11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. (Hong Kong time)

Gain insights into strategic emerging priorities shaping the news media system and how these translate into actionable insights.

11:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. (Hong Kong time)

Welcome and introductions

This forum will examine how news media companies are navigating disruption through agile operations, sustainable models, and focused growth. It will bring together industry stakeholders to assess priorities, surface practical case studies, and consider INMA’s role in driving transformation across the region.

Madhavi Sekhri, Head, INMA South Asia Division and Lead Strategy & Special Projects for APAC, India

Setting the context

Engage with the key challenges facing news media and help shape practical solutions for industry leaders. With a focus on monetisation and growth, explore emerging business models, revenue diversification, audience strategy, and product innovation. Gain insights into tools and technologies to meet evolving consumer demands, and examine how digital transformation, Gen AI, and upskilling can drive long-term impact.

Karmina Constantino Torres, News Anchor, ABS- CBN, Philippines

11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. (Hong Kong time)

The new priorities of news media

This opening keynote explores the shifting strategic priorities of the global news media industry, with a focus on where business model innovation and generative AI fit in. It offers a clear view of the challenges and opportunities ahead, the pace of digital transformation, and what future success looks like. Discover how media leaders are navigating the balance between sustainable journalism and maintaining meaningful societal impact.

Earl J. Wilkinson, Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer, INMA, United States

11:45 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. (Hong Kong time)

Driving subscriptions and engagement with AI: The UDN playbook

In this session, discover how United Daily News leverages AI and data to strengthen its subscription strategy, boost reader engagement, and drive sustainable revenue—drawing on insights from the globally recognised Curate X program in reader revenue and newsroom innovation. The session will also explore Publish X, UDN’s initiative using AI to support real-time news planning and editorial decision- making.

Amelie Lin, Director of Data Development, United Daily News Group, Taiwan

12:10 p.m. - 12:35 p.m. (Hong Kong time)

The quiet power of perspective: How Stuff is driving product transformation

In this session learn about how viewing things with a fresh lens at a 160-year-old organisation with deep print roots and a fast-changing digital future, drives change. Gain insights into how questioning assumptions, reframing challenges, and aligning perspectives has helped shape Stuff’s product transformation from redefining its platform vision to building a roadmap that connects short-term revenue needs with long-term growth. Discover how “quiet” shifts in perspective can unlock alignment, bridge legacy and innovation, and lay the foundation for bold, sustainable change.

Kyla Tawa, Head of Product at Masthead Publishing, Stuff, New Zealand

12:35 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. (Hong Kong time)

From research to revenue: Media innovation at the Asahi Shimbun

This session will offer an inside look at the Media R&D Center at The Asahi Shimbun Company, showcasing two key innovations developed through its research. The first, Typoless, is a web-based application designed for Japanese-language proofreading. The second, ALOFA, is a tool that transcribes interview audio to support and streamline article writing.

Hiroo Kusaba, Deputy Manager, Media R&D Center, Asahi Shimbun, Japan

1:00 p.m. - 1:25 p.m. (Hong Kong time)

Building a performance led offering: Insights from leveraging SPH’s 1P data and omnichannel ecosystem

In this session, gain insights into how SPH Media has been learning and experimenting with 1st-party data, deep audience insights, and omnichannel ecosystem to build a performance-led offering for clients. Through testing and collaboration, they have discovered approaches that connect high-intent audiences across print, digital, OOH, and audio to deliver measurable ROI. This is a look into what has worked so far, and how these learnings are shaping the way SPH Media drives campaigns and outcomes together with advertisers.

Tina Pang, Lead, Media Strategy, Commercial Strategy Team, SPH Media, Singapore

1:25 p.m. - 1:50 p.m. (Hong Kong time)

Civic activism to subscription growth at Tempo Digital

This session explores how Tempo Digital leveraged a news cycle for audience acquisition and continues to build its subscriber journey on independent, credible and accessible content. Also dive into how they connect content, platforms, and teams to build engaged audiences, through smart formats, data-driven decisions, and integrated workflows.

Fadhli Sofyan, Head Digital Optimisation, Tempo Media, Indonesia

1:50 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. (Hong Kong time)

Takeaways and day 1 concludes

Karmina Constantino Torres, News Anchor, ABS- CBN, Philippines

11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. (Hong Kong time)

Learn how media companies are unlearning and learning to overcome business challenges, meet changing consumer behaviour, and optimise for technology and AI.

11:00 a.m.-11:10 a.m. (Hong Kong time)

Welcome back

A recap of what we’ve learned so far and what the day ahead looks like.

Karmina Constantino Torres, News Anchor, ABS- CBN, Philippines

11:10 a.m. - 11:35 a.m. (Hong Kong time)

Five things innovative newsrooms get right

What separates newsrooms that talk about transformation from those that actually achieve it? In this fast-paced session, we’ll look at the five traits shared by newsrooms leading the way: an audience-first mindset, smart and integrated use of data, a clear and focused editorial strategy, strategic adoption of technology (including AI), and leadership that actively empowers change. You’ll walk away with practical ideas you can start applying immediately - no matter your newsroom’s size or resources.

Amalie Nash, Newsroom Transformation Initiative Lead, INMA, United States

11:35 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Hong Kong time)

Driving newsroom efficiency with AI

This session will explore Star Media’s journey of integrating AI into the newsroom, focusing on how it is used to drive greater efficiency and support editorial goals. Get a peek into practical use cases that illustrate the real-world application of AI in daily workflows, from content generation to decision-making. Best practices for implementing AI in a way that enhances, not disrupts newsroom operations will also be highlighted.

Kevin Seng, Head of Technology, Star Media Group, Malaysia

12:00 p.m. - 12:25 p.m. (Hong Kong time)

Driving innovation in the modern newsroom

Learn how News Corp Australia is rethinking newsroom strategy through innovation, with a focus on AI, data-driven decision-making, and integrated workflows to enhance both editorial impact and commercial outcomes.

Rod Savage, Director Newsroom Innovation, News Corp Australia, Australia

12:25 p.m. - 12:50 p.m. (Hong Kong time)

Speeding up AI adoption and innovation in the newsroom

In this session learn how Mediacorp fosters a culture of innovation with AI tools in its largest newsroom, CNA. How has it shortened testing cycles for faster rollout of solutions? Gain insights into the newsroom has injected AI into everything from audience engagement to video production. .

Lyn-Yi Chung, Deputy chief editor, CNA Digital & Lead, AI Strategy & Solutions, Mediacorp News & Current Affairs, Mediacorp, Singapore

12:50 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. (Hong Kong time)

Beyond broadcast: ABS-CBN’s strategy for digital transformation and audience connection

From its storied history to the 2020 shutdown, ABS-CBN’s journey has been one of resilience, reinvention, and an inevitable pivot to digital, while continuing to sustain a legacy business. Along the way, the network has experienced both wins and setbacks, gathered valuable learnings, and nurtured a spirit of innovation that keeps its news team optimistic about the future of journalism. While the form of news may evolve, ABS-CBN’s core values and mission remain unchanged. The session will also explore the rise of the “new gatekeepers” - its digital audiences, whose behaviours and preferences are shaping how the network delivers its service.

Francis Toral, Head of News, ABS - CBN, Philippines

1:15 p.m. - 1:40 p.m. (Hong Kong time)

From fatigue to fascination: How data journalism turns complex facts into stories readers crave at Harian Kompas

In this session, Harian Kompas will share key learnings on what subscribers seek from data journalism. Explore how data journalism can counter news fatigue by transforming complex datasets into compelling narratives, with AI acting as a force multiplier to uncover hidden societal patterns. Discover best practices for cross-newsroom collaboration to drive data-driven impact, along with the challenges and opportunities that such initiatives present.

Ratna Sri Widyastuti, Data Researcher in Investigation and Data Journalism Desk, Harian Kompas, Indonesia

1:40 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. (Hong Kong time)

Takeaways and summit concludes

Karmina Constantino Torres, News Anchor, ABS- CBN, Philippines