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Gert Ysebaert CEO Mediahuis group |
We anticipate an even more radical digital shift
June 2013 saw the launch of a new Belgian media group: Mediahuis. No one would have dared to dream back then that 10 years later we would be an international group with 4,600 people and revenues of more than €1.2 billion. It’s been an unusually intense and exciting ride that we’ve enjoyed alongside a passionate group of people. And yet that expansion was never an end in itself. What’s driven us from the start is our mission to ensure independent journalism has a sustainable future. And that can be done much better by joining forces.
Our remarkable growth hasn’t gone unnoticed. We appear on international platforms and other media companies are watching us and our success with interest. Mediahuis has swum against the tide in recent years. Where other media companies lost faith in newspapers or couldn’t see a sustainable future, we chose to invest and grow. We transformed from a print company betting on digital acceleration to a digital media group that makes great newspapers. In doing so, we always sought the best possible balance between the strength of our group and the agility of independent, local organisations. That’s the formula that’s taken us this far. A clear and simple strategy was helpful, but certainly not decisive. After all, the challenges for most news companies are very similar, and the number of possible strategies is limited. It’s the execution that makes the difference. That’s what it’s all about: people and culture. “Culture eats strategy for breakfast” is a management principle that holds 100% true for Mediahuis. Culture is difficult to put into words, but for me, openness, integrity and trust are essential values. They make Mediahuis a great place to work. Many of our talented people have grown with the group. Expansion and internationalisation have given them opportunities. Partly thanks to this, Mediahuis is blessed to have a group of driven colleagues who passionately contribute to our story.
So I look back on the past 10 years with satisfaction, although the course we’ve taken so far doesn’t guarantee an equally successful future. We need to stay alert and constantly adapt to the rapidly changing world around us.
The Covid years of 2020 and 2021 brought us unexpected success, but since then we’ve encountered stormy weather.
With our scale, our social responsibility also grows
Inflation and high energy and paper prices increase our costs. Growth in new digital subscribers remains positive, but the erosion of print newspapers continues unabated. A significant group of loyal readers remain attached to the daily newspaper through their door. For them, the newspaper is still their main window to the world. At this crucial moment, however, continuity of delivery becomes uncertain. Partly for this reason, we anticipate an even more radical digital shift. Moreover, 2023 might be the year when artificial intelligence enjoys a widespread breakthrough and ushers in a new era of disruption. That’s a hugely interesting subject that will challenge many of our certainties.
But I also see our chances increasing. Many media companies will struggle, just when we can make a difference. We have a comprehensive roadmap of developments, innovations and opportunities that will strengthen our brands and enhance our group.
In the coming years, we will continue to write our story. With the same ambition, our group will continue to develop as a leading European media player over the next 10 years. We will continue to look for ways to strengthen our core markets while exploring new opportunities. With a presence in six European countries, Mediahuis has built a great network of strong local media companies. With this, we’re harnessing the knowledge that will help us move further ahead. With that scale, our responsibility also grows. Mediahuis has proved that economies of scale bring more sustainability to independent local journalism. That is, if it’s done with respect and care for editorial autonomy and the unique character of each title. Our social responsibility also translates into our IMPACT sustainability programme. In it, we make tangible how we fulfil our social role and set goals to do better than what’s expected of others. That’s why we do what we do at Mediahuis: to make a difference. Every day.
