Top Takeaways from AMO Summit 2025
Earlier this month, NPS director Patti Devine had the chance to attend the AMO Summit in New York—a day-and-a-half deep dive into what’s next for media operators. The event was packed with smart sessions, bold ideas, and a lot of candid conversation about where the industry is headed. Here are a few highlights and takeaways that she shared with the rest of the NPS team – and that we’re, in turn, sharing with you!
Audience First, Always
One of the strongest throughlines across the summit was the renewed focus on audience development (something, as audience development experts at NPS, we are on board with!). Whether it was Emma Tucker at WSJ talking about dwell-time metrics or Angus Macaulay sharing how STAT scaled to 50K paying subscribers, the message was clear: understanding and serving your audience is the foundation of sustainable growth.
STAT’s success story was especially compelling—operating independently from Boston Globe Media, they built a profitable business with a hard paywall and a strong institutional subscriber base. Enterprise accounts don’t churn, and that’s been a major driver of organic growth.
AI: Opportunity or Existential Threat?
There was no shortage of discussion around AI. Helena Bottemiller Evich and Mo Islam had a great session on what humans can still uniquely offer—community, credibility, and connection. They warned against “slop content” and emphasized being cited over being indexed. It was a refreshing reminder that quality still wins.
On the flip side, the Collingwood Media Acquisition Report raised some real concerns. AI is now a key factor in M&A due diligence, and companies without a clear strategy are seen as risky bets. The future of journalism, trust, and even democracy were all part of the conversation.
Print Isn’t Dead—It’s Just Evolving
Andrew Clurman and Craig Fuller shared how their brands are monetizing print in unexpected ways. From Team Roping Journal memberships to aircraft marketplaces, they’re tapping into niche communities with high LTV and a preference for print. It was a good reminder that print still holds value—especially for audiences fatigued by screens.
Subscription Models Are Getting Smarter
Imran Amed (BoF) and Rafat Ali (Skift) broke down their B2B subscription strategies. BoF is all about scaling community, while Skift focuses on subscriber-first thinking. Both emphasized direct revenue from users and brands, and warned against chasing vanity metrics.
Vox, Morning Brew, and the Creator Economy
Ryan Pauley from Vox talked about their loyalty funnel and how they’re investing in talent over acquisitions. Morning Brew’s Robert Dippell shared how their newsletter-first model is expanding into events, podcasts, and video—with steady growth and strong margins, especially on the B2B side.
Final Thoughts
The sessions that resonated most were the ones focused on audience development—community, lifetime value, and consistency. Seeing Katie Couric speak again was a personal highlight, and her message about lifting other voices really landed.
Overall, AMO Summit 2025 was a great pulse check on where media is headed. Lots of inspiration, a few reality checks, and plenty of ideas to bring back to the team.