Senior Leadership Conference: Oct. 8-10

Conference Agenda

Take a deep dive into AI on Tuesday at the Senior Leadership Conference

Tuesday morning at the Senior Leadership Conference is all devoted to AI — the latest innovations, guidelines to maintain trust, building AI systems responsibly, legal impacts, plus future opportunities and challenges.

Jeremy Gilbert

Jeremy Gilbert, Knight Professor in Digital Media Strategy at the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications, will kick things off on Tuesday with a look at "Generative AI: The Latest Innovations and Setting Guidelines to Maintain Trust with Sources and Readers."

He says local news publishers need to push through the hype and the fear and realize they have NO choice but to think about generative AI now.  This session will highlight the latest innovations in AI and, most critically, the need for publishers to set clear guidelines for use to maintain trust with their sources and audiences.

David Adkins

David Adkins, senior engineering manager with Meta, will follow with an off-the-record discussion on how to build AI systems responsibly as more and more companies, including publishers, start to think about how to use AI systems in their day-to-day business. With recent developments in AI, the ability for small businesses to build their own models is much more accessible than it has ever been before. Adkins will discuss how these models are being used, some of the pitfalls and concerns, and how to avoid these issues as you start to explore AI’s use in your business and news operations.

J. Stephen Poor

A look at the legal impacts of generative AI on the newspaper industry is the next topic on the agenda.  J. Stephen Poor, a partner with Seyfarth Shaw, will focus on the basics, as well as the risks and benefits of generative AI, and emerging legal issues.

Daisy Donald

The closing session on Tuesday will be a panel discussion with Adkins, Gilbert and Poor — moderated by Daisy Donald, principal, head of Americas, with FT Strategies. This expert panel of specialists will lead an open discussion on the future opportunities and challenges AI will bring to local newspapers.

Download the full conference agenda

Newspaper Executives: register here

Solutions Partners: register here

Sponsors

Sponsors

Solution Showcase

Solution Showcase

At the Senior Leadership Conference, attendees will learn the latest revenue-producing and expense-saving programs from the industry’s leading companies.

Here we highlight another of the six Solution Showcase sessions.  Additional sessions will be highlighted soon.

Enabling Reach and Revenue: Lineup Innovation and Client Success
Host: Host: Michael Mendoza, Founder and CIO, Lineup Systems

Learn how Lineup is continuing to innovate by helping clients increase advertising revenue and audience monetization.

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Hotel Reservations

Reserve your hotel room for Senior Leadership Conference

Our room block at The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago is sold out, but hotel rooms still may be available at the hotel. Reserve a hotel room.

The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago
909 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Engage in open discussions and exchange ideas
Kevin Hall, president of Georges Media Group, will moderate the opening session at the Senior Leadership Conference: Revenue 2024.

This fast-paced session will feature some of the industry’s leading voices discussing the hottest issues and opportunities in revenue management, development and diversification opportunities, including events, digital revenue, sales training & recruitment and more.

Panelists are:

  • Mike Fortman, associate publisher, TH Media
  • Jason Hegna, vice president of sales, Shaw Media
  • Paul Kasbohm, EVP and chief revenue officer, StarTribune
  • Amy Sutton, inside advertising director, The Post and Courier

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During the Senior Leadership Conference in Chicago, learn how partnerships between one of America’s leading journalism schools and five Chicago-area news organizations are yielding encouraging new performance outcomes in the key areas of research and insights, content strategy, business strategy, product design and leadership development.
This session at the Senior Leadership Conference will focus on the critical issues impacting advocacy efforts and what publishers should do to improve the chances for success.  Attendees will come away with powerful information to help them make local decisions and a road map on how to build relationships with legislators and readers for success. 

Danielle Coffey, president and CEO of the News/Media Alliance, and Dean Ridings, CEO of America's Newspapers, will kick this session off, with Cameron Nutting Williams, CRO, Ogden Newspapers, moderating a panel discussion to follow.

Panelists will be:
  • Alan Fisco, president, The Seattle Times Company
  • Francis Wick, CEO, Wick Communications
  • Heidi Wright, COO and publisher, EO Media Group
Conference Overview
Senior Leadership Conference: Engage in open discussions about navigating the changing media landscape

This year's Senior Leadership Conference will be held Oct. 8-10 at The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago.

Rates for newspaper executives are $695 for members; non-member rates are $895. 

Solutions Partner members also are encouraged to registered as soon as possible to guarantee your participation in the conference.  Rates are $1,200 and Solutions Partners are limited to two registrations per company; companies must be members of America's Newspapers.  There are a limited number of total Solutions Partner registrations available at the Senior Leadership Conference; register right away.

The Senior Leadership Conference delivers a productive environment where newspaper executives can engage in open discussions and exchange new approaches to navigating the changing media landscape.   

The Senior Leadership Conference is built with the right mix of sessions and discussions that engage executives in a positive, solution-based environment.  Topics include how to effectively implement AI strategies, build more effective sales models, recruit and develop sales staffs and more.

Nothing beats in-person networking and those key hallway conversations, receptions and dinners; we hope to see you in Chicago.

For planning purposes, the opening reception will be on Sunday, Oct. 8, at 5:30 p.m. (CDT).  Sessions will conclude on Tuesday, Oct. 10, at 12:30 p.m.

View the conference agenda