Longform Storytelling's Future: Trust And Depth Highlighted At BRIDGE Summit 2025

At the BRIDGE Summit 2025 in Abu Dhabi, global media leaders discussed the resurgence of longform storytelling as a vital element in today's fragmented information landscape. The session titled "Longform’s Next Act" featured EbonyLife Group CEO Mo Abudu, Forbes Executive Vice President Moira Forbes, and Fast Company & Inc. CEO Stephanie Mehta. Moderated by Maha Abouelenein, they explored how longform can adapt to a world demanding both speed and depth.

Mo Abudu emphasised that longform's strength lies in adapting to audience preferences rather than resisting digital trends. She stated, "Longform is here to stay. People want variety. In the same week, a 61-year-old like me will watch a three-hour movie, go on Snapchat, and listen to a 20-minute podcast. Variety is the spice of life, and audiences want that variety."

Abudu shared her personal journey into storytelling, driven by a lack of content reflecting her Nigerian identity while growing up in Britain. She noted that out of 2,000 films in London, only a few catered to African audiences. This inspired her to focus on Africa's diverse cultural narratives, with its 30,000 ethnic groups and a young population making up 70% of the continent.

Moira Forbes highlighted that despite structural shifts towards brevity in media due to algorithms favouring shorter content, the essence of longform remains unchanged. She asserted that trust and credibility are more valuable than speed in modern media. "Trust and credibility — not speed — are the real currency of modern media. Long-form storytelling is what consistently forges that connection."

Stephanie Mehta redefined longform by focusing on depth rather than length. She explained that even a 500-word piece could qualify as longform if it is well-researched and original. Similarly, longer formats like documentaries or podcasts also fit this category when deeply reported.

Mehta described new production strategies emerging in newsrooms worldwide: starting with thorough reporting and expanding through various formats like explainers or live discussions led by the same creator. "The Bridge Summit’s cross-platform ecosystem enables exactly this kind of multi-format storytelling to thrive," she said.

The Future of Longform Storytelling

The BRIDGE Summit 2025 showcased how Abu Dhabi serves as an ideal hub for advancing narrative power within a global media ecosystem. The event featured over 300 sessions reflecting its scale and ambition. The inaugural BRIDGE Summit runs from 8–10 December 2025 at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi.

The panelists agreed that the future of longform isn't about choosing between formats but expanding narrative possibilities through diverse platforms. Building community engagement and creating content readers feel connected to are key metrics for success.

With inputs from WAM