The former CNN chief told Abu Dhabi Summit attendees that in an AI-driven world, niche journalism is the only sustainable path forward.
Jeff Zucker, CEO and Operating Partner at RedBird IMI and RedBird Capital Partners, has asserted that the future of journalism will be shaped by individuals rather than traditional media institutions. Speaking at the debut BRIDGE Summit in Abu Dhabi, Zucker said the balance of credibility in the media landscape has shifted dramatically. He noted that while institutions once bestowed legitimacy on journalists, audiences today place their trust primarily in individual voices, especially in an era defined by the creator economy and rapid advancements in artificial intelligence.
During the session titled ‘The Comfort Crisis in Media’, the 14-time Emmy Award winner and three-time Peabody Award recipient, said creators need to get out of their comfort zone to thrive in the new age. “I think that journalism that goes deep and gives the consumer a reason to subscribe to that journalistic outlet will work and succeed”.
Zucker, who is one of the most influential leaders in modern media, said general journalism will be very difficult to sustain in a world of AI. “Today’s economic models make broad-based journalism unsustainable. Content creators have to give people something different that they can’t get anywhere else,” he said.
Responding to a question on how to ensure trustworthy journalism today, he said, “In a world of AI, who do I trust? I come back to what I was just talking about. I trust individuals. So even within an institution, I’m really looking for an individual who I trust.”
During the session, he said Netflix’s acquisition of the film and streaming businesses of Warner Bros Discovery was good for the industry. “Warner Brothers has incredible IP intellectual property, and I think it proves that media companies, whether they’re legacy or new, need even greater scale.”
In the end, he said, it is the consumer who stands to gain. “There’s never been greater content available. People feel these mergers and acquisitions mean less content available. I don’t agree. I think there’s more content available – it’s just available in different places.”
The debut edition of BRIDGE Summit takes place from December 8–10, 2025 at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi. Expected to welcome more than 60,000 participants from 132 countries and over 430 speakers, the summit provides a structured environment for leaders, innovators and institutions to examine shared challenges, exchange perspectives, and explore practical collaboration across media, content, entertainment, technology, finance, culture and the wider creative economy.
