For the first time at Publish Asia, three of the world’s largest digital platforms – Google,
Facebook, and Twitter – will be speaking on the various solutions and partnerships available to publishers. They will be joined by Oxford University and Harvard Business School media transformation researcher Grzegorz Piechota and Fairfax Media’s managing director
for Australian Metro Publishing, Chris Janz, who will discuss the value propositions these platforms bring to publishers and the strategic adaptations involved.
Now in its 18th year, WAN IFRA Publish Asia conference will focus on commercial and management issues facing news publishers as they explore emerging business models and
diversifying revenue channels. About 250 media executives from over 30 countries will meet at the Westin Resort Nusa Dua in Bali, Indonesia from 24 to 26 April for master classes, conference sessions and networking events.
WAN-IFRA’s CEO Vincent Peyrègne said, “The growth of digital platforms presents news
publishers with fresh challenges and opportunities, paving the way of business model innovation and media transformation. Publish Asia brings together hard industry data
and expert insights with successful case studies and best practices advice to help the industry’s key decision makers formulate strategies and chart their next course of action. With Publish Asia, WAN-IFRA is proud to provide news publishers with a unique platform to address these challenges together with the world leading tech platforms”
Over 30 speakers from 15 countries in the Asia-Pacific and Europe will be in Bali to share their knowledge and experience with participants.
Reuters’ Head of Live Desk, Data and Communications Marie Claire Fennessy, together with Pakistan’s Jang Media Group MD Sarmad Ali and Malaysia’s Business FM 89.9 literary and film critic Umapaigan Ampikaipakan will share their exciting editorial and commercial approaches across video, audio, print and digital platforms to engage younger audiences and open up new monetization opportunities through the use of innovative technologies
such as augmented reality, virtual reality and quick response (QR) codeembedded videos in newspapers, live video and podcasting.
To help participants measure the effectiveness of new products and increase engagement and revenue per user, Ben Whitelaw, head of community and digital development at The Times and The Sunday Times; Lindsay Nicol, lead editorial analyst for Audience Engagement at The Financial Times; Anson Mok, general manager of Data Development at
Taiwan’s United Daily News; and Md Tajdin Hassan, head of marketing at Bangladesh’s The Daily Star will discuss how their publications use artificial intelligence and smart data to drive editorial and business decisions to multiply the touchpoints across their publication’s content portfolios. This enables them to reach previously untapped audiences or further engage with existing readers across print, online, social media and e-newsletter channels.
Despite competition from faster digital distribution channels, traditional print still retains
unique advantages in terms of user experience and advertising impact. WAN-IFRA’s Deputy CEO Manfred Werfel; Star Media Group’s Manager for Technical Services, Anandan Thangasamy; and paper producer UPM’s Area Sales Director for Southeast Asia Ian Hamilton will show how innovations in print can help attract new customers, develop
new products for new markets and improve profit margins through optimization of existing print capacities.
Participants at Publish Asia will obtain key insights on how to keep innovating in print while staying on top of the critical transformations that are required for a digital-centric future.
Key sessions include ‘Media Trends, Transformation & News Publishing Business Models’; ‘Trust in Advertising’; ‘Native Advertising and Beyond: Creating Content and Products Which Sell’; ‘Rethinking Digital Platforms Strategy’; ‘High-Value Print Production’; ‘Safeguarding Truth and Trust in News in the Digital Era’; ‘Improving Audience Engagement with AI and Smart Data’; ‘From Brand Building to Brand Activation’; ‘New Products for Engaging Gen X to Z’; ‘Journalism that Makes a Difference’.
Asian Media Awards
The 17th edition of the Asian Media Awards attracted 435 entries from countries all over Asia and the Middle East. Fifty-eight media companies from 19 countries participated. The awards will be presented during Publish Asia 2018 on 25 April 2018 where the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners will be revealed.
Now in its 18th year, WAN-IFRA Publish Asia conference will focus on commercial and
management issues facing news publishers as they explore emerging business models and diversifying revenue channels.
