WAN-IFRA and CMA Media unveil ambitious programme for the 2026 World News Media Congress in Marseille
| WAN-IFRA | 3 min read
WAN-IFRA, the World Association of News Publishers, and CMA Media have confirmed the programme for the 77th World News Media Congress, taking place in Marseille, from June 1–3, 2026, the event’s first return to France in 30 years. The final programme features one of the most prestigious line-ups of top international speakers in the history of the Congress.
Co-organised by WAN-IFRA and CMA Media (France’s third-largest private media group and media subsidiary of CMA CGM Group), the Congress will draw nearly 1,000 participants from more than 60 countries, representing over 450 news publishers.
High-profile speaker line-up
Confirmed speakers include Arthur Mensch (Co-founder and CEO, Mistral AI), Arthur Sadoun (Chairman and CEO, Publicis Groupe), Rima Abdul Malak (Executive Director, L’Orient-Le Jour), A.G. Sulzberger (Chairman and Publisher, The New York Times), Almar Latour (CEO and Publisher, Dow Jones/The Wall Street Journal), Katharine Viner (Editor-in-Chief, The Guardian), Xavier Niel (Founder, Iliad - Free), Jane Barrett (Head of AI Strategy, Reuters), Louis Dreyfus (Chairman of the Management Board, Le Monde Groupe), and Phil Chetwynd (Global News Director, Agence France-Presse).
BBC presenter and Analysis Editor Ros Atkins will preside over the official opening on Monday, June 1 at 2 PM, featuring a keynote from Sulzberger, and addresses from Henna Virkkunen (Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy), Ladina Heimgartner (President WAN-IFRA and CEO Ringier Media Switzerland), Jean-Christophe Tortora (Deputy Director CMA Media) and Stig Ørskov (WAN-IFRA CEO).
That evening, at 5 PM, the 2026 WAN-IFRA Golden Pen of Freedom will be awarded to an individual, group, or institution for exceptional actions in defence of press freedom.
On Wednesday afternoon, June 3, Arthur Mensch will discuss the implications and perspectives for media in the era of AI in a fireside chat. The closing sessions will feature distinguished media leaders discussing how to build and redefine media strategies in an AI transformed world, with Almar Latour (CEO and Publisher, Dow Jones/The Wall Street Journal), Sophie Gourmelen (President EBRA Group), Anders Opdahl (CEO Amedia), Joseph Oughourlian (Chairman Grupo PRISA), Goli Sheikholeslami (CEO, POLITICO), and Dr. Rainer Esser (Executive Advisor to Holtzbrinck; Supervisory Board member, DIE ZEIT) on stage.
A “New Deal” for journalism
The Marseille Congress aims to establish a lasting platform for dialogue between media organisations, tech platforms, and policymakers, working toward a “New Deal” for news and journalism. The programme, comprising keynotes, panels, debates, workshops, exhibitions, award ceremonies, and networking, is structured around three themes:
- AI in media
- Future of journalism
- Revenue and growth in the media industry
The full programme is at: wan-ifra-congress.com/2026/programme
Quotes
Stig Ørskov, CEO, WAN-IFRA*:*
“The World News Media Congress returns to France at a pivotal moment for our industry. Marseille, a city open to the world and a historic hub of exchange, offers an inspiring setting to bring together the global media community. The Congress convenes publishers, tech leaders, and policymakers for focused, high-impact dialogue at a moment in history when their intersection is reshaping everything. Our ambition is to project a truly international vision: to anticipate change, share best practices and collectively design the future models of journalism.”
Jean-Christophe Tortora, Deputy Director, CMA Media:
“Hosting the World News Media Congress in Marseille is a powerful signal of CMA Media’s commitment to the future of our industry. This Congress should be a forum for reflection, but also for decisions and concrete cooperation, uniting media, technology players and public officials around a common goal: to strengthen news and journalism in a sustainable way at a time when the press faces significant challenges.”
Media enquiries
Qingxia Wu, Senior Digital Marketing Manager Global Events, WAN-IFRA
Samantha Schmitt, Head of communications, CMA Media
About WAN-IFRA
WAN-IFRA is the World Association of News Publishers, whose mission is to protect the rights of journalists and publishers to operate independent media worldwide. It provides members with expertise and services to innovate and prosper in a digital world. With formal representative status at the UN, UNESCO, and the Council of Europe, WAN-IFRA represents more than 20,000 publications across 120 countries through 80 national association members. www.wan-ifra.org
About CMA Media
CMA Media is the media subsidiary of CMA CGM Group and France’s third-largest private media group, built on three pillars: broadcasting (BFMTV, BFM Business, local TV channels, RMC radio, RMC Découverte, RMC Story, RMC Life); press (La Provence, Corse Matin, La Tribune, La Tribune Dimanche, Air & Cosmos); and digital media (Brut.). Active across television, radio, print, and social media, CMA Media combines editorial rigour, local engagement, and popular appeal with a constant spirit of innovation.
