The World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) today announced the launch of the NextGen AI Leaders Programme, a tuition-free, 12-week initiative aimed at equipping emerging leaders in the news industry with the skills to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. Applications open February 25th and close March 15th, 2026.
The programme, supported by the Google News Initiative (GNI), will select 24 news executives between the ages of 25 and 40 currently holding leadership positions – in product, audience, commercial, or editorial departments – within small, mid-sized, or local news organizations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). WAN-IFRA CEO Stig Ørskov emphasized the programme’s importance in fostering a diverse leadership base capable of responsibly integrating AI into news operations. “To take full advantage of the opportunities AI provides news publishers, we need a strong and diverse leadership today and especially tomorrow,” Ørskov stated. “WAN-IFRA is proud to support those rising through the ranks to lead the charge in using AI to ensure journalistic excellence and resilient news media businesses.”
The NextGen AI Leaders Programme is designed as an “applied experimentation journey,” according to WAN-IFRA, where participants will tackle real-world management challenges through structured coursework and mentorship. The curriculum will combine both live and online sessions, with a focus on unlocking innovation and building AI fluency. Google News Initiative’s support will include training sessions led by experts on Google’s AI products and their application across various newsroom functions.
Jaffer Zaidi, VP Global News Partnerships at Google, highlighted the ongoing commitment of the GNI to supporting the news industry’s adaptation to technological shifts. “As people’s preferences and technology evolve, we are continuing our long-standing commitment to helping journalists and publishers adapt to these types of shifts,” Zaidi said. “Our latest collaboration with WAN-IFRA builds on years of partnership, now focusing on upskilling the next generation of news leaders to employ AI tools for deeper audience engagement and digital storytelling.”
The programme will be facilitated by Anita Zielina, CEO of Better Leaders Lab, and Kaveh Waddell and Patrick Swanson, co-founders of the AI consulting lab Verso. Zielina’s expertise lies in organizational change, strategy, and leadership development, while Waddell and Swanson specialize in AI training, product design, and implementation for newsrooms and non-profit organizations.
The inaugural cohort will commence on April 14th, 2026, with an in-person leadership workshop held in conjunction with WAN-IFRA’s Frankfurt AI Forum. Participants will be expected to design AI system prototypes and workflows during the programme, intended for implementation upon their return to their respective newsrooms. Graduates will also have the opportunity to participate in WAN-IFRA’s World News Media Congress, scheduled to take place in Marseille, France, from June 1st to 3rd.
WAN-IFRA, which represents 18,000 publications in 120 countries, has formal representative status at the United Nations, UNESCO, and the Council of Europe. Inquiries regarding the NextGen AI Leaders Programme can be directed to Kevin Anderson, Director, Digital Revenue Network, WAN-IFRA, at [email protected].
