Senior media executive Ladina Heimgartner reflects on the 77th WAN-IFRA World News Media Congress in Marseille, calling it the largest edition in the organization’s history, marked by emotional tributes, hard truths about AI, and a sobering press freedom report.
By Imran Malik | MediaBites Pakistan – Courtesy: Lulu Mazzocco Skantze
The 77th edition of the WAN-IFRA World News Media Congress, held in Marseille, has been described as the biggest in the organisation’s history by senior media executive Ladina Heimgartner, who shared her reflections on the event in a detailed note that has resonated widely within global media circles.
AI and the “Brazen Theft” of Journalism
One of the most talked-about moments of the Congress was a keynote by A.G. Sulzberger on artificial intelligence and journalism. Heimgartner described the address as brave and necessary, noting that Sulzberger characterised the unauthorised use of news content by AI platforms as nothing short of intellectual property theft.
According to Heimgartner, the speech touched on a long-standing unresolved issue in the industry: the value of human creativity, and how difficult it is to protect something the world has consistently undervalued, despite its importance.
She added that the real challenge for newsrooms going forward is to use AI wisely, strengthen relationships with audiences, invest in original reporting, and continue explaining why journalism matters, all while keeping good lawyers close at hand.
READ MORE: Journalism fights back as global publishers unite against AI giants at WAN-IFRA Congress in Marseille
Europe’s Digital Sovereignty Moment
Henna Virkkunen also addressed the Congress at what Heimgartner called a defining moment for Europe, one where the continent is finally taking seriously the sovereignty of its data, its digital infrastructure, and its democratic information space.
Golden Pen of Freedom: Gaza’s Journalists Honoured
Among the most emotional moments of the Congress was the presentation of the 2026 Golden Pen of Freedom to the photo and video journalists of Gaza. Heimgartner noted that more than 260 journalists have been killed since the start of the war, and described the courage required to continue documenting events under such conditions as almost impossible to comprehend.
Photojournalist Mohammed Salem, accepting the honour, said he carried his heart on the left and his camera on the right, a line Heimgartner said moved the entire room.
Lebanon’s Press: Safety, Diaspora, and New Languages
Rima Abdul Malak of L’Orient-Le Jour also addressed delegates on the same day, speaking about the challenge of keeping journalists safe while outlining future plans for the publication, including podcasts, new ways to reach the Lebanese diaspora, and expanding into additional languages to deliver reliable news to diaspora communities.
Press Freedom: Less Than 1% of the World
Heimgartner highlighted a stark finding from the 2026 Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index: less than 1% of the world’s population now lives in a country where press freedom is rated as “good,” fewer than one in every hundred people globally.
Trustworthy Press, Happier Societies
WAN-IFRA CEO Stig Kirk Ørskov spoke about the link between a trustworthy press and healthier, happier societies. Heimgartner agreed with the sentiment, noting that a free press keeps citizens informed, records history, encourages critical thinking, and holds power to account, particularly in an era of increasingly authoritarian leadership.
She added that journalism does more than inform: it raises citizens, helps people understand the world beyond their immediate surroundings, challenges assumptions, connects communities, and asks people to care.
A Room Full of the Industry’s Best Minds
Heimgartner described being in a room with some of the sharpest minds in news media as a gift, with discussions spanning strategy, subscriptions, audiences, trust, platforms, and revenue, all ultimately pointing to one conclusion: information matters to humanity.
She also spoke warmly of Guardian editor Katharine Viner, expressing admiration for The Guardian’s editorial model, ethics, and ongoing search for creative, sustainable journalism solutions.
What’s Next: FIPP Insights and Stockholm 2027
Heimgartner said she would share further reflections from conversations at FIPP, Connecting Global Media, in a follow-up post. She confirmed that next year’s Congress will travel to Stockholm, a city she described as one of her personal favourites, adding with humour that she would “bring tissues this time.”
— MediaBites Pakistan
