Trust and credibility will take center stage at DNPA’s 2026 Conclave, where industry leaders will discuss how confidence in news brands will determine the future of journalism over the next decade.As digital platforms saturated with content and misinformation become increasingly sophisticated, discussions at the conclave will revolve around a central premise: trust is no longer a soft value but the operational infrastructure of news organizations.Discussions on this closely related issue will be discussed in detail during the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) Conclave 2026 in New Delhi on February 26. This year’s theme is “The New World News Order: Rewriting the Playbook for a Resilient Digital Future.”Participants are expected to examine what many are calling “post-viral fatigue,” a stage in which, far from becoming more gullible, audiences have become increasingly skeptical and critical of sources. Industry executives argue that scale without credibility is unsustainable, especially amid increasing scrutiny across platforms.Another key theme is the credibility dilemma posed by artificial intelligence. As AI tools make content creation faster and cheaper, verification and editorial rigor are becoming key differentiators. In this context, trust is viewed not just as a brand attribute but as a systemic capability embedded in newsroom processes.The conference will also focus on advertiser coordination, with brands now assessing the quality and safety of the publishing environment rather than chasing raw impressions. Executives are expected to discuss how premium partnership, subscription and reader support models increasingly depend on perceived trustworthiness.Industry leaders are likely to discuss how trust directly impacts a digital platform’s discoverability, audience retention, and long-term revenue resiliency. As global regulatory scrutiny and public expectations increase, transparency and accountability mechanisms are also expected to be at the forefront of discussions. The broader takeaway from this episode: Over the next decade, trust will not only amplify journalism but may determine its survival.DNPA is India’s premier industry body representing the country’s leading digital media organizations. It works to enhance credible journalism, uphold ethical standards and achieve sustainable growth in the digital news ecosystem.DNPA Conclave 2026 is a premier platform for policymakers, media leaders and industry experts to come together to discuss the evolving world of journalism, governance and digital innovation. Through curated panel discussions and expert-led sessions, the conference will highlight the emerging trends, common challenges and future roadmap of the Indian digital media landscape.
