WAN-IFRA and FIPP merge to "champion independent journalism"

WAN-IFRA and FIPP will merge on 1 January 2026, creating the largest and most diverse alliance of media companies worldwide.

Representing more than 20,000 media brands and technology enterprises across 120 countries, the deal see representative bodies of news and magazine publishers coming together at a time of unprecedented challenges for both sectors.

As distinctions between news and magazine publishing fade, the organisations argue that only a unified front can counter the influence of tech platforms and the rapid advance of artificial intelligence.

“In an environment where consolidation is key to building strength, this merger fortifies the entire media ecosystem,” said Ladina Heimgartner, President of WAN-IFRA. “Together, we are better positioned to champion the values of independent journalism and create new opportunities for growth and innovation that will deliver enhanced value to all our members.”

A central aim of the merger is to deepen the exchange of expertise between sectors that have long operated in parallel. Magazine groups bring commercial drive, brand building and diversified revenues, while news publishers offer refined approaches to digital subscriptions, paywalls and retention. The alliance intends to channel this collective intelligence into practical models for sustainable publishing.

FIPP will retain its identity within the merged organisation. Under FIPP CEO Alastair Lewis, a Consumer Lifestyle and Special Interest Media community will sit inside WAN-IFRA, giving magazine publishers a dedicated space for networking and knowledge sharing. FIPP Board members will join the WAN-IFRA Supervisory Board, and the long-running FIPP Congress will continue.

“In the digital age, everyone is in the same business of creating quality content and building sustainable models around it,” said Yulia Boyle, FIPP Chair.

The merger is also framed as a defence of shared principles. Both organisations say economic independence is essential to media freedom, and that a larger, unified body will be better placed to advocate for publishers’ rights and negotiate with global technology companies.

“The stakes for independent fact-based journalism are more stimulating than ever,” said Vincent Peyrègne, WAN-IFRA’s outgoing CEO. “This integration is designed not only to preserve the best of both organisations but also to create a combined entity that is far greater than the sum of its parts.”