Back in Pune for the first time since 2012, WAN-Ifra’s Indian Printers Summit will include a visit to the Times of India printing plant in Bhosari.

Coming on the final day of the conference, the vist will be preceded by insights into the paper’s distribution journey from RMD circulation sales & distribution director Anshul Gupta. The session, ‘Reaching the last mile’, will look at how the daily newspaper moves through a complex early-morning distribution network and reaches readers on time.

The Pune event includes a new advertising and distribution masterclass, adding a dedicated focus on revenue, audience reach and ‘the last mile’, alongside discussions on AI, production, sustainability and the future of news publishing.

WAN-Ifra’s 34th Indian Printers Summit is expected to bring together about 300 professionals from India’s newspaper publishing, printing, advertising and distribution industries for the Pune event from September 9-10.

The new mmasterclass offers a dedicated programme on the changing business of reaching audiences, growing advertising revenue and building sustainable business models for news publishers.

The programme will examine some of the most pressing issues facing the industry, from the future of news publishing and advertising in a volatile market to AI adoption, production efficiency, sustainability, distribution and emerging market trends.

Another highlight of the summit is a panel featuring next-gen leaders from news publishing companies, discussing strategies for attracting younger audiences and remaining relevant in the changing media landscape. Panelists include Sakal Media Group director Janhavi Pawar, Devika MS (Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi), and Brihathi Cherukuri, director of Telugu daily Eenadu). The panel will be moderated by Shital Pawar, Pune executive editor of Sakal.

The summit will open with a keynote from GroupM media director Amitabh Sharma, sharing his perspective on the future of news publishing, and will be followed by a group discussion on the evolving publishing business. Editors from leading Indian news organisations will discuss the balance between editorial independence and commercial priorities as publishers seek new and sustainable business models.

The programme will feature speakers and industry leaders from organisations including Sakal, Dainik Bhaskar, ABP, The Hindu, The Times of India, HT Media, GroupM, India Today and Vijay Karnataka.

The exclusive visit to the Times of India plant in Pune will offer an inside look at the plant and an understanding of the realities of a major newspaper operation.

For more information on the event, see the programme here.

GXpress is a media partner.

Pictured: Delegates get together for last year’s event and (top) the Pune print site