More related content on the BRIDGE
- Technology Fireside 8 December 12:25 - 12:45PM
Alexis Ohanian on ‘Re-turning’ the Web
Alexis Ohanian helped launch one of the internet’s most influential communities and is now reimagining the future through his firm Seven Seven Six. In this fireside, he shares where the creator economy is heading, how AI is reshaping value and ownership, and what lessons from building Reddit still matter to media leaders today. Expect insights on the next global hubs of innovation and what trends will define 2026.
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- Technology Panel 8 December 2:40 - 3:10PM
Intellectual Property at the Edge of Innovation
AI, blockchain, and immersive digital worlds are testing intellectual property rights. As industries rethink ownership, rights, and value, this session examines how to protect creativity and ownership while enabling the breakthroughs that will define the next decade of innovation.
Academy StageSpeakers
- Marketing Panel 8 December 4:20 - 4:50PM
Tuning for Virality
In a world where attention shifts in seconds, creators and brands must optimize content with the same precision and speed as performance marketers. With AI-driven tools now boosting engagement by 25% and cutting production time in half, the line between creative instinct and data science is disappearing. Leaders like Saif Jarad—who built one of the region’s most awarded performance agencies and pioneered early Google and Facebook Ads innovation—embody this shift. This session explores how creators can apply performance marketing principles, real-time insights, and AI-enhanced optimization to stay discoverable, credible, and ahead of the curve in an algorithm-driven landscape.
Academy StageSpeakers
- Media Panel 9 December 3:00 - 3:20PM
Longform’s Next Act
In a media environment dominated by sensationalism and short-form content, longform journalism has struggled to keep its grip. According to the 2025 Reuters Institute Digital News Report, 62 percent of online news consumers now prefer bite-sized updates. Yet platforms like YouTube and Substack show renewed demand for depth, with Substack alone reporting a fivefold rise in paid subscriptions since 2020. The question is no longer whether audiences have the attention for longform, but whether the industry is delivering it in ways that resonate. Publishers and creators are now reimagining longform for a global, digital-first audience, using new distribution models and partnerships to balance reach with resonance, and to define the next era of credible, enduring media.
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- Media Panel 9 December 10:40 - 11:10AM
Rebooting Media Education for the Algorithmic Age
As AI and social media rewrite how stories are produced, verified, and shared, journalism and media education face an existential test. A UNESCO survey found that 62% of digital creators skip rigorous fact-checking, while a 2024 YouGov study showed only 27% of young adults feel confident about AI in education. How can schools, platforms, and educators close these gaps — embedding ethics, data literacy, and critical thinking into curricula designed for a world that never stops scrolling?
Academy StageSpeakers
- Technology Keynote 10 December 12:25 - 12:35PM
The New Language of Work is Visual
In a world where everyone’s a storyteller, from marketers and founders to educators and finance teams, communication has shifted. In this keynote, Canva’s Head of EMEA, Duncan Clark, explores how the rise of creator culture, AI, and visual-first platforms has reshaped the way we work, collaborate, and tell stories. From TikToks to team updates, from brand storytelling to business decks, visual content powered by AI is now at the heart of how we work.
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