David Chavern: Preview of NAA mediaXchange 2016

We are just a few days away from NAA mediaXchange 2016, and I hope you are looking forward to it as much as I am! As the largest industry gathering of its kind in North America, I believe it is an incredibly valuable event for newspapers and news media, advertisers and associated businesses in the publishing industry.

Our theme this year is local. Regardless of newspaper size, community is at the very heart of what we do. It’s why we provide news with a local angle, attend school board meetings, and organize local events to foster engagement, learning and community pride. This dedication to our readers, advertisers and local residents is worth prioritizing and celebrating.

NAA mediaXchange 2016 is a chance to hear from insightful speakers with bold new ideas and innovative strategies. We’ll be discussing and analyzing some of today’s key issues, from how to maximize local political advertising in an election year to what to do about ad blocking, mobile engagement and mobile monetization.

We have tremendous speakers lined up from inside and outside of the industry, and we’re thrilled to introduce you to some rising stars. Intrigued? Here’s what to expect:

  • Killer keynotes. Trust us: You won’t want to miss the insights from WPP founder and CEO, Sir Martin Sorrell, Google’s Laurent Cordier, Blendle’s Alexander Klöpping, Washington Post Executive Editor Marty Baron and AP’s Gary Pruitt, discussing the future of the news industry and unique opportunities for publishers.
  • Breakout sessions tailored to you. Are you hoping to gain insights into new advertising trends, audience engagement via social media, revenue growth or strategies for local newspapers? Take your pick of breakout sessions designed around these topics.
  • An edge in technology and advertising. Over 30 of the top newspaper advertisers and agencies will be attending mediaXchange, and we have facilitated several opportunities for personal meetings and conversations to further your relationships and introduce your advertising offerings. And, you get a front row seat to some of the newest and brightest technology solutions, with a fast-paced round of pitches from the winning startups of NAA’s Accelerator Pitch Program.

While I’m truly excited for this incredible lineup of speakers, the program itself doesn’t begin to capture all of NAA mediaXchange. One of the greatest assets of this conference is the community of newspaper executives, advertisers and publishing businesses who attend. Your discussions, ideas, networking and collaboration is one of our key strengths as an industry, and it is the reason I am so optimistic for the future of news publishing.

So, come prepared to learn – and to teach. I look forward to welcoming you to Washington, D.C. for NAA mediaXchange 2016 in just a few short days!

Learn why you should join in the fun with this video.