Topics & Speakers
At European Publishing, the best media makers in Europe present their strategies and talk about the future of the industry.
photo: Anna Dittrich/DER SPIEGEL
Case
SPIEGEL’s AI Strategy
Ole Reißmann // Head of AI at SPIEGEL-Verlag, Germany
It all started with ChatGPT, a chatbot. But how does a publishing house navigate toward a world where AI can take over entire processes? How do you deal with the fact that AI is becoming the interface to the computer? SPIEGEL doesn’t have all the answers yet, but it does have some exciting initial approaches and examples, which Ole Reißmann will present. The Head of AI will also explain how SPIEGEL Publishing enables and teaches its employees vibecoding and manages this delicate process: from initial experiments to real-world applications.
photo: Julia Herzsprung
Strategy
AI and organization: The path to an AI-enabled media company
Laura Seiffe // AI Project Manager, ZEIT Publishing Group, Germany
New technologies only have an impact when people understand them and want to use them. At ZEIT Verlagsgruppe, the focus is therefore not solely on technology, but on how to get there: How can you get an organization on board, break down barriers, and build real expertise? The answer lies in close interaction between strategy, communication, and practical formats. Whether workshops, impulses, or dialogues—every offering aims to make AI tangible and create space for questions. Laura Seiffe from the ZEIT publishing group shows which approaches have proven successful, where the stumbling blocks were, and what it takes to ensure that technological change is not imposed, but grows organically. Laura Seiffe is responsible for artificial intelligence in the business development department of the ZEIT publishing group. After working in AI research and the start-up scene, she has been accompanying the company-wide transformation process since 2024, which combines technological innovation with journalistic responsibility and user-oriented product development. At ZEIT, AI transformation is understood as a cultural change, with a focus on attitude, transparency, and collaborative learning.
photo: Velora Cycling
Case
From Workflow to Platform: Building an AI-Native Publisher
Peter Stuart // Founder and owner of Velora Cycling, United Kingdom
What happens when you design a newsroom around AI from day one, rather than bolting it onto legacy systems? Velora Cycling is a specialist publication run by two people – former Cyclingnews editor Peter Stuart and AI specialist Danny Bellion – on custom editorial infrastructure built entirely in-house. The system handles news discovery across hundreds of sources, verification, production, and distribution in a single integrated workflow. What began as an experiment in editorial automation has become something more like a prototype for a different kind of publishing operation: one where AI does the heavy lifting but the editor remains firmly in the driving seat. The deeper ambition is freeing up capacity for original journalism – the kind of work a two-person operation wouldn't normally be able to sustain – while developing tools to improve the quality and scale of original work.
Details from Peter Stuart, one of the two founders and operators of Velora Cycling in the UK.
photo: Michael Shelford
Strategy
From the User Needs Model to AI in Multimodal Content Strategies
Dmitry Shishkin // Developer of the User Needs Model for the BBC, United Kingdom
It is no longer enough to understand the needs of media users. In 2026, media companies will not fail because they lack insights. The problem lies elsewhere: formats are not aligned, systems are fragmented, and teams speak different languages. Dmitry Shishkin, who introduced the original User Needs Model at the BBC and has since adapted it for the news, travel, and sports sectors, demonstrates how a clean data architecture and shared taxonomies enable both the scaling and the use of AI in multimodal content strategies.
photo: BILD
Case
Hey_: The Companion Strategy at BILD
Daniel Böcking // Head of AI, BILD, Germany
Hey_, an AI chatbot, went live at BILD back in 2023. Since then, Hey_ has answered 220 million user questions. At the same time, it has evolved into a true companion that offers users personalized guidance and practical support in the news environment. Hey_ breaks the boundaries of the traditional article and, through interaction, dialogues, services, and widgets, offers much more than mere information—namely, genuine, personal companionship. Daniel Böcking explains why BILD is relying on a companion strategy in the AI era and what steps need to be taken to make this happen.
photo: private
Practice
The Transition from Static Design to Animated Design
Marianne Bahl // Bahl Visuel Strategi, Denmark
The e-paper currently serves as an important bridge to the online world. Many print readers are now switching to the e-paper. New subscriptions are also largely coming through this channel. The next step—an exclusively online offering—is already on the horizon for some media companies. In terms of design, this development has not been adequately addressed. So far, newspapers have often limited their news websites to one image per story and a very long text. Marianne Bahl presents alternatives that work in both worlds: specifically, what an infographic should look like when it is intended not only for print but also for animated presentation. How a photo essay should be prepared for both print and online. How a multimedia story can function effectively in both print and online formats. Marianne Bahl has been a member of the jury for the European Newspaper Awards for many years. She runs her own studio, Bahl Visuel Strategi, in Copenhagen, where she develops integrative visual strategies. With her experience as design director at the financial newspaper Børsen and the women’s magazine ALT for Damerne, as well as a graphic designer at Politiken, a major Danish newspaper, she has specialized in visual communication, editorial design, and storytelling.
photo: ZFK (Karau & Wagner)
European Newspaper of the Year, Special Title: ZFK, Germany
From a trade publication to a successful digital news platform
Carsten Wagner // Managing Director of ZFK, Germany
Gordon Karau // Graphic Designer at ZFK, Germany
How does a strong print brand become a successful digital news platform without losing its identity? Managing Director Carsten Wagner and Designer Gordon Karau offer insights into how they have strategically and culturally developed the German newspaper *Zeitung für kommunale Wirtschaft* (ZFK). Using concrete examples, they demonstrate how journalistic quality, brand profile, and economic success are consistently translated into the digital space on a daily basis—and how they simultaneously strengthen the print business in a targeted manner. In addition, the two explain how design acts as a unifying element across all channels and contributes to strengthening the brand. Carsten Wagner began his professional career as a business journalist and later served as a spokesperson for the German Federal Ministry of Health and Social Security. He has been Managing Director of the ZFK since 2019. Gordon Karau has worked at German and Dutch design agencies and publishing houses since the late 1990s. He has been a graphic designer at ZFK since 2021. Eleven journalists and one designer work at the Berlin-based trade publication, which is primarily aimed at readers in the municipal sector. The print edition has a monthly circulation of just under 19,000 copies. You can find a selection of the best pages from ZFK here.
photo: private
Strategy
“Liquid Publisher” as a Model for the Media Company of the Future
Marcel Semmler // Chief Product Officer for Global Digital Publishing at Bauer Media, Germany
The volume of content is set to explode. Human attention, however, will not. This has enormous implications for how media companies will generate revenue in the future. With the “Liquid Publisher,” Marcel Semmler outlines a model for the media company of the future. In this model, AI is not viewed as an add-on feature, but is redefined as infrastructure. “The future of media will not be determined by who produces the fastest or the most, but by who structures content the most intelligently,” says Marcel Semmler. As Chief Product Officer for Global Digital Publishing at the Bauer Media Group, he is responsible for the transition to a product-oriented organization and an AI-driven content platform.
photo: Politiken (Berndt & Vendrup)
European Digital Publisher of the Year: Politiken, Denmark
A Model for Successful Digital Transformation
Thomas Berndt // Chief News Editor at Politiken, Denmark
Rasmus Vendrup // Digital and Concept Designer at Politiken, Denmark
Thomas Berndt and Rasmus Vendrup highlight the key steps Politiken has taken to effectively drive digital transformation. The Politiken editorial team has succeeded in establishing a true “digital-first” workflow, shifting resources from print to digital, and reimagining newsroom culture—all while continuing to produce one of the world’s most attractive print newspapers. Thomas Berndt and Rasmus Vendrup use concrete examples to demonstrate how these changes have elevated visual storytelling to a new level—both in major flagship projects and in daily publishing. Thomas Berndt, 45, is Chief News Editor and Managing Online Editor at Politiken. He is responsible for the newsroom organization, daily production, and everything published online. He joined Politiken in 2009 and has been part of the editorial board since 2017. He was one of the main architects of the current editorial workflow, which was introduced in 2023 to establish a fully digital workflow. Rasmus Vendrup, 37, is an award-winning and experienced digital and concept designer who has been working at Politiken for eleven years. His focus is on the magic that can emerge at the intersection of aesthetics and storytelling. For him, every design process is a way to create clarity—while preserving the beauty of not revealing everything at once. Design should enhance the narrative and leave room for interpretation.
photo: Jessica Kassner
SAP Media Young Leaders Forum
Generation AI: Leading without a Blueprint
Friederike Marie Föll // Head of Business Transformation & Strategy at Burda, Germany
Today, media companies operate in an environment of constant change: business models we once considered sustainable are faltering, experimental approaches are becoming the norm, decisions must be made amid high uncertainty, while at the same time new job roles are emerging and content production is becoming increasingly straightforward. Friederike Marie Föll, Head of Business Transformation & Strategy at Burda Verlag, explains how AI is transforming the media industry not only technologically but above all culturally, and how Burda is adapting to these changes.
photo: Kathimerini
European Weekly Newspaper of the Year: Kathimerini, Greece
Insights into an Unconventional Relaunch in the Age of AI
Michalis Tsintsinis // Editor-in-Chief of the Sunday edition of Kathimerini, Greece
The Sunday edition of Kathimerini is Europe’s best weekly newspaper in 2026. This influential Athens-based publication employs 40 journalists, 15 columnists, 7 photographers, and 6 designers and infographic artists. The weekly circulation is 55,000 copies, and its online presence is considered exemplary. Instead of launching a single, highly publicized redesign, a series of incremental changes has been implemented over the past three years. Michalis Tsintsinis, editor-in-chief of the Sunday edition of Kathimerini, explains how the layout, typography, hierarchy, and overall readability have evolved. The Athens-based newspaper views AI “as a unique opportunity for traditional media to reposition themselves as trusted islands of verified information in an increasingly fragmented and unreliable information landscape.” You can find a selection of the best pages from Kathimerini here.
photo: 506.ai
Impulse
The End of the Tech World. Why the Media Industry Is Being Hit the Hardest
Gerhard Kürner // CEO of 506.ai, Austria
AI has broken out of the chat window. The new generation no longer functions as a tool, but as an independent employee: it researches, verifies, and delivers results. For media companies, this means a twofold disruption. It is not only changing how content is created and distributed. With AI agents, new players are emerging in newsrooms and publishing houses, taking on tasks for which there are no longer any humans available. Gerhard Kürner shows why the crucial question is not of a technical nature, but rather: Who dares to be the supervisor of an AI agent? Gerhard Kürner is CEO of 506.ai, the developer of the AI employee Kollega, and co-founder of Choose European.
photo: Kevin Payravi
Impulse
The AI revenue shift: why licensing deals are just the beginning
Ulrike Langer // Trendscout, USA
Publishers who rely solely on content licensing agreements with OpenAI, Google, and others are acting defensively. The real opportunity lies in building their own infrastructure for AI distribution and setting their own rules: with structured data, API-enabled content, and archive monetization. Some media companies are already doing this – they are transforming their content into a platform, selling data points to B2B customers, enabling paid scraping, and creating new products from archive material. Innovation expert Ulrike Langer presents concrete case studies that work.
photo: Wolfgang Koehler
Strategy
The Madsack-Strategy - How Can We Achieve Both Growth and Efficiency?
Thomas Düffert // CEO of Madsack, Germany
“We’re heading toward an economic gap, and the pressure is mounting,” said Madsack CEO Thomas Düffert recently at the “Future of German Media” event in Hanover. The next three to five years alone will determine what the next 30 or 50 years will look like for journalism. In a conversation with “kress pro” Editor-in-Chief Markus Wiegand, Germany’s Media Manager of the Year explains why print will no longer suffice to finance journalism and why we must now grow even faster in the digital realm. Also: Why we must shift our focus away from reach and toward trustworthy brands, and why we should rely on ourselves rather than on media policy in doing so.
photo: Público
European National Newspaper of the Year: Público, Portugal
How much effort is still worth investing in print in the digital age?
David Pontes // Editor-in-Chief of Público, Portugal
Europe’s best national daily newspaper is published in Portugal, and it continues to invest significant effort in its print production. An astonishing amount, in fact, because “online is also developing rapidly and constantly here, which requires agility and the ability to react quickly,” says Editor-in-Chief David Pontes. The truth is that the editorial team at Público succeeds in delivering quality, clarity, and a strong visual identity across all platforms. With its digital edition (54,600 copies) and print edition (8,400 copies), the publication ranks among Portugal’s leading quality media outlets. Público employs 36 journalists, 12 visual journalists (video and photo), and eight layout staff. Over the course of his career, David Pontes headed the Porto editorial office of the Edipress Group, served as editor-in-chief at Comércio do Porto, and was part of the management teams at Público, Jornal de Notícias, and the national news agency Lusa. He has since returned to Público, where he now serves as editor-in-chief. You can find a selection of the best pages from Público here.
photo: Marcus Mainz
Case
AI in Local Journalism – What Really Works
Louisa Riepe, Editor-in-Chief of NOZ, Germany
Artificial intelligence has made its way into journalism—but there is often a wide gap between pilot projects and real added value. What does an initial, reliable assessment look like when AI is not just being tested, but actually used in day-to-day editorial work? Louisa Riepe provides insights into three specific use cases from local journalism: the AI-powered chatbot “frag noz,” which offers users a conversational way to access journalistic content; automated article summaries, which are particularly popular among subscribers; and the use of AI in election coverage. The focus is not only on the products themselves, but above all on the experiences behind them: What worked? Where were the biggest hurdles? And what role will AI play in the future in connecting journalism, product development, and user needs? Louisa Riepe is the editor-in-chief of NOZ. As part of the four-person editorial leadership team at the NOZ/mh:n Media Group, she oversees the local newsrooms in Lower Saxony as well as strategic innovation initiatives. Her areas of focus include the further development of paid content, digital product development, and the use of artificial intelligence in journalism.
photo: Bose Park
AI and audio
Editorial offices and AI: Why we need a common data language
Chris Guse // BosePark, Germany
The unrestrained use of artificial intelligence risks turning newsroom workflows into a patchwork. A growing number of AI tools means a growing number of places where proprietary data is stored. On top of that, costs continue to rise. A sustainable long-term strategy puts the newsroom itself in control as the sovereign owner of its data. Chris Guse demonstrates in practical terms how this can be achieved through an ontology of media production. He is the Managing Director of the Berlin-based podcast production company BosePark, where he developed the concept of a media ontology for production.
photo: met[ads]
SAP Media Young Leaders Forum
AI in Visual Creation: Eliminating Time-Wasters
Lukas Flöer, Founder of 3D specialist Metads, Germany
Designers spend hours realistically rendering shadows, adjusting light sources, or repeating tedious technical steps—work that requires skill but involves no creative decision-making. Lukas Flöer, the successful founder of 3D specialist Metads, and his team work differently: Intelligent software extensions that integrate directly into design tools automate time-consuming processes. The result: High-quality 3D advertising can be produced quickly and at scale. Approaches that also provide valuable assistance in everyday editorial work.
photo: Nilay Aydin
Strategy
The dual-track AI approach at Russmedia
Lena Leibetseder // Head of Digital Publishing, Russmedia, Austria
Russmedia in Austria has established two new AI teams. The first is Russmedia Beta, an AI team for the entire media company. It focuses on a clear proof of concept approach. This involves clarifying at a very early stage whether an idea is feasible before investing extensive resources. Russmedia Beta deals with the identification of relevant use cases, with rapid prototyping through to scaling decisions. The second new venture is VOL.at AI Studio. This AI team serves exclusively the editorial department. AI applications are developed and tested directly from everyday editorial work. To this end, it works very closely with journalists. Lena Leibetseder talks about the working methods and functional logic of the two teams and the consistently experimental proof of concept approach. As Head of Digital Publishing at Russmedia, she presents three specific flagship projects that demonstrate how AI supports journalistic work, improves processes, and creates strategic added value.
photo: private
Practice
AI in News Websites and the Future of Editorial Design
Björn Heselius // Head of the Data Platform at Swedish Radio, Sweden
Many publishers are already using AI-generated content to expand and enrich their storytelling. However, one important question remains: Why isn’t AI also being used in the user experience of news websites? Björn Heselius explores this gap and the opportunities it presents. He also addresses the shift in data journalism and infographics. Instead of fully immersive presentations with large datasets, more and more media outlets are opting for visually striking, carefully curated narratives based on selected, meaningful data points. Heselius presents vivid examples, practical inspiration, and a glimpse into the future of editorial design—along with food for thought for the next wave of innovation in journalism. Björn Heselius is Head of the Data Platform at Swedish Radio in Stockholm and a leading expert in digital transformation and sustainability. He has worked internationally for major media organizations to develop new forms of storytelling and integrate advanced technologies into editorial and product strategies. His work combines design, innovation, and data-driven developments.
photo: Karla Schroeder
SAP Media Young Leaders Forum
How AI-powered journalism can grow even outside the hotspots
Maximilian Helm // Head of the Digital Desk at Sächsische Zeitung, Germany
The German state of Saxony has an aging population, faces economic challenges, and is politically unstable. That is why it needs a different kind of journalism: open-minded, positive, and community-focused, says Maximilian Helm, head of the digital desk at the Sächsische Zeitung. He presents his concept for growth in rural areas: a unique synergy of empathy, local reporting, and AI-driven efficiency.
photo: FUNKE Foto Services Reto Klar
Case
AI and newsletters: How attitude in your inbox becomes a strategic advantage
Pascal Biedenweg // head of digital, FUNKE Medien Berlin/Berliner Morgenpost, Germany
AI can write newsletters faster than any editorial team. But without a recognizable attitude, a newsletter becomes nothing more than a mailing list: efficiently produced, but interchangeable. “An AI text is far from being a journalistic voice, and it doesn't take responsibility either,” says Pascal Biedenweg. The head of digital at FUNKE Medien Berlin / Berliner Morgenpost reports on his experiences from everyday editorial work with concrete examples, mistakes, and lessons learned about how attitude in newsletters becomes a strategic advantage.
photo: Kevin Payravi
Impulse
Build, buy, or be left behind: The new market for AI tools in newsrooms
Ulrike Langer // Trendscout, USA
US newsrooms are building AI tools that don't just work within their own companies – some are being made available as open source for the entire industry, while others generate licensing revenue. European publishers are facing a strategic decision: develop their own tools, adopt what's coming out of the US, or risk falling behind. AI expert Ulrike Langer maps the landscape and provides a decision-making framework for build versus buy.
photo: Pope
Case Podcast
Podcast: The AI-secure market of the future
Stefan Lassnig // Founder & CEO Missing Link Media, Austria
The story of the Goldenstein nuns attracted worldwide attention last year. The international hype was triggered by the Austrian investigative podcast “Die Dunkelkammer” (The Darkroom) by Michael Nikbakshsh and Edith Meinhart. This podcast was co-founded by Stefan Lassnig. His Vienna-based company Missing Link markets “Die Dunkelkammer” and around 100 other Austrian formats. Lassnig's role model is the US, where podcasts have long been reaching impressive user numbers and generating billions in advertising revenue. Is this a development we can also expect in Europe? Stefan Lassnig explains why audio in the context of AI has many exciting aspects for the future of media companies. In 2025, he was named Media Manager of the Year in Austria.
photo: BILD
Case
BILD and Upday: Agents at Work
Dennis Bappert // VP of Engineering, Axel Springer, Germany
Daniel Böcking // Member of the Editorial Board and Head of AI, BILD, Germany
AI is often viewed as a tool, an aid within the existing system. At BILD and Upday, they began early on to use AI not merely as a support tool, but to integrate it deeply into editorial processes. Dennis Bappert and Daniel Böcking provide insight into the development of AI-powered content pipelines, newsroom agents, and new workflows. The focus is on the following questions: How does journalistic responsibility change when AI is more of a colleague than just a tool? What conditions are necessary to generate real added value? And: How does AI not only make us more efficient, but also make our brands better and more valuable from a journalistic perspective?
photo: Annette Milz
Strategy
“The future is already here, but it hasn’t arrived everywhere at the same time”
Richard Socher // CEO of you.com, USA
That’s what Richard Socher says. To assist with research and fact-checking, his company, you.com, has introduced AI agents to numerous media outlets, including dpa in Germany and The Telegraph in the UK. You.com also develops style guides that create or improve texts in the style of the respective medium. “In the future, however, the goal is for almost all articles to be interactive and linked to videos. That keeps people on the site longer,” says Socher. He cites the “New York Times” as a good example: It has already created something like its own little Instagram with a “recommendation system.” Such tools should be part of the basic toolkit for newsrooms, Socher recommends. In a conversation with Annette Milz, he explains how media companies can use AI to make their processes more efficient, improve existing products, and develop new ones. Another topic of discussion will be: What must media do that AI cannot? Richard Socher is one of the world’s leading AI pioneers. Born in Dresden, he served as a professor at Stanford and chief scientist at Salesforce, among other roles, before founding you.com in 2020, which is now valued at approximately $1.5 billion.
photo: Martin Rupik
SAP Media Young Leaders Forum
How AI-Generated Content Works for Gen Z
Niklas Schwab, Kariko Kimathi // Founders of “Hedgefonds Henning,” Germany
Creator Niklas Schwab and his co-founder Kariko Kimathi primarily reach young people through their social media accounts. On Instagram alone, they have 300,000 followers, and 35,000 on TikTok. What’s also unusual is how they engage their young audience—namely, with innovative formats like memes, which they generate largely with the help of AI. The two founders demonstrate how a young media company uses AI not just as a tool, but as a fundamental editorial principle—from concept to publication. They also explain which technology they rely on, how they ensure journalistic quality, and why this approach works particularly well for Gen Z media.
photo: Kevin Payravi
Live-Briefing
AI in newsrooms: what's really happening beyond the hype
Ulrike Langer // Trendscout, USA
Not a keynote speech, but a smaller-scale working briefing. AI expert Ulrike Langer draws on her continuously updated case study database and walks the audience through the most important developments of recent weeks and months. Real numbers, real results, real failures. Questions at any time. What Ulrike Langer does every week for her News Machines newsletter audience – here live, exclusively and condensed for the participants of the European Publishing Congress.
photo: Martin U.K. Lengemann/Welt
Case
How AI Has Transformed Work in the “Welt” Newsroom
Olaf Gersemann // Deputy Editor-in-Chief of “Welt,” Germany
Axel Springer’s “Welt” is one of the leading media brands in the German-speaking world when it comes to the use of artificial intelligence. Olaf Gersemann, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, explains how AI is already providing crucial support in the newsroom—for example, through avatars and voice clones that automatically narrate content and convert it into audio and video formats. He also explains which do-it-yourself tools his team uses and how the Openclaw revolution is further transforming editorial processes.
photo: T Bartilla Future Image
Keynote
AI and journalism: The truth is sacrosanct—even if it looks less spectacular
Stefan Aust // Germany
As editor-in-chief at Der Spiegel, he had to assign the right people to the right topics and come up with the right headlines. “And that was really an art in itself,” says Stefan Aust. He spent hours refining the covers with the head of title graphics. Back then, half of the print run was sold at newsstands, and the cover story, cover image, and headline determined the magazine's success. In his keynote speech, Aust analyzes how the role of the media has changed in the age of social media and AI and how he sees the future of journalism. He will be honored for his life's work at the European Publishing Congress.
photo: La Provincia
European Local Newspaper of the Year: La Provincia, Spain
Excellence at the intersection of local journalism, AI, and design
Adae Santana // Head of Illustration and Infographics at La Provincia, Spain
Europe’s best local newspaper impresses with exceptional achievements at the intersection of local journalism, AI, and design. AI supports the creative work without compromising local identity. Adae Santana, Head of Illustration and Infographics at La Provincia, explains how teams from different regions succeed in implementing unifying visual storytelling. The publication is printed in La Palma with a circulation of 5,100 copies. With 2.5 million unique users, La Provincia has a strong online presence. Its social media figures are also impressive. La Provincia employs 54 journalists, two photographers, and five designers. The publication is part of Prensa Ibérica, a leading media group in the Canary Islands. You can find a selection of the best pages from La Provincia here.
Foto: Tamedia
Case
Journalism: Between Assistance and Loss of Autonomy
Nadia Kohler // Director of AI & Data, Tamedia, Switzerland
AI can now write entire articles—yet many journalists hesitate to fully embrace these possibilities. Why is that? And what role does transparency toward the audience play? Using Article Buddy as an example, Nadia Kohler demonstrates how AI concretely supports journalistic work—from structure to phrasing—and where the boundaries between helpful assistance and loss of control lie in everyday editorial practice. It becomes clear that the introduction of AI is not only a technical challenge, but above all a cultural one.
photo: Harry Bellach
SAP Media Young Leaders Forum
LinkedIn as a Booster for Marketing and Networking
Constantin Kaindl // Founder and Managing Director of wirdenkenlokal, Germany
Constantin Kaindl is the founder and managing director of the wirdenkenlokal portal. He says one of the biggest drivers of his business has been his LinkedIn account. There, he has around 9,000 followers and generates between 700,000 and 900,000 impressions with posts from the Middle Franconia/Nuremberg metropolitan region.
photo: APA/Ian Ehm
Keynote
A World Without Truth – How We Defend Democracy in the New World and Communication Order
Clemens Pig // CEO of Austria Presse Agentur, Austria
Autocrats, tech populists, algorithms, fake news, AI bots: How can we defend our democracy in an information landscape where truth is often nothing more than a rumor? APA CEO Clemens Pig takes us on an expedition through the new world and communication order and shows what matters now: clear rules for social networks—and European media that serve as reliable points of reference in the digital realm. With technological innovation, digital sovereignty, and strategic alliances for democracy.
photo: Kyiv Independent
Case
Building Audience Loyalty in an Era of News Fatigue and War Fatigue
Elsa Court, Audience Development Manager, Kyiv Independent, Ukraine
News organizations around the world are grappling with news fatigue. For the Kyiv Independent, Ukraine’s largest independent English-language media outlet, the challenge is even more daunting. How does the Kyiv Independent approach reporting on a war that has disappeared from international headlines? And how does the team ensure that the stories it tells are read by an international audience? Audience Development Manager Elsa Court discusses practical insights for newsrooms, ranging from finding creative angles to the role of explanatory journalism and cross-media partnerships. The Kyiv Independent was founded five years ago by editors from the Kyiv Post and is considered one of the best and most reputable media outlets in Ukraine.
photo: RP/Krebs
Case
The Acceptance Test: What Our Users Think of AI-Generated Content
Henning Bulka // Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Rheinische Post, Germany
AI can generate content in seconds—but how do our users actually respond when AI isn’t just helping behind the scenes, but becomes a visible part of the product? Henning Bulka, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Rheinische Post in Germany, explains how AI-generated content is evaluated by the audience, what expectations are attached to a journalistic brand in this context—and what questions the editorial team and product team must therefore answer together. The focus is on two applications: AI-generated audio content and the restaurant chatbot Yummy. Henning Bulka shows what signals users have provided and what conclusions the editorial team has drawn from them, which were then directly incorporated into product development and decision-making processes—and which can also serve as lessons for other media companies.
photo: General-Anzeiger
Case
Increased Revenue Per Customer with Premium Subscriptions
Kersten Köhler, Managing Director of General-Anzeiger Bonn, Germany
How can we attract new digital subscribers and retain existing ones? This is a critical issue that concerns everyone. The General-Anzeiger in Bonn has made significant progress in this area. With GA+ Premium, it has been upgrading its existing offering for the past year and generating higher revenues as a result. Some aspects may seem trivial, but they work. For example, the publication has had positive results allowing subscribers to share paid articles and granting access to two people. Managing Director Kersten Köhler explains how customer experience, product logic, monetization, and pricing can be meaningfully integrated. He also discusses specific levers for change and the key lessons learned in the first year of this forward-looking project.