AI Takes Center Stage at World News Media Congress as Publishers Grapple With Technology's Threat to Journalism
More than 1,000 media executives, editors and innovators from over 60 countries are gathering in Marseille this week for the 77th World News Media Congress, where artificial intelligence dominates the agenda as publishers confront the technology's impact on newsroom operations, audience engagement and revenue models.
The World Association of News Publishers organized the congress, which runs through the week. Speakers include leaders from The New York Times, The Guardian, POLITICO and the European Commission.
Generative AI has moved from newsroom experiment to strategic priority. Publishers now face urgent questions about copyright, misinformation, editorial integrity and the long-term viability of professional journalism as AI-powered platforms increasingly influence how information is created and distributed.
What executives will hear
A.G. Sulzberger, chairman and publisher of The New York Times, opens the congress with a keynote on "AI, Journalism and the Uncertain Future of the Public Square." He will address how artificial intelligence is reshaping press freedom and journalism's role in democratic societies.
Sulzberger has become a leading advocate for stronger copyright protections for publishers amid disputes with AI companies over the use of journalistic content to train large language models. Since becoming publisher in 2018, he has grown the Times to 12.8 million subscribers by the end of 2025 through a subscription bundle spanning news, games, cooking and audio.
Katharine Viner, editor-in-chief of The Guardian, will discuss digital transformation and reader-supported journalism at a plenary session. Goli Sheikholeslami, chief executive of POLITICO Media Group, will address how publishers are rethinking newsroom operations and business models as generative AI reshapes the industry.
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, will deliver the closing keynote on Europe's approach to technological regulation and journalism's role in the digital age.
The business challenge ahead
News organizations face declining traditional revenues, shifting audience habits and competition from AI-powered information platforms. The congress will offer an early indication of how journalism plans to defend its value while using the technology transforming it.
AJP, the English-language news platform of Aju Media Group, will share how it has used AI to expand international reach and develop new audience experiences as a younger player in global news.
For many publishers, the central question is no longer whether AI will change journalism, but whether journalism can adapt fast enough to shape how AI changes the public's relationship with news.
Executives seeking to understand how AI affects newsroom strategy and business models may find value in exploring AI for Executives & Strategy and Generative AI and LLM resources.
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