World News Media Congress 2024
3 Days ⬩ 3 Conferences ⬩ 5+ Workshops ⬩ 2 Study Tours ⬩ Awards
Whether you’re a CEO, editor, or manager looking for innovative solutions, our program has something to offer you.
In addition, the three days include different awards, community meetups and unrivalled social and networking events.
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.
Honouring the special achievements of 9 funded projects.
The workshop comprises two parts: the first 45 minutes for everyone, including beginners, and the second 45 minutes beginning at 10:45 for those seeking a deeper understanding.
Part 1: Demystifying AI
– You’re more familiar with AI than you may realise!
– How AI you’ve been using for years works
– How newsrooms have been using these technologies to support their journalism (for years!)
– The first three steps to AI adoption
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 learn from Ukrainian media and industry representatives how to work together and build partnerships to project alternatives for the sustainability and viability of independent media in Ukraine. The stories of inspiring and successful collaborations with Ukrainian and international partners will raise such topics as women in news, war insurance for journalists, education and upskilling in media ecosystems, cross-border collaboration in news production and newsroom and business model development, news deserts, safety and mental well-being of journalists, and regional networking to strengthen the Ukrainian news environment.
Discussion to be led by Joanna Krawczyk, from Ukrainian Media Fund / German Marshall Fund of the United States.
Session hosted by Danske Medier, Ukrainian Media Fund / German Marshall Fund of the United States, Politiken, and WAN-IFRA Media Freedom
Hannes Cools, assistant Professor in ‘Human Factor in New Technologies’ at the University of Amsterdam, will present the latest survey he conducted in collaboration with Associated Press about the use of AI in the news industry. At the end, Atex will present how a company working in the media service found a 6-step working method effective for the adoption of AI in newsrooms.
In 2024, the global stage is set for sports and politics as roughly half the world’s population will vote in elections and athletes from nearly 200 countries will compete in Paris for the Olympic games. In this presentation, we’ll draw on data from Chartbeat and Tubular Labs to share strategies for building cross-channel content ecosystems to effectively cover world-wide events and engage diverse audiences.
To facilitate networking and peer to peer exchanges, WAN-IFRA is organising conversations around the most important topics facing the news media business. Held during the coffee and lunch breaks at the WAN-IFRA lounge, these sessions will be led and moderated by our subject experts. Mark your calendar and join us for these exciting conversations!
Part 2: Strategic Implementation of AI
– Levels of automation & AI maturity
– Identifying pain points & opportunities for AI-supported solutions
– Creating a safe & transparent environment for AI experimentation
– Considerations for building out your strategy
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.
2024 marks the biggest election year in history with elections taking place in more than 65 nations between the beginning of March and the end of the year. At the same time, Artificial Intelligence is creating new exciting opportunities for creativity and innovation, but also enabling bad actors to deceive voters by creating realistic “deepfakes” of candidates and other individuals. Recognizing the importance of this moment, news media and technology companies are taking steps to safeguard the information ecosystem and enhance trust in verified media content.
At the World News Media Congress in Copenhagen, Microsoft will bring together news organizations, researchers, and technology companies to discuss the latest trends in information integrity and content credentials. Panellists will offer concrete examples and research on how media organizations can control their own content, and combat the risk of AI-generated content and deepfakes, by leveraging their reputation and brand as trusted sources of news.
How do you build and maintain audience trust when covering controversial, highly charged and polarising issues? How does genuine representation and diverse storytelling shape media narratives and cultivate strong audience connections?
Join Editorial Leadership Laureates for a conversation around trust, equality in media leadership and how they have paved the way to build more inclusive teams to tell the stories that matter most to their diverse audiences.
To facilitate networking and peer to peer exchanges, WAN-IFRA is organising conversations around the most important topics facing the news media business. Held during the coffee and lunch breaks at the WAN-IFRA lounge, these sessions will be led and moderated by our subject experts. Mark your calendar and join us for these exciting conversations!
Democracies around the world are under immense pressure and media organisations are struggling to maintain their watchdog position. In the context of a ‘mega election year’ in which more people will head to the polls than ever before, this session will provide a sense of the state of press freedom around the world in 2024. We will hear from journalists, editors, and other media professionals in autocracies and democracies in transition. How are media organisations and journalists navigating challenges, repeating successes, and dealing with setbacks as they continue to undertake a critical role in fighting for civil liberties, political rights, and press freedom? What impact are conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine having on those on the frontlines of the most challenging reporting? What lessons can be learned, how do we deal with the present geopolitical landscape, and what are the next frontiers for press freedom to thrive?
The public hype about AI started with the launch of Chat GPT in November 2022. Since then, especially generative AI has entered a lot of newsrooms but also the world around the news publishers. A first level has been established in every day work. But what is coming next? What will be the new trends and which paths will not be followed on the long run? Where are opportunities and risks that the news media industry does not predict yet? Ezra Eeman, author of the mindblowing newsletter Wayfinder, will share his perspective on the future of AI and how to master it.
WAN-IFRA acts as a resource centre and a knowledge-sharing platform for members as they navigate ongoing transformations in the regulations around news media and tech, 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.
The Forum will be held under the Chatham House Rule: participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed
Upload and analyze large numbers of documents with the power of Google Search, AI, and machine learning. Pinpoint is a research tool that helps reporters and analyze large collections of documents. Its a tool assisting you with investigative stories, breaking news analysis, audio and video transcriptions, fact checking, collecting notes, and searching archives.
This session will showcase Zuora’s suite of products for Total Monetization, complemented by Autopilot AI for self-learning outcomes, as invaluable tools for subscription success. Join us in this session as we delve into the pressing question: In the era of AI and evolving learning models, do propensity models maintain their relevance?
Subscription businesses worldwide grapple with the challenge of driving subscription acquisition. While many companies are executing sound strategies, achieving the outcomes demands extensive engineering, manual testing, and data analysis. This resource-intensive process hampers scalability and ultimately hinders implementation of the right strategies. Moreover, successful acquisition necessitates a delicate balance between engagement and retention to optimise lifetime value.
In this session, we’ll discuss strategies to overcome these hurdles and explore the pivotal role of platforms in empowering commercial teams to fuel growth. Additionally, we’ll examine how a leading European publisher embraced cutting-edge technology to future-proof their success.
Topics include:
A discussion about how AI can benefit the field of journalism and the news publishing business.
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.
In a world where publishers have built a robust subscription business and an engaged audience that’s valuable to advertisers, their challenge is now to keep growing subscriptions without reducing pageviews and ad revenue. Using advanced analysis and a dynamic paywall propensity model powered by Piano Ad Revenue Insights they’re now able to break the silo between advertising and subscription strategies. JoinMichael Silberman, EVP of Media Strategy at Piano for this session, and learn how publishers are increasing total revenue and drive more subscriptions and registrations while still growing ad revenue too.
A message from WAN-IFRA’s incoming President, and introduction to our Keynote: John Ridding, CEO of the Financial Times Group has been at the helm of the Financial Times since 2006, a period of transformation and growth for the FT, one of the world’s most authoritative global news brands. He has strong views about the future and how media organisations must adapt, evidenced by the FT’s new content licensing deal with OpenAI.
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?
To facilitate networking and peer to peer exchanges, WAN-IFRA is organising conversations around the most important topics facing the news media business. Held during the coffee and lunch breaks at the WAN-IFRA lounge, these sessions will be led and moderated by our subject experts. Mark your calendar and join us for these exciting conversations!
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.
To facilitate networking and peer to peer exchanges, WAN-IFRA is organising conversations around the most important topics facing the news media business. Held during the coffee and lunch breaks at the WAN-IFRA lounge, these sessions will be led and moderated by our subject experts. Mark your calendar and join us for these exciting conversations!
In “Leading Through Change: Navigating the Evolving Media Landscape,” media leaders will delve into the transformative role of AI amid industry confusion and learn strategies for building sustainable businesses in the digital age. This session offers insights into revenue diversification and innovative approaches, empowering leaders to navigate change and drive success amidst the dynamic media landscape.
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.
In this case study, Dataminr and Reach will discuss the challenges newsrooms face and how people, process and AI technology are integral aspects of an effective newsroom, and how predictive AI can help solve newsgathering pain-points.
How are newsrooms organising for, managing and using AI? Speakers will share examples and use cases.
Join us as we explore Onet.pl’s transformative journey from a universal content provider to a personalized digital experience leader. This presentation will delve into the innovative strategies and technological advancements that have positioned Onet.pl at the forefront of digital media personalization.
Key Points:
This session is a must-attend for anyone interested in the intersection of content, technology, and user-centric design. Discover the recipe for Onet.pl’s success and take away valuable insights for your own digital endeavors.
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.
According to Heimo Krum, CIO at FUNKE Mediengruppe, “When technology is part of the challenge, it can also be part of the solution.” – and Heimo Krum knows what he is talking about, after leading the 5-year digitalization and technology transformation at FUNKE. Join this session at WAN-IFRA World News Media Congress, during which we will cover:
There will be time for Q&A with both FUNKE and Stibo DX during the session. To make your visit to Copenhagen is a “real Danish experience”, a curated selection of gourmet Danish pastries from various artisan Copenhagen bakeries will be served.
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.
To facilitate networking and peer to peer exchanges, WAN-IFRA is organising conversations around the most important topics facing the news media business. Held during the coffee and lunch breaks at the WAN-IFRA lounge, these sessions will be led and moderated by our subject experts. Mark your calendar and join us for these exciting conversations!
FT Strategies is the specialist media consultancy from the Financial Times helping news organisations globally build sustainable growth. In this session, Lisa MacLeod explores essential strategies to drive profitability from optimising your print operation to diversifying revenue and funding new growth streams.
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.
The presentation will give you a glimpse of:
How BT.dk optimizes its front page, personalization and use of live targets towards daily budgets
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.
This 25-minute session featuring Marion Souzeau and Stanislas de Livonniere of Le Parisien will explore how newsrooms can integrate AI tools without causing disruption, focusing on long-term vision and strategy. The discussion will highlight the role of Generative AI from an Arc XP perspective. Attendees will learn how to balance innovative technologies with existing workflows, ensuring a seamless integration that enhances content creation and audience engagement while maintaining a clear strategic direction for the future.
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.
The fallout from rising temperatures poses a threat to the health and well-being of nations. Yet getting people to engage with climate content is an ongoing struggle. Launching a new guide, the Constructive Institute will show journalism that is having an impact.
Global findings from climateXchange, a content and knowledge sharing initiative. It unites newsrooms in finding new, sustainable ways to tell climate stories; turning coverage into an opportunity for expanded audience engagement and new revenue streams.
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.
Introducing campaigns designed to encourage audiences to get behind what you do and why you do it.
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
