"We do whatever it takes for high-quality digital journalism."

“10 years of Upscore – wow!” is the claim from Upscore founder Andreas Demuth and his team. To mark this milestone, the company will celebrate its anniversary on 20 May 2026. At this event, too, the digital platform will seize the opportunity to set the stage for pluralistic industry themes and once again become a platform for a media sector meeting. The line-up: speakers from quality journalism industry discussing views on the market and their respective approaches. The final panel will summarise the key takeaways under moderation before celebrations commence.

Hamburg. The “financing of journalism” is at the heart of the Upscore anniversary, which will take place on 20 May 2026 in Hamburg. With views of the River Elbe and the port, leading managers from the media industry, chief editors, politicians and administrators will discuss the range of models for refinancing strong and resilient digital journalism.

“For over a decade, our media company has stood for the economic success of quality journalism. With our platform, we help media brands reach their audiences more effectively – and thereby also ensure the financing of their content,” explains Andreas Demuth, CEO and founder of Upscore, the publishing intelligence platform. “But the challenges at the intersection of transformation and data sovereignty are increasing dramatically. For that reason, our anniversary event is also intended as a critical and constructive platform with a forward-looking mindset. We’ll create some wind for everyone in the market together,” says Demuth.

The publishing intelligence platform supports media companies with tools for analysing digital data and acquiring paying readers. At present, Upscore works with over 350 media brands in nine European countries. Experience gained over many years, especially in product development for the platform and directly from newsrooms, shows: collaboration helps, and especially, a pluralistic exchange of different perspectives. Because, at their core, the media professionals invited to the event share one thing: they are all helping to secure the economic foundations for resilient quality journalism in Europe.

A highlight of the anniversary is the debate on “the financing of journalism”, held in the villa in Heine Park in Hamburg. Locals refer to it as the ‘Heine Villa’ on the Elbchaussee. Local journalists certainly know that the poet and journalist Heinrich Heine sat in the neighbouring house, while the actual Planck villa in Heine Park was the site of where business is done by the progressive Hamburg society. The Heine House itself was far too small to host all the interested parties who wanted to influence decisions in a robust socio-political discourse.

The event will begin at 3 p.m. with a welcome from the founder, an impulse from the media capital Hamburg, and further contributions from speakers from media and academic fields. At the end, the participants will exchange ideas on a final panel.

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Program overview (keynotes and panel discussion)

How do we finance quality journalism in the digital age?

Speakers:

Andreas Demuth, Managing Director & Owner, Upscore
Dr. Claas Schüddekopf, Head of Media Department, Authority for Culture and Media
Dr. Christiane Düts, Managing Director, FREITAG
Ann-Kathrin Liedtke, Head of Membership, Growth Strategies, taz
Johannes Vogel, Chief Product & Revenue Officer, Stern | GEO | Capital
Arist von Harpe, Managing Director & Owner, MOPO
Cordula Schmitz, Editor-in-Chief Digital, Hamburger Abendblatt
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christopher Buschow, Head of Digital Journalism, Hamburg Media Schoo

Moderation: Marvin Schade, Co-founder and Founding Editor of Medieninsider


Full claims/statements from the speakers can be found in the attached brochure.

Accredited press representatives are warmly invited to register for the event via press@upscore.com. Please indicate whether you wish to attend the evening event (spaces are limited due to the size of the venue; accreditation is subject to written confirmation from the host).