldequebec.com/2026/02/25/michel-bergeron-tire-un-trait-sur-sa-longue-carriere

• “There was nothing like 110% TV sports show” — personal reflection from Michel Bergeron
https://www.journaldequebec.com/2026/02/25/il-ny-avait-rien-comme-110

• Montreal’s Nuit Blanche: Ready to step out?
https://www.lapresse.ca/arts/sortir/2026-02-26/nuit-blanche-de-montreal/alors-on-sort.php?utm_source=infolettre&utm_campaign=matinale&utm_medium=2026-02-26

• Strengthening cultural reach: seeking solutions at Montreal’s La Presse
https://info.lapresse.ca/nouvelles/en-quete-de-solutions-la-culture-et-son-rayonnement

🟣 GLOBAL MEDIA & JOURNALISM

• UN warns about journalists’ use of AI in 2025
https://gabonmediatime.com/presse-lonu-alerte-sur-lutilisation-de-lia-par-les-journalistes-en-2025/

• Far‑right violence against journalists in Israel
https://www.liberation.fr/international/moyen-orient/en-israel-lextreme-droite-malmene-des-journalistes-dans-une-quasi-impunite-20260226_2HSUP76UAJCURH7VGP6XBJULOE/

• Baltimore Beat tests “pay‑what‑you‑can” ads
https://www.niemanlab.org/2026/02/the-baltimore-beat-experiments-with-pay-what-you-can-ads/

• WNYC and Gothamist refresh their local news podcast in New York City
https://current.org/2026/02/wnyc-and-gothamist-refresh-local-news-podcast-with-new-format/

• 350 journalism jobs & opportunities roundup
https://insidethenewsroom.ghost.io/350-new-journalism-jobs-weekly-freelance-pitches-fellowships-and-events-listings-february-25-2026/

• How AI is reshaping the rewrite desk
https://www.cjr.org/news/cleveland-newsroom-ai-rewrite-desk-chris-quinn-plain-dealer.php

• Trump, reality TV and the media ecosystem — CJR interview
https://www.cjr.org/the-interview/bravo-housewives-trump-reality-tv-seriously-brian-moylan.php

• Inside the NYT during Trump’s State of the Union
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/insider/trump-state-of-the-union-new-york-times.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

• CRTC, small broadcasters, and the Meta news standoff
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-small-broadcasters-crtc-meta-online-news-act-facebook-instagram/

• AI‑generated podcast network publishes 11,000 episodes a day
https://indicator.media/p/this-ai-generated-podcast-network-publishes-11-000-episodes-a-day-it-s-also-ripping-off-media-outlet

🟢 TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

• Reddit becomes a key upper‑funnel platform for advertisers
https://digiday.com/media-buying/reddit-has-carved-out-an-upper-funnel-niche-for-brand-advertisers/?utm_campaign=digidaydis&utm_source=daily&utm_content=260226

• Google Workspace adds avatars, voiceovers and new languages
https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2026/02/vids-avatars-voiceovers-new-languages.html?

• Hybrid vs. single‑purpose apps: which is better?
https://www.twipemobile.com/hybrid-or-single-purpose-apps-which-is-better/?

• Why magic links and passcodes dominate media logins
https://www.niemanlab.org/2026/02/why-magic-links-and-passcodes-are-taking-over-news-logins/

• Politico expands into Australia
https://www.semafor.com/article/02/24/2026/politico-is-launching-in-australia?

• Americans now listen to more podcasts than talk radio
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/25/americans-now-listen-to-podcasts-more-often-than-talk-radio-study-shows/