From 20 to 25 May 2024, WAN-IFRA will take you to visit leading news publishers in Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen, giving you the opportunity to meet, share and discuss best practices with leading editors, audience managers and digital revenue experts.
Find out more about the Study Tour program here.

Stars4Media NEWS is a coaching and funding programme to facilitate cooperation between media professionals, and accelerate innovation and cross-border coverage in Europe. It is co-funded by the EU.

The adoption of AI will change journalism. AI may not replace journalists, but journalists who do not use AI might be replaced by those who do. We are already seeing the automation of repetitive tasks, story reversioning and summarisation. What change might this bring about in the way journalists work? If LLMs are harnessed, will gathering the news become more important as writing is largely delegated to an AI? Will processes need to change and what new skills will be needed? This is an opportunity to dig down into how AI may change the profession of journalism.
The workshop comprises two parts: the first 45 minutes for everyone, including beginners, and the second 45 minutes for those seeking a deeper understanding.

Free, independent media across Ukraine continue to inform despite the immense challenges and devastating tragedy of ongoing war. In this session we hear from Ukrainian media professionals as they inform the industry, media support organisations, and donors how best to respond to current needs. We will also hear how working together to project alternatives for the sustainability of independent media in Ukraine is vital – now and into the future.

Discussion to be led by Joanna Krawczyk, German Marshall Fund of the United States, with the participation of media and industry representatives from Ukraine, and Ukrainian Media Fund partners.

Session hosted by Danske Medier, German Marshall Fund of the United States, Politiken, and WAN-IFRA Media Freedom

Introduction to a Danish-born approach to journalism that recognises audiences are fed-up with the sensationalism and negativity bias of the news. Learn about the Three Pillars of Practice: – solutions, nuance and democratic conversation.

After initial resistance, digital readers have (finally) shown they are willing to pay for news. Still, recent hopes that paywalls and subscriptions were “the” solution for media are not quite panning out. But that doesn’t mean we should abandon the quest for reader revenue. On the contrary, it must go deeper, be more dynamic and more collaborative than ever. We will explore new examples of donations, membership, crowdfunding, and yes, paywalls, to see the best ways for publishers to maximize both reader revenue and reader engagement, as essentially two sides of the same digital coin.

Spotlighting the remarkable achievements of trailblazing women in media, the WIN Luncheon will profile the 2024 WIN Editorial Leadership Award Laureates for Africa, the Arab region, and Southeast Asia. Panelists will share their experiences navigating the ever-evolving media landscape, offering invaluable perspectives on career advancement, fostering trust with audiences, and combating the spread of disinformation. Learn more about the award and stay tuned for the announcement of the 2024 laureates.

WAN-IFRA acts as a resource centre and a knowledge-sharing platform for members as they navigate ongoing transformations in the regulation of news media, and assess the impact on their businesses.
This two-hours, invite-only session will reflect on the main challenges brought by technology and the possible answers to ensure the next decade of News Media Sustainability.

Who will receive WAN-IFRA’s highest honour for press freedom in 2024? The President of the World Editors Forum, Martha Ramos Sosa will present the award.

A message from WAN-IFRA’s President, and introduction to our Keynote speaker

What are the strategic challenges demanding the attention of media leaders? CEOs from leading publishing houses will discuss the impact of AI and how they are positioning their organisations to deal with its threats and opportunities. How do they see revenue growth and profitability in the short to medium term? Is the digital revenue growth on track? What are the plans for print?

External pressures against journalism are mounting and profoundly influencing newsrooms and their future. Leading editors offer ideas on how to sustain and strengthen independent journalism amid challenges from AI, advertising and to press freedom.

In just two decades paywalls have become widespread and many organisations have invested much to ensure their success. However, more innovation and expertise are now needed to increase and accelerate the share of revenue coming from readers. Rather than lowering your North Star expectations, is it time to reassess and identify the barriers to success?

Leaders who have successfully steered their media companies to profitability share their strategies, ideas and lessons learned during the transformation journey. Whether it is a growth strategy spurred by acquisitions or taking a bold decision to stop print, this session will provide tangible, take-home ideas.

What does the future look like for three newsrooms midway through massive change? Influential, inspiring and interesting news operations share their transformation journeys and how they are approaching AI.

Unlock the magic of digital subscriptions by strategically integrating compelling features that drive conversions and foster lasting loyalty. This session will look at how to incorporate product elements into your strategy for a more valuable user experience.

Why financiers are rethinking media investment and the returns they expect. Lessons for both publishers and bankers from a concrete innovation to finance independent media.

How are newsrooms organising for, managing and using AI? Speakers will share examples and use cases.

The B2B segment represents an exciting opportunity for news media, offering a way to increase revenue and engage with different audiences and establish valuable partnerships. Is adopting this diversification initiative a good idea, and how do you become legitimate with these audiences?

As one of the most respected editors in American journalism, Marty Baron had a front-row seat to the power struggles in politics, tech and the media that coincided with the Trump years. As the US heads for the 2024 election, the retired Washington Post editor will share his views on what is ahead for American journalism and democracy.

The Guardian, Schibsted and Sanoma have broadened the perspective on sustainability to include a focus on social and environmental aspects. This is not only a way to build long-term reliability but also a means to adapt to changing market conditions.

The gap between habitual news consumers and the disinterested public is growing. Polarised views, depressing news, and generational factors don’t help. Is there still a way to get news avoiders back on board? Input from GenZeers on the news values needed to draw young audiences.

Have advertising teams undergone as much transformation as other sectors within media companies in recent years? If, in 2024, the ‘newsroom is the business’ due to its critical role in revenue growth, the advertising department must equally embrace and propel digital transformation. How many have truly grasped the magnitude of this specific challenge?

News Arcade is tackling the legitimacy of media among youth by bringing Gen Z and journalism together through gamification.

This popular Congress session features nontraditional media companies challenging the established norms and becoming successful. In this session, case studies include a digital sports innovator which grew audience and revenues dramatically, and a local media company whose use of data and analytics helped transform it into a major player, and  a wire service that has reinvented itself successfully.

Over 70 countries have national elections in 2024 – amid a deepening crisis of disinformation. Insights into the massive threat posed by generative AI and unregulated social media channels from speakers on the frontline of the information war.

Social platforms and Search are not the audience drivers they used to be, and the rise of all sorts of channels (WhatsApp, FB, Instagram…) can be confusing. And, of course, there is the question of search generative experience (the AI revolution in search), adding to the complexity.
So, what should you recommend to your audience development teams? Are there strategies and tactics they should put in place?
We’ve asked experts we trust to guide us through the ‘building blocks’ that can help achieve audience goals (in numbers and engagement). And since so many ‘channels’ are available, we’ve asked an early adopter to show what his company has done with WhatsApp.

Applied and Generative AI have dominated discussions since the launch of ChatGPT. Leading minds on the topic discuss how media companies can use AI to increase revenue and efficiency while maintaining journalistic integrity.

WAN-IFRA’s Innovate Local programme aims to unlock the potential of local media to become indispensable to both local communities and local businesses through a multi-faceted approach. This means harnessing the power of data and artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver more personalised and relevant content. In addition, the deployment of user needs models ensures that content is closely aligned with community interests. Adopting new storytelling formats and improving the journalistic product increases engagement and strengthens the link between local media and their audiences. At the same time, the programme focuses on developing advertising products that are not only relevant, but that also fit seamlessly into the local narrative. Finally, the emphasis is on diversifying revenue streams to ensure the sustainable vitality of local media in an ever-changing landscape.

The annual innovation report prepared by Juan Senor and team for WAN-IFRA gives a take-home snapshot of major trends. The fast-paced presentation with best practices from around the world will send you home energised and inspired.

From 29 to 31 May, an inspiring selection of Danish publishers and start-ups who are taking steps to make better use of AI within their organisations.
Find out more about the Study Tour program here