AI and Digital Shifts Fundamentally Reshaping News Industry, Warns DNPA Chairperson
Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) chairperson and Manorama Online CEO Mariam Mammen Mathew opened the DNPA conclave on Thursday with a stark warning about the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the news industry. Speaking at the Third Annual Storyboard18 DNPA Conclave 2025, Mathew emphasized that AI and rapid shifts in the digital ecosystem are fundamentally reshaping how news is created, distributed, discovered and monetised.
Critical Juncture for Digital Journalism
Addressing the gathering on the theme "Transformation of Media in the Age of Artificial Intelligence," Mathew declared that the industry stands at a critical juncture. She identified four key forces driving this transformation: artificial intelligence, evolving data governance norms, shifting platform economics and changing audience behaviour.
"With India preparing to implement a forward-looking AI regulatory framework, this dialogue between policymakers and industry leaders is both timely and essential," Mathew stated, highlighting the importance of regulatory discussions in shaping the future of digital journalism.
DNPA's Role in Shaping Policy and Collaboration
Mathew detailed how DNPA has worked to ensure that the voice of credible digital publishers remains central to this transformation. The association has actively engaged with the government on multiple policy consultations, including:
- The Digital Personal Data Protection framework
- Discussions on generative AI and copyright issues
- Broader regulatory developments affecting digital news
"Strong AI requires strong, credible journalism," Mathew asserted, emphasizing the need to anchor technological advancement in trust and editorial integrity. She highlighted DNPA's internal efforts to strengthen collaboration among its 21 member publishers, focusing on traffic growth, sustainable monetisation models, newsroom adoption of AI tools and collective innovation opportunities.
Building Sustainable Models in AI-Mediated Ecosystem
Through working groups, policy dialogues and knowledge exchanges, DNPA aims to ensure that no publisher navigates the ongoing disruption alone. Mathew emphasized that trust remains the core principle amid industry-wide transformation, noting that DNPA has brought together policymakers, technology leaders, industry partners and publishers not only to discuss challenges but to co-create solutions.
Key concerns identified include:
- Building sustainable monetisation in an AI-mediated ecosystem
- Protecting intellectual property while enabling innovation
- Reducing platform dependency to build traffic resilience
Advocacy and Representation
The Digital News Publishers Association represents 21 prominent digital news publishers in India. The body advocates on behalf of its members in engagements with key institutions including:
- The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
- The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
- The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
Beyond policy advocacy, DNPA promotes best practices and collaboration across the industry, positioning itself as a crucial intermediary between digital publishers and regulatory bodies during this period of unprecedented technological change.
