Gathering In Gotham p. 13

By: Editorial Staff More than 1,200 of the nation's top newspaper publishers and executives are expected to attend this year's Newspaper Association of America annual convention in New York City, April 28-May 1 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
The convention theme, "A Day in the Life of a Newspaper," will explore issues affecting the industry on a department by department basis. Prominent figures from the world of politics, fashion, sports, business and religion will address the publishers.
"This is an exciting time in the newspaper industry ? our core newspaper business grew to $46 billion and we lead all other media in the expansion of online media services," said John Sturm, NAA president and CEO. "Our annual convention will provide publishers with a unique chance to assess the achievements of our industry and will provide information they can use to remain competitive in today's increasingly converging media marketplace."
During the conference, Uzal Martz, president and publisher of the Pottsville (Pa.) Republican, will turn over the reigns of NAA chairman to John Curley, chairman, president and CEO of Gannett Co.
David Cox, president and CEO of Cowles Media Co., Minneapolis, will move up to serve as vice chairman; Richard Gottlieb, president and CEO of Lee Enterprises, will become secretary; and Billy Morris II, chairman and CEO of Morris Communications, will serve as treasurer. Martz will remain on the board for one year as immediate past chairman.
During the convention, NAA
members will vote to fill six seats on the board of directors and will elect new officers. The new board nominees are Alan Horton, senior vice president/newspapers, Scripps Howard; Boisfeuillet Jones Jr., president/general manager, the Washington Post; John Madigan, chairman, president and CEO, Tribune Co.; Michael Parta, publisher, New York Mills (Minn.) Herald and the Perham, Minn., Enterprise-Bulletin; Jay Smith, president, Cox Newspapers; and Louis "Chip" Weil III, president/CEO, Central Newspapers Inc.
On Sunday, April 28, NAA will present "CyberSunday," showcasing the latest new media technology and services. CyberSunday will begin with the opening of the second annual New Media Lab, which will give newspaper executives a chance to see firsthand what their colleagues are doing to capitalize on digital technology.
In addition, the NAA's new "CyberCafe" on Sunday will feature demonstrations of innovative newspaper online products representing a variety of approaches to electronic newspaper publishing. There will also be opportunities on Monday and Tuesday to participate in hands-on "surfing."
Newspapers scheduled to present include: the Arizona Republic and Phoenix Gazette; Boston Globe; Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Gazette; Houston Chronicle; New Jersey Online (Advance Publications); and the New Bedford, Mass., Standard Times.
A list of invited exhibitors includes IBM, Apple, Netscape Communications, New Century Network, and Careerpath.
The exhibits will be open from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 28 in the Jade Room of the Waldorf. Newspaper company demonstrations will take place in the Basildon Room.
The New Media Lab will continue on Monday and Tuesday, with private demonstrations from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and exhibits open from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Jade Room. Surfing stations will be open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Basildon Room.
The convention will begin with "Day Breaker" sessions each morning on the topics of newsprint, classified advertising, cultivating young readers and an adaptation of "60 Ideas in 60 Minutes."

Sunday, April 28
A special session, "Big Ideas for Small Newspapers," will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the Empire Room. Attendees will share ideas for generating revenue, containing costs and starting new products at newspapers with less than 75,000 circulation. It will be moderated by Dave Tipton of TIP Enterprises & Small Print, Peru, Ind.
The World Press Freedom Committee will hold its 20th anniversary meeting at 2 p.m. in the Conrade Salon. A full agenda will feature updates on developments on press freedom in Central and Eastern Europe, at UNESCO, the Council of Europe, the U.N. Human Rights Commission and elsewhere.

Monday, April 29
Two "Day Breaker" workshops will be run concurrently from 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. At the first, "Classified: Ripe for the Picking," the NAA Classified Task Force will tell what it found in its study of the opportunities, liabilities and possibilities surrounding today's classified advertising business. The second workshop, "Talking With the Experts: Publishing in 2010," will be moderated by Jean Gaddy Wilson, director of New Directions for News.
An "early bird" reception by Editor & Publisher magazine will be held from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. in the foyer outside the ballroom.
Convention attendees will be welcomed by New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani at an 8 a.m. breakfast session. Outgoing chairman Martz will then address the convention.
He will be followed by NAA chairman Sturm, who will report on the state of NAA. Also on the Monday morning program will be Stephan Carter, professor at Yale Law School.
The Associated Press annual meeting will begin at 10 a.m. and run until noon. It will be held in St. Bartholomew's Church, across the street from the Waldorf. Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.) is scheduled to address the Associated Press luncheon at 12:30 p.m. in the Waldorf grand ballroom.
Beginning at 3 p.m., Sumner Redstone, chairman and CEO of Viacom International, is expected to moderate a panel on arts & entertainment reporting.

Tuesday, April 30
The "Future of Classified" workshop will be repeated at 7 a.m. and a second concurrent workshop will be held on newsprint.
At 8 a.m., results of a joint NAA-American Society of Newspaper Editors study on "Generation X: Cultivating Young Readers" will be discussed in the Empire Room of the Waldorf.
A panel on "Local News: The Franchise," moderated by Gregory Favre, executive editor of the Sacramento Bee, will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at St. Bartholomew's. Author Jonathon Kozol will also speak to the audience.
A panel on retail advertising and the fashion industry will follow from 11 a.m. till noon and William Bennett, former Secretary of Education, is scheduled to speak at the 1 p.m. luncheon at the Waldorf.
Netscape's Jim Barksdale will then address a session on new media to be held at St. Bartholomew's from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 1
A 7 a.m. workshop, "60 ideas in 60 minutes" will be held at the Waldorf. An 8:30 a.m. panel on financial coverage will be chaired by Robert Hall, publisher of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News at St. Bartholomew's.
National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman is scheduled to address a session on sports coverage at 10 a.m. at St. Bart's. Another sports figure, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, is scheduled to address the NAA annual luncheon in the Waldorf at 12:30 p.m.
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Association of America's annual convention begins
this week in
?(New York CityNEW YORK CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU) [Photo]