Digiday Publishing Summit Europe

October 27-29, 2025 || Lisbon, Portugal

AI Mode isn’t just the name of Google’s latest search product — it’s the reality shaping the future of digital publishing.

Across Europe, publishers are confronting the full force of the AI era. Generative AI is reshaping how audiences find and consume content, siphoning search traffic and complicating established referral models. At the same time, European media companies are navigating a patchwork of AI-related regulation and copyright concerns, even as they negotiate licensing deals with major tech platforms and look for ways to monetize AI-driven innovation.

Far from a future trend, AI is already embedded in the day-to-day operations of forward-thinking publishers — powering content creation, transforming ad sales, optimizing subscriptions, and accelerating product development. But with opportunity comes risk: a shifting traffic ecosystem, heightened scrutiny over data usage and AI renumeration models, and new pressures on editorial integrity.

At the Digiday Publishing Summit Europe, we’ll unpack how publishers are adapting. Sessions will explore what makes an AI licensing deal fair and viable, how leading media organizations are integrating AI into products and workflows, and what strategies are emerging to prepare for a zero-click, agent-driven web.

Join us to gain the insights, tools, and connections you need to navigate — and lead in — publishing’s AI-powered present.

Speakers

  • speaker
    Dominic CarterTHE SUNEXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, PUBLISHER
  • speaker
    Charlotte CijffersITP MEDIA GROUP, LUXURYCHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER
  • speaker
    Nina GouldFORBESCHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER
  • speaker
    Mario LamaaIMMEDIATE MEDIA COMANAGING DIRECTOR, DATA & REVENUE OPERATIONS
  • speaker
    Rob LangREUTERSNEWSROOM AI EDITOR
  • speaker
    Graham MacFadyenFINANCIAL TIMESCONSUMER MARKETING DIRECTOR
  • speaker
    Donna OgierREACH PLCDIRECTOR, AUDIENCE
  • speaker
    Achim SchlosserBERTELSMANN SE & CO. KGAAVICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL DATA STANDARDS
  • speaker
    Dmitry ShishkinRINGIERSTRATEGIC EDITORIAL ADVISOR
  • speaker
    Christopher SopherLETTERHEADCEO
  • speaker
    Carly StevenDAILY MAILDIRECTOR, SEO & EDITORIAL E-COMMERCE
  • speaker
    Tracy YaverbaunTHE TIMES & SUNDAY TIMESGENERAL MANAGER
See all Speakers

Agenda

1:30 p.m.
Registration opens
New York Foyer
2:00 p.m.
Opening remarks and key trends
New York Theatre
speaker

Sara Guaglione

SENIOR MEDIA REPORTER

DIGIDAY

speaker

Seb Joseph

EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF NEWS, UK

DIGIDAY

speaker

Tim Peterson

EXECUTIVE EDITOR, VIDEO & AUDIO

DIGIDAY MEDIA

2:10 p.m.
Navigating AI’s uncertain new markets
New York Theatre

As generative AI reshapes how people discover and consume content, publishers face both risk and opportunity. This session explores the fast-evolving landscape of LLMs, agentic platforms and content marketplaces, from visibility trade-offs and standardization efforts to the still-undefined business models that could determine where value flows next.

speaker

Achim Schlosser

VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL DATA STANDARDS

BERTELSMANN SE & CO. KGAA

speaker
Moderator
Seb Joseph
2:30 p.m.
The Sun’s blueprint for a modern news business
New York Theatre

Dominic Carter, EVP and Publisher of The Sun, will discuss his playbook for staying ahead of the AI curve. Learn how his team has adapted the business to new technologies, harnessed AI for competitive advantage, and prioritized video and subscriptions to drive digital revenue and growth.

speaker

Dominic Carter

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, PUBLISHER

THE SUN

speaker
Moderator
Sara Guaglione
2:50 p.m.
Enhanced advertising solutions leveraging AI
New York Theatre

Learn how one publisher leverages AI to enhance advertising solutions for clients and partners worldwide, including how AI is being used to optimize campaign performance, automate ad operations, and personalize content delivery.

speaker
Moderator
Tim Peterson
3:10 p.m.
Reimagining the newsroom: editorial leadership in the age of AI
New York Theatre

As AI reshapes the media industry, newsroom transformation can’t just be a tech project, it must be led by editors. In this session, Ringier’s strategic editorial advisor Dmitry Shishkin shares lessons from his “newsroom of the future” playbook, exploring micro-niches, audience-centric journalism, and the cultural shifts needed to make change stick.

speaker

Dmitry Shishkin

STRATEGIC EDITORIAL ADVISOR

RINGIER

speaker
Moderator
Seb Joseph
3:30 p.m.
Coffee and networking break
New York Foyer

Please enjoy a coffee and connect with your peers before the Town Hall.

3:50 p.m.
Town hall & challenge board
Berlin

Publishers Only.
Join us for a Town Hall session where we will create a challenge board and have an open and candid discussion about the industry.

Sandboxes
4:40 pm: Letterhead – Newsletters as Products
speaker

Christopher Sopher

CEO

LETTERHEAD

4:50 p.m.
10-minute meetings
Mediterranean 1

The 10-minute meetings are designed to help connect participants with innovative technology platforms and build valuable business relationships.

6:00 p.m.
Cocktail reception
Casablanca

Please join us for a cocktail to wrap up Day 1. Open to All.

7:00 p.m.
Dinner with strangers
Citrus Restaurant

Connect with fellow summit attendees for dinner at Citrus Restaurant. We will have a table reserved, but Digiday does not cover the cost of dinner. Open to summit attendees.

8:00 a.m.
Breakfast
Citrus Restaurant

Buffet breakfast is open to all guests in Citrus Restaurant; please enjoy at your leisure before our 9 am programming

9:00 a.m.
Opening remarks
speaker

Sara Guaglione

SENIOR MEDIA REPORTER

DIGIDAY

9:05 a.m.
Adapting AI for the Newsroom: Pivoting your media company for the future
New York Theatre

This session will provide a practical roadmap for media organizations considering the use of more AI tools and initiatives in their newsrooms. Hear from Rob Lang, Reuters newsroom AI editor, on how he is integrating AI to support Reuters’ core editorial operations, and the best use cases for the technology.

speaker

Rob Lang

NEWSROOM AI EDITOR

REUTERS

speaker
Moderator
Sara Guaglione
9:25 a.m.
Inside the FT’s AI Paywall: What’s working, and what’s next?
New York Theatre

The Financial Times has rolled out two machine-learning models — one to drive subscriber acquisition, another to predict retention. In this session, we’ll check in on what’s working so far, how the AI-driven paywall differs from traditional models, and what the FT is learning about consent, conversion and long-term subscriber value.

speaker

Graham MacFadyen

CONSUMER MARKETING DIRECTOR

FINANCIAL TIMES

speaker
Moderator
Seb Joseph
9:45 a.m.
How The Times is using AI synthetic research to grow its real audience
New York Theatre

AI technologies aren’t only taking publishers’ audiences. They are also giving publishers new tools to grow their audiences. In this session, hear how The Times and Sunday Times has been using synthetic research technology to train AI models on its existing audience in order to create new forms of focus groups against which to learn about its audience, enhance its audience development strategies and inform its product development plans.

speaker

Tracy Yaverbaun

GENERAL MANAGER

THE TIMES & SUNDAY TIMES

speaker
Moderator
Tim Peterson
10:05 a.m.
SEO in the Age of AI Overviews: Strategies for reducing search reliance
New York Theatre

Google’s AI Overviews and AI Mode are fundamentally changing the search landscape. This session will discuss the impact of these developments on a publisher’s SEO and business strategy, providing actionable insights for media companies to lessen their reliance on search results and grow audience and revenue.

speaker

Carly Steven

DIRECTOR, SEO & EDITORIAL E-COMMERCE

DAILY MAIL

speaker
Moderator
Sara Guaglione
10:30 a.m.
Coffee & networking break
New York Foyer

Please enjoy a coffee and connect with your peers before the Town Hall begins.

11:00 a.m.
Town Hall & Challenge Board
Berlin

Publishers Only.
Join us for a Town Hall session where we will create a challenge board and have an open and candid discussion about the industry.

12:00 p.m.
Lunch
Citrus Restaurant

Lunch will be served in the Citrus Restaurant. Open to All.

1:00 p.m.
Afternoon break

Take a break from today’s content, catch up on work or spend time with fellow attendees. We’ll see you back for 10-Minute Meetings.

5:15 p.m.
10-minute meetings
Mediterranean 1

The 10-minute meetings are designed to help connect participants with innovative technology platforms and build valuable business relationships.

6:20 p.m.
Cocktail reception
Casablanca

Please join us for a cocktail to wrap up Day 2. Open to All.

5:00 p.m.
Coffee & refreshments
New York Foyer
8:00 a.m.
Breakfast
Citrus Restaurant

Buffet breakfast is open to all guests in Citrus Restaurant; please enjoy at your leisure before our 9 am programming.

9:00 a.m.
Welcome back
New York Theatre
speaker

Tim Peterson

EXECUTIVE EDITOR, VIDEO & AUDIO

DIGIDAY MEDIA

9:05 a.m.
The AI-Powered Audience: Developing and connecting luxury communities
New York Theatre

As much as AI may be an external threat to publishers’ businesses, the technology can also be an invaluable tool for internal processes. However, gaining buy-in across the organization — from the CEO to the most junior staff member — can pose its own challenges. In this session, Charlotte Cijffers of ITP Media Group will discuss how to entice employees to adopt AI in the publisher’s workflows and persuade the C-suite to approve these applications.

speaker

Charlotte Cijffers

CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER

ITP MEDIA GROUP, LUXURY

speaker
Moderator
Tim Peterson
9:25 a.m.
Inside Immediate Media’s AI Playbook: From efficiency to engagement
New York Theatre

While most publishers chase efficiency with AI, Immediate is using it to empower creativity, build community and drive revenue. In this session, hear how the publisher is rethinking workflows, talent and audience engagement — from internal innovation funds and AI-assisted editing to its “faces and voices” video strategy and subscriber growth engine.

speaker

Mario Lamaa

MANAGING DIRECTOR, DATA & REVENUE OPERATIONS

IMMEDIATE MEDIA CO

speaker
Moderator
Seb Joseph
9:45 a.m.
Navigating the zero-click frontier
New York Theatre

This session will explore how Reach PLC is adapting its SEO and content distribution strategies to thrive in this rapidly evolving landscape, and the opportunities the publisher is seeing in other platforms for both audience development and content monetization.

speaker

Donna Ogier

DIRECTOR, AUDIENCE

REACH PLC

speaker
Moderator
Sara Guaglione
10:05 a.m.
Redesigning the audience development funnel for the zero-click web
New York Theatre

Google’s introduction of AI Overviews has overturned one of publishers’ main means of funneling audiences to their sites. Conversely, AI technologies have also equipped publishers with new methods of retaining the people who are visiting their properties. In this session, hear how Forbes is adapting its upper-funnel audience development strategy for the zero-click era and how the news publisher is redesigning its site to improve audience engagement.

speaker

Nina Gould

CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER

FORBES

speaker
Moderator
Tim Peterson
10:25 a.m.
Closing remarks
New York Theatre

Our editors will provide key takeaways from this week’s sessions.

speaker

Sara Guaglione

SENIOR MEDIA REPORTER

DIGIDAY

speaker

Seb Joseph

EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF NEWS, UK

DIGIDAY

speaker

Tim Peterson

EXECUTIVE EDITOR, VIDEO & AUDIO

DIGIDAY MEDIA

speaker
Moderator
Seb Joseph
See Full Day

Attendees

Sponsors

Venue

Lisbon Marriott

Av. dos Combatentes 45 Lisboa
Portugal 1600-042

Pass Options

Connect Pass
$3,595
  • • Access to three days of key insights and honest discussion
  • Early access to book the one-to-one meetings of your choice
  • Three one-on-one 10-Minute Meetings with publishing executives of your choice
  • • Networking functions including meals, cocktail receptions, attendee activities and more
  • • Access to our meeting scheduler to help you find the perfect prospects
  • Publishing execs: You may be eligible for a discounted Publisher Pass. Contact us here to find out.
Buy Now
Best Value
Premium Connect Pass
$5,445
  • • Access to three days of key insights and honest discussion
  • • Early access to book the one-to-one meetings of your choice
  • Five one-on-one 10-Minute Meetings with publishing executives of your choice
  • • Networking functions including meals, cocktail receptions, attendee activities and more
  • • Access to our meeting scheduler to help you find the perfect prospects
  • Publishing execs: You may be eligible for a discounted Publisher Pass. Contact us here to find out.
Buy Now

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