At the Tandy Executive Speaker Series, Moise discussed the rise of artificial intelligence and new technology tactics in the world of digital disruption, and how earning his MBA at the TCU Neeley School of Business fueled his leadership journey.
October 27, 2023
By Miya Hillesland
No matter the business industry, staying ahead of the curve is not just a strategy, it is a necessity. Grant Moise MBA ‘04, a stalwart in the news media field and the man at the helm of The Dallas Morning News, knows this better than most. He has dedicated his career to understanding the intricacies of media in an age of technological disruption and credits earning his MBA from the Neeley School of Business with supporting his journey.
Moise, the CEO of DallasNews Corporation and president and publisher of The Dallas Morning News, served as the featured speaker for the TCU Neeley’s Tandy Executive Speaker Series on October 23, as the latest in the long-standing event series that welcomes business professionals from across North Texas for networking and thought leadership immersion.
For Moise, this was a return to the campus where he earned his MBA in 2004. During the Tandy Executive Speaker Series, he shared the story of choosing TCU to earn his graduate degree and the influence it had on his career. From the small class sizes, networking opportunities and high-achieving faculty he remains in contact with, Moise said becoming a Horned Frog was a one of the best decisions he’s made.
The fireside-style chat that is the foundation for the Tandy Executive Speaker Series was led by Hettie Richardson, interim dean for the TCU Neeley School of Business. The discussion offered a compelling perspective on navigating the uncharted waters of digital disruption, a phenomenon impacting consumers and business leaders in addition to the news media industry.
“We have all lived through many technology disruptions. These disruptions present challenges and opportunities to respond effectively and change the way you lead,” Richardson said. “There is no industry out there that hasn’t been affected by technology or social media.”
Under Moise’s leadership, the Dallas Morning News has taken advantage of the digital news publication model. The news publication boasts seven million readers a month, a testament to its relevance in a rapidly changing world.
“Here is the irony about digital disruption. The Dallas Morning News has been here for almost 140 years. The audiences have never been bigger than they have been in the last five [years],” Moise said, adding that despite print circulation drastically declining, they’ve prioritized storytelling to a digital format.
“If our product was a printed newspaper, well then yes, what’s happened digitally is putting the printed newspaper on a path where it will one day be gone,” said Moise. “But for us the journalism is the product and the content is the product.”
Moise highlighted the diversity of that digital disruption, marked by the ubiquity of the internet, smartphones, and search engines, as well as the rise of AI. He pointed out that just five years ago, AI was not a significant player in the field. Now, AI is easily accessible and transforming at a rapid pace. Moise urged caution and emphasizes the importance of safeguarding sensitive information as AI becomes increasingly integrated into various industries.
The changing patterns of news consumption are also evident with technology advancement. He said, about 2.3 million readers a month come to The Dallas Morning News from a Google search. Advertisers and marketers are working diligently to keep up with this transformation, especially as they seek to block AI from scraping their content in order to preserve their intellectual property, and also encouraging users to access news from the original platforms.
Another technology disruptor that continues to impact the virtual landscape is social media. Moise acknowledged its power but also potential pitfalls. He underscored the dangers of social media algorithms reinforcing existing beliefs and creating echo chambers. Moise lamented the loss of balanced discourse in favor of polarization, urging us to rediscover the “American middle.”
Trust was a regular topic mentioned throughout the discussion. Moise said trust is not only fundamental in personal life, but also the bedrock of professional relationships. In the age of “fake news,” he understands the importance of transparency, vulnerability, and genuine communication to regain the public’s trust.
The primary points of Moise’s conversation was to understand and acknowledge the importance of your business relations. The three key takeaways he reiterated for the audience include:
- Digital Disruption - Understand how you've been disrupted and work tirelessly to maintain a one-to-one relationship with your customer,
- Trust is as important in your business relationships as it is in your personal relationships. Without trust at the foundation of your work, nothing else matters, and
- Sources - Scrutinize the sources of media you choose to inform your thoughts and opinions. If you have not vetted them thoughtfully, you could end up losing credibility in the thoughts you share.
“Focus on your consumer and your four corner decisions. Make decisions as a team and put consumer feedback and research in each decision,” Moise said.
