Eight Midwest state press associations are teaming up once again to conduct the third in a series of educational events aimed at developing new ways to ensure the successful future of the newspaper industry. The Midwest Newspaper Summit 3, Newspaper Evolution: Make Change Happen, will be held Friday, Sept. 10 at the Marriott Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri. Using Midwest Newspaper Summits held in September 2009 and February 2010 as its spring-board, the Midwest Newspaper Summit 3 will feature a unique hands-on, learn-by-doing platform. By attending, participants will make a commitment to implement a new Innovation Project at their newspaper following the Summit and share the results with other event participants.
The theme for Midwest Newspaper Summits 1 and 2 was Newspaper Evolution: Survival of the Fittest in the Digital Age. These events featured industry leaders engaged in a cutting-edge discussion about the economics of the news industry and how it might move forward in the digital age. Nationally recognized speakers and panelists discussed the rapid changes newspapers are experiencing, new ways to structure the newspaper business, new revenue models and many other critical topics.
Attendance and interest at the first two summits clearly indicated the need for continued expansion of innovation and technology in the newspaper industry. The Midwest Newspaper Summit 3 is the next step in the evolution of these events and will offer newspapers of all sizes and at all stages of innovation an opportunity to implement an Innovation Project at their newspaper. Participants will be divided into groups based on their newspaper’s current stage of innovation and/or willingness to implement a new project. Under the guidance of a facilitator, teams will work together throughout the day to hone their ideas and discuss implementation. The day will wrap up with brief presentations on the implementation plans for each Innovation Project, providing for feedback from the full group.
The day-long event will kick off with an address bySarah Miller Caldicott, a great grandniece of Thomas Edison. Inspired by a family lineage of inventors dating back five generations, Caldicott began her 25-year career as a Marketing executive with major brand-driven firms, including Quaker Oats and Unilever. She co-authored the first book ever written on the subject of Edison’s world-changing innovation methods, entitled Innovate Like Edison, The Five-Step System for Breakthrough Business Success.Caldicott travels the world inspiring audiences on how they can employ Edison’s timeless innovation methods today. She has presented at companies such as Google and Motorola and appeared as an innovation expert on PBS television, CNBC, the Fox Business Network and NPR.
Register now to attend the Midwest Newspaper Summit 3 and get ready to take part in an exciting journey that will bring measurable and profitable results to your newspaper!
Rates for the summit will be $85 per registrant through Sept. 1, $95 per registrant after Sept. 1 and $35 for students. Discounted hotel rates of $109 are available until Aug. 24. Registration and accommodation information is available online.
The Midwest Newspaper Summit is sponsored by the Iowa Newspaper Foundation, Illinois Press Association, Kansas Press Association, Minnesota Newspaper Association, Missouri Press Association, Nebraska Press Association, South Dakota Newspaper Association and Wisconsin Newspaper Association.
For questions about the Midwest Newspaper Summit 3, please contact
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at (515) 422-9070.
Midwest Newspaper Summit 3