INMA, known for its remarkable success during the pandemic, faced a challenging year. The previous three years demanded an overhaul of its 90-year playbook, as it transitioned to a virtual model and introduced insights-based initiatives. This shift resulted in unprecedented growth in membership and engagement, expanding INMA’s appeal and elevating its stature.

2023 was a pivotal year, marking the return to in-person events after four years, raising questions about the impact on INMA’s newly established virtual model. However, the association successfully reintegrated in-person conferences and study tours, including a notable four-day Silicon Valley Study Tour visiting giants like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI. This was one of the seven study tours conducted, in addition to the INMA World Congress in New York.

Despite the focus on in-person events, INMA retained most of its virtual agenda, organizing 50 webinars, five master classes, and regional summits. The introduction of the CEO Roundtable in Vail, Colorado, was a highlight, further contributing to membership growth, including in non-newspaper media sectors.

INMA’s initiatives yielded significant insights in areas like subscriptions, product, data, newsrooms, and advertising, and played a critical role in understanding Big Tech regulatory developments. A notable collaboration with Google led to the creation of a new CMS innovation tool.

However, the year wasn’t without its challenges. The transition back to in-person events was more complex than anticipated, and there was a surprisingly high number of first-timers at these events. The Media Subscriptions Summit in Stockholm set a new attendance record, underlining the interest in such gatherings.

The qualitative impact of INMA’s initiatives cannot be overstated. Topics like generative AI, business models, and personalization were at the forefront. The Media Innovation Week in Antwerp was a testament to this, focusing on the practicalities of leveraging generative AI for audience and revenue growth.

Membership growth remained robust despite economic challenges, with a 50% increase in corporate membership over four years and a 97% growth in individual members. INMA’s membership is now over 21,500, with significant growth in Europe, particularly in Germany.

The year saw a blend of in-person and virtual events. The World Congress of News Media in New York and the Media Subscriptions Summit in Stockholm were notable in-person events. Virtual events continued to attract significant participation, with thousands attending webinars, master classes, and regional summits.

The Net Promoter Score (NPS) for INMA’s events was impressive, with in-person events achieving a median NPS of 54 and virtual events a median of 53. This success was supported by over 20 sponsors committed to the news industry.

INMA’s content output included 841 blogs and seven reports, with a high engagement in topics like generative AI and subscriptions. The Vail Roundtable emerged as a special achievement, fostering deep engagement among CEOs with a focus on generative AI and business models.

The INMA team, though small and globally dispersed, played a crucial role in the association’s success. The 29-member team, primarily operating remotely, demonstrated the power of collaboration and adaptability.

As the year ends, the INMA board reaffirmed its commitment to growth and financial security, setting the stage for future developments. The board’s meeting in London was a moment of strategic planning and dedication to journalism and its sustainability.

In conclusion, 2023, a year predicted to be fraught with challenges, has proven to be one of the most substantial in INMA’s 93-year history. The association’s adaptability, commitment to innovation, and focus on member value have set a strong foundation for continued success and growth in the years to come.