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Panel 3: Beyond Survival: A Strategy for Journalism in the Age of AI

Marina Pita, Director, Digital Policies Secretariat at Secom
Kate Skinner, Executive Director, Association of Independent Publishers in South Africa
Wahyu Dhyatmika, CEO, Info Media Digital and Chairman, Indonesian Cyber Media Association (AMSI)
Irene Jay Liu, Director of AI, Emerging Tech and Regulation, International Fund for Public Interest Media
Michael Power, Director and Co-founder of ALT Advisory in South Africa
Moderated by Sbu Ngalwa, Chairman of the South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF)

This session examined efforts to support the sustainability of journalism and regulate AI tools in Brazil, South Africa, and Indonesia. Panelists emphasized the shift in society’s relationship with journalism, calling for a renewed understanding of the industry grounded in legal, political, and technological frameworks. Participants called for open- source solutions and collective strategies to empower media actors.

Panel 8: Information is power: the need for more research

Sérgio Ludtke, President, Instituto Para o Desenvolvimento do Jornalismo (Projor)
Luciana Cardoso,Media Business Advisor, Media Development Investment Fund
Paula Miraglia, Founder and CEO, Momentum – Journalism and Tech Task Force
Lucía Camacho, Public Policy Coordinator, Derechos Digitales
Moderated by Verônica Lima, Communications Coordinator, Associação de Jornalismo Digital (Ajor)
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This session highlighted the pressing need for more data and research on media consumption, particularly among younger audiences. Panelists pointed out that most newsrooms in Latin America lack both the culture and the resources to conduct user research, which hinders their ability to innovate and effectively respond to audience needs. Paula Miraglia emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in identifying information deserts and developing tools that enable media outlets to understand and expand their reach.

Panel 1: Journalism & Tech: Lessons from the Past, Solutions for the Future

Samira Castro, President, Brazilian National Federation of Journalists (FENAJ)
Michael Markovitz, Director, GIBS Media Leadership Think Tank in South Africa
Natalia Viana, Executive Director, Agência Pública
Moderated by Laís Martins, Journalist and Researcher

In this session, media practitioners and experts from Brazil and South Africa assessed the evolving landscape for journalism amid technological disruption. They reflected on previous successes and shortcomings, drawing some essential lessons for building a fairer relationship between media and tech platforms. Michael Markovitz emphasized that the collapse of the ad-based model and structural asymmetries with big techs demand bold regulatory frameworks and increased public funding. Natalia Viana called for international collaboration among media actors in the Global South and emphasized the importance of ensuring sustainability while maintaining editorial independence.