FT Strategies

🗣️ FT Strategies Director Lisa MacLeod is speaking today at Arc XP 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻. The event brings together senior media leaders to discuss practical strategies for building sustainable revenue, growing subscriptions and strengthening audience relationships in a rapidly changing market. Lisa will speak on “𝗔 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗿𝗮”, exploring how media organisations can adapt as traditional traffic-driven growth models come under increasing pressure. The session will examine the structural changes required to build sustainable, high-value audience relationships, from leveraging first-party data and dynamic paywalls to strengthening audience engagement and operational efficiency. Attendees will gain practical insights into how publishers can build more resilient, self-sustaining revenue ecosystems in a rapidly evolving media landscape. 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 👉 https://lnkd.in/eJ4iW2Ch If you're attending the event and would like to meet with us, please DM Lisa MacLeod. We look forward to seeing you there! #ArcXPConnect #ReaderRevenue #AudienceEngagement #DigitalTransformation #MediaInnovation

💡 In this month’s newsletter, we explore one of the defining questions facing the news industry today: 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗿𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗜? While many newsroom leaders recognise that future success depends on stronger audience relationships, editorial differentiation and more adaptive ways of working, our latest research suggests that turning those ambitions into action remains a challenge. Drawing on insights from 448 newsroom leaders across 86 countries, the 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆, produced in partnership with WAN-IFRA, the World Association of News Publishers, and supported by Arc XP, examines how well news organisations are prepared for the future. One finding stood out: 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟭% of newsrooms begin commissioning around a defined audience need or specific audience group, highlighting the gap between audience-first aspirations and day-to-day newsroom practice. We also invite you to join our 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝟭 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆, where we'll unpack the findings in more detail alongside expert guest speakers and discuss what they mean for newsroom leaders navigating the future. 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 👉 https://lnkd.in/gp9i88jG 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 👉 https://lnkd.in/eiD_HMJ3 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 👇

What does the future newsroom look like? To answer that question, we wanted evidence, not assumptions. That is why WAN-IFRA, the World Association of News Publishers, in partnership with FT Strategies and supported by Arc XP, initiated The Future Newsrooms Study 2026. Drawing on responses from 448 newsroom leaders across 86 countries, this is one of the most comprehensive global examinations of newsroom transformation undertaken. The study is further enriched by interviews with editors, strategists, executives and AI leaders from across the news industry. The findings - presented at the World News Media Congress in Marseille last week - reveal an industry that understands where it needs to go, but is still working to close the gap between ambition and execution. Among the most significant findings: - Audience engagement has emerged as the leading strategic priority for newsrooms, overtaking reach as the most commonly selected goal for 2026. - Yet while many organisations talk about audience-first journalism, only 21% of newsrooms begin story development with a clearly defined audience need or audience group. Most still build stories for a primary channel first and adapt them elsewhere. - Editorial growth depends as much on discipline as revenue. Newsrooms that regularly discontinue low-impact initiatives are nearly twice as likely to report editorial budget growth. - Trust is increasingly built through direct audience relationships, but reporters spend only 11% of their time on post-publication activities such as community engagement, compared with 38% on production. - AI adoption is accelerating, but primarily as an efficiency tool. Time saved is the most commonly used measure of success. - The biggest obstacles to AI transformation are not technological. Newsroom leaders identified skills gaps (61%), cultural resistance (52%) and unclear use cases (45%) as the three biggest barriers to adoption. Beyond the survey findings, the report highlights practical examples of newsroom innovation from publishers including the Financial Times, Bonnier News, Grupo RBS, Stuff and Tagesspiegel. To guide the research, we assembled a 10-member international advisory board that reads like a who's who of global journalism, media innovation and newsroom leadership. The board included David Walmsley, Dmitry Shishkin, François Nel, Gina Chua, Hannah Sarney, Jim Egan, Dr. Joe Ageyo - PhD, Lyn-Yi Chung, Phoebe Connelly and Renée Kaplan. Their collective expertise helped shape the research questions, challenge assumptions and interpret the findings. What characterises the world's most successful news organisations is a relentless commitment to evolving their newsrooms to meet ever-growing audience expectations. My hope is that this study becomes more than a report. We intend it to be the beginning of an ongoing global benchmark that newsroom leaders can use to compare progress, challenge assumptions and learn from one another. Cherilyn Ireton Lisa MacLeod

👏 A huge thank you to WAN-IFRA for hosting another inspiring World News Media Congress. It was a privilege to join so many leaders from across the global news media industry to exchange ideas, discuss challenges and explore the opportunities shaping the future of journalism. One of the highlights for us was launching the 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, created in partnership with WAN-IFRA, the World Association of News Publishers, and supported by Arc XP. This inaugural research report explores how news organisations are redesigning operating models, embedding AI into editorial workflows, and building the skills, structures and capabilities needed for the next era of journalism. If you haven't had a chance to read it, download here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dpbPuZVz Thank you to everyone who contributed to the report, attended our sessions or shared their perspectives throughout the week. The openness, curiosity and exchange of ideas are what make events like these so valuable: Cherilyn Ireton, Stig Kirk Ørskov, David Walmsley, Márta Kovács, Jens Pettersson, Adriaan Basson, Jazmín Acuña, Cormac Bourke, Astrid Maier, Phil Chetwynd, Rosalia Lloret, Jessica E. Davis, Hajime Ozaki, Hannah Sarney, Ros Atkins, Laurent Frisch, Renée Kaplan, Henriette Loubser, Aleksandra Sobczak, Liz Corbin, Gina Chua, Dmitry Shishkin, Catherine Vieira, François Nel, Stuart Duncan, Dominic Stas, Bednar Petr, Győri Izabella, Tímea Lipták, Róbert Vági, Ioana Blaut, Robert B., Jim Egan, Dr. Joe Ageyo - PhD, Lyn-Yi Chung, Phoebe Connelly #WNMC26 #FutureNewsrooms #MediaInnovation #DigitalTransformation #AudienceEngagement #NewsMedia #EditorialStrategy

Pleased to announce the launch of the Future Newsrooms Study 2026, a new global benchmark from FT Strategies, in partnership with WAN-IFRA and supported by Arc XP. This report is based on survey responses from 448 newsroom leaders across 86 countries, along with interviews with editorial and executive leaders worldwide. It addresses a crucial question for the industry: how can news organisations define, protect, and operationalise editorial value in an age of content abundance? Key findings reveal that the industry is at a turning point. Newsrooms recognize the need to become more audience-led, distinctive, and better prepared for the AI era. However, many face structural, cultural, and organisational barriers that hinder change. The report identifies four key gaps shaping newsroom transformation: 1. The strategy gap — integrating editorial priorities into daily decision-making 2. The audience trust gap — fostering trust through transparency, expertise, and participation 3. The capability gap — adjusting structures, workflows, and decision-making for the AI era 4. The skills gap — cultivating the capabilities modern newsrooms require, including AI literacy, audience intelligence, and multiplatform storytelling This comprehensive study combines global data, strategic frameworks, case studies, and practical implications for news organisations rethinking their operations in a rapidly evolving information landscape. Download the report here: https://lnkd.in/gX8PRJgw

🗣️ FT Strategies Director Adriana Menezes Whiteley is speaking today at 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲: 𝗔𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗜. Adriana will present 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗗𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲: 𝗔𝗜, 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, exploring how AI is reshaping the creation, distribution and consumption of information, and why provenance, editorial control and trust remain critical as publishing evolves towards content as a service. She will also join the panel discussion 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗜: 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁, 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗔𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱, alongside: 🔹 Dow Jones VP Business & Content Strategy Joanna Appleton 🔹 MT Newswires Founder & CEO Brooks McFeely 💬 Moderated by RavenPack CEO & Co-founder Armando Gonzalez The discussion will examine how publishers and content providers are protecting editorial standards and maintaining audience trust while adapting to a world where AI increasingly sits between information and its end users. If you're attending the event and would like to meet with us, please DM Adriana Menezes Whiteley. We look forward to seeing you there! #Exponential2026 #AIInMedia #FinancialInformation #TrustedContent #MediaInnovation

🌟 FT Strategies, in partnership with WAN-IFRA, the World Association of News Publishers and supported by Arc XP, is delighted to introduce our inaugural 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆. This landmark global benchmark examines how news organisations are redefining editorial strategy, audience relationships and newsroom capabilities in response to changing audience behaviours, AI disruption and an increasingly abundant information environment. Drawing on survey data from 𝟰𝟰𝟴 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝟴𝟲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, insights from a 10-member international advisory board and interviews with editorial and executive leaders worldwide, the study addresses a defining question for the industry: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲? 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁: 🔹 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝗚𝗮𝗽: Why many newsrooms struggle to turn strategy into everyday editorial decisions. 🔹 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗚𝗮𝗽: How trust, transparency and audience engagement are reshaping journalism. 🔹 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗚𝗮𝗽: Why newsroom structures and workflows can hinder transformation and innovation. 🔹 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗽: The key capabilities modern newsrooms need, from AI literacy to multiplatform storytelling. Combining global survey data, strategic frameworks, newsroom case studies and practical implications for organisations reconsidering how they operate in a rapidly changing information environment. 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 to discover what is holding newsrooms back, where the greatest opportunities lie and how leading organisations are turning strategy into everyday practice 👉 https://lnkd.in/dVKEt4K8 With special thanks to the 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 for supporting our 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆: David Walmsley, Dmitry Shishkin, François Nel,Gina Chua, Hannah Sarney, Jim Egan, Dr. Joe Ageyo - PhD, Lyn-Yi Chung, Phoebe Connelly,