But it was CNN Worldwide CEO Mark Thompson who warned of what was at stake.
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AI was among a number of challenges that the CEOs addressed at the event.
I dont think anyone has built a great video-led news product, and we want to build that.
IAB’s David Cohen, NBCU’s Cesar Conde, The New York Times' Meredith Kopit Levien, CNN’s Mark Thompson and BBC’s Deborah Turness.Screen shot
We have hundreds of millions of views of vertical video.
But many younger people find it on TikTok and YouTube.
And most news websites kind of look like they are in the newspaper tradition.
So what does a true, video-led news product look like?
As politics has gotten more polarizing, advertisers have gotten more skittish about placing spots next to controversial content.
Its about everything, Thompson said.
Its about Cowboy Carter.
That is the business challenge.
Deborah Turness, CEO of BBC News, said Our greatest competitor is news avoidance.
I think we live in a polarized world with divisive politics and culture wars.
Add to that a couple of massive wars, real wars.
And you have that kind of toxic mix and people are starting to move away from news.
The dispersal of younger audiences to new forms has posed a particularly vexing problem.
Its requiring all of us to be significantly more agile than we have been in the past.
I think its being exacerbated by so many technologies.
So that is clearly a headwind.
News organizations that invest in original journalism.
I think we will continue to see that trend of audiences looking and seeking out those trusted brands.
