6 Takeaways from a Day of Conversations About the Future of Publishing

Last week, we crossed the Atlantic to host our first-ever Evolve event in London — a full day of strategic conversations with our UK team, customers, and industry peers. It was also my first time in the UK, and the experience delivered more than a few lessons — both practical and professional.

Here are six takeaways I’m bringing home from a full (and very energizing) day of talking about the future of media, subscriptions, and technology:

1. Do your research. Then double-check.

Let’s start with the basics: UK power outlets are not the same as those in continental Europe, and no, your universal adapter might not work. There’s a business lesson here: don’t assume. When you're entering a new market, onboarding a new team, or prepping for a major launch, small oversights can become big blockers. Do your homework, test your setup, and have a backup plan. Even if it means printing conference name badges in the hotel bathroom at 5am.

2. Face time matters more than screen time.

In one day, we ran an internal training, a half-day customer conference, and a private dinner with industry leaders. What stood out most? The energy that comes from being in the same room. For all the advances in AI and automation, nothing replaces the value of real human interaction. The best ideas and the strongest relationships happen when people connect in person.

3. Humor and honesty build trust.

We spend a lot of time talking about trust in media, but it’s not always about weighty statements and polished messaging. Sometimes it’s built through humor, candor, and shared experience. Our UK customers reminded us that brutal honesty, delivered with good timing and even better intent, is often the fastest path to credibility.

4. Readers want perspective and publishers need to own it.

During our mainstage conversation with Andy Marshall, CEO of Our Media, he made it clear: publishing brands must stop thinking of themselves as “just magazines.” Audiences are looking for trusted voices, not just content. And the publishers who win will be the ones who show up with clarity, consistency, and real perspective.

5. AI has limits and opportunity.

Andy said it best: “AI can’t ride a bike.” His point? AI can’t replace lived experience or original reporting, especially in areas like product testing, field reviews, and expert commentary. But that doesn’t mean AI isn’t useful. The opportunity is in using AI to amplify human creativity, not replace it.

6. Good experiences stick, on and off the page.

We ended the day with a small industry dinner. The food was excellent, but the conversation was even better, ranging from business model innovation to life outside of work. These are the kinds of interactions that reinforce loyalty, deepen understanding, and spark ideas that last far beyond the event itself. For publishers, it's a reminder: the most powerful brand moments aren’t always digital.

Final Thought:

The UK market may differ from North America in language, culture, and business norms, but the core challenges and opportunities facing publishers are the same. Trusted content, diversified revenue, intelligent automation, and audience insight aren’t regional concerns. They’re industry imperatives.

We’re proud to have started this conversation in New Yor City in April and continue the conversation with leaders in the UK, and next up Hamburg in October.