Radically Rural: Full Schedule

9:00am EDT

What’s at Stake? Newsrooms increase online readership – and revenue – using data

What causes a non-reader to subscribe? What can be done to better retain existing readers? Who is having success among small news operations using research? And how are reporters and editors leading the effort? With traditional advertising in sharp decline, community news organizations are using research and data to find ways to increase paid readership and membership. Answers to all these questions and more are provided by an expert panel led by Amy Kovac-Ashley from the American Press Institute.

Speakers

Amy L. Kovac-Ashley

Vice President and Senior Director, American Press Institute

Amy L. Kovac-Ashley is vice president and senior director of the American Press Institute, where her portfolio includes accountability journalism and organizational transformation and culture change, of which the Table Stakes program is an important part. She designed and leads API’s... Read More →

Panelists

Autumn Phillips

Managing Editor, The Post and Courier

Autumn Phillips is Managing Editor of The Post and Courier in Charleston, S.C. She previously served as Executive Editor of the Quad-City Times in Davenport, Iowa, and the Times-News in Twin Falls, Idaho. Her work has been recognized twice by Editor & Publisher Magazine’s “10... Read More →

Les High

Publisher, The News Reporter

Born Nov. 7, 1961 to James C. and Carolyn T. HighWife – Becky Nix High; married 27 years. Children – Carolyn Nix High, 25, and Margaret Stuart High, 23Lifelong resident of Whiteville, N.C.1980 graduate of Whiteville High School1984 graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill with BA in JournalismLifelong... Read More →

Liz White

Chairwoman and Family Owner, Record-Journal Media Group

Liz White is a 5th generation family owner at the 152-year-old Record-Journal Media Group in central Connecticut, which includes one daily and 7 weeklies. She was named publisher in January 2020. She holds an MBA from Yale School of Management, a bachelor’s from Boston College... Read More →

Thursday September 24, 2020 9:00am - 10:45am EDT
Virtual Link to Join this Session will be Announced

Community Journalism, Session One

11:00am EDT

Transformation: Rural news breaks out in all sorts of new ways

Digital start-ups, non-profit and co-op ventures, radical new thinking at small news organizations - new journalism models with promise are springing up across the country, suggesting ways these can be replicated at the small-town level. Kristen Hare of the Poynter Institute and a panel of innovators present new models of news and ideas that we can all take home.

Speakers

Kristen Hare

Reporter, Poynter Institute

Kristen Hare covers the transformation of local news for the Poynter Institute. Her work for Poynter has earned her a Mirror Award nomination. Hare, a graduate of the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism, spent 5 years as the Sunday features writer and an assistant editor... Read More →

Panelists

Jim Iovino

Assistant Professor of Media Innovation, West Virginia University

Jim Iovino joined West Virginia University in July 2019 as the Ogden Newspapers Visiting Assistant Professor of Media Innovation.He is leading the NewStart Newspaper Ownership Initiative -- a program that is focusing on recruiting, training and supporting the next generation of community... Read More →

Larry Ryckman

Editor and Founder, The Colorado Sun

Larry Ryckman is Editor and founder of The Colorado Sun. Previously he was senior editor at The Denver Post, managing editor at The Gazette in Colorado Springs and city editor at the Greeley Tribune. Ryckman spent 22 years at The Associated Press, where he was assistant managing editor... Read More →

Les Zaitz

Editor and Publisher, Malheur Enterprise

Two-time Pulitzer finalist Les Zaitz is an Oregon native. He started his professional journalism career right out of high school, hired in 1973 as a general assignment reporter for the Salem Statesman Journal. He continued writing as a staff reporter and correspondent while attending... Read More →

Tamika Moore

Managing Producer, Red Clay Media

Tamika Moore is a managing video producer and photojournalist based in Birmingham, Alabama. She tells inspirational stories about people and things that make up the South across different digital platforms at Red Clay Media. In 2017, she started People of Alabama, a celebration of... Read More →

Thursday September 24, 2020 11:00am - 12:45pm EDT
Virtual Link to Join this Session will be Announced

Community Journalism, Session Two

2:00pm EDT

Crazy Good – 50 ideas that will make a difference

It’s back! A romp through some of the best ways to increase audience and revenue from some of the game-changing news organizations in the country. We present a lively show and tell on tactics, techniques and products (including examples of outstanding COVID-19 coverage). You will leave with a magazine profiling new approaches and ideas. Looking for an ROI on attending Radically Rural? This is it.

Speakers

Terrence Williams

President & COO, The Keene Sentinel

Terrence Williams is president and chief operating officer for Keene Publishing Corp., the publisher of The Keene Sentinel. He leads The Sentinel’s niche publication, digital media, circulation, sales, graphics and print shop divisions. He’s also in charge of the company’s business... Read More →

Linda Conway

Executive Director, New England Newspaper and Press Association

Linda Conway is the executive director for the New England Newspaper and Press Association, the nonprofit trade organization for newspapers in the six-state region. Part of her role at NENPA is developing training and recognition programs to help newspaper professionals successfully... Read More →

Thursday September 24, 2020 2:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Virtual Link to Join this Session will be Announced

Community Journalism, Session Three