Arc XP

We are so excited to congratulate our customer, Baltimore Banner, on winning its first-ever George Polk Award for Local Reporting! 🏆 Journalists Alissa Zhu, Jessica Gallagher, and Nick Thieme spent two years investigating Baltimore’s overdose crisis in partnership with The New York Times Local Investigations Fellowship. Their reporting not only exposed the depth of the crisis but also drove real change—leading to the shutdown of a troubled treatment program and sparking critical policy discussions at the city level. This well-deserved honor showcases the power of investigative journalism. Congratulations to the Baltimore Banner team! 👏 Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/gig_JaSe

The JILeaders Winter FORUM 'Media Leadership Amid the Certainty of Uncertainty', led by François Nel, brought together global media leaders from WAN-IFRA, the World Association of News Publishers, Arc XP, Journalists' Charity, Media24 (Pty) Ltd, Journalism Trust Initiative & Daily Mirror to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in journalism today. Hosted online from Media Innovation Studio, UCLan, the forum sparked powerful discussions on the evolving media landscape. Key Themes from the Forum: World Press Trends & Outlook 2025 Despite ongoing challenges, optimism remains strong among media leaders. Many news organisations are adapting by diversifying revenue streams, focusing on audience engagement, and leveraging digital transformation to secure long-term sustainability. AI – What Is Now, What Is Next? AI is rapidly transforming newsrooms—not just as a tool for automation, but as a strategic enabler of better storytelling, audience personalisation, and workflow efficiency. However, its success depends on clear ethical frameworks, thoughtful integration, and a focus on enhancing human journalism rather than replacing it. The Value of Values With public trust in journalism under pressure, media leaders emphasised the importance of transparency, ethical reporting, and audience engagement. Establishing strong newsroom values and reinforcing journalistic integrity remain essential in an era of misinformation and evolving media consumption habits. A huge thank you to our speakers-Dean Roper, Lucy Kueng (Küng), Joey Marburger, Alexandra Borchardt, Clare Spencer, Izelle Venter, James Brindle, Lynda Moyo, Chloé Fiodiere & Alison Gow- and to all attendees for their invaluable contributions. The industry is evolving, and through collaboration, we are shaping its future! Sponsored by Arc XP, FT Strategies, Bright Sites, Journalists' Charity, @Chrysalis, The Media Lab and Tickaroo What’s Next? The JILeaders FORUM will return in Spring and Autumn 2025, continuing the conversation on the future of media, leadership, and innovation. For more information, visit the 'EVENTS' page at https://lnkd.in/e3fHBF98 or contact JILeaders@uclan.ac.uk.

Big news! Arc XP is the headline sponsor of the Press Gazette Media Strategy Network USA event in New York! 🏙️ 🍎 As the media industry evolves, this event unites top leaders to explore the future of digital publishing, audience engagement, and monetization. We’re proud to take center stage in these critical conversations and showcase how Arc XP empowers media organizations with cutting-edge technology to optimize workflows, enhance user experiences, and drive sustainable growth. Looking forward to insightful discussions and meaningful connections—if you’re attending, let’s connect!

🚀 From legacy paper to digital powerhouse—The Minnesota Star Tribune’s transformation is a bold story of rapid innovation. With a vision to increase digital subscriptions by 200% over five years, they ditched the "build not buy" mindset and embraced Arc XP as their central content hub, paving the way for a more agile newsroom. Here are some standout moves from their digital overhaul: 🔹 Headless implementation of Arc XP: This allowed the team to create a truly unique user experience, customizing every aspect of their platform. 🔹 Liveblogging with Norkon: The Star Tribune enhanced election and sports coverage, driving reader engagement during crucial moments. 🔹 Mobile experiences with Pugpig: They launched a sleek, reliable app that keeps subscribers coming back for more! The results? A successful launch just in time for election season, with their tech stack proving its worth as traffic surged to record highs. Curious about how the Star Tribune is redefining itself as a regional news leader and setting the stage for future growth? Dive into the full case study here: https://hubs.la/Q038qlwG0

This was a full day of smart and useful conversations, from in-the-weeds SEO and AI tactics up to big bets and ideas for the future of media. I initially thought it was a grim metaphor to hold a 'future of media event' at a comedy club, but, by the end (thanks to a surprise appearance by the venue's improv comedy troupe impersonating and lampooning our media-nerd jargon), we were all laughing in the best of ways. The presentations and panels were stacked with bright thinkers — their words left me feeling recommitted to thinking big. Thanks to The Washington Post, Arc XP, Viafoura and Pugpig for convening a stellar group!

Ignite 2025 was a can’t-miss event—but if you did miss it, we’ve got you covered. Last week, over 100 digital publishing pros packed The Second City Toronto for Ignite 2025: Betting Big and Fueling the Future of Media and Publishing. Industry leaders from Bell Media, The Guardian, BBC, Newsweek, The Globe and Mail, The Athletic and more weren’t just discussing trends—they were laying down their boldest bets for 2025. 🎰 🔥 So, what’s next for media? From prioritizing authorship in SEO to rethinking audience funnels, owning mobile experiences, and leveraging AI the right way, these seven big bets are set to shape the industry.  💡 See the top bets for 2025: https://hubs.la/Q0383B9b0 Pugpig, Viafoura

What a day! From big bets to even bigger ideas, Ignite 2025 was one for the books. We wrapped it up at Miller Tavern with great conversations and an intense US vs. Canada hockey face-off final! 🍻 A huge thank you to everyone who took a bet on this event and chose to spend the day with us—you brought the energy, the curiosity, and made it unforgettable. Shoutout to Pugpig and Viafoura for partnering with us to make Ignite 2025 a reality, and to our dream team—Marisa Cole, our head of global events, and Dalia Vainer, our wonderful host—for putting together an incredible event (and for keeping us laughing!). And of course, to our speakers—thank you for sharing your insights and sparking important conversations. If you missed a session, don’t worry, recaps are coming soon to arcxp.com. Until next time! #Ignite2025 🔥

And our surprise speaker is… 🥁 🥁 🥁 Sandy Jobin-Bevans—co-founder of the prestigious International Media Consulting Group (Aka an improviser at Second City!). Sandy and his team were tasked with closing out an incredible day, and they did not disappoint. Demonstrating the art of improv, they had us all laughing—and even got a few brave souls up on stage. The energy was through the roof, creativity was flowing, and it was the perfect way to wrap up a day of bold ideas and big bets. Because sometimes, the best way to tackle the future of media? A little improv, a lot of laughs, and a room full of industry leaders ready to play along. Viafoura, Pugpig

Our final sessions tackled people, leadership, and the big moves shaping 2025 💡 Hiding in Plain Sight: Unlocking the People Advantage Innovation is nothing without the people who power it. Erin Valois (Postmedia Network Inc.) and Takara Small (BBC & CBC) explored how leadership, change management, and AI-driven insights create resilient, people-first organizations. With deepfakes, AI-driven manipulation, and eroding trust in traditional media, the future demands more than just fact-checking articles. It’s about understanding how audiences discern truth in a digital world. The good news? We’re having the conversation now, which means there’s time to prepare. 🎯 The 2025 Bet: Bold Predictions & Big Moves What’s next for media? Industry leaders Zachary Gabrielski from Dotdash Meredith, Barbara Escoto from Bell Media, and Josh Awtry from Newsweek made their bets: 🔹 News outlets must define their unique value proposition—what sets them apart? 🔹 The right talent is make-or-break: Don’t stifle creativity; give young journalists the space to shape content that resonates. 🔹 AI isn’t the strategy; it’s the tool. Success comes from using it with a clear business goal in mind. BUT WAIT—The day’s not over just yet… 👀🔥 We’ve got one more trick up our sleeve—a surprise session with a SECRET GUEST! 🎭 This isn’t just another panel. Expect bold predictions, controversial takes, and maybe even a few surprises as industry “leaders” debate where media, publishing, and technology are headed next. So… who do you think our mystery guest is?

The post-lunch lineup at Ignite 2025 delivered two powerhouse sessions on AI-driven strategy and rethinking scale in publishing! 🤖 Unlocking the Power of Data: How The Globe and Mail is Using AI for Smarter Insights Things got cozy with our fire side chat, where Billy Kirchen from Arc XP, moderated a conversation with Richa Deshwal from The Globe and Mail on their AI-powered approach to content strategy. She shared how data and machine learning are reshaping editorial decisions, personalizing experiences, and uncovering valuable audience insights. The takeaway? AI isn’t replacing newsroom instincts—it’s making them sharper. 📈 Getting Big So You Can Think Small Josh Awtry from Newsweek challenged the traditional mindset around scale, explaining why bigger audiences enable smarter segmentation. He broke down why funnels can be misleading, highlighted key KPIs, and shared how publishers can turn casual readers into loyal audiences by recognizing that every user journey is unique. Two inspiring conversations, and we’re not finished yet! #Ignite2025 Pugpig, Viafoura