Reach becomes latest publisher to join Google's news AI pilot programme

What happened

Reach plc, the UK and Ireland's largest commercial news publisher (Mirror, Express, Daily Star, Daily Record, Manchester Evening News and dozens more titles), announced on 12 October 2026 that it has agreed a partnership with Google granting Google 'enhanced content rights' for news content across its portfolio.

Details

• The deal sits inside Google's news AI pilot programme: a commercial arrangement in which Google pays for expanded content rights, enables experimental AI features (AI article overviews, audio briefings) and explores driving engaged audiences back to publishers.
• Reach CEO Piers North said the company wants to work with firms that 'recognise this value' of its real-time reporting and archival material.
• Google's Hayley Cochrane (Director, News Partnerships UK and Northern Europe) described it as a partnership where Google pays for enhanced content rights.
• Reach joins the FT, Der Spiegel, El Pais, The Guardian and The Washington Post among publishers already in the programme.

Why it matters

A paid, creator-compensation model for AI use of news content from a major publisher — the commercial licensing route for AI training/use of creative works, as opposed to litigation.