REINVENTING MEDIA BUSINESS

International Ander Forum

About

Boutique, two-day media business event in the heart of Riga that serves as a meeting space for media professionals — managers, innovators, digital experts as well as editors and content writers. The aim of the forum is to bring the media business community together to share, create, and collaborate. Here, we will exchange the latest professional knowledge that will help discover hidden opportunities in the ever-changing media business world.

The forum is organised by The Centre for Media Studies at Stockholm School of Economics in Riga.

Speakers

SPEAKERS 2024
  • Alex Chapko

    GM & Global SVP Alliances
    PIANO
    LinkedIn
  • Katharina Schmidt

    Editor in Chief
    Wiener Zeitung
    LinkedIn
  • Hannah Sarney

    Hannah Sarney

    Editorial Product Director, Executive Editor
    Financial Times
    LinkedIn
  • Milda Petkauskaitė

    Milda Petkauskaitė

    Representative in the Baltics
    Reporters Without Borders
    LinkedIn
  • Jonathan Knight

    Jonathan Knight

    Head of Games
    The New York Times
    LinkedIn
  • Dominik K Cagara

    Dominik Krzysztof Cagara

    Co-founder & CFO
    OC Media
    LinkedIn
  • Sofie Hvivted

    Sofie Hvitved

    Senior Advisor & Head of Media
    Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies, Future Media Hubs
    LinkedIn
  • Samuel Fairburn

    Co-founder
    Flare
    LinkedIn
  • Daniel Flatt

    Co-founder
    Flare
    LinkedIn
  • Cécile SOURD

    General Director
    Mediapart
    LinkedIn
  • Olena Lavruk

    Executive Director
    Inker
    LinkedIn
  • Jakub Parusinski

    Director
    The Fix Media
    LinkedIn
  • Timo Kämäräinen

    Editorial Development Director
    Alma Media
    LinkedIn
  • Magdalena Woods

    Founder and CEO
    Flare
    LinkedIn
  • Jody Doherty-Cove

    Jody Doherty-Cove

    Head of Editorial AI
    Newsquest
    LinkedIn
  • ALYONA NEVMERZHYTSKA

    CEO
    Hromadske.ua
    Learn More
  • MARI LIIS RÜÜTSALU

    CEO
    Ekspress Group
    Learn More
  • Shira Jeczmien

    SHIRA JECZMIEN

    Founder & CEO
    SCREENSHOT Media
    Learn More
  • Sebastian_Katthover

    SEBASTIAN KATTHÖVER

    Head of Audience Development
    Deutsche Welle
    Learn More
  • Daryna Shevchenko

    DARYNA SHEVCHENKO

    CEO
    Kyiv Independent
    Learn More
  • Federica Cherubini

    FEDERICA CHERUBINI

    Director of Leadership Development
    Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
    Learn More
  • Andreas Bengtsson

    ANDREAS BENGTSSON

    Head of Futures Lab
    Schibsted
    Learn More
  • Christofer Ahlqvist

    CHRISTOFER AHLQVIST

    Chief Editor
    Göteborgs-Posten
    Learn More
  • Patrick Boehler

    PATRICK BOEHLER

    Acting Head of Innovation and Audience Engagement
    Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
    Learn More
  • Greg Piechota

    GRZEGORZ PIECHOTA

    Researcher-in-residence
    International News Media Association
    Learn More
  • Konstantins Kuzikovs

    KONSTANTINS KUZIKOVS

    CEO
    Delfi Latvia
    Learn More
  • Charles Minty

    CHARLES MINTY

    Director of Digital Reader Revenues
    The Guardian News and Media
    Learn More
  • Vesa Lindqist

    VESA LINDQVIST

    Strategy and Business Development Manager
    Sanoma Media Finland
    Learn More
  • RAWAN DAMEN

    Director General
    ARIJ (Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism)
    Learn More
  • Tomas Balzekas

    TOMAS BALŽEKAS

    CEO
    15min group
    Learn More
  • CAITLIN CLARKE

    Business Development Director
    Financial Times
    Learn More
  • MARTIN JÖNSSON

    Editorial Development Director
    Bonnier News, Dagens Nyheter
    Learn More
  • LAURA DÖING

    Digital Format and Product Development
    Deutsche Welle (DW)
    Learn More
  • MEELIS MANDEL

    Editor in Chief
    Äripäev
    Learn More
  • MICHAEL KOWALSKI

    Head of Product
    Tortoise Media
    Learn More
  • RICHARD FURNESS

    Managing Director of Consumer Revenues & Publishing
    Guardian
    Learn More
  • KIRILL ARTEMENKO

    Co-founder and CEO
    Paperpaper.ru
    Learn More
  • JOÃO PAULO LUZ

    Digital & Publishing Director
    IMPRESA
    Learn More
  • OLLE ZACHRISON

    Head of Digital News Strategy & Deputy News Commissioner
    Swedish Radio
    Learn More
  • ALEX CHAPKO

    General Manager
    Piano
    Learn More
  • NILS RIISE

    General Manager
    Piano
    Learn More
  • SONALI VERMA

    Director of Business Development
    THE GLOBE AND MAIL
    Learn More
  • GALINA TIMCHENKO

    CER & Publisher
    MEDUZA
    Learn More
  • OLGA RUDENKO

    Editor in Chief
    Kyiv Independent
    Learn More
  • VICTORIA SVANBERG

    Chairman
    NWT Media
    Learn More
  • ROBIN GOVIK

    Director of Development
    Bonnier News
    Learn More
  • WIEBKE MEEDER

    Head of Subscription Growth
    Spiegel
    Learn More
  • KIM PERRY

    Director for International Strategy and Operations
    The New York Times
    Learn More
  • TOMAS BELLA

    Head of Digital
    Denník N
    Learn More
  • RASMUS KLEIS NIELSEN

    Director
    Reuters Institute
    Learn More
  • JEREMY GILBERT

    Director of Strategic Initiatives
    Washington Post
    Learn More
  • RENÉE KAPLAN

    Head of Audience and New Content Strategies
    Financial Times
    Learn More
  • NICHOLAS JOHNSTON

    Editor in chief
    AXIOS
    Learn More
  • ANA JAKIMOVSKA

    VP Product for Content
    Culture Trip, ex Director of Product at the Guardian
    Learn More
  • KARIN PETTERSSON

    Director of public policy
    Schibsted
    Learn More
  • JAMES SAVAGE

    Founder, CEO & Publisher
    The Local
    Learn More
  • IVAN KOLPAKOV

    Co-founder and editor-in-chief
    Meduza.io
    Learn More
  • MARI-LIIS RÜÜTSALU

    CEO
    Ekspress Group
    Learn More
  • RICCARDO TERZI

    Strategic Partnerships
    Google News Initiative
    Learn More
  • DMITRY NAVOSHA

    Founder
    Sports.ru
    Learn More
  • ALESSIO CORNIA

    Research Associate
    Reuters Institute/DCU
    Learn More
  • ANDREW ROLF

    EMEA Director
    Innovation Media Consulting
    Learn More
  • FRANCES UCKERMANN

    Creative Director
    Learn More
  • SASA VUCINIC

    Managing Partner and Co-Founder
    North Base Media
    Learn More
  • VICTORIA SVANBERG

    Chairman
    NWT Media
    Learn More
  • CHANPREET ARORA

    Independent Media Consultant
    Former CEO – VICE Media India | RISJ Fellow, Oxford University
    Learn More
  • DIDZIS MEĻĶIS

    Content Manager
    ManaBalss.lv
    Learn More

agenda 2024

OCTOBER 17

8:00 - 9:00

Registration + coffee ☕️

9:00 - 9:10

Opening remarks by Edgars Spuravs & Jakub Parusinski

9:10 - 9:50

JAKUB PARUSINSKI, Director, The Fix Media, “Rebuilding Ukraine’s Media Business”

The full scale invasion created unprecedented challenges for Ukraine’s media sector, but also opportunities as demand for news skyrocketed. Almost 1000 days in, however, the media sector has been fundamentally damaged. What is needed to ensure its survival, what scenarios to expect and how can it be rebuilt. 

9:50 - 10:30​

CÉCILE SOURD, General Director, Mediapart, “Crafting a Profitable Future for Investigative Journalism: Lessons from Mediapart”

How did Mediapart, an award-winning French investigative outlet, build a successful business model around investigative journalism? Discover the principles and strategies behind Mediapart’s financial health, the trust it has earned from its loyal audience, and its commitment to in-depth public interest journalism.

10:30 - 11:00

KATHARINA SCHMIDT, Editor in Chief, Wiener Zeitung, “From print to pixels: A newspaper‘s digital makeover

Wiener Zeitung, founded in 1703, was the world’s oldest daily print newspaper and struggling with decreasing subscriptions. From July 1st 2023, the paper was discontinued and Wiener Zeitung started a whole new chapter: Quality Journalism was – amongst others – transferred to TikTok and Instagram – with growing and younger audiences. Katharina has been with WZ for more than 20 years, she was Product Owner during the transformation process and is now editor-in-chief. She will share her learnings in the past 2 years.

11:10 - 11:30

☕️ Coffee break

11:30 - 12:10

JONATHAN KNIGHT, Head of Games, The New York Times, “Building Loyalty Through Play: The Role of Games in The New York Times’ Subscriber Engagement”

Jonathan Knight, head of games at NYT, will discuss how games have played a pivotal role in The New York Times’ bundling strategy. By engaging subscribers with both games and news, the NYT has observed significant improvements in long-term subscriber retention. Jonathan will share insights and strategies used to encourage this behavior, highlighting the impact on subscriber loyalty.

12:10 - 12:50

HANNAH SARNEY, Editorial Product Director, Executive Editor, Financial Times “Bridging the Gap: Uniting Editorial and Product for Newsroom Innovation”

What happens when your editorial and product teams speak different languages and operate on conflicting timelines? How do you manage the tension? Hannah will share insights from her newly-created role, where she’s helping to transform the Financial Times into a more cohesive and innovative force. Discover strategies for improving collaboration, breaking down silos, and implementing adaptable solutions that amplify the impact of your journalism.

12:50 - 13:30

DOMINIK KRZYSZTOF CAGARA, Co-founder & CFO, OC Media, “Navigating through the “Foreign Agent Law” in Georgia”

Dominik will delve into the impact of the ‘foreign agent law’  on financial and institutional sustainability, business development, and community building for regional media in the Caucasus.

13:30 - 14:30

🍽️ Lunch break

14:30 - 15:10

OLENA LAVRUK, Executive Director, Inker, “Bridging Media and Art: INKER’s Journey in Transforming Ukrainian Storytelling”

How did INKER, a pioneering Ukrainian social comics magazine, create a unique blend of journalism and art to engage diverse audiences? The mission behind INKER’s vivid, people-centered storytelling, the principles driving its documentary accuracy and artistic reflection, and the strategies to sustain its operations through digital and print, leveraging social media presence to grow the dedicated readership.

15:10 - 15:50

ALEX CHAPKO, GM & Global SVP Alliances, “Beyond the Algorithms: Building Resilience in the Volatile News Media Industry”
In an era where the fortunes of news media are often dictated by external forces—be it algorithm changes by tech giants, shifts in adtech & privacy policies, or global crises—sustainability and predictability remain elusive. Yet, the essential role of journalism in shaping an informed society has never been more critical. Why, then, has this industry struggled to convert its societal value into stable revenue? Drawing on over 12 years of experience in the news media and international business, Alex, in his session, will explores the foundational principles that news organizations must embrace to build resilience and reduce dependency on external platforms. 

15:50 - 16:10

☕️ Coffee break

16:10 - 16:50

MILDA PETKAUSKAITĖ, Representative for the Baltic countries, Reporters Without Borders, Journalism Trust Initiative “Turn accountability into an asset”

The Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI), initiated by RSF and based on an international standard (CW 17493), unites nearly 2,000 media outlets in 85 countries to promote trustworthy journalism. Milda will explore how JTI supports media at various levels, including algorithmic advantages in Microsoft products like Bing and LinkedIn, and legislative backing from 11 states. She will also discuss JTI’s role in curbing misinformation, promoting ethical journalism, and providing rewards such as increased funding opportunities and higher algorithmic rankings for certified outlets.

16:50 - 17:50

Panel discussion “Rethinking Newsroom Mindset: Strategies to Better Adapt to the Ever-Changing Media Environment”. Moderator Aija Krūtaine

17:50 - 19:30

Networking & Drinks

OCTOBER 18

8:30 - 9:10

☕️ Coffee

9:10 - 9:55

SOFIE HVITVED, Senior Advisor & Head of Media, Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies, Future Media Hubs, “Bridging Algorithms and the News Industry”

In her presentation, Sofie will address the current lack of innovation on alternative algorithms (like bridging algorithms) as well as long-term implications and impact of Generative AI on the news industry, emphasizing the need for a flexible mindset leaning into more radical future driven innovation.

9:55 - 10:40

TIMO KÄMÄRÄINEN, Editorial Development, Director Alma Media, “Transforming Newsrooms: Alma Media’s Journey with AI to Boost Efficiency and Creativity”

Timo will discuss how Alma Media is enhancing newsroom efficiency and creativity through the use of artificial intelligence. Alma Media is home to Finland’s largest news outlet, Iltalehti, and the leading financial newspaper, Kauppalehti. Timo will share insights into the tools they have adopted, as well as the successes and challenges encountered during this ongoing transformation.

10:40 - 11:00

☕️ Coffee break

11:00 - 11:45

JODY DOHERTY-COVE, Head of Editorial AI, Newsquest, “AI-Powered Newsrooms: Newsquest’s Strategy for Local Journalism”

As Head of Editorial AI, Jody leads a team of AI-assisted journalists at Newsquest. Jody will share how one of the largest regional news publishers in the UK, with a portfolio of more than 250 local news brands and magazines and an online audience of 41 million users a month, has integrated AI to free up their journalists for on-the-ground reporting.

11:45 - 13:00

WORKSHOP: How journalism can benefit from AI

By:
DANIEL FLATT, Co-founder, Flare
MAGDALENA WOODS, Founder and CEO, Flare
SAMUEL FAIRBURN, Co-founder, Flare

This workshop will offer the editors and publishers the opportunity to see that AI does not have to be a threat to the industry – quite the opposite. Flare data will showcase how its customers, such as the Financial Times, are using its insight-generation tool to increase productivity, save time on tedious data analysis, spark unique news leads and experiment with new commercial models without taking expensive risks.

Read more about FLARE here: https://www.flaredata.ai/about 

 

13:00 - 14:00

Closing remarks + Lunch 🍽️

Tickets

INCLUDING COFFEE BREAKS + LUNCH FOR BOTH DAYS + EVENING RECEPTION

A minimal participation fee is applied, so that we can cover basic expenses of the event – travel and accommodation for speakers, venue hire, lunch and coffee breaks and evening reception. By purchasing the ticket you contribute to the event and the community building amongst media professionals in the region.

EARLY BIRD

Will be announced shorty

€249

REGULAR FEE

Will be announced shorty

€349

GROUP TICKET

Will be announced shorty.
6 or more people from one organisation/media

€129

Scholarships

Not available

Venue

Reinventing Media Business Forum will take place at the STOCKHOLM SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS IN RIGA, a leading business school in the Baltics. It is located in the heart of the famous historical art-nouveau district in the capital of Latvia.

ADDRESS
Stockholm School of Economics in Riga,
Strelnieku Street 4a, Riga (Latvia)

Partners

International Ander forum is proudly organised by
Our partners
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