REINVENTING MEDIA BUSINESS
September 17-18, 2025
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.
“We entered new technological and geopolitical eras that are going to define news publishers’ business models and their relevance for the next decade. How do we adapt? By learning from the best. This year’s Reinventing Media Business will focus on practical case studies on revenue models that work and excel, AI adoption that’s making a real impact, and press resilience in the new geopolitical reality.”
Zakhar Protsiuk, Forum Director, COO at the Kyiv Independent
What to Expect
Expert insights: Powerhouse sessions with leading European media innovators
Inspiring case studies: Real-world examples that spark new ideas
Relatable experiences: Honest stories from peers in the field
Useful connections: Meet collaborators, mentors, and future partners
Speakers
SPEAKERS 2025*
Sheetal Puri
Senior Director, Digital FundraisingWikimedia Foundation
Rosalía Lloret
CEOelDiario.esZakhar Protsiuk
Forum Director, COOKyiv IndependentMatthew Harrison
Head of Media ProductsABC NyheterLea Korsgaard
Co-Founder and Editor-in-ChiefZetlandTomáš Bella
Co-founder and Chief Digital OfficerDenník NJakub Parusinski
DirectorThe Fix Media
SPEAKERS 2024
Alex Chapko
GM & Global SVP AlliancesPIANOKatharina Schmidt
Editor in ChiefWiener ZeitungHannah Sarney
Editorial Product Director, Executive EditorFinancial TimesMilda Petkauskaitė
Representative in the BalticsReporters Without BordersJonathan Knight
Head of GamesThe New York TimesDominik Krzysztof Cagara
Co-founder & CFOOC MediaSofie Hvitved
Senior Advisor & Head of MediaCopenhagen Institute for Future Studies, Future Media HubsSamuel Fairburn
Co-founderFlareDaniel Flatt
Co-founderFlareCécile SOURD
General DirectorMediapartOlena Lavruk
Executive DirectorInkerJakub Parusinski
DirectorThe Fix MediaTimo Kämäräinen
Editorial Development DirectorAlma MediaMagdalena Woods
Founder and CEOFlareJody Doherty-Cove
Head of Editorial AINewsquest
SPEAKERS 2023
FEDERICA CHERUBINI
Director of Leadership DevelopmentReuters Institute for the Study of JournalismLearn MorePATRICK BOEHLER
Acting Head of Innovation and Audience EngagementRadio Free Europe/Radio LibertyLearn More
SPEAKERS 2022
SPEAKERS 2020
*The full programme schedule and list of speakers will be available in early summer.
agenda 2024
OCTOBER 17
Registration + coffee ☕️
Opening remarks by Edgars Spuravs & Jakub Parusinski
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.
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.
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.
☕️ Coffee break
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.
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.
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.
🍽️ Lunch break
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.
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.
☕️ Coffee break
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.
Panel discussion “Rethinking Newsroom Mindset: Strategies to Better Adapt to the Ever-Changing Media Environment”. Moderator Aija Krūtaine
Networking & Drinks
OCTOBER 18
☕️ Coffee
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.
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.
☕️ Coffee break
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.
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.
Closing remarks + Lunch 🍽️
Tickets
INCLUDING COFFEE BREAKS + LUNCH + 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
When purchased before
July 2, 2025
REGULAR FEE
Once EARLY BIRD
tickets are sold
GROUP TICKET
For six or more people from one organisation*
Scholarships
Not available
*Payment by invoice is available as well.
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
