Preparing for the zero-click search future
Join us for a day of exclusive sessions where you and a small, private group of delegates get the opportunity to learn directly from the best innovators in the field of AI application in the newsroom.
On 27 November, the day after the Newsrewired conference, you will hear from four top publishers, take part in tailored sessions and workshops, and forge new contacts with senior innovators in digital publishing. Refreshments throughout the day and a networking lunch are provided. The day will end with a debrief session and cocktails.
8:45 – 09:45 | Deep-dive into Zetland’s subscription-first model
While publishers worldwide grapple with declining traffic from zero-click searches and AI-generated answers, Danish media company Zetland has already built a business model designed to thrive in this new reality. Co-founder Jakob Moll will share how Zetland’s subscription-first approach—generating over 80% of revenue from members rather than advertising—has insulated the company from the click-dependent economics plaguing traditional publishers. With 70,000 paying members and profitability achieved since 2019, Zetland’s success demonstrates that the future of journalism may not be about fighting for clicks at all.
At the heart of Zetland’s strategy is a radical reimagining of how audiences consume news. Over 80% of their content is consumed via audio, creating direct relationships with listeners that bypass search engines entirely. Moll will explore how focusing on quality over volume—publishing just a few in-depth stories daily—and building trust through personal connections between journalists and members has created a resilient business model. As the company successfully expands across the Nordics, Moll’s insights offer a compelling blueprint for publishers seeking to build sustainable journalism in an era where being found matters less than being valued.
10:15 – 11:30 | Condé Nast’s audience strategy for the zero-click era
As traditional search traffic declines, Condé Nast has shifted focus from top-of-funnel acquisition to cultivating what they call the “happy middle” of the audience journey. Rather than fighting the loss of Google’s “ten blue links,” the publisher is prioritising what it can control: strategically engaging and retaining existing audiences. The company has developed clear lifecycle segments—new audiences, returning audiences, and paying audiences—and creates specific content to move people naturally through each stage. Video content builds brand awareness on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, whilst high-intent evergreen content captures searchers still using traditional methods, and newsletters drive engagement amongst the publisher’s most valuable audiences.
Sarah Marshall, VP of audience strategy, will talk about how Conde Nast measures success through homepage visits, authenticated users, newsletter engagement, and app usage—metrics that reflect genuine audience engagement rather than fleeting search traffic. By meeting audiences where they are across multiple platforms and nurturing them through intentional content experiences, the publisher is building a sustainable model that doesn’t depend on clicks from search engines.
12:30 – 13:30 | The zero-click challenge (and opportunity)
Get an honest account from an experienced news SEO on what publishers should do now that Google has reduced referral to some sites by as much as 60%. Should we bail on SEO altogether and hug our shiny new AI prompt tracking tools? Should we throw away our keyboards and all become creators? What should publishers be focusing on in 2026? Steve Wilson-Beales, who recently left his post as head of SEO and editorial product for Global, will share a good mix of strategic options and practical tips.
13:30 – 14:30 – Networking lunch
15:00 – 16:00 | Navigating the new era of content discovery
Publishers are losing the battle for audience attention. Zero-click searches mean readers get answers without ever visiting your site. AI chatbots are replacing search engines. Traffic is falling—and it’s not coming back. In this session, Joanna Levesque, managing director at FT Strategies will show you why the old playbook no longer works and what’s actually happening to your audience.
The good news? This shift creates new opportunities for publishers who adapt. You will hear the latest intelligence on where audiences are actually finding content today—from social platforms to messaging apps to AI tools. You’ll learn which channels matter for different types of content, how to design for discovery in an AI-first world, and practical strategies for building direct relationships with readers. If you’re struggling with declining traffic or wondering how to compete with ChatGPT, this session will give you a clear path forward.