Discussions about transformation and growth attracted almost 300 delegates to WAN-Ifra’s virtual Indian Media Leaders eSummit.

Among them, Schibsted editorial senior vice president (digital transformation) Fredric Karen shared insights on creating a digitally-sustainable newsroom. He highlighted the importance of defining core journalism, spending less in print, investing in technology and keeping data simple and valuable.

Karen (pictured) offered practical approaches from the experiences at Schibsted, to navigate the challenges while seizing new opportunities.

The opening day include a panel discussion featuring chief executives of leading Indian news media companies including Jayant Mammen Mathew (executive editor and director of Malayala Manorama), Samudra Bhattacharya (print chief executive at HT Media), Pawan Agarwal (DB Corp), and Sitaraman Shankar (The Printers Mysore and editor of the Deccan Herald)

It was moderated by Debarati Guha, Asia programmes director at Deutsche Welle.

Panellists agreed that, post-COVID, readers’ expectations had shifted towards shorter, more concise content. Publishers had to adapt to this change without compromising the trust and credibility they have built with their audiences.

Panellists told of new technologies and opportunities they were exploring as part of their evolving business models, including charging for digital content.

The second day saw a discussion on the importance of gender diversity for the future in news media and included a panel featuring Ritu Kapur (co-founder and chief executive of The Quint), Priyanka Tyagi (editor of Times Internet), Megha Mamgain (Jagran New Media) and Mehak Kasbekar (vice president and editor-in-chief of Brut India). The panel discussed the challenges of women leaders in decision-making positions at media companies and what it takes to build an inclusive media organisation.

Opening the closing day was a keynote address by Michael Miller, News Corp Australia’s executive chairman, on the publisher’s transformation to an audience-centric organisation which had now gained a million paying subscribers for its digital properties. News Corp was focussed on quality journalism that stands with communities, keeping people connected and informed, he said.

The eSummit concluded with a panel discussion on ‘managing digital revenue for the future’ featuring Sanjay Sindhwani (Indian Express Online), Puneet Gupt (Times Internet), and Puneet Jain (HT Digital), and moderated by Pradyuman Maheshwari, media commentator.

WAN-Ifra Asia managing director Magdoom Mohamed said he was thrilled with the resounding success of the event. “The attendees’ overwhelming participation and active engagement highlight the industry’s determination to embrace digital transformation wholeheartedly.

“We are confident that this summit’s valuable insights and learnings will pave the way for a brighter and digitally sustainable future for the media fraternity in India and South Asia,” he said.

More information on the programme, speakers, and highlights, is at the official website at https://wan-ifra.org/events/imles2023/

-with WAN-Ifra Asia