INMA’s 2025 World Congress of News Media in New York closed on Friday after a packed programme of events and other business.

Looking back, it was an event in which Donald Trump’s second term dominated conversations, prompting fierce debate on topics including democracy, journalism and press freedom. “From lawsuits over NPR funding to fact-checking surges and audience engagement spikes, Trump is reshaping business strategies, reporting missions and news industry resilience worldwide,” one commentator said.

Among industry leaders discussing the need for companies to adapt to the needs and habits of younger generations was Stuff New Zealand owner and publisher Sinead Boucher (pictured) who stressed that the tastes of younger people “serve as a bellwether for where all consumers are heading. 

“I think how we look at them is not only as our future customers, but as a signal for how we are going to appeal to all of our customers,” she said. “We find that the things young people are interested in, the formats that they like, actually spread to a much bigger group of people because we all want to feel youthful.”

Check INMA’s own coverage of the event at https://www.inma.org

At another session, leaders from McClatchy, Gannett, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution shared how they are overhauling their business models to survive – and, most importantly, thrive – in the digital age. “I think our future depends on our ability to establish relationships, consumer-direct relationships, and get them to pay,” Tony Hunter, McClatchy’s chief executive said. They are pictured with INMA product & tech initiative lead Jodie Hopperton.

Sinead Boucher was one of eight news executives elected to INMA’s governing board of directors during its annual business meeting.

Others elected to new terms were Marcelo Benez (Folha de S.Paulo, Brazil), Pia Kalsta (Sanoma Media, Finland), Debby Krenek (Newsday, USA), Maria Eugenia Ferre Rangel (GFR Media, Puerto Rico) and Andrew Saunders (Globe and Mail, Canada).

Stephen Dunbar-Johnson (New York Times, UK) was elected second vice president, and Pam Siddall (Advance Local, USA) as treasurer.

Stepping down from the board are Sanjay Gupta (Jagran Prakashan, India) and Sandy Naude (Independent Media, South Africa). INMA president Gert Ysebaert also noted Praveen Someshwar (HT Media, India) and Lay Lim Teo (Singapore Press Holdings) had stepped down in the past year after leaving the news industry.