More related content on the BRIDGE
- Media Fireside 10 December 10:00 - 10:20AM
Preparing Youth for a World of Infinite Information
In today’s information-saturated world, media fluency is as essential as reading or math. Yet a 2024 News Literacy Project survey found that only 39% of U.S. teens receive formal media literacy education, and just 18% can accurately distinguish news from ads, opinion, or entertainment. As students navigate increasingly AI-driven and conspiratorial media ecosystems, how can schools equip them to think critically, discern truth, and shape the digital world they’re inheriting?
Academy StageSpeakers
Moderator
- Media Panel 8 December 3:35 - 3:55PM
The Future of Media's 'Free' Spaces
Digital social media has become primary arenas for information exchange and cultural dialogue, yet the systems that govern visibility and participation remain largely opaque. As business models, ownership structures, and moderation philosophies evolve, societies are grappling with how to ensure these spaces remain trustworthy, inclusive, and resilient. A 2023 Reuters Institute study found that nearly one-third of global users now access multiple news sources through social platforms each week, underscoring their growing influence on public understanding. This conversation explores how different approaches like community governance can strengthen digital environments that balance openness with responsibility, support constructive engagement, and reflect the diversity of the global audiences they serve.
Forum StageSpeakers
- Media Panel 9 December 3:55 - 4:25PM
Longform’s Next Act
In a media environment dominated by sensationalism and short-form content, longform journalism has struggled to keep its grip. According to the 2025 Reuters Institute Digital News Report, 62 percent of online news consumers now prefer bite-sized updates. Yet platforms like YouTube and Substack show renewed demand for depth, with Substack alone reporting a fivefold rise in paid subscriptions since 2020. The question is no longer whether audiences have the attention for longform, but whether the industry is delivering it in ways that resonate. Publishers and creators are now reimagining longform for a global, digital-first audience, using new distribution models and partnerships to balance reach with resonance, and to define the next era of credible, enduring media.
Forum StageSpeakers
- Media Panel 9 December 10:35 - 10:55AM
Privacy, Safety, and Integrity in Modern Media
As AI, social media, and the platforms that shape what people see and share, media needs stronger rules to protect privacy, keep people safe, and make information more trustworthy. This session looks at how technology, journalism, and public communication can work together to create systems that are transparent, fair, and responsible. Together, we discuss the prospective pathways for creating safer platforms, prevent manipulation, and strengthen the trust between the public, the media, and the companies that shape the online world.
Impact StageSpeakers
Moderator
- Technology Panel 8 December 2:30 - 3:00PM
Intellectual Property at the Edge of Innovation
AI, blockchain, and immersive digital worlds are testing intellectual property rights. As industries rethink ownership, rights, and value, this session examines how to protect creativity and ownership while enabling the breakthroughs that will define the next decade of innovation.
Academy StageSpeakers
- Creator Economy Panel 9 December 11:15 - 11:35AM
The New Powerbrokers of Philanthropy
Public figures are reshaping philanthropy, blending entertainment with impact and challenging traditional giving models. MrBeast’s YouTube charity has raised millions, while TikTok fundraisers now rival institutional campaigns in reach and speed. As creators build direct pipelines to donors and causes, what standards, partnerships, or guardrails could help ensure transparency, effectiveness, and lasting impact? Could creator-led giving become a new blueprint for global generosity at scale?
Impact StageSpeakers
