DNPA Conclave 2026: AI, policy shifts and platform changes redrawing future of digital news

Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) chairperson and Manorama Online CEO Mariam Mammen Mathew on Thursday opened the DNPA conclave and said that artificial intelligence and rapid shifts in the digital ecosystem are fundamentally reshaping how news is created, distributed, discovered and monetised.

Speaking at the Fourth Annual Digital News Publishers Association Conclave 2026 on the theme, “Transformation of Media in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” Mathew said the industry is at a critical juncture as artificial intelligence, evolving data governance norms, shifting platform economics and changing audience behaviour redefine digital journalism.

With India preparing to implement a forward-looking AI regulatory framework, she described the dialogue between policymakers and industry leaders as both timely and essential.

Mathew said DNPA has worked to ensure that the voice of credible digital publishers remains central to this transformation. The association has engaged with the government on key policy consultations, including the Digital Personal Data Protection framework, discussions on generative AI, copyright and broader regulatory developments affecting digital news.

“Strong AI requires strong, credible journalism,” she said, highlighting the need to anchor technological advancement in trust and editorial integrity.

Internally, she noted, DNPA has strengthened collaboration among its members, focusing on traffic growth, sustainable monetisation models, newsroom adoption of AI tools and collective opportunities for innovation. Through working groups, policy dialogues and knowledge exchanges, the association aims to ensure that no publisher navigates the ongoing disruption alone.

Mathew emphasised that trust remains the core principle amid industry-wide transformation. She said DNPA has brought together policymakers, technology leaders, industry partners and publishers not only to discuss challenges but to co-create solutions. Key concerns include building sustainable monetisation in an AI-mediated ecosystem, protecting intellectual property while enabling innovation, and reducing platform dependency to build traffic resilience.

The Digital News Publishers Association represents 21 prominent digital news publishers in India. The body advocates on behalf of its members in engagements with institutions such as the ministry of electronics and information technology, the ministry of information and broadcasting and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, while also promoting best practices and collaboration across the industry.
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