Overview

Readers-first paradigm in the workflows, examples of broken silos, personalised paywalls and experiences, and smart transition from the printed past to the digital future will be the main topics discussed at this high-energy seminar curated and moderated by INMA’s Readers First Initiative lead Greg Piechota.

This case study-driven seminar brings together pioneering leaders from world-class media firms to share practical strategies in leading the digital transformation and market-proven ideas for acquiring, engaging, and retaining digital subscribers.

Brought to you by
Piano


Friday

May 23

11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Seminars welcome coffee

Join colleagues for a welcome tea or coffee before diving into the day’s seminars.

1:00 p.m.-1:05 p.m.
Welcome: Keys to subscription success in 2025

In today's evolving media landscape, subscription success demands placing readers at the center of every strategy. Get introduced to experts and peers who will be your guides at this seminar.

Readers First Initiative Lead, INMA, United Kingdom

Greg Piechota

1:05 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Keynote: Marketing and product-driven newsroom revolution at Verdens Gang

At this Norwegian primary news destination and subscription powerhouse, journalists, developers, and marketers work side by side to accelerate digital growth and build a new subscription offering with audio and video at its core. At the helm of this revolution is the editor-in-chief who is also the chief executive officer. Learn how Verdens Gang reimagined its newsroom for the digital future by integrating marketing insight and product expertise into editorial workflows.

Chief Executive Officer and Editor-In-Chief, Verdens Gang (Schibsted), Norway

Gard Steiro

1:30 p.m. - 1:55 p.m.
Case study: A dynamic paywall for a dynamic news cycle at The Atlantic

The scoop about U.S. officials discussing battle plans on a civilian chat app boosted The Atlantic’s reputation and brand, drew widespread attention, and sparked heated debates. How do you market subscriptions in a dynamic news cycle? Consider this case for equally dynamic paywalls enabled by recent advances in AI and personalisation technology.

Chief Growth Officer, The Atlantic, United States

Megha Garibaldi

1:55 p.m. - 2:10 p.m.
Breaking silos: Using ad revenue insights to power total revenue optimisation

Join this fast-paced session on how a leading publisher is using Piano’s Ad Revenue Insights to drive smarter decisions across the entire business — from the newsroom to ad ops to the subscription team. Learn how integrating data across departments can unlock new opportunities, improve collaboration, and maximise total revenue. Whether you're in editorial, marketing, or product, this session will give you actionable strategies to align your teams and optimise outcomes.

Associate Director, Digital Subscription, The Post and Courier, United States

Ben Draper

Executive Vice President, Media Strategy, Piano, United States

Michael Silberman

2:10 p.m. - 2:35 p.m.
Best practices in acquisition: Breaking through the media noise at Condé Nast

Relying solely on news cycles to drive subscriptions isn’t enough, especially when the news cycle is unpredictable. The alternative? A blend of customer-focused thinking, data-driven decisions, customised experiences, and calculated risk-taking. Hear stories behind the success of Condé Nast’s magazine brands such as The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and Wired.

Senior Director of Digital Consumer Marketing, Condé Nast, United States

Sheena Hakimian

2:35 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Best practices in engagement: Creating a first-class subscriber experience at Neue Zürcher Zeitung

Drawing inspiration from the top-class Swiss hospitality and airlines, Zurich’s newspaper of record is redefining what a top-tier subscription could be. More content? Yes, but the new premium experience pampers Neue Zürcher Zeitung’s “Pro” subscribers with new content formats, thoughtful curation, new social features, and AI-powered personalisation.

Head of Digital Products, Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ), Switzerland

Eva Günther

3:00 p.m. - 3:25 p.m.
Best practices in retention: Migrating print subscribers to a digital-only future at Stampen

New digital replicas of print newspapers, new editions that have no print equivalents, even new digital-only brands all bundled together, help the Swedish publisher of Göteborgs-Posten and its other regional press drive subscription retention and revenue to new heights. The goal? Newsrooms fully funded by digital business by 2027.

Head of B2C and Product, Stampen, Sweden

Hanna Månsson

3:25 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Takeaways: To-do list for subscription leaders after the seminar

Let us distill the biggest takeaways from this content-rich seminar and offer actionable ideas for building a sustainable news business with readers at its core.

Readers First Initiative Lead, INMA, United Kingdom

Greg Piechota

Sponsors

Platinum


Gold


Silver


Bronze


Media Partner




Ready to attend World Congress?

OSZAR »