Power/Shift is an intervention. And at the same time, an invitation to imagine — and build — a different media world.
It began with impatience toward an industry that has been content with too little change for too long: In newsrooms, and especially in the executive suites of media organizations across the DACH region, power remains unequally distributed. It stays in the hands of a few and reflects neither the diversity of our societies nor the demands of a digital, global future.
At Better Leaders Lab, we asked ourselves: How do we develop a media world in which power is redistributed — more fairly and more wisely? With organizations where leadership is thought of more broadly, decisions are made more transparently, and new voices get the chance to take responsibility.
Where succession is not determined by similarity, loyalty, or old networks, but by competence, diversity, and future readiness. How do we create spaces for innovation, dialogue, and experimentation around power structures in the media?
The starting point for something bigger
In March 2025, we gathered a group of founders, editors-in-chief, media makers, and experts from philanthropy, society, and academia across the DACH region for an intensive day of confidential workshops and debates about power shifts in media. The energy was electric — and it was clear to us: this first meeting should only be the beginning.
The urgency of the topic could not be more obvious: Technologies like AI are transforming the media market at breathtaking speed, global platforms are redefining the rules, and the gap between ambition and reality in newsrooms is widening. Those in leadership today can no longer rely on old recipes; they need new models and new kinds of leadership that enable change instead of blocking it.
Power/Shift aims to make this possible future visible.
We ask how power is distributed in the media — and how we can shift it so that more voices get to shape, not just be heard. We show which ideas and models can move this industry forward — if it dares to break with entrenched patterns.
This magazine is not a neutral chronicle. It is a call to action — a tool not only to name the problems but to open up spaces of possibility. We want to spark debates, connect perspectives, and provide impulses that resonate beyond today.
Power/Shift stands for a vision: a media landscape that is more diverse, more courageous, more innovative, and more global. Shifting power will not always be pleasant — often it will be uncomfortable, even painful.
It means, for all of us, giving up certain privileges and rethinking responsibility. But only then can a media world emerge that is stronger, more representative — and ready for the future.
anita@betterleaderslab.com
So far, our “Power/Shift – Redistributing Media Power” initiative has focused on the German-speaking region, but if you’re interested to partner elsewhere, we would love to hear from you.
