Frankfurt, Germany – The World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) today announced the launch of the NextGen AI Leaders Programme, a 12-week initiative designed to equip emerging leaders in the news industry with the skills to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. The tuition-free programme aims to bridge the innovation gap between large, well-resourced newsrooms and their smaller counterparts across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
The programme, supported by the Google News Initiative (GNI), will select 24 news executives aged 25 to 40 currently holding leadership positions in product, audience, commercial, and editorial departments within small, mid-sized, or local news companies. WAN-IFRA CEO Stig Ørskov emphasized the importance of investing in a diverse new generation of media leadership, stating, To take full advantage of the opportunities AI provides news publishers, we need a strong and diverse leadership today and especially tomorrow. WAN-IFRA is proud to support those rising through the ranks to lead the charge in using AI to ensure journalistic excellence and resilient news media businesses,
.
The initiative comes at a critical juncture for the news industry, as publishers grapple with the opportunities and challenges presented by AI. While larger organizations have the resources to experiment with and implement AI-driven tools, smaller news outlets often lack the expertise and financial capacity to do so. This disparity threatens to exacerbate existing inequalities within the media landscape.
Jaffer Zaidi, VP Global News Partnerships at Google, highlighted the GNI’s commitment to supporting the industry’s adaptation to technological shifts. As people’s preferences and technology evolve, we are continuing our long-standing commitment to helping journalists and publishers adapt to these types of shifts. Our latest collaboration with WAN-IFRA builds on years of partnership, now focusing on upskilling the next generation of news leaders to use AI tools for deeper audience engagement and digital storytelling,
he said.
The NextGen AI Leaders Programme is structured as an applied experimentation journey
, according to WAN-IFRA, with participants tackling real-world management challenges through structured coursework and mentorship. The curriculum will focus on practical application, enabling participants to develop and implement AI-driven solutions within their own organizations. The programme will be facilitated by Anita Zielina, CEO of Better Leaders Lab, alongside Kaveh Waddell and Patrick Swanson, co-founders of Verso, an AI consulting lab.
Zielina specializes in organizational change, strategy, and leadership development, while Waddell and Swanson bring expertise in AI training, product design, and implementation specifically tailored for newsrooms and non-profit organizations. The Google News Initiative’s support extends to providing sessions with experts who will offer training on Google’s AI products and their potential applications across editorial, product, and commercial departments.
Applications for the programme are open from to . The inaugural cohort will commence on with an in-person leadership workshop held in conjunction with WAN-IFRA’s Frankfurt AI Forum. Participants will be expected to design and prototype AI systems and workflows that can be readily implemented in their respective newsrooms, strengthening both leadership capabilities and operational efficiency.
Graduates of the programme will also have the opportunity to attend WAN-IFRA’s World News Media Congress, scheduled to take place in Marseille, France, from . This will provide a platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and further exploration of the latest trends in news media innovation.
The launch of the NextGen AI Leaders Programme underscores WAN-IFRA’s broader commitment to supporting independent media globally. The organization, representing 18,000 publications in 120 countries, advocates for the rights of journalists and publishers and provides expertise to help them navigate the challenges of the digital age. The GNI, meanwhile, continues to invest in initiatives aimed at fostering responsible AI adoption, diversifying revenue streams, and empowering emerging news voices worldwide.
The programme’s focus on smaller and mid-sized news organizations is particularly significant. These outlets often serve as vital sources of local information and play a crucial role in holding power accountable. By equipping their leaders with the skills to leverage AI effectively, the NextGen AI Leaders Programme aims to ensure that these organizations can continue to thrive in an increasingly competitive media environment.
For further information, inquiries can be directed to Kevin Anderson, Director, Digital Revenue Network, WAN-IFRA: kevin.anderson@wan-ifra.org.
