WAN-IFRA Introduces the NextGen AI Leaders Programme to Equip Emerging News Executives with Practical AI and Leadership Skills
WAN-IFRA, the World Association of News Publishers, announces the NextGen AI Leaders Programme, a 12-week initiative designed to provide young media leaders, intrapreneurs, and first-time managers with the skills needed to drive responsible AI adoption and strengthen newsroom management. The tuition-free programme underscores WAN-IFRA’s commitment to investing in a diverse new generation of media leadership while closing the innovation gap between well-funded global newsrooms and smaller, mid-sized and local media organisations.
“To take full advantage of the opportunities AI provides news publishers, we need a strong and diverse leadership today and especially tomorrow. WAN-IFRA is proud to support those rising through the ranks to lead the charge in using AI to ensure journalistic excellence and resilient news media businesses,” says Stig Ørskov, WAN-IFRA’s CEO.
Supported by the Google News Initiative (GNI), the NextGen AI Leaders Programme will welcome 24 emerging news executives aged 25 to 40 from Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), appointed to leadership roles in product, audience, commercial and editorial departments at small, mid-sized or local news companies.
“As people’s preferences and technology evolve, we are continuing our long-standing commitment to helping journalists and publishers adapt to these types of shifts. Our latest collaboration with WAN-IFRA builds on years of partnership, now focusing on upskilling the next generation of news leaders to use AI tools for deeper audience engagement and digital storytelling,” says Jaffer Zaidi, VP Global News Partnerships, Google.
Conceived as an applied experimentation journey, participants will address real management challenges through structured coursework and mentorship. By combining live and online sessions, this initiative aims to unlock innovation and build AI fluency while strengthening new leadership capacity as participants shape how AI is developed and used in their organisations.
The programme will be facilitated by Anita Zielina, CEO of Better Leaders Lab, and Kaveh Waddell and Patrick Swanson, co-founders of the AI consulting lab Verso. Zielina specialises in organisational change, strategy, and leadership development; Waddell and Swanson assist newsrooms and non-profits with AI training, product design, and implementation. The Google News Initiative support includes sessions with experts providing training on Google’s AI products and their application across editorial, product, and commercial departments in news organisations.
Programme Outline
Applications for the NextGen AI Leaders programme is open from 25 February to 15 March 2026. The inaugural cohort will kick off on 14 April with an in-person leadership workshop held as an additional session of WAN-IFRA’s Frankfurt AI Forum. Upon completion, participants will have designed AI system prototypes and workflows they can implement back in their newsrooms to strengthen their leadership practices and operational workflows. Participants will also have the opportunity to take part in WAN-IFRA’s flagship event, the World News Media Congress in Marseille from 1-3 June.
Contact – Inquiries
For more information, please contact Kevin Anderson, Director, Digital Revenue Network, WAN-IFRA: kevin.anderson@wan-ifra.org
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ABOUT WAN-IFRA. WAN-IFRA is the World Association of News Publishers. Its mission is to protect the rights of journalists and publishers around the world to operate independent media. WAN-IFRA provides its members with expertise and services to innovate and prosper in a digital world and perform their crucial role in society. With formal representative status at the United Nations, UNESCO and the Council of Europe, it derives its authority from its global network of leading news publishing companies and technology entrepreneurs, and its legitimacy from its 80 national association members representing 18,000 publications in 120 countries. www.wan-ifra.org.
ABOUT THE GOOGLE NEWS INITIATIVE. Through our tools and training, the Google News Initiative is collaborating with journalists and publishers worldwide to enable responsible AI, explore new audiences and diversify revenue, and empower emerging news voices.
