Future Focused

Throughout 2025, we laid the foundation for what's coming next. Growing our brands in strategic ways, adopting new tools and investing in our colleagues: Our teams are focused on seeing around corners and getting there first. As new technologies and ways of working continue to change our world, our future-focused vision is strengthened by our mission to provide reliable information for our audiences and our customers.

As we continued to refine HearstGPT, Hearst's proprietary environment and secure gateway to AI products and platforms, we also gained access to ChatGPT Enterprise, unlocking a powerful (and fun!) AI tool to accelerate brainstorming and power innovation.

From AI
to acquisitions, we’re investing with intention for lasting impact.

Frank Bennack and Steve Swartz take a picture with colleagues at Austin American-Statesman.

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Hearst Newspapers is continuing to invest in the future of trusted local journalism, expanding coverage in Connecticut with the purchase of the Republican-American and strengthening its Texas presence with the Austin American-Statesman andThe Dallas Morning News — just in time for the Dallas newspaper's 140th anniversary!

Front pages of the Dallas Morning News and Austin American-Statesman.

Venture Impact

Various pictures depicting Ventures companies, HearstLab showcase and a HearstLab company.

Hearst Ventures portfolio company Insurify is transforming insurance shopping with AI-powered tools that generate personalized quotes, coverage matching and policy recommendations. The company has also expanded into home, pet and renters insurance.

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The 2025 HearstLab Showcase celebrated the thriving startup community by bringing together founders, investors and leaders from across the Hearst ecosystem for an afternoon of inspiration. Guests heard real stories of innovation and collaboration directly from visionary entrepreneurs and Hearst businesses shaping the future together.

Level Up Ventures backed ClearCOGS, which brings AI-powered forecasting to restaurants; Tensor9, which enables secure, code-free deployment of software across cloud, on-premises, and air-gapped environments so sensitive data stays private; Greenshoe, an AI platform for SEC disclosure automation and investor relations; and iTruckr, an AI dispatcher for the multibillion-dollar trucking industry.

HearstLab continued to grow its global reach with three new investments in Japan as well as a second investment in the Middle Eastern region. The year also brought a major international portfolio milestone with Netherlands-based company Quan acquired by leading Dutch HR tech company TrueTribe.

Hearst Ventures portfolio Turing Sense, an authentication tool provider for luxury and collectible resale items, launched an authentication model for Labubus, allowing it to identify fakes from user photos within seconds. Hearst Ventures also took a stake in SeesAI, a platform that uses drone technology to create real-time insights for electrical system operators to help extend the lifespan of equipment, reduce outages and accelerate upgrades. Their technology is utilized by the National Grid to inspect power lines across its network.

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The HearstLab community hosted and attended multiple industry events this year, ranging from NY Tech Week and Climate Week to TechCrunch’s 2025 Startup Battlefield. Co-Founder and Chairwoman Eve Burton, pictured above at the Women in Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) Summit, was named one of Global Corporate Venturing’s Standout Women in CVC.

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Hearst Ventures invested in SEON, whose mission is to redefine global fraud prevention by safeguarding the entire customer journey, allowing businesses to operate confidently and stay ahead of evolving risks. With a team of 300+ fraud experts across the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific, SEON has prevented more than $300 billion in fraud losses to date.

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Supporting the future of public service: The Hearst Foundations established the United States Senate Youth Program in 1962 for young leaders to learn about government and public service. Once again this year, two students from each state received a $10,000 college scholarship and embarked on a weeklong experience in Washington, D.C., meeting and learning from our nation’s leaders and from each other.

QGenda was named a top 25 healthcare software company by The Healthcare Technology Report, which recognizes companies and individuals defining the future of healthcare delivery through AI-driven solutions and advanced analytics.

HNP's DevHub is transforming the future of news

Rooted in data journalism and visualization, Hearst Newspapers' centralized DevHub is building tools — available to all HNP newsrooms — that streamline reporting and strengthen audience engagement. With a spirit of experimentation, the DevHub is using AI to process and analyze data, and with its AI Editorial Council, the group is helping HNP demonstrate how thoughtful, human-centered AI adoption is transforming the future of news.

Steve Swartz with colleagues in Noregon Innovation Center.

Investing in our future: Noregon opened its new Innovation Center, a state-of-the-art hub for training, testing and developing its suite of hardware and software applications to meet users’ evolving needs.

Tom Ghosh

Vice President, AI Strategy
& Business Integration, Hearst Transportation

“Hearst is democratizing AI by providing every colleague with the tools and training to turn potential into tangible outcomes. Across Hearst Transportation, we are using AI as an organizational catalyst to accelerate innovation, build AI-powered products and drive growth through increased revenue and efficiency.”

Fitch Group’s first Modern Workplace Week

Fitch Group’s first Modern Workplace Week showed that the future of work is already here. From tech demos of new tools to inspiring keynotes on topics of accessibility and more, colleagues gathered to power up productivity and foster an even smarter, more connected workplace.

We’re evolving our brands, empowering our people and embracing what’s ahead.

MCG Health is shaping the future of clinical decision-making. As a member of the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI), MCG contributes expertise to advancing assurance standards and ethical AI practices, ensuring smarter and more responsible adoption of artificial intelligence across the healthcare industry.

The San Francisco Chronicle launched California Weather Wonks, a free text service that keeps subscribers plugged in with crucial weather updates, forecasts and more.

Congratulations to SCAN, winner of the 2025 Hearst Health Prize, for its AI-powered Patients at Their Home (PATH) platform that helps doctors bring smarter, more personalized care right to seniors’ doorsteps.

Colorful text reading 'Take Your Kids to Work Day' with a pencil and smiley face icon, and the word 'Hearst' below.

Hearst welcomed the next generation of creators, thought leaders and change-makers for Take Your Kids To Work Day, with activities that explored our brands, our values and our roles. Thank you to our Parents ERGs and People & Culture teams for leading the effort!

WCVB-TV and ESPN secured a multi-year partnership extension as the exclusive local and national broadcast home of the Boston Marathon. And Runner’s World Runner-in-Chief Jeff Dengate, an expert voice on WCVB-TV's coverage in the past, was not only a guest commentator in 2025, he also ran the race!

Split image showing a person holding a phone with a yellow vintage car ad on screen next to a laptop displaying an ad with a man and a classic car in front of a modern house.

Collage showing a hand holding a phone with a yellow convertible and text ‘One website. Endless rabbit holes.’, a laptop browsing car listings, and a TV displaying two red classic cars with text ‘It’s never just a car.’

Hearst rolled out a series of multi-market advertising initiatives to raise awareness, drive audience growth and showcase the strength of key brands. First up was Newspapers with a campaign that focused on the essential role of trusted local journalism that goes beyond the headlines and deep into the community. It was followed by Bring a Trailer, a unit of Hearst Magazines, highlighting its place as the go-to destination for staying informed, connected and inspired in the automotive auction world.

Pop up bubble of feedback on Hearst DMS Localedge service.

Hearst Newspapers’ digital marketing service provider, LocalEdge, is helping local businesses get discovered through chatbots and AI-powered search results. The company enhanced its search engine optimization solution to include new website tactics focused on AI-friendly content, structure and accessibility, ensuring clients keep up with changes in the digital marketing landscape.

We’re building what’s next — investing in people, technology and possibility.

Around the World

A+E Global Media entered a new era with a rebrand highlighting its digital presence across the world — including a revamped History.com platform and a newly launched digital division.

Hearst Networks announced the launch of Hearst Canvas, a new business venture to develop original, scalable content brands across digital, audio and emerging platforms. Stay tuned for productions in 2026!

Hearst Magazines is growing globally with international editions bringing brands' distinctive points of view to new audiences, including Esquire's five new editions in Brazil, Colombia, Japan, India and Vietnam.

Hearst Magazines is growing globally with international editions bringing brands' distinctive points of view to new audiences, including Esquire's five new editions in Brazil, Colombia, Japan, India and Vietnam.

Cut the ribbon! Fitch moved offices in several cities, including Shanghai, China; Mexico City, Mexico; Dubai, UAE; and Manchester, UK.

Popeye made a major play in sports in 2025, teaming up with Portugal’s football club Sport Lisboa e Benfica to bring his sailor strength to the pitch. Appearances at global stages like Formula One only amplified his athletic momentum.

Hearst Ventures investment ROAR Forward is equipping brands and companies with insights to navigate this new era of longevity. Michael Clinton, former president and publishing director of Hearst Magazines and founder of ROAR Forward, joined Hearst Television to discuss how rising life expectancies are reshaping work and life.

Hearst Tech Academy packed 2025 with an ambitious mix of trainings, workshops and learning modules, keeping our culture of curiosity and collaboration buzzing. The results? Colleagues engaged in 138 AI trainings, and 573 leveled up as Gen AI champions.

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Empowering exceptional care: HomecareHomebase is reshaping the future of home-based care with three AI-driven tools — Intake Central, Curate and Predict — that help healthcare professionals streamline referrals, optimize management and identify patients at risk for hospitalizations sooner.

CAMP companies reached new heights in 2025! CORRIDOR partnered with West Star Aviation on its cutting-edge AI Operations Manager, a platform using predictive analytics and automation to transform maintenance, repair and overhaul workflows. Meanwhile, Avinode earned top industry recognition as The Air Charter Association’s Business Service Supplier of the Year!

Screenshot of Connecticut Today podcast player.

Hearst Connecticut Media Group launched Everlit on its digital platforms, a text-to-speech tool that offers audiences an audio option to listen to articles, making the news more accessible than ever.

Listen now

The William Randolph Hearst Foundation's 65th National Journalism Championships brought together 29 student journalists from across the country, competing under deadlines for scholarship awards up to $10,000.

Use our AI-powered search to find specific divisions, businesses and initiatives in the Hearst NEXT yearbook!