is occurring as consumers avoid traditional news. Non-news categories like food, health, and lifestyle are projected to occupy 55% of audience minutes by the end of 2026. The Creator Economy : Valued at nearly $500 billion

"The protagonist’s heart rate is plateauing," his supervisor, Mara, snapped. Her eyes were clouded by augmented reality lenses showing a thousand scrolling charts. "Give him a betrayal. Or a puppy. Or a puppy that betrays him. Just get the spikes back up."

By Friday, the cycle had run its course. The "Screaming Man" had appeared on morning talk shows, released a line of merchandise, and been embroiled in a minor political scandal involving a tweet from 2012. The entertainment content had been squeezed dry.