The Media Forum 2023 closed after two days of panels, keynotes and workshops addressing some of the critical issues facing independent media worldwide. The event brought together more than 170 MDIF clients, media participants in regional programmes, staff and Board with an objective to share solutions to and experiences of pressing business challenges, as well as fostering a network of like-minded independent media.
Keynote contributors included Maria Ressa, Nobel Peace Prize winner and co-founder of Rappler in the Philippines, Carlos Dada, co-founder of El Salvador’s El Faro, and Sasa Vucinic, co-founder of both MDIF and North Base Media.
Panels covered issues such as harnessing journalism for audience and revenue growth, how to raise investment in media companies and what outlets can learn from non-traditional media, as well as the actual current and possible future impact of AI on the industry.
The Media Forum was held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, which is home to tens of thousands of Burmese refugees, and discussions included the challenges and achievements of exiled media from several countries.
As the media industry continues to struggle to find resilient business models, the Media Forum gave participants information to help them build more reslient businesses and inspiration to feed their thoughts about their future direction.