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- Media Panel 8 December 2:55 - 3:20PM
Money Talks: The Power Sources of Modern Media
Media today is powered by a complex mix of hedge funds, billionaires, global conglomerates, and platform-era kingmakers. Each is shaping not only what gets made, but what gets seen. From entertainment mergers to private-equity rollups of local outlets, the incentives behind media ownership increasingly influence creative choices, cultural priorities, and public trust. As financial influence deepens and independence is tested, this session asks: what funding models and accountability mechanisms can keep our modern media, across news, entertainment, and creator platforms, serving audiences and culture, not just its proprietors?
Forum StageSpeakers
- Creator Economy Presentation 9 December 10:30 - 10:40AM
Turning Views into Value: Cracking the Code on YouTube Monetization
YouTube is one of the most democratized, yet most misunderstood, platforms in the creator economy. In this session, Donna Budica, Co-Founder and COO of TEN2 Media, shares how her company’s partnership with Google is helping artists navigate the platform’s complex monetization ecosystem and turn audience vewership into tangible value. Drawing from her cross-industry experience in music, media, and tech, Budica explores what it really takes to launch a sustainable, transparent digital career in an era where data, distribution, and authenticity build the pillars of long-term success.
Explore by Instagram - Creator Economy Fireside 9 December 1:30 - 1:45PM
What Happens When Creators Become Policymakers?
In 2024, YouTuber Fidias Panayiotou and Spanish influencer Alvise Pérez were elected to the European Parliament, marking a conversion of digital virality into political authority. Their rise, fueled by massive online followings and anti-establishment narratives, reflects a growing appetite among younger voters for alternative forms of representation. How will this new wave of leadership reshape democratic institutions, accountability, and public trust?
Central Stage - Media Panel 9 December 3:55 - 4:25PM
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.
Forum StageSpeakers
- Creator Economy Fireside 8 December 3:55 - 4:10PM
Bizarre Foods With Andrew Zimmern
Before the rise of bite-sized content and algorithm-driven storytelling, some creators built influence the long way, through deep curiosity, lived experience, and long-form craft. In this intergenerational conversation, award-winning chef and storyteller Andrew Zimmern reflects on how he went from kitchens to global screens, using food as a bridge to culture, identity, and understanding. Joining him is a new-generation creator who ascended through digital platforms, bringing a fresh perspective shaped by real-time audiences and algorithmic winds. Together, they explore what has changed, and what hasn’t, when it comes to building trust, telling human stories, and connecting across cultures. What can today’s creators learn from the depth and patience of pre-social-media storytelling? And how can legacy storytellers adapt to a world moving at the speed of the scroll while keeping meaning at the center?
Explore by InstagramModerator
- Media Panel 9 December 10:35 - 10:55AM
Privacy, Safety, and Integrity in Modern Media
As AI, social media, and the platforms that shape what people see and share, media needs stronger rules to protect privacy, keep people safe, and make information more trustworthy. This session looks at how technology, journalism, and public communication can work together to create systems that are transparent, fair, and responsible. Together, we discuss the prospective pathways for creating safer platforms, prevent manipulation, and strengthen the trust between the public, the media, and the companies that shape the online world.
Impact StageSpeakers
Moderator
