Citizen Media: Engaging an Empowered Audience

April 2 - April 5, 2006

AIM THIS PAGE

Featured Discussion Leaders

Lex Alexander Citizen Media Editor, Greensboro News-Record Session: Town Square

Shayne Bowman Principal, Hypergene Media Solutions Session: Learning the Value of Collaboration

Elizabeth Osder Senior Director/Product, Yahoo!News Session: Re-mix Culture

Frederick Schecker Interactive Media, Landmark Communications Session: HamptonRaods.tv

Programming support provided by The Media Center at API, J-Lab, Online News Association and Yahoo! News

A seminar for newspapers committed to engaging their communities in a dynamic participatory news report.

You’ve caught the headlines and heard the buzz about participatory journalism – now it’s time to learn how to make it a reality.

Whether you’re already involving readers in your news report or you’re exploring the possibility, we'll help you position your organization as a trusted source for news and information -- now and into the future.

First, we’ll take in the view from the 30,000-foot level, exploring the vast changes in media consumption that make it difficult for traditional news companies to compete, and looking at successful models for using citizen content in breaking news reports as well as ongoing hyper-local and topical publishing efforts.

Then we’ll answer your ground-level operational questions in detail: What is the role of credibility? ... How do you get community participation? ... How do you manage this new form? ... What are the staffing requirements? ... Can you bring in sufficient revenue to support this? ... How will you measure success?

Come learn how you can claim a unique niche in a world where everyone's a journalist and entrepreneurs are changing the relationships between advertisers and consumers.

Who should attend:
Senior managers with decision-making authority in news and electronic media.

Participants will gain:

• Keen understanding of the cultural forces that have forever changed the relationship between media providers and consumers.
• Strategies for building dynamic interaction and reader engagement that can produce compelling content and grow audience.
• Insights into the “remix culture” and the next generation of participatory journalism.
• Great ideas for developing new revenue streams.
• A blueprint for the future viability of their news organizations.

AGENDA

Day 1: The 30,000-foot view
Before launching a citizen media site just because everyone else has one, participants will get a broader perspective on the way people interact with media that can help inform their decisions.

Day 2: Down here on the ground
Leading newspaper practitioners will share the lessons of their experience, then stick around for discussions and question-and-answer sessions focused on:

• content
• technology
• revenue
• nurturing community

Day 3: A look ahead
What will news look like in a fully connected, digital society? Participants will be exposed to the best thinking about the future of news and what can be learned from the early adopters of new forms of collaborative media.

The Particulars

Please read:
:: API's Registration, Tuition and Hotel Policies
:: Special requirements for international members

Tuition: $ 1,500

Hotel/Meal Package: $597.
This charge is in addition to the tuition fee, and is paid directly to the hotel by the seminar member upon checkout.

Location: Reston, Virginia

(This seminar has already occured)