MCC Conference on the Future of Publishing

Magyar nyelvű program

The publishing market has changed significantly in the last ten years. In Hungary alone, formerly popular or market-leading publications in their target group, such as Világgazdaság or 168óra, are now only published online. Electronic media are also facing the challenge that linear programming is not attracting people, with ratings and audience figures falling worldwide. And online news portals are getting a significant share of their traffic through social media. At the same time, consumption of services such as podcasts, online videos and streaming services is soaring. How are newspaper publishers and media company managers and owners responding? In addition to reacting to market changes, how do messages, content or even values reach readers, viewers, and listeners?

In addition to the media market, the book market is undergoing much more profound transformations. Circulation of print media products is falling dramatically. The old rule that half of the population buys books no longer applies: only 30% of the European population buys at least one book a year. At the same time, the number of copies sold has not fallen significantly, because customers are buying more. The market share of e-books has stagnated in recent years. What new strategy does this require from publishers?

Following the highly successful International Media Conference 2021, international and national experts, publishers and editors will seek answers to these questions over two days at the MCC. While the first day will be a stage for presentations and panel discussions, the second day will offer exciting debates, organized by the Mathias Corvinus Collegium Foundation.

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Program

JANUARY 24, TUESDAY

5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.: MCC Budapest Lectures: The Future of Book Publishing

Ilan Greenfield, CEO and Owner, Gefen Publishing House Ltd.
Moderator: Boris Kálnoky, Head of Media School, MCC

JANUARY 25, WEDNESDAY

8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.: Registration

9:00 a.m. - 9:10 a.m.: Welcome Speech

Zoltán Szalai, Director General, MCC
Balázs Orbán, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, MCC

9:10 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.: Panel I.: New Formats: Media Revolutionaries

The digital transformation of the media world has brought new opportunities for journalists to become opinion leaders, even without an editorial background. Among other things, the panel will have a closer look at how these new formats have become the primary source of information for news consumers.

Sohrab Ahmari, Founder and Editor, Compact Magazine
Rod Dreher, Senior editor, The American Conservative
Colin Morrison, Founder and Publisher, Flashes & Flames Media Ltd.
Zoltán Szalai, Editor-in-Chief, Mandiner; Director General, MCC
Javier Villamor, Journalist, 7NN
Moderator: Bence Arany, Founder, Mindset Psychology

10:15 a.m. - 10:35 a.m.: Coffee Break

10:35 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.: Panel II.: Creative Disruption: How to Win the Digital Revolution

In the 21st century, the traditional business model has become unviable in many dimensions, at the same time, new opportunities and possibilities have been opened up by modern technologies. How can we make use of them, and how do they affect the structure of the media market? This is what will be discussed by the panelists.

George Chirita, Executive Director, Romanian Association of Audiovisual Communications
Viv Regan, Managing Editor, Spiked
Ylenia Swierk, Strategist, Piano Software Inc.
Miklós Vaszily, Co-owner, Indamedia Network Zrt.
Moderator: Boris Kálnoky, Head of Media School, MCC

11:40 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.: Panel III.: How Media Law and EU Regulations Impact the Media Market

A new EU media regulation, the so-called "European Media Freedom Act", is currently being drafted, and it is aimed at limiting the dominance of tech companies and reducing state and economic interference in the work of editorial offices. The panel will address the problem that the tech companies that own the social platforms are not contributing to the funding of content production, even though people read most of their newspaper articles through social media platforms, so it is the newsrooms that are feeding the news to these sites.

George Chirita, Executive Director, Romanian Association of Audiovisual Communications
András Koltay, President, National Media and Infocommunications Authority
Florian Nehm, Head of EU Affairs, Axel Springer SE
Jorge Soley, Contributor, El Debate
Miklós Szánthó, Director General, Center for Fundamental Rights; Member of the Board, Central European Press and Media Foundation
Moderator: Rodrigo Ballester, Head of the Center for European Studies, MCC

12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.: Lunch Break

1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.: Panel IV.: Business Models – Can Online Media be Profitable, Can Print Survive?

In today's world, there are two ways to survive in the media market: to become an opinion leader as a pioneering company with unique ideas and solutions, or to tackle the challenges of modernity as a traditional company. These business models will be discussed by leading experts in the field.

Jacek Karnowski, Editor-in-Chief, Fratria, Sieci
Tibor Kovács, CEO, Ringier Hungary
Yair Netanyahu, Columnist, Radio Show Host, Israeli Political Social Media Influencer
Ralf Schuler, Former Chief Correspondent for Bild's Berlin Parliamentary Bureau
Moderator: Gladden Pappin, Co-founder, American Affairs; Visiting Fellow, MCC

2:50 p.m. - 3:55 p.m.: Panel V.: Back to the Roots: Credible, Longform Publishing

According to new research, it is a misconception that the digital world has eclipsed traditional forms of reporting. Contrary to popular belief, people are happy to read – even subscribe to – longer content provided it is of good quality. Our panelists will give their views on this topic.

Alvino-Mario Fantini, Editor-in-Chief & Publisher, The European Conservative
Jean Sébastien Ferjou, Founder and Publisher, Atlantico.fr
David Jones, Director of Research, Danube Institute
Alexander Marguier, Editor-in-Chief, Cicero; Res Publica Verlags GmbH, Editor,
Moderator: Tibor Fischer, Head of the Center for Literature, MCC

4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.: Reception

JANUARY 26, THURSDAY

9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.: Registration / Welcome

9:30 a.m. - 10:35 a.m.: Panel VI.: Money and Media: Online Success Stories

There are many examples of how to become successful in the online media world. But what can be done when someone's ideas are rejected by the mainstream? The panel will also look at how to become a successful influencer, and how to turn a hobby into a money-making activity.

Rod Dreher, Senior Editor, The American Conservative
István Gergely Kovács, Managing Director, Owner, Megafon Digitális Inkubátor Központ Nonprofit Kft
Yair Netanyahu, Columnist, Radio Show Host, Israeli Political Social Media Influencer
Roland Tichy, Journalist, Founder, Tichys Einblich
Moderator: Gladden Pappin, Co-founder, American Affairs; Visiting Fellow, MCC

10.35 a.m. - 10:50 a.m.: Coffee Break

10:50 a.m. - 11:55 a.m.: Panel VII.: Effective Concepts of Advertising Revenue

One of the most important, if not the most important, sources of revenue for the media is the sale of advertising space. Whereas 10-20 years ago the advertising market was relatively transparent, today not only has media consumption changed fundamentally, but also the ways of reaching the target audience. How are the media adopting? How are new channels shaping the nature of advertising? Where is the place of traditional advertising, and what innovations are underway or can be expected in the future?

Zach Christenson, Editor, The Spectator, US edition
Marcial Cuquerella, Founder, 7NN
Klaudia Kosaras, Commercial Director, AtMedia Kft.
Colin Morrison, Founder and Publisher, Flashes & Flames Media Ltd
Moderator: Orsolya Ludvig, Head of Center for Corporate Communications, MCC

11:55 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Panel VIII.: The Future of Publishing: Worst Case Scenarios

Kevin Anderson, Consulting Director, PugPig
Jorge González-Gallarza, Co-host, The Uncommon Decency Podcast; Contributor, The European Conservative
Antonio O'Mullony, Editor-in-Chief, La Gaceta de la Iberosfera
Moderator: Félix Debrenti, editor-in-chief of The Budapester

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Lunch Break

2:00 p.m. - 3:05 p.m.: Panel IX.: The Power of Tabloid News

Although the tabloid press continues to have a significant influence in the media world, the line between tabloid and mainstream journalism is increasingly blurred. Also, the almightiness of the number of clicks in the online world is radically changing the way content is produced. How is the relationship between tabloid and non-tabloid journalism evolving? What is their future? This is what the participants of the discussion will seek to answer.

Jacek Karnowski, Editor-in-Chief, Fratria, Sieci
Miklós Ómolnár, Head of Mass Media Division, Mediaworks Hungary Zrt.
Richard Schmitt, Editor-in-Chief, Co-owner, Exxpress AT
Ralf Schuler, Former Chief Correspondent, Bild's Berlin Parliamentary Bureau
Moderator: Boris Kálnoky, Head of Media School, MCC

3:05 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.: Reception