Each week, MediaShift posts an ongoing list of upcoming events in the digital media and journalism world. These will be a mix of MediaShift-produced events and other events. If we’re missing any major events, or you’d like to pay to promote your event in the “featured event” spot of our weekly post, please contact Mark Glaser at mark [at] mediashift [dot] org. Any non-MediaShift events in the “featured event” slot are paid placements. Also, be sure to sign up for our events email newsletter to get notifications about future MediaShift events.
Featured Event
Hack the Gender Gap: A Women’s IoT Hackathon at WVU
April 1-3, 2016
Reed College of Media, WVU, Morgantown, WV
There’s a serious gender gap when it comes to representation of women in the media and tech businesses. That’s why MediaShift and the Reed College of Media at West Virginia University will convene college-age women from around the country to envision their role and influence in the emerging “smart-world” market and opportunities for entrepreneurship. The weekend will kick off Friday evening with a discussion among top women in media and tech. Then, students will break into teams to create their own startup ideas around hardware + journalism, presenting them to judges on Sunday. From smart-objects to beacons, sensors and augmented reality, this hands-on Makeathon introduces women as first-generation makers in media and the Internet of Things (IoT).
More information here.
Register here!
MARCH 2016
Binge-Worthy Journalism: Backstage with the Creators of Serial
Mar. 7, 2016, 8 p.m. PT
Jackson Hall, University of California Davis
Launched in 2014, Serial became the fastest podcast to reach five million downloads in iTunes history. The first season of the podcast presented a 12-part series on one legal case,captivating an audience that downloaded the episodes more than 100 million times (and counting). In their live presentation, co-creators Sarah Koenig and Julie Snyder take the audience backstage in this cultural phenomenon, using some of their favorite tape to narrate personal stories about the ups and downs of creating a new form of modern storytelling.
Buy tickets here.
Digiday Publishing Summit Europe
Mar. 7-9, 2016
Bologna, Italy
The digital publishing landscape in Europe today faces a slew of opportunities to connect with readers. These include creating original content, adapting to the mobile transition, scaling video and making money on platforms. At the core, accountability to the consumer and the industry is critical. The Digiday Publishing Summit in Bologna, Italy will address challenges facing legacy publishers and young start-up vying for audiences and spending dollars.
Register here.
Digital Book World Conference and Expo
Mar. 7-9, 2016
New York Hilton Midtown
The Digital Book World Conference + Expo is the premier event for publishers and content providers of all sizes and business models who plan to come out on top of publishing’s digital transformation. Stay nimble in this digital-first, global content market and capitalize on every opportunity, with the help of digital media’s most innovative thinkers and influencers. Get the perspective of both publishing leaders and visionaries from outside the industry. n.
Register here.
SEO in 2016 – What Works Now
Mar. 8-9, 2016
San Diego Marriott – Mission Valley
Search engine optimization (“SEO”) has evolved immensely over the past several years. Are you and your organization keeping up? More importantly, have you fully exhausted the potential that SEO provides? In this training, you’ll learn the secrets of SEO: what works and what doesn’t, what you should be measuring, what tools to use, where trouble looms and untapped potential lies, where search engines and the industry are headed, and much more.
More information and registration here.
ONA SF: New Video Technologies for Journalists
Mar. 9, 2016, 6 p.m. PT
Millennium Tower, San Francisco
In the past year new platforms such as Periscope and Facebook Live have emerged, offering new ways to broadcast live or record video of the news as it happens. Join us as a panel of early adopters discusses the merits of the latest video journalism products.
More information and registration here.
Digital Media Strategies 2016
Mar. 9-10, 2016
Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9AG
Digital Media Strategies brings together a global audience of over 400 CEOs and senior leaders. Over three days of case studies, analysis, workshops, training, round table discussions and tailored networking opportunities, it focuses on the key strategic challenges behind developing a profitable and sustainable media business in a digital world. Now in its fourth year, Digital Media Strategies has become the key event for addressing the big-picture challenges facing the industry, focusing not on PR pitches, but instead on honest, in-depth case studies which go deeper than the surface trends.
Register here, early bird registration ends December 15.
SXSW 2016
Mar. 11-20, 2016
Austin, TX
The South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conferences & Festivals offer the unique convergence of original music, independent films and emerging technologies. Fostering creative and professional growth alike, SXSW® is the premier destination for discovery. Year after year, the event is a launching pad for new creative content. New media presentations, music showcases and film screenings provide buzz-generating exposure for creators and compelling entertainment for audiences. Conference panel discussions present a forum for learning, business activity thrives at the Trade Shows and global networking opportunities abound. Intellectual and creative intermingling among industry leaders continues to spark new ideas and carve the path for the future of each ever-evolving field, long after the events’ conclusion.
Register here.
2016 Computer-Assisted Reporting (CAR) Conference
March 10-13, 2016
Denver Marriott City Center, Denver, CO
Join IRE and NICAR in Denver for our annual conference devoted to data journalism. Come and learn about tools you need to dig deeper into stories and give readers, viewers and your online audience the information they’re demanding. We’ll offer everything from the basics on using spreadsheets, databases and online mapping to data visualization and the latest technological advances. You’ll come away with story ideas, plenty of inspiration and tools to help you overcome typical data hurdles.
More information here. Early-bird registration pricing ends Feb. 12.
Social Media & Content Strategies for Travel 2016
Mar. 14-15, 2016
Hotel Nikko, San Francisco
Innovative customer engagement is at the heart of every successful travel brand. Join North America’s No.1 forum for top social media and mobile professionals to share cutting edge strategies, ideas and real world case studies to drive forward innovation and win those all important digitally savvy customers. Confirmed speakers read as a who’s who of the online travel industry. From Starwood through to HotelTonight – Don’t miss your opportunity to network with an unrivaled travel industry elite.
More information and registration here.
Ad:Tech Australia
Mar. 15-16, 2016
Sydney, Australia
Ad:Tech is a conference and exhibition where the marketing, technology and media communities come together to share new ways of thinking, build strong partnerships, and define new strategies to address the key industry challenges and opportunities.
More information and registration here.
ONA Philly: Girl Gamers: Latoya Peterson on Reporting Pop Culture
Mar. 17, 2016, 3:30 p.m. ET
Philadelphia
Award-winning blogger, journalist, and author Latoya Peterson joins us to discuss the process behind her new online video series, Girl Gamers. She will share her experiences producing journalism on personal, political, and controversial topics. Peterson is the editor of the award-winning blog Racialicious.com. She has also written for Spin, Vibe, The American Prospect, Atlantic.com, Bitch Magazine, Clutch magazine, the Women’s Review of Books, Slate’s Double X, The Poynter Institute and TheRoot.com.
More information and registration here.
BinderCon LA
Mar. 19-20, 2016
University of California Los Angeles (and online)
BinderCon is a professional development conference designed to empower women and gender non-conforming writers with the tools, connections and strategies they need to advance their careers. More than a conference, Binders is a community of writers working to increase the diversity of voices in the media and literary arts through conferences, workshops and other career-building events.
Register here.
The Collaboration Culture Symposium
Mar. 21-22, 2016
Reynolds Journalism Institute, 401 S. 9th St., Columbia, MO, 65211.
Today’s media companies are using collaboration as a way to stay ahead of rapid change. Efficient organizations understand their core capabilities, and what lies outside their expertise. Some are bartering core competencies in exchange for skills or products; others share technology, storytelling platforms and audience-facing insights. A new “collaboration culture” is emerging and collaboration is becoming the go-to strategy to make things work in the media industries. Join us for this can’t-miss opportunity to hear from the organizations leading the way in the collaborative space.
More information and registration here.
ONA LA: BLANKSPACES: Newsletters 101
Mar. 31, 2016, 7 p.m. ET
BLANKSPACES DTLA, Los Angeles
“Media companies have been rediscovering the power of email in recent months, building out newsletters to amplify their work and create new connections with readers in their inboxes” -Nieman Lab. This conversation will focus on what it takes to create a great newsletter – developing a specific voice, understanding your target audience and iterating on your product to improve it each and every time.
More information and registration here.
APRIL 2016
Wearable Tech + Digital Health SF 2016
Apr. 5, 2016
San Francisco, Calif.
Following the sold-out Wearable Tech + Digital Health NYC 2015 conference, Wearable Tech + Digital Health SF 2016 will bring together health and fitness device innovators, angel, VC and portfolio investors, developers, data experts, smart fabric and sensor creators, cloud/connectivity/security infrastructure providers, health systems, and the communities that support them.
More information and registration here.
Ad Age Digital Conference
Apr. 5-6, 2016
Pier 36, New York, NY
At the 2016 Ad Age Digital Conference, marketers and agencies rethink their work, out loud. What is advertising now — an ad or an experience? How does it get done — and by whom? We hash out pressing industry issues like ad blocking, ad fraud and kickbacks. We set the agenda for the year ahead. No conversation is off the table as big brand, technology and media leaders answer tough questions head on with the Ad Age editorial team framing the conversation.
Register here.
The Delacorte Lectures: Mary Kaye Schilling
Apr. 7, 2016, 6pm ET
Columbia Journalism School, New York, NY
Mary Kaye Schilling, Deputy Editor of Town & Country, speaks as part of the 2016 Delacorte Lecture Series. #CJSDelacorte
More information here.
AHCJ Health Journalism 2016
Apr. 7-10, 2016
Cleveland, Ohio
At AHCJ’s annual conference, attendees are exposed to sources and resources that can provide immediate news or become the foundation for in-depth projects in the weeks and months ahead. Conference attendees have heard from – and interacted with – high-level government officials, top-notch researchers, well-regarded educators, effective clinicians, prize-winning journalists and authors and many more experts on a vast array of health topics.
More information and registration here.
The Delacorte Lectures: Jacob Weisberg
Apr. 14, 2016, 6pm ET
Columbia Journalism School, New York, NY
Jacob Weisberg, Chairman of the Slate Group, speaks as part of the 2016 Delacorte Lecture Series. #CJSDelacorte. Jacob Weisberg is Chairman of The Slate Group, a unit of The Washington Post Company devoted to developing a family of Internet-based publications through start-ups and acquisitions. The Slate group’s roster includes Slate, The Root and the video site Slate V.
More information here.
What is Media?
Apr. 14-17, 2016
White Stag Block, University of Oregon, Portland, OR
The sixth annual “What is . . . ?” conference-experience features a unique coalescing of media scholars, government and community officials, industry professionals, alumni and students, as well as artists, filmmakers, grassroots community organizations and the public. With media representing a wider and wider range of concepts, products, services and institutions, the definition of media continues to be in a state of flux. What is media today? How is media studies defined? How have media technologies transformed media theory and practice? What are the futures of media and how are they evolving? What is Media? coincides with the UO School of Journalism and Communication’s 2016 centennial celebration. John Markoff, senior journalist for the New York Times, will deliver the Centennial Johnston Lecture on Apr. 14.
More information here.
National High School Journalism Convention 2016
Apr. 14-17, 2016
Los Angeles, Calif.
The National High School Journalism Convention is a semiannual gathering of high school journalists and advisers sponsored by the Journalism Education Association and its partner, the National Scholastic Press Association. The associations partner to prepare hundreds of practical and professional learning sessions, from high-profile keynotes to specific, problem-solving breakouts, hands-on workshops and discussion groups. Other convention activities include an exhibit hall with vendors who sell to student media, JEA’s on-site Write-off contests, NSPA’s Best of Show contest, receptions, awards convocations, critiques, career round tables and evening entertainment.
More information and registration here.
International Symposium of Online Journalism
Apr. 15-16, 2016
University of Texas at Austin, TX
Since 1999, editors, producers, executives, and academics from around the country (and lately from around the world) have gathered in Austin every year (except 2000) to discuss the evolution of this new genre of journalism. The Symposium has been a small, but very intense conference that serves as a barometer for the state of Online Journalism.
Call for papers now underway; more information here.
LA Games Conference
Apr. 19, 2016
West Hollywood Hotel, Los Angeles, CA
Join the most influential decision-makers in the digital media industry at Digital Media Wire’s Annual LA Games Conference to network, do deals, and share ideas about the future of games and connected entertainment. Featuring two tracks with fireside chats, roundtables, panels and presentations on digital game investment, creation, distribution, marketing and monetization, the event brings together many of the elite in the industry for top sessions and power networking.
More information and registration here.
LOCALCON 2016
Apr. 20-22, 2016
Chelsea Football Stadium, London, U.K.
From London to Luxembourg, Paris to Prague, Hamburg to The Hague — the European market is a dense and fragmented opportunity for local marketing solutions providers. LOCALCON 2016 offers the best way to navigate and unlock the potential in this market. This event is essential for marketers, media and solutions providers operating in this dynamic space. Panels, presentations and exhibitions will equip attendees with the right connections and actionable takeaways.
More information and registration here.
Muse and the Marketplace
Apr. 29-May 1, 2016
Boston, Mass.
Our three-day literary conference gives aspiring writers a better understanding of the craft of fiction and non-fiction, prepares them for the changing world of publishing and promotion, and creates opportunities for meaningful networking. Established and emerging authors lead 100+ interactive Sessions on the craft of writing – the “muse” side of things – while editors, literary agents and other industry professionals tackle the business side – the “marketplace.”
More information and registration, here.
MAY 2016 AND BEYOND
Society of American Business Editors and Writers Conference
May 19-22, 2016
Washington, D.C.
The 2016 SABEW Spring Conference is chaired by Mark Hamrick, Washington bureau chief, senior economic analyst at Bankrate, Inc. The training and skills sessions are coordinated by Cory Schouten, Business Editor and Writer, Knight-Bagehot Fellow, Columbia University.
More information and registration here.
ASJA Writers Conference
May 20-21, 2016
New York City
The media landscape has shifted dramatically in the past two decades—and successful freelancers know how to navigate these twists and turns to earn a satisfying living. Join us for two days of education, networking, and sharing winning strategies with top writers, editors, agents, content buyers, and more. Speakers and attendees represent such companies as The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, The New Republic, The New York Times Book Review, The Atlantic, Family Circle, BBC Travel, Inc.com, Fortune, Fast Company, The Atavist, Seal Press, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with more being added all the time.
More information and registration here.
EmTech Digital 2016
May 23-24, 2016
San Francisco, Calif.
Digital technologies connect everything around us, making everyday things smarter and augmenting our experiences. EmTech Digital 2016 explores emerging opportunities and surprising implications as artificial intelligence impacts every person, every industry and society as a whole.
More information and registration here.
Conference: Freedom of Information Act — 50 Years Later
Jun. 2-4, 2016
Columbia Journalism School, New York, NY
More information to come here.
Social Media Weekend 2016
Jun. 10-11, 2016
CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, 219 W 40th St., New York, NY
Catch up on the latest social media trends, tools and people with @Sree Sreenivasan and friends at CUNY J-School. The #smwknd will offer two very full days of insights and networking, Q&As with social stars, Sree’s State of Social presentation, free consultations with Social Media Doctors and more. We’ll drill into how the 2016 campaigns are taking advantage of evolving networks, and how you can evaluate and use messaging platforms to reach audiences in the U.S. and worldwide.
Information here.
Ad Age Small Agency Conference 2016
July 19-20, 2016
Miami Beach, Florida
Join us for the only event tailor-made for small- to mid-size agencies. After a fun evening of networking over cocktails on July 19, your peers gather on July 20 for a focused, day-long conversation that tackles the challenges and opportunities of this unique market. Be ready to walk away inspired and with how-to advice you and your team can put to use immediately.
More information here.
The Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference
July 22-24, 2016
Grapevine, Texas
The Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference is a forum for journalists, writers, readers, students, educators and the general public to listen to, be inspired by and practice their craft at the highest possible level. Every year, the Mayborn Conference gathers some of the most talented storytellers in the country to share their stories, life-changing experiences and expertise with aspiring writers through three days of lectures, panels, one-on-one sessions, and student classes. In addition, the conference includes a variety of writing contests for anyone from high school students to Pulitzer prize winning professionals, who receive hand-made trophies, more than $26,000 in cash awards and have their work published in Mayborn’s journal, Ten Spurs, or anthology, Best American Newspaper Narratives.
More information and registration here.
2016 NABJ/NAHJ Annual Convention and Career Fair
Aug. 3-7, 2016
Washington Marriott Wardman Park, Washington, D.C.
The 2016 NABJ and NAHJ Annual Convention and Career Fair is the premier venue for journalism education and career development for the nation’s leaders in media, business, arts and entertainment, and technology! The two largest minority journalist organizations in the United States are joining forces and drawing on our collective strengths to offer unequalled opportunities for face-to-face networking and professional development.
More information and registration here. Register by Mar. 1 for early-bird pricing.
26th Annual AAJA National Convention
August 10-13, 2016
Las Vegas, Nev.
Join us for the largest convergence of Asian Pacific Islander American professionals in the nation at the 26th Annual AAJA National Convention at Caesars Palace Las Vegas, August 10-13, 2016! AAJA is partnering with Asian Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) to bring together journalists, news executives, media researchers, business leaders, community action groups and nonprofits at the 2016 convention, which will feature a Presidential Candidate Town Hall.
More information and registration here.
ONA 16
Sept. 15-17, 2016
Hyatt Regency Denver, 650 15th Street, Denver, CO
Record-breaking numbers of journalists travel to ONA’s conference each year to learn about new tools, techniques and technologies, to discuss advancements and challenges in the industry, take advantage of the rare opportunity to network face-to-face, and share best practices with peers from all over the map.
More information here.
Excellence in Journalism 2016 Convention
Sep. 18-20, 2016
The Radio Television Digital News Association, National Association of Hispanic Journalists and Society of Professional Journalists present their Excellence in Journalism 2016 Convention.
More information to come here.
Society for Environmental Journalists Annual Conference
Sept. 21-25, 2016
Sacramento, Calif.
SEJ’s annual conference is titled “Land of Extremes, Home of Big Dreams.” From the heights of Mount Whitney to the depths of Death Valley, the Golden State is home to the largest population, biggest economy, strictest environmental standards and smoggiest skies in the U.S. Forward thinking and remarkable diversity make California the proving ground for tests and solutions on water supply, urban renewal, energy use, sustainable agriculture, air quality, climate change and more.
More information and registration here.
Uncovering Asia: 2nd Asia Investigative News Journalism Conference
Sep. 23-25, 2016
Kathmandu, Nepal
Uncovering Asia II — The Asian Investigative Journalism Conference — is co-hosted by the Centre for Investigative Journalism, Nepal, the Global Investigative Journalism Network, and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. We will be featuring an all-star line-up of top investigative and data journalists from around the world.
More information here.
Ad:Tech London
Oct. 25-26, 2016
Old Billingsgate, London
Ad:Tech is a conference and exhibition where the marketing, technology and media communities come together to share new ways of thinking, build strong partnerships, and define new strategies to address the key industry challenges and opportunities. Ad:Tech London is where the U.K.’s marketing and media players meet for technology discovery, cutting-edge content and unrivaled networking.
More information and registration here.
Ad:Tech NY
Nov. 2-3, 2016
New York
Ad:Tech is a conference and exhibition where the marketing, technology and media communities come together to share new ways of thinking, build strong partnerships, and define new strategies to address the key industry challenges and opportunities.
More information and registration here.
Ben DeJarnette is the associate editor at MediaShift. He is also a freelance contributor for Pacific Standard, InvestigateWest, Men’s Journal, Runner’s World, Oregon Quarterly and others. He’s on Twitter @BenDJduck.
