The second edition of the Future of Magazine conference (FoM25) brought together more than fifty participants for three days of vibrant discussion and exchange. Organized in a hybrid format, the event embraced both the challenges and opportunities of connecting in-person and remote audiences, broadening its international reach while fostering a strong sense of community among all participants.
Hosted by CICANT and the Magazine Media Lab (MagLab), FoM25 welcomed delegates, keynote speakers, chairs and attendees from thirteen countries: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom the United States. The program featured contributions from fifteen CICANT researchers and twenty-six members of the MagNet network, highlighting the truly global and interdisciplinary nature of the field.
The conference offered four keynote lectures exploring the diverse dimensions of magazine culture and publishing. Elena Caratti, Associate Professor at Politecnico di Milano, opened with “Exo-Publishing as a Space Other: The Cultural and Political Power of Indie Magazines.” Jeremy Leslie, founder of magCulture, shared his insights on “We Love Magazines – magCulture and the New Generation of Magazines and Magazine Makers.” Patrícia Reis, journalist, writer and curator, reflected on Egoísta in “The History of Europe’s Most Award-Winning Magazine.” Closing the keynote series, James Hewes, founder and lead consultant at Soho Consulting, addressed the future of the industry in “Where Do We Go From Here? Publishing Strategies in a Century of Chaos.”
In addition to these keynotes, two workshops offered participants opportunities for hands-on learning and reflection. Daniel Cardoso, from Lusófona University, led “Academic Writing – Situated Skills and Strategies,” while André Lourenço, from NOVA IMS, conducted “AI Tools for Scientific Research: Fast-Tracking Analysis While Keeping the Human Edge.” Both sessions provided valuable tools for navigating the evolving intersections of academia, technology and media practice.
The FoM25 team also included five students whose work was essential to the event’s success: PhD candidates in Communication Sciences Ana Azevedo, Filipa Neto and Maria Gonçalves, alongside Communication and Journalism BA finalists Inês Antunes and João Oliveira. Their commitment and professionalism ensured the seamless functioning of a conference that effectively bridged research, industry and education.
MagLab extends its gratitude to the event sponsors — Egoísta, FIPP, Jerónimo Martins and Soho Consulting — for their support in making this international gathering possible. FoM25 once again reaffirmed the enduring relevance of magazines as spaces for creativity, reflection and social connection within a rapidly transforming media landscape.