News Alchemists #15 | Perugia panels edition

Surprise! I know, I know, I said there would be no News Alchemists newsletter this week... but as one of the greatest philosophers of our time once said: every promise don't work out that way.

(Yes, that's Beyoncé.)

I won't waste your time telling you how amazing last week in Perugia was – just browse the #IJF25 hashtag on LinkedIn and you'll get the idea.

But there were dozens of fantastic panels, and they are all available on demand, and I feel that I would fail you in my role as Chief Links Curator if I missed the opportunity to share seven amazing conversations that will make you think and give you hope about redefining journalism and its role in society.

There's just a tiny issue: I managed to go to only three panels (keeping alive my outstanding average of one per day) so how do I even get to recommend seven? 🙈

Let's see: the three I went to were actually brilliant, so we can start with them. Throwing modesty out of the window, I have to admit that the panel I was on was fantastic as well, so we are at four. And I asked some friends to recommend the best panels they joined, selecting three among their suggestions because I trust their judgement. Seven.

But, Mattia, how the hell do you think I will have time to watch seven 50-min videos this week?

You don't. Block one hour of your calendar. Check the seven titles. Pick one. Ignore the rest. Enjoy.

(Let me know which one you picked and what you learned.)

The regular newsletter resumes next week. Have a good one! 👋

Many new subscribers in the last seven days – from Zetland, NRC, Voxeurop, Pulitzer Center, Krautreporter, Vorágine, Bayerischer Rundfunk, and many others including... my dad. Welcome everyone, you're among friends 🤗

1. The impact/activism question, as seen from different parts of the globe 👉 LINK

2. At the cutting edge of local news: hear from the innovators making things work 👉 LINK

3. Unplugging to reconnect: creating premium offline experiences to recharge membership 👉 LINK

4. Journalism’s public value: balancing individual metrics and societal impact 👉 LINK

5. News or noise? The competing visions for journalism in an AI-mediated society 👉 LINK

6. In an age of AI, voice is the ultimate currency 👉 LINK

7. Fifteen years of news product management: what worked, what didn’t? 👉 LINK

What is this newsletter?

The relationship between journalism and the people it aims to serve is broken. But we can heal it if we learn to put audiences and communities at the centre of everything we do. The News Alchemists newsletter wants to help you to do just that.

Every week I share seven links to give you some hope and to introduce you to the many smart, kind, and courageous people (🧞) who strive every day to use journalism as a force for good in society – and to the organisations (🧩) that show us that a different journalism is possible, and profitable.

To respond to this newsletter, just hit reply. I love hearing from you and reading your questions, comments, and suggestions.

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