New Delhi: The DNPA Conclave and Awards is back, bringing the spotlight on future of digital media busness this time. The event, hosted by the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) of India in collaboration with the Network 18 Group, will feature discussions on the future of digital media in the context of AI-led transformation. Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar, and G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant are slated to deliver key addresses.
The DNPA Conclave and Awards 2024 will take place on February 6, at Shangri La hotel in New Delhi.
The conclave will see participation from India's leading news publishers, aiming to explore the dynamics between news publishers and Big Tech platforms. The day-long event includes keynote addresses, panel discussions, and fireside chats on various topics related to digital media. Notably, discussions will cover the state of media, equitable models in digital media, journalism in the current age, and challenges facing the news industry.
A report by Ernst & Young (EY) on the digital media business, titled ‘Preview of Digital News Publishing in India’, will be launched on the occasion. The report is expected to give the industry a close look at which way the digital news media industry could be headed, amid an ongoing debate on how publishers should adapt to the increasing digitisation of news business.
The conclave will have participation from ABP Network, Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhaskar, The Indian Express, Malayalam Manorama, Eenadu Television, India Today, Amar Ujala , Hindustan Times, Zee Media, Lokmat, Times of India, NDTV, Express Network, Mathrubhumi, The Hindu, India TV, and Network 18.
DNPA Conclave And Awards 2024 Lineup
MeitY Minister of State, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, will kick off the day-long conclave with a keynote address. It will be followed by speeches on the future of digital media, fireside chats, panel discussions, and Q&A sessions. The fireside chats and panel discussions will involve top editors, CEOs, and the DNPA leadership.
While Anant Goenka of The Indian Express and Senthil Chengalvarayan of NDTV will discuss "State of Media: The Big Picture" with ThePrint Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta, a session on "Cracking Equitable Models in Digital Media" will be chaired by Avinash Pandey, CEO, ABP Network. Jaideep Karnik of Amar Ujala, Prasad Sanyal of HT, Nalin Mehta Network 18, and Vijay Jung Thapa of ABP Network will discuss "Editor’s Opinion: Journalism in this Age", while Sanjay Sindhwani of The Indian Express will shape the conversation on "Crisis facing the News Industry and the Battle for Rights, Remuneration, and Rebalance".
The conclave will also see Dainik Bhaskar DMD Pawan Agarwal and HT Digital CEO Puneet Jain interact with the MEITY Secretary, and Mariam Mathew Mammen of Malayala Manorama along with other DNPA members converse with MOS Rajeev Chandrasekhar.
Hemant Jain, President of Business of Lokmat, will lead discussions on 'Adapting Media Business Strategies to the Digital Tsunami', providing insights into navigating the changing digital terrain. Puneet Gupta, the CEO of Times Internet, will chair a session on 'Lives and Livelihoods: Navigating Job Transformation in the AI Age'.
Pawan Agarwal, DMD of Dainik Bhaskar Group, and Puneet Jain of HT Media have a conversation with Nimisha Jain, MD & Senior Partner at BCG, during a session titled "Navigating the Tech + AI Juggernaut". Anil Malhotra of Zee TV will engage with Florian Nehm of Axel Springer, Germany, in a session on "Overcoming 'disparity of bargaining power", addressing critical issues related to competition and big tech's influence.
Amitabh Kant will deliver a keynote address, which will be followed by the DNPA annual awards ceremony where innovators contributing to technological innovations in the realm of digital transformation will be recognised for their outstanding contributions.
EY Report at DNPA Conclave 2024
A highlight of the event will be the launch of Ernst & Young's report, 'Preview of Digital News Publishing in India', which aims to shed light on the trajectory of the digital news media industry. Notable international experts, including Elena Perotti of WAN-IFRA; Florian Nehm, Senior Advisor, Axel Springer; and Paul Deegan, President, and CEO of News Media Canada, will share insights.
The conclave will also feature corporate leaders such as Abhay Bhutada, Managing Director, Poonawalla Fincorp; Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Founder and Executive Vice-Chairman, Info Edge; and Shubhranshu Singh, CMO of Tata Motors. Senior journalists Shekhar Gupta and Vikram Chandra, along with social media influencer Arvind Arora, will participate in discussions on media trust and credibility.
The EY report is expected to provide industry insiders with a comprehensive insight into the trajectory of the digital news media industry. India's efforts to regulate Big Tech platforms, aligning with the impending Digital India Act, will be a focal point.
DJ Narain, President of DNPA, emphasised the conclave's unique role as a platform for stakeholders to discuss and brainstorm issues concerning the growth of credible news and digital media. He said the DNPA conclave is evolving into a robust platform for the exchange of ideas and thoughts on the growth of the digital media ecosystem.
Sujata Gupta, Secretary General of DNPA, highlighted the event's importance in driving industry conversations and fostering collaboration and innovation.
"The media landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, and the DNPA Conclave & Awards 2024 serves as a catalyst for conversations that will drive the industry forward. With a focus on digital transformation, the conclave will bring together diverse perspectives, fostering collaboration and innovation," he remarked.