As we begin the New Year, we spoke to industry leaders to reflect on the shifts that shaped 2025 and the forces expected to define 2026. For Manoj Sharma, CEO – Magazine, India Today Group, 2025 marked the return of credibility as the single most powerful driver of audience choice, with print reaffirming its role as a trusted, reflective medium.
Reflecting on the most defining trend in the publishing and media landscape in 2025, he notes how trust, editorial rigour, and clarity became central to long-term engagement, “The most defining shift in 2025 was the renewed importance of credibility in shaping audience choice. As consumption became more fragmented, readers showed a clear preference for well-edited, thoughtfully produced journalism. Print, in particular, reaffirmed its value as a trusted, reflective medium, complementing digital storytelling. Editorial judgment, consistency, and clarity emerged as decisive factors in building long-term engagement.”
Looking ahead, Sharma believes the coming year will be less about disruption and more about deliberate, responsible evolution—where technology, formats, and reader relationships are shaped by editorial intent, "In 2026, AI should become a stable part of newsroom operations, supporting research, content adaptation, and workflow efficiencies. Its effectiveness will depend on thoughtful integration, with human editors guiding context, ethics, and storytelling. The focus will shift from experimentation to accountability, ensuring technology strengthens editorial quality rather than driving it.
Audience engagement is increasingly shaped by how stories are experienced. In 2026, formats such as long-form narratives, explainers, podcasts, and short-form video will guide consumption across platforms. Publishers will need to design stories with flexibility in mind, allowing strong journalism to travel seamlessly while retaining its editorial depth and intent.
The coming year hopefully will see publishers invest more deeply in understanding and serving their audiences. Growth will be driven by loyalty, relevance, and trust rather than sheer scale. Premium offerings—across Print and Digital—will play a larger role in reinforcing credibility and sustaining meaningful reader relationships over time.”
(As told to Yash Bhatia)
