The recent INMA Asia/Pacific News Media Summit surfaced a trove of forward-looking case studies that underscore how innovation — grounded in AI, data, and audience insights — can drive sustainable transformation across newsrooms in the region.

From Singapore to the Philippines, Japan to Australia, these stories reinforce a common truth: Success lies in marrying technology with editorial integrity.

ABS-CBN (Philippines) builds an audience exclusively on digital platforms

Francis Dal, head of news, outlined how the network — after losing its broadcast franchise in May 2020 — pivoted entirely to digital platforms amid the pandemic. ABS-CBN rapidly built an audience of 18.3 million YouTube subscribers and 27 million Facebook followers, while expanding across Instagram, TikTok, and X.

Lesson: When traditional distribution ceases, swiftly adapting to digital — with tailored formats, repurposed content, and platform-specific engagement — can be key to rebuilding reach and revenue.

Asahi Shimbun (Japan) moves from R&D to audience engagement

In a demonstration of research-driven innovation, Hiroo Kusaba illustrated how Asahi’s Media R&D Centre developed typographic tools like Typoless, a proofreading application, and ALOFA, a transcription tool that accelerates interview-to-article production — bridging lab innovation with newsroom impact.

Lesson: Purpose-built tools grounded in research can enhance storytelling while respecting journalistic craftsmanship. 

CNA Digital (Mediacorp, Singapore) creates successful newsroom AI tools 

Lyn-Yi Chung shared how CNA Digital rolled out SmartCut, a powerful AI tool that automatically processes broadcast news — identifying clips, tagging metadata, and uploading to digital platforms like CMS and YouTube within seconds. This dramatic acceleration in workflow boosted efficiency and audience engagement, all anchored by robust editorial governance to preserve trust.

Lesson: Embed AI into high-volume production pipelines to free journalists for deeper work while keeping oversight at the centre.

Harian Kompas (Indonesia) combats news fatigue with data journalism

Ratna Sri Widyastuti, head of investigative and data journalism, shared how her 15-strong team combats news fatigue through compelling data journalism. Since 2021, the team has produced bi-weekly stories that turn complex datasets into narratives readers care about, helping reverse Indonesia’s falling news engagement.

Lesson: Data journalism, when rooted in relevance and storytelling, can effectively counter news fatigue by transforming overwhelming information into trusted, human-centred narratives.

News Corp Australia creates 6 guiding pillars of AI in the newsroom

Director of Newsroom Innovation Rod Savage outlined the company’s cautious but structured approach to AI in the newsroom. Central to this approach are six guiding pillars: AI must augment rather than replace human work; output must be fair, reliable, secure, explainable, and accountable. News Corp Australia has also formed an AI ethics board.

Lesson: In journalism, careful and ethical adoption of AI — guided by clear principles and staff involvement — builds trust and ensures innovation strengthens rather than undermines credibility. 

SPH Media (Singapore) creates data-led road map for advertisers

Tina Pang, lead/media strategy on the commercial strategy team, explained how SPH Media is building a performance-led advertising proposition using first-party data and an omnichannel ecosystem — merging print, digital, audio, and OOH to deliver measurable ROI for clients.

Lesson: A coherent data strategy can deepen advertiser value and diversify revenue models.  

Star Media Group (Malaysia) focuses on AI that works with humans

Kevin Seng, head of technology, emphasised that successful AI integration demands a solid framework: well-structured data strategies, clear human checkpoints, and alignment with newsroom goals. At Star Media Group, AI is woven into the daily operations of the newsroom.

Lesson: AI must augment — not automate — through tight integration with process and consciousness.  

Stuff (New Zealand) shapes product transformation with 3 strategies

Head of Product Kyla Tawa shared Stuff’s evolution — grounded in reframing legacy assumptions, aligning platform vision with revenue goals, and enabling “quiet” but powerful shifts in perspective to unify legacy and innovation across a 160-year-old brand. Its perspective is shaped through three lenses: outsider vs. insider, historical vs. future, and individual vs. shared.

Lesson: Product transformation thrives on subtle, thoughtful reinvention — not loud revolutions.

Tempo Media (Indonesia) from newsroom threats into audience engagement

Fadhli Sofyan, head of digital optimisation, explained how a harrowing March 2024 incident — when the newsroom received a disturbing package containing a pig’s head and dead rats —unexpectedly galvanised public support rather than instilling fear. Following a campaign centered on the threat, the news company saw a remarkable 96% surge in new users, a 30% rise in renewals, and a 20% boost in subscriptions.

Lesson: When values align with civic solidarity, even adversity can become a powerful engine for audience engagement and sustainable growth.

United Daily News Group (Taiwan) powers subscriptions with AI and data

Amelie Lin detailed how United Daily News leverages AI-powered tools like Curate X for subscriber growth and Publish X for real-time editorial planning — ultimately delivering a more targeted and engaging subscription experience.

Lesson: AI combined with data-driven editorial strategy can dramatically expand subscriber bases.

The INMA Asia/Pacific News Media Summit showcased a shared truth across the region: Media innovation succeeds when AI and data are leveraged with strategy, transparency, and purpose. For INMA members navigating rapid technological change, these sessions offer a concrete blueprint for building the newsrooms of tomorrow — rooted in insight, trust, and relevance.

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