More related content on the BRIDGE
- Media Speech 10 December 9:45 - 10:05AM
A Decade of Satire – Did It Work?
Satire redefined civic courage and cultural commentary, challenging power through laughter and irony. Few embodied that moment more than Bassem Youssef, whose sharp wit became a symbol of freedom across the Middle East and beyond. In this conversation, Youssef reflects on what satire achieved, where it fell short, as a tool for truth, accountability, and reform.
Forum StageSpeakers
- Gaming Fireside 8 December 5:30 - 5:45PM
From Melodies to Multiplayers
As Imagine Dragons’ longtime manager, Mac Reynolds has helped build one of the world’s most successful music brands. Now, he and his brother Dan Reynolds, the band’s frontman, are channeling that same creative and business savvy into gaming with Night Street Games and recently launched the beta of Last Flag, a multiplayer game. In this chat, Mac shares how he made the leap into interactive IP and explores where the worlds of music and gaming intersect, overlap, and diverge.
Explore by Instagram - 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
- Music Panel 9 December 10:35 - 11:00AM
How to Go from Zero to a Million Streams
Behind every breakout artist, songwriter, and producer is a blueprint. In this session, music executives break down what it really takes to go from zero to a million streams. From storytelling and distribution to publishing, touring, and fan discovery, they share the playbook for scaling talent and building sustainable careers in today’s attention economy.
Explore by InstagramSpeakers
- Media Panel 10 December 11:40AM - 12:10PM
Media Moneyball
The rules for media investment are shifting. New technologies, creator platforms, and community-led models are changing where capital flows and why. In this conversation, three early-stage investors share what they look for when backing founders in media, entertainment, and creator tech. They unpack their current investment theses, the trends they’re watching for 2026, and how creative vision, audience ownership, and smart business models can build companies that endure.
Central StageSpeakers
- Technology Panel 8 December 1:50 - 2:20PM
Future-Proofing Media's Talent Pipeline
As AI reshapes how content is created and consumed, the strength of media’s future depends on a workforce equipped to work with intelligent tools while preserving cultural relevancy. This session explores how educators, media hubs, and AI innovators can build a talent pipeline that is both technologically fluent and culturally grounded, ensuring a new generation of creators can thrive in an AI-first landscape and shape tools that reflect the diversity of global audiences.
Academy StageSpeakers
