April 2-4, 2023 | Hilton Anatole, Dallas, TX 

As a partner of Mega-Conference 2023, News/Media Alliance members receive discounted registration!

Learn more and register

Program

Who should attend:

Publishers are encouraged to attend with their key department heads.

Registration for newspaper attendees: 

Rates are at their lowest for newspaper and media executives who commit to participating in an interactive 75-minute Solutions Roundtable session during the conference.

Newspaper attendee rates (for members of the News/Media Alliance and America’s Newspapers who are attending the Solutions Roundtable sessions) are as low as $495. Rates go up by $100/person after February 15, 2023.

Newspaper & Media Executives – Register here

Note: Please do not call the News/Media Alliance, as we are not processing registrations for Mega-Conference.

Team registration:

Register three or more members of your team and save up to $100 per person.  Team membership discounts are for newspapers only. To register your team or for more information about team registrations, contact Paulette Sheffield at psheffield@newspapers.org.

For more information about Mega-Conference, visit www.mega-conference.com.

Mega-Innovation Award:

Tell us why your newspaper or newspaper group should be recognized as innovative!

America’s Newspapers and the News/Media Alliance want to spotlight the best examples of innovation among newspapers at this year’s Mega-Conference.  All newspaper members of the News/Media Alliance and America’s Newspapers are encouraged to submit their best examples of innovation for consideration in this year’s competition for the Mega-Innovation Award.

The deadline for entries is 11:00 p.m. CST Friday, February 24. There is no cost to enter.

For more information and to enter the Mega-Innovation Awards, click here.

The post Mega-Conference 2023 appeared first on News/Media Alliance.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Arlington, VA – Seven leading journalism, media, and pro-consumer antitrust advocacy organizations today sent a joint letter to President Joseph Biden calling on him to highlight, in his upcoming State of the Union address on February 7, the importance of local journalism. The letter highlights the urgent need for congressional action to preserve a strong democracy and a free press. Specifically, the letter urges President Biden to call on Congress to advance the bipartisan Journalism Competition and Preservation Act (JCPA) (S. 673 and H.R. 1735). The legislation will give small, local news outlets the ability to join together in negotiations that will level the playing field with Big Tech platforms. Small and local publishers currently do not have the ability to negotiate jointly for fair payment to counter the dominant power of Big Tech platforms. That imbalance allows tech monopolies to capture the vast majority of U.S. digital ad revenue, leaving local publishers with little to reinvest in the production of high-quality journalism.

The organizations that signed on to the letter include the News/Media Alliance, National Newspaper Association, America’s Newspapers, Authors Guild, American Economic Liberties Project, Inter American Press Association, and the Radio Television Digital News Association.

The letter outlines the plight of local news, in which news publishers have been forced to play by Big Tech’s rules of the digital advertising playing field for years, resulting in the loss of more than a quarter of U.S. newspapers since 2005 and the spread of news deserts across the country. In their letter, the groups underscore the importance of passing the JCPA as the best solution to ensuring news publishers are compensated fairly for use of their content by the dominant tech platforms, asking President Biden to call on Congress to pass the bill, which was introduced in the 117th Congress in 2021 and successfully marked up by the Senate Judiciary Committee last September. In addition, the groups ask Biden to call on Congress to pass the Local Journalism Sustainability Act, which would incentivize investments in local journalism through the tax code.

The letter states in part:

“While America has long been a beacon of light when it comes to freedom of the press, that light has grown dimmer due to the monopolistic shadow of the Big Tech giants. The largest tech platforms dominate revenue streams online, with Google and Facebook in control of an estimated 60 to 70 percent of digital ad markets. These anticompetitive behaviors are further highlighted in the Justice Department’s recently filed lawsuit against Google, which alleges monopoly abuse by the company in the online advertising market.

To stop that light from going out and allow America’s free press to continue to contribute to our nation’s resilience and serve as a model of democracy to the world, we need bipartisan action from Congress. The local news outlets we represent and others that prioritize a free press ask that you use your State of the Union address to call on the House and Senate to urgently advance key legislation to your desk that will help save local journalism.”

The JCPA has broad support, not only in Congress in both the House and the Senate (on both sides of the aisle – including 90 total co-sponsors), but also from over 300 consumer interest groups, unions, conservatives, advocacy groups and third-party organizations that have shown support for the JCPA by sending letters of support to the bill sponsors. In addition, over 24,000 individuals have signed a Change.org petition for the bill and nearly 1,000 editorials and op-eds in support of the JCPA have been published in newspapers in 48 states across the country. In a recent poll of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted by Schoen Cooperman Research for the News/Media Alliance, 70 percent of Americans said they support Congress passing the JCPA.

View the joint letter here.

For more information about the JCPA, visit www.JCPABill.com.

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Media Contact:
Lindsey Loving
Director, Communications
lindsey@newsmediaalliance.org

The News/Media Alliance is a nonprofit organization representing more than 2,000 news and magazine media organizations and their multiplatform businesses in the United States and globally. Alliance members include print and digital publishers of original journalism. Headquartered just outside Washington, D.C., the association focuses on ensuring the future of journalism through communication, research, advocacy, and innovation. Information about the News/Media Alliance can be found at www.newsmediaalliance.org.

The post Journalism, Media & Economic Competition Advocates Call on President Biden to Show Support for Legislation That Would Help Save Local Journalism in State of the Union Address appeared first on News/Media Alliance.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The most important topics to media professionals will be covered at the Mega-Conference and you need to be there: April 10-12 in Orlando!

Attendee rates are at their lowest today, but rates will increase Monday, Feb. 14. Register now to take full advantage of all the Mega-Conference has to offer — at the lowest rate. Conference fees for newspaper attendees have been kept as low as possible to ensure that newspapers of all sizes can take part in this important conference.

Register to attend:

Newspaper and Media Executives:  register here
Industry Vendors / Solutions Partners: register here

Conference sessions will deliver the latest information that you can actually implement in your organization. From advertising and reader revenue to recruiting and building culture, the Mega-Conference will deliver results. Publishers are encouraged to attend with their key department heads.

Among the conference topics:

• Lights, Camera, Revenue! The Rise of OTT and Video Formats
• Gaming — Big Gamble or New Business Model?
• Maximizing Reader Revenue
• Building Your Staff Through Community Funding
• Culture, Culture, Culture — Building Your Organization for the New World
• The Latest on the JCPA … from the News Media Alliance
• The Best Examples of Innovation in the Newspaper Industry: Learn from the “Best of the Best” as the Innovation Award finalists present their entries. There’s still time to nominate your paper for this prestigious recognition! Details here.

Learn more about the conference program.

To learn about sponsorship opportunities at the Mega-Conference, contact Patty Slusher (pslusher@newspapers.org)

Visit the Mega-Conference website: http://mega-conference.com

The post Program Topics Announced for Mega-Conference: Rates Go Up Feb. 14 appeared first on News/Media Alliance.

DoxaDigital / E+ via Getty Images

April 10-12, 2022 | JW Marriott Bonnet Creek Resort | Orlando, FL

Learn more and register

The News Industry Mega-Conference, the news media industry’s largest event, will return in-person in 2022. The conference will be held at the JW Marriott Bonnet Creek Resort, Orlando, FL.

The News Industry Mega-Conference is presented by America’s Newspapers and supported by the News Media Alliance.  Additionally, Editor & Publisher will be the official media partner of this year’s event.

Program
View the full Mega-Conference Agenda here.

Trade Show
View a list of Mega-Conference sponsors and exhibitors here.

Registration
Newspaper and media executives may register for Mega-Conference here.

Note: Please do not call the News Media Alliance, as we are not processing registrations for Mega-Conference.

For more information, visit www.mega-conference.com.

The post Mega-Conference 2022 appeared first on News/Media Alliance.

Fact Sheet originally published by MPA – The Association of Magazine Media

Download PDF of Fact Sheet

With 100% recyclable, biodegradable, non-toxic printed paper stock, magazines are partners in environmental stewardship and should be supported.

THE ISSUE

Inclusion of paper in EPR programs won’t increase recycling but would unfairly target magazine media.

Magazines are partners in recycling and environmental stewardship. Magazines are printed on non-toxic, biodegradable and 100-percent recyclable paper, and long-form magazine journalism has led the way on environmental education and advocacy. More than 63 percent of paper discarded by consumers is already recycled, and the EPA estimates that magazines account for only 0.3 percent of municipal solid waste.

State and local Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs that include paper products would perversely subsidize producers of hazardous, environmentally harmful and hard-to-recycle products, as it spreads some of their EPR costs to paper users and producers.

That is why paper products are excluded from EPR programs in Europe, which is generally considered to have more advanced recycling programs than U.S. jurisdictions.

And at 63 percent already, including paper in EPR programs likely would have no effect on increasing paper recycling rates. In British Columbia (BC), for example, EPR fees on paper products rose 86 percent in 2020 and nearly 50 percent more once again in 2021. Meanwhile, the paper recycling rate in BC is declining.

A BETTER SOLUTION

Target hazardous or hard-to-recycle products in EPR programs.

Target the real problem, not highly recyclable paper, by explicitly excluding environmentally friendly printed paper stock from EPR programs.

THE TAKEAWAY

• Printed on and with sustainable products, magazines are partners in recycling and environmental stewardship.
• Long-form magazine journalism has led the way on environmental education and advocacy.
• Imposing EPR programs on paper would punish good environmental actors and possibly reduce recycling rates.

Magazine Media Delivers

Valued and trusted content

• Content that is researched, curated and edited.
• Readers value our educational, cultural, scientific, and informational content, in longform articles and on digital platforms.

Diverse & multigenerational connections

• Read by more than 90% of U.S. adults across all age groups and demographics, including 18-25.
• A 1.5 billion audience across all its platforms – digital, mobile, video and print.

Commitment & investment to our communities

• More than 240,000 U.S. jobs supported with an annual average wage of more than $98,000.
• Trusted, long-standing first party relationship based on respect and transparency for our readers.
• Partner in environmental stewardship, using biodegradable, recyclable and certified materials.

The post Fact Sheet: Effective Environmental Policy Should Improve Environmental Performance, Not Penalize Environmentally Friendly Magazines appeared first on News/Media Alliance.

Asks include funding of federal advertising spending on local media, direct funding for government agencies for local media advertising

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Arlington, VA – Today, four national media organizations representing thousands of local newspapers and local broadcast media outlets – the News Media Alliance, National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), National Newspaper Association (NNA) and America’s Newspapers – jointly called on Congress to provide critical support to local news media in its next stimulus bill designed to provide relief to businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. In its summary document, the organizations specifically call for Congress to ensure the ability of local media to seek relief under the Paycheck Protection Program and to fund federal advertising spending on local media through directing current U.S. government advertising campaigns to local news and media outlets, and providing the Department of Health and Human Services, the Small Business Administration and other relevant agencies with an additional $5-10 billion for direct funding for local media advertising that would be evenly distributed to local media in communities of all sizes.

News Media Alliance President & CEO David Chavern stated, “Local news provides reliable, fact-based information that is absolutely critical to communities, particularly during events like the COVID-19 crisis. This is evident in the public’s incredible demand for information from local publishers. However, the rapidly contracting ad market in response to the pandemic is dealing a sharp and immediate blow to local news publishing. If this continues, there won’t be local journalism in many communities.”

Readers have rushed to local news outlets to obtain reliable news and information about their communities, but most of the value of the online engagement flows to the dominant tech platforms. The sharp decline in the general ad market since the COVID-19 pandemic began has caused the revenue of local publishers to contract dramatically. According to an industry survey, despite record audience, most publishers who saw an increase in subscriptions from February saw growth of under 10 percent. Additionally, advertising and other sources of revenue are projected to fall by at least 25 percent, with many expecting declines of over 50 percent. As a result, a wide range of local news publishers have been forced to consider layoffs, furloughs or pay cuts, just when the public needs them the most.

National Association of Broadcasters President and CEO Gordon Smith stated, “NAB is proud to join our friends at the News Media Alliance, National Newspaper Association and America’s Newspapers in support of local media. In communities across America, local broadcasters and local newspapers provide an indispensable source of credible journalism and community focused information that simply cannot be replaced by other media platforms. We urgently request that policymakers support our effort to preserve advertising-supported local media outlets that are so important to the fabric of daily life.”

National Newspaper Association President and publisher of the Douglas (Wy.) Budget Matt Adelman stated, “Local newspapers are valiantly serving their communities to the best of their abilities through the COVID-19 public health crisis. They are more critical than ever at a time like this. As the nation pulls together to get through this period, local media need the revenue from advertising and the public needs essential messages from the government.”

America’s Newspapers CEO Dean Ridings stated, “In the face of business challenges that are pervasive and all-encompassing, our member newspapers are carrying out their mission to provide their communities with vital news and information. The assistance we are asking for today is an investment in sustaining the information infrastructure that is an essential element for a successful American response to this public health crisis.”

The summary document can be found here.

###

Media Contact:
Lindsey Loving
Director, Communications
571.366.1009
lindsey@newsmediaalliance.org

The News Media Alliance is a nonprofit organization representing more than 2,000 news organizations and their multiplatform businesses in the United States and globally. Alliance members include print, digital and mobile publishers of original news content. Headquartered near Washington, D.C., in Arlington, Va., the association focuses on ensuring the future of news media through communication, research, advocacy and innovation. Information about the News Media Alliance (formerly NAA) can be found at www.newsmediaalliance.org.

The post Media Groups Call on Congress to Support Local News, Local Media Amid Coronavirus Crisis appeared first on News/Media Alliance.

President and CEO of the News Media Alliance, David Chavern, and CEO of America’s Newspapers, Dean Ridings, which represent thousands of local news publishers across the United States, today sent a letter to President Donald Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker of the House Nanci Pelosi, outlining the struggles of local news publishers, which are facing an existential crisis of their own as the COVID-19 health crisis evolves. In particular, the rapid contraction of advertising markets is dealing a brutal blow to an industry where business models were already deeply difficult.

While many publishers have seen increases in online traffic and digital subscriptions, the additional revenue has in no way made-up for the sharp losses in ad revenue. The News Media Alliance has often made the case that the online environment, generally, does not adequately reward the production and distribution of quality journalism. While that is bad in every circumstance, in the current environment it could prove fatal – both to publishers and the public.

View the letter here.

The post Letter to President Trump: Help Sustain Local News appeared first on News/Media Alliance.