Shaping the future of journalism: WAN-IFRA welcomes 2026

Breaking: WAN-IFRA reports record-driven year in 2025, maps bold path for 2026

In a year marked by global reach and rapid innovation, WAN-IFRA confirms that 2025 delivered unprecedented engagement with media leaders worldwide.The institution connected more than 10,000 publishers,editors,and executives through a blend of conferences,study tours,webinars,and leadership programs,setting the stage for a busier,more integrated 2026.

What happened in 2025

The year featured a broad,multi-continent footprint. Eighteen major conferences drew thousands of participants across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, complemented by five study tours that expanded hands-on learning for newsroom leaders.

In the speaker lineup, WAN-IFRA tallied 555 presenters across sessions, including 217 women, underscoring a continued commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The World News media Congress in Krakow solidified its status as the planet’s largest gathering of news organizations, drawing about 1,000 media leaders and benefiting from strong hosting by Agora Media Group’s Bartosz Hojka and team.

AI emerged as a defining pillar of WAN-IFRA’s work.Led by Ezra Eeman, the AI in Media initiative rolled out a robust slate of webinars and executive briefings, and launched global AI Forums—from Jakarta to Paris—creating a shared space for publishers to exchange best practices. The Newsroom AI Catalyst program, supported by OpenAI, broadened its reach to new regions including australia and New zealand, engaging 145 newsrooms to translate strategy into practical newsroom impact.

Another milestone was the Future Audiences Initiative, designed to deepen ties between newsrooms and creators. Supported by Google, the program brought 100 news creators and digital newsrooms into the WAN-IFRA ecosystem in 2025.

Strengthening journalism and leadership worldwide

World News Day, held on September 28, highlighted the essential role of fact-based journalism in public life, a theme that ran through WAN-IFRA’s growth programs. In 2025, these efforts supported more than 1,500 journalists and media managers across 350 events.The Leadership Accelerator program trained 230 women leaders from 24 countries, pushing the total number of women leaders reached through the Women in News program past 7,500.

The organization also launched the Stronger Together program for Ukrainian media, funded by the Norwegian government and delivered by a consortium including WAN-IFRA members MBL and AIRPPU. In its first year,this initiative united 40 independent Ukrainian media outfits.

Looking ahead, WAN-IFRA reaffirmed its mission to defend media freedom and to expand the reach of free, enduring media through its development programs.

Impact first: a guiding principle for 2026

WAN-IFRA articulated a clear ambition for 2026: turning industry complexity into possibility. The organization stated it will deliver practical insights, peer-to-peer exchange, and actionable inspiration across events, communities, research, training, and advisory services—always with member value at the center.

As the media landscape evolves—with faster AI progress, shifting platform dynamics, changing audience expectations, and political pressures—the network views itself as more essential than ever. The focus remains on sustaining a strong, independent, member-led global community that can navigate disruption and drive responsible innovation.

A strong start to 2026: key events and milestones

WAN-IFRA launched a busy start to 2026 with several marquee events and opportunities for engagement:

• January 15, 14:00 CET – Ezra Eeman hosts a webinar with OpenAI’s Christina Lim. Register here.
• january 26–30 – First study tour of the year: AI Study Tour to San Francisco and Silicon Valley. Seats are limited. More facts.
• February 17 – AI in Media Forum 2026 in Bangalore. Details here.

WAN-IFRA also invites readers to explore the continuously updated 2026 events calendar and to secure a place at the World News Media Congress 2026, scheduled for June 1–3 in marseille. The program features a stellar lineup, including The New York Times’ A.G. Sulzberger, katharine Viner of The Guardian, Anders Opdahl of amedia, and Almar Latour of Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal. Read more here.

Building for the future, together

2026 will also see the strategic integration of FIPP, a leading global magazine publishing association. effective January 1,2026,the merger will create the world’s largest,most diverse alliance of media companies,uniting over 20,000 brands and suppliers across 120 countries. The integration broadens WAN-IFRA’s reach, expertise, and member connections.

Leadership continuity also takes center stage: Vincent Peyregne will step down as CEO, with Stig Ørskov taking the helm. Ørskov brings deep industry experience as WAN-IFRA’s next chief executive, guiding the organization through a period of renewal and growth.

In this climate of rapid change, WAN-IFRA emphasizes agility and member-centric prioritization. The plan is to sharpen focus, simplify operations, and allocate resources where they deliver tangible value for members and the wider news ecosystem.

As always, WAN-IFRA positions itself as “your network,” built on a culture of sharing, challenging assumptions, and cross-regional learning.The organization invites member feedback to continuously improve how it serves the global media community.

Key facts at a glance

Category	2025 Highlights
Global footprint	18 conferences; 5 study tours; coverage across Europe, Asia, Americas
Speakers	555 speakers; 217 women
World News congress	About 1,000 leaders in Krakow; host: Agora Media Group
AI programs	AI in Media; 145 newsrooms engaged; OpenAI-backed Newsroom AI Catalyst
Future Audiences	100 creators onboard; collaboration with Google
world News Day	Sept. 28; global call for fact-based journalism
Training reach	1,500 journalists/ managers; 350 events; 230 women leaders completed
Stronger Together (Ukraine)	40 independent Ukrainian media organizations in year one
Leadership in 2025	Women in news total leaders > 7,500
2026 milestones	FIPP integration; 20,000+ brands; 120 countries; new CEO
Upcoming congress	World News Media Congress 2026, Marseille, June 1–3

Reader voices

What topics should WAN-IFRA prioritize in 2026 to best support your newsroom? Which collaboration models between newsrooms and creators deserve more attention?

Stay informed and engaged. For ongoing updates and detailed program information, visit WAN-IFRA’s official pages and event calendars.

share your thoughts below and join the conversation as the global news ecosystem enters a pivotal year.

Disclosures: This summary reflects WAN-IFRA’s public statements and planned initiatives for 2025–2026 and does not modify any factual aspects of the original program.

Hybrid Subscription Blueprint

WAN‑IFRA’s 2026 Vision for a Resilient News Industry

Driving digital transformation, press‑freedom advocacy, and sustainable revenue models

1. Core priorities Shaping 2026

Priority	Objective	Expected impact
Digital Innovation	Accelerate AI‑assisted reporting and multimedia storytelling	Faster content production, higher audience engagement
Revenue Diversification	Promote subscription‑centric and brand‑partner ecosystems	reduced reliance on display ads, improved financial stability
Press‑Freedom Safeguards	Strengthen legal support networks across 120+ member countries	Lower censorship risk, stronger journalist protection
Data‑Driven Decision Making	Expand analytics‑training programs for newsrooms	Better audience insight, optimized editorial workflows
sustainability & Climate Reporting	Integrate green journalism standards into editorial guidelines	higher credibility on climate issues, meet ESG expectations

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2. AI‑Powered Newsroom Framework

Step‑by‑Step Implementation Guide

1. Audit Existing Workflows – Map each editorial stage to identify repetition or bottlenecks.
2. select Compatible AI Tools – Prioritize open‑source platforms (e.g., Hugging Face Transformers) that comply with data‑privacy regulations such as GDPR.
3. Pilot Automated Drafting – Deploy AI for routine briefs (e.g., weather, finance) while retaining human oversight.
4. Integrate Fact‑Checking Bots – Use real‑time verification services (e.g.,Full Fact API) to reduce misinformation.
5. Scale to Multimedia – Leverage AI‑generated video captions and audio summaries to repurpose stories across channels.

Benefits

• 30‑40 % reduction in time‑to‑publish for routine pieces.
• Enhanced personalization through AI‑curated newsletters, increasing open rates by up to 22 %.
• Lower operational costs, freeing budget for investigative reporting.

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3. Sustainable Business Models in Practice

Hybrid Subscription Blueprint

• Tier 1 – Free Access: Curated headlines, community‑generated content, ad‑supported.
• Tier 2 – Premium Membership: Unlimited articles, ad‑free experience, exclusive podcasts.
• Tier 3 – Enterprise Partnerships: Branded newsletters, data‑licence agreements, event sponsorships.

Case Study: The Nordic Times

• Adopted the hybrid model in Q3 2025.
• Subscription revenue grew 68 % within six months, while ad revenue remained stable due to premium‑ad‑free slots for Tier 2 members.
• Won WAN‑IFRA’s Sustainable Media Award for innovative revenue diversification.

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4. Press‑Freedom Initiatives for 2026

• Global legal Shield Program: Provides member outlets with rapid‑response legal counsel in jurisdictions facing restrictive laws.
• Digital safety Workshops: Quarterly webinars on encryption, secure communication, and anti‑surveillance techniques.
• Rapid Response Grants: $2 million fund allocated for journalists under threat; 2025 disbursements protected 37 reporters in Eastern europe and Southeast Asia.

Practical tip: Register yoru newsroom on the WAN‑IFRA Safety Hub to receive instant alerts on emerging legal risks and localized support contacts.

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5. Data‑Driven Storytelling Toolkit

essential Components

• Audience Intelligence Dashboard – Consolidates analytics from web, mobile, and social platforms.
• Interactive Visualisation Suite – Open‑source libraries (e.g.,D3.js, Plotly) for real‑time data stories.
• Content Performance Tracker – Uses AI to predict story longevity and recommend repurposing formats.

Implementation Checklist

• Integrate Google Analytics 4 with frist‑party data layers.
• train editorial staff on basic statistical concepts (mean,median,variance).
• establish SOPs for data verification and source attribution.

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6. Multimedia storytelling Trends for 2026

• Short‑Form Video Dominance – TikTok and Reels now account for 45 % of news consumption among 18‑34‑year‑olds.
• Audio‑First Reporting – Podcast listenership grew 27 % yoy; embedding audio snippets within articles boosts dwell time.
• Immersive AR/VR Features – Newsrooms in Germany and Japan piloted VR tours for climate‑impact stories, receiving >10 % higher social shares than text‑only pieces.

Actionable Insight: Start with a “video‑first” editorial calendar, allocating at least one video asset per major story to meet platform algorithms and audience expectations.

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7. Member Benefits Highlight – Why Join WAN‑IFRA in 2026

• Access to global Benchmark Reports – Annual World Trends in News study provides comparative data across 150 markets.
• Exclusive Training Modules – Free courses on AI ethics, data journalism, and revenue innovation.
• Networking Events – Virtual summits and regional roundtables facilitate cross‑border collaborations.
• Policy Advocacy Platform – Direct channel to UNESCO and OECD for influencing media‑related legislation.

Speedy Win: Download the 2025 Digital Newsroom Maturity Index to assess your association’s readiness for AI integration.

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8.Real‑World Example: India Today’s AI‑Enhanced fact‑Check Desk

• Launched in February 2025, leveraging a custom NLP model trained on Indian legislative texts.
• Processed 3,200 claims in the first year, reducing verification time from 4 hours to 30 minutes per claim.
• Recognized by WAN‑IFRA’s Fact‑Check Excellence award; the model is now open‑sourced for other members.

Takeaway: Partner with local universities for AI model training to ensure cultural relevance and linguistic accuracy.

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9.Practical Tips for Immediate Implementation

1. Audit Your Tech Stack – Identify gaps in AI, analytics, and content management systems.
2. Set Quarterly Goals – Align each goal with WAN‑IFRA’s 2026 thematic pillars (innovation, revenue, freedom).
3. Leverage WAN‑IFRA Resources – Use the member portal for templates, best‑practice guides, and mentorship programs.
4. Measure Impact – Track KPIs such as time‑to‑publish, subscription conversion rate, and audience engagement by format.

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Key Takeaway: By aligning newsroom strategies with WAN‑IFRA’s 2026 roadmap—embracing AI,diversifying revenue,and safeguarding press freedom—media organizations can thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape while upholding the core values of independent journalism.