Digital media consultant Mark Challinor continues the News Horizons series, which features interviews with the people shaping tomorrow’s media. Today, it’s Owen Meredith who has just been announced as dmg media’s managing director, public policy.
Owen Meredith has over a decade of experience in the media business and media policy, working at the very top of the industry to protect press freedom and help publishers build sustainable business models, most recently as CEO of the News Media Association, and before that at the PPA.
He starts his dmg media role in May 2026, leveraging his experience from the News Media Association, the voice of national, regional and local news media organisations in the UK – a £4 billion sector read by 46.4 million adults every month in print and online.
Why the News Business is Ripping Up the Rulebook for 2026
According to the News Media Association (NMA) and its CEO, Owen Meredith, the news business is evolving into a model defined by a dual mandate: unshakeable trust in editorial quality and ruthless adoption of tech innovation.
The goal?
To turn brand authority into scalable, diversified revenue.
Meredith sees clear momentum heading into 2026. “News brands are thriving, attracting 46.4 million UK adults every month,” Meredith notes, pointing to PAMCO data.
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He says this enormous, engaged audience is the hook for advertisers, who increasingly valued, premium, high-trust environments. The commercial proof is stark: ads perform 40% better on news sites than elsewhere, validating the industry’s claim to deliver exceptional ROI.
He believes that the engine powering the future isn’t just print or digital—it’s creativity, data, and digital innovation. Publishers are innovating across the board, from The Guardian’s immersive storytelling to The Times’ data-led personalisation.
Meanwhile, local heroes like Southwark News are hitting millions of views by translating stories into social-native, short-form video.
AI: The Human-in-the-Loop Imperative
The biggest game-changer is, unsurprisingly, AI, which Meredith says is having a huge impact. But this isn’t a silver bullet; it’s a productivity enhancer that must be guided by human editorial values.
The key lesson Meredith is sharing for media companies?
“Define your own AI approach. AI works best when it enhances journalism,” he states, pointing to Newsquest’s DotDash as a prime example. This tool drafts stories from reporter notes, keeping humans in the loop to free up journalists for high-value investigative and creative work.
For the NMA, AI is essential for efficiency, but it can never replace editorial judgment—the very foundation of their brand.
This stance on integrity is why the industry is campaigning hard through initiatives like ‘Make it Fair,’ which is pushing to ensure publishers are fairly compensated for content used to train AI models.
The message is simple: you can’t have AI innovation without the trusted content that fuels it.
The Future is Dual-Track Monetisation
Meredith dismisses the idea that subscriptions are the only “panacea.” The new model is a robust mix of reader revenue and strategic advertising. Subscriptions are growing rapidly—Newsquest’s 35% year-on-year growth to 135,000 digital subscribers shows the potential—and they allow publishers to invest in quality and personalisation.
On the advertising front, it remains a key partner, amplifying reach and engagement in trusted environments, evidenced by deals like Reach’s partnership with Amazon for improved brand-safe targeting.
Beyond these two pillars, Meredith believes publishers are mastering revenue diversification: launching branded content studios (Guardian Labs), offering marketing solutions to local businesses (LOCALiQ), and leveraging partnerships for innovative products like AI-generated video ads for small businesses.
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Print’s Role and the Tech Battle
Meredith is clear that print is still vital. It offers a “tangible, trusted connection” and high-quality attention that digital often can’t replicate.
For media buyers, the challenge is to highlight print’s role in reinforcing campaigns and complementing digital targeting.
The NMA’s overall vision is one where the media landscape thrives by combining credibility with innovation.
The biggest challenge is getting tech “gatekeeper companies” to recognise and fairly reward the huge value that news content brings to their platforms: otherwise, Meredith warns, they risk losing it entirely.
For the CEO, the evolution of the news business is a path where trust is the currency and innovation is the delivery mechanism.
Challinor’s summary
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My interview with the NMA’s CEO revealed a news industry that is thriving commercially by leveraging two core assets: trust and tech innovation. I can probably summarize it in five takeaways:
1. Trust is the Premium Currency: News brands attract 46.4 million UK adults monthly, offering advertisers a high-engagement, brand-safe environment where ads perform 40% better. Strong brands are built on credibility and editorial quality.
2. AI as an Augmenter. Not a replacement. AI’s impact is massive, but its role is to enhance journalism—automating routine tasks (eg, Newsquest’s DotDash) without replacing human editorial judgment. The industry is actively fighting for fair compensation for content used by AI.
2. Dual Monetisation Strategy: Subscriptions are growing at a pace but they are not the sole solution. Strategic advertising remains a vital, complementary revenue stream. This is backed by diversification into branded content, e-commerce, and local marketing solutions.
3. Innovation Across Formats: Publishers are meeting younger audiences on their turf via mobile-first, visual/social formats while also maintaining print as a “vital” channel for tangible trust and high-quality attention.
4. Tech Platforms v Creators: The relationship with Big Tech is a must for scale, but the system undervalues creators. The future relies on gatekeepers recognising the immense value that quality news brings, or risking its demise.
Last issue, Mark spoke with Christian Broughton, chief executive officer, of The Independent.