Freeman highlighted the fact that 36 million UK consumers now read news each week across print, online and mobile, while the Times, the Telegraph and the Guardian sold one million more print copies combined during the election.
"The appetite for news is at an all-time high," he said. "The news is there, the consumers are there and the advertising will follow."
However, he warned that while online and mobile have increased reach, the newspaper industry remains in transition, with no consensus about the most profitable business model.
On GN&M's decision to remain "open to the web community", he said: "News International believes a closed approach behind a paywall is the right strategy, but we believe in co-creation and interaction. What unites us is that without digital revenue we cannot create content."
GMG, which , is creating new revenue streams through advertiser-funded content with clients including VisitBritain, as well as direct-to-consumer offers such as membership schemes.
The group is also investing in ad effectiveness testing and targeting to attract "younger, more affluent consumers".
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