WAN-IFRA Announces First Cohort of NextGen AI Leaders Programme

The World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), with support from the Google News Initiative, has selected 24 media professionals to participate in the inaugural cohort of the NextGen AI Leaders programme. The initiative aims to equip rising managers with the strategic and technical capabilities required to lead newsrooms through the current era of artificial intelligence integration.

The participants were chosen from a pool of more than 100 applicants. The cohort represents 14 different countries, spanning regions from Finland to South Africa. The group includes professionals from diverse operational backgrounds, including data science, product management, business development, and editorial leadership.

Strategic Objectives and Ethical Frameworks

The programme is scheduled to begin on 14 April 2026 in Frankfurt, Germany. The curriculum is designed to help media executives navigate the complexities of the AI landscape by developing personalized leadership roadmaps. These roadmaps are intended to balance the adoption of innovative AI tools with the maintenance of editorial integrity.

A primary focus for the participants is the intersection of automation and journalistic credibility. For many in the cohort, the programme offers a way to establish frameworks for the ethical application of AI, specifically regarding transparency and accuracy in reporting.

As an editor, I hope to gain a clearer framework for the ethical use of AI in my newsroom, particularly around issues of accuracy and transparency. This represents important to me because credibility remains the foundation of our work. Beyond this, my goal is to translate what I learn into tangible impact, whether through piloting AI-driven editorial processes, mentoring colleagues or contributing to policy discussions on AI adoption in my organisation.

Samson Folarin, PUNCH, Nigeria

Other participants view the programme as a means to enhance the operational impact of storytelling and organizational decision-making through the use of emerging technologies.

Joining the NextGen AI Leaders Programme is an exciting opportunity to connect with innovators… and to explore how artificial intelligence can empower better storytelling, decision-making and impact.

Asmaa Hechenberger, Ippen Digital, Germany

Coaching and Implementation

The cohort will be guided by coaches Anita Zielina, Patrick Swanson, and Kaveh Waddell. These mentors bring expertise in leadership strategy, organizational change, and AI fluency. The goal of the coaching is to enable the 24 leaders to unlock new business outcomes and manage their teams with confidence during the ongoing technological transition in the media industry.

The NextGen AI Leaders Cohort

The following professionals have been selected for the first cohort:

• Amata Bosco, Digital Business Manager, Mwananchi Communications Limited, Tanzania
• Anja Wölker, Head of Audio, FUNKE Medien NRW, Germany
• Asmaa Hechenberger, Head of Data & Analytics, Ippen Digital, Germany
• Benjamin Knödler, Product Owner Digital, der Freitag Mediengesellschaft, Germany
• Chibuike Alagboso, Director of Media Programmes, Nigeria Health Watch, Nigeria
• David Balagna, Product Lead, Contexte, France
• Georg Eckelsberger, Editor in Chief, DOSSIER, Austria
• Jan Stanisławski, Head of Newsroom 24, Ringier Axel Springer, Poland
• Johanna Heckeley, Head of Digital Desk, Medienhaus Trierischer Volksfreund, Germany
• Kelly Anderson, Food Editor, News24, South Africa
• Laia Seró, Digital Managing Editor, Diari ARA, Spain
• Laura Rodríguez, CRO & Acquisition Manager, elDiario.es, Spain
• Lena Leibetseder, Head of Digital Publishing, Russmedia, Austria
• Manal El Guerrab, Commercial Executive – Product and Service Development, Maghreb Arabe Press, Morocco
• Marc Jänig, AI Transformation Manager, Rheinische Post Mediengruppe, Germany
• Márta Kovács, Senior News Editor, 24.hu, Hungary
• Milla Kukkonen, Executive Producer & Audience Manager, A-lehdet, Finland
• Natalia Maragkou, Art Director, Alter Ego Media Group, Greece
• Oumaima Hali, Manager Data and AI, Médias24, Morocco
• Samson Folarin, Editor, Weekend PUNCH, Nigeria
• Shirin Shity, Senior Marketing Manager, Project Syndicate, Czech Republic
• Simon Owens, Strategy Manager, The Irish Times Group, Ireland
• Sina Söhren, Deputy Head Team GenAI, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany
• Stanislas de Livonnière, Head of AI, Data & Innovation, Le Parisien, France