Journos, execs gather for Digital Media Asia
Journalists and media executives from around 20 countries gathered at the Manila Hotel in Manila on Tuesday to kick off the WAN-IFRA (World Association of News Publishers)’s Digital Media Asia (DMA), a two-day conference on revenue, technology and audience-related issues shaping the industry.
It marked the first time for the DMA to be held in the Philippines since its inaugural staging in Singapore in 2009.
During the two-day conference, which closes on Wednesday, speakers from leading news media organizations around the world are sharing case studies, the latest trends and best practices on how they created sustainable digital revenue models.
Inquirer Group of Companies chair Sandy Prieto-Romualdez, who also chairs the WAN-IFRA Asia-Pacific Board, welcomed the delegates as she hailed the DMA as a reflection of WAN-IFRA’s global network, which now covers some 3,000 news organizations and 14 member associations.
‘Bold strategies’
“Today, we’re not just here to learn. We are here to collaborate, to challenge ideas, and to move the industry forward,” Prieto-Romualdez said in a speech to open the event.
The DMA resource speakers will not only share “bold strategies for digital innovation and audience engagement,” she said, but also “help us examine the rise of the creator economy and share insight into how Gen. Z is redefining media consumption.”
“DMA 2026 brings together leaders and innovators from around the world, not just to share insights but to share and inspire us to action,” Prieto-Romualdez added.
“Speaking of change and the ability to transform, this is in many ways what leadership demands. The ability to work with both old and new, to evolve while staying grounded with purpose,” she said.
Local gov’t support
Also welcoming the delegates on behalf of the host city, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno noted how his local government, for one, had always supported the news media industry as they faced common challenges.
“The lesson we learned is the same lesson this conference teaches—technology is only as good as the trust behind it. The tool is not the goal. The goal is to serve people better. That is true for government, and that is equally true for the press,” Moreno said.
“This conference will spend two days discussing AI (artificial intelligence), data, and even revenue—it’s very important to survive,” he added.
In an Inquirer interview, Moreno underscored the significance of seeing “digital media providers, companies, and publishers unite for one goal, which is transparency, honesty, and right information” for the public.
