The Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) convened its Third Annual Storyboard18 conclave on Thursday, focusing on the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the news industry. Mariam Mammen Mathew, chairperson of DNPA and CEO of Manorama Online, emphasized that the rapid evolution of AI and the digital landscape is fundamentally altering how news is produced, distributed, and monetized.
Speaking in New Delhi, Mathew highlighted that the media sector is at a pivotal moment. The integration of AI, along with evolving data governance norms and changing audience behaviors, poses both challenges and opportunities for digital journalism. As India gears up to implement a comprehensive AI regulatory framework, she called the ongoing dialogue between policymakers and industry leaders “timely and essential.”
“Strong AI requires strong, credible journalism,” Mathew remarked, underscoring the importance of trust and editorial integrity as technology continues to advance. She noted that DNPA has actively engaged with the government on critical policy issues, including the Digital Personal Data Protection framework, generative AI discussions, copyright, and other regulatory developments that influence digital news.
Internally, the DNPA is working to bolster collaboration among its members, focusing on traffic growth, sustainable monetization strategies, and the adoption of AI tools in newsrooms. The association aims to foster collective innovation through various working groups, policy dialogues, and knowledge exchanges, ensuring that no publisher navigates the ongoing disruption in isolation.
Trust, Mathew maintained, remains the cornerstone of the industry’s evolution. The DNPA has successfully brought together policymakers, technology leaders, and industry partners to not only address pressing challenges but also to co-create viable solutions. Among the key concerns are building sustainable monetization models within an AI-driven ecosystem, safeguarding intellectual property while promoting innovation, and reducing dependency on platforms to create more resilient traffic streams.
The association represents 21 leading digital news publishers in India and advocates on behalf of its members in discussions with important regulatory bodies, including the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. In addition to policy advocacy, the DNPA promotes best practices and collaborative efforts across the industry.
As the digital news landscape undergoes significant transformation, the role of AI is set to become increasingly influential. Industry leaders and journalists alike are tasked with navigating this complex environment while upholding the standards of credible journalism. Mathew’s emphasis on collaboration and trust suggests a path forward where technology and integrity coexist, shaping the future of digital news in India.
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