For Africa's media houses, 2026 represents a definitive tipping point. The triple threat of revenue model collapse, platform dependency, and the relentless surge of generative AI has moved from a "future risk" to a daily operational reality. While many newsrooms are scrambling to react at a tactical level--experimenting with chatbots or basic automated summaries--a strategic vacuum persists at the leadership level.

To bridge this gap, the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) has opened applications for the 2026 Executive Programme in Media Leadership (EPML). This year, the institution is doubling down on a curriculum designed to turn technological disruption into a sustainable competitive advantage, specifically through a massively expanded focus on Artificial Intelligence.

The strategic vacuum: Leading through permanent disruption

The programme arrives at a moment when African media leaders are navigating profound disruption, often without the necessary time or institutional support to engage these challenges at a high strategic level. Historically, the industry has focused on editorial excellence and technical delivery as separate silos, but the current era demands a synthesis of both.

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"Our focus is on creating a structured space for media leaders to step back from day-to-day pressures and think strategically about the future of their organisations," says Michael Markovitz, Director of the Media Leadership Think Tank at GIBS. Markovitz, who leads the programme alongside Styli Charalambous, co-founder and CEO of Daily Maverick, notes that the complexity of the current landscape requires a shift from reactive management to proactive leadership.

The four-month programme is not a traditional academic course but a 14-day hybrid experience designed for senior...