CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
- Be inspired by pioneering specialist media owners
- Learn tips and tricks from publishers, event organisers and media gurus and get your questions answered
- Build relationships with directors of other media businesses through interactive round table discussions
24 April 2013, British Library, London
Conference Theme: The New Specialist Publishing model
- New subscriptions: innovative ways to price and promote print, web and mobile subs
- New advertising: how to create valuable multi-channel campaigns for ad clients
- New communities: creating value by bringing together audiences online and at live events
- New platforms: how to reach a global digital audience and what are the new rules
2013 Conference programme
Registration & coffee in the Foyer from 0830, conference starts 0900
Main Conference takes place in the Auditorium
Workshops and Round Tables in the Eliot Room
Tea and Coffee, lunch, networking and 1-1 consultations in the Foyer
Auditorium:
0900 Welcome from Conference Director, Carolyn Morgan
Keynote speaker - Colin Morrison - Innovation in specialist publishing - how the business model for specialist publishers is changing, with examples of how niche publishers are tackling subscriptions, ecommerce, events, advertising in innovative and surprising ways, and the importance of looking outside traditional publishing businesses.
0930-1045 Panel session
New subscriptions: innovative ways to price and promote print, web and mobile subs
Chair: Carola York, now MD of Jellyfish Publishing, formerly head of subscriptions at Emap, Economist, TSL and Spectator
Speakers:
Minal Bopaiah, Editor of Subs Site Insider, with a range of case studies from US publishers who are successfully growing online subscriptions plus practical tips for UK subs marketers.
Louise White, Director of Media Briefing and formerly Group Marketing Director at Incisive, on how Farmers Guardian is growing subscription revenue by bundling print, digital and events.
Sarah Aldridge, Head of Subs Marketing at Dennis, on how they have grown tablet and print subscriptions for Evo, Men's Fitness and PC Pro, with tips on bundling and promotions.
Open panel Q&A
Read more about the content of this session
1045-1115 Coffee & Networking break in Foyer
Eliot Room: 1045-1115 How is the rise of mobile email consumption affecting content distribution trends - with Adestra
The mobile channel has produced a culture of information on-demand. Subscribers can now read emails anywhere, anytime, so how can you maximise this new opportunity? What can you do to improve interaction with your different types of emails, be that newsletters or subscription renewals? In this session will go through how the rise in mobile has affected the way your subscribers interact with your content and what you can do to adapt.
Auditorium:
1115-1230 Panel session
New advertising: how to create valuable multi-channel campaigns for ad clients
Chair: Raoul Monks, MD of Flume Training
Speakers:
Stuart Dinsey, Founder & MD of Intent Media, on building an independent b2b publisher and growing revenues across print, digital and events.
Duncan Tickell Commercial Director of Immediate Media on how to build ad campaigns across print web and tablet that create new revenues for publishers and measurable results for clients
Marcus Wilkinson Publishing Director of IDG on innovative campaigns for major b2b clients across web, video, online events and social media, and how to build a menu of solutions for advertisers.
Open panel Q&A
Read more about the content of this session
Eliot Room: 1200-1230 Workshop on Monetizing video - the holy grail - with IS Media
1230-1400 Lunch break and opportunities for 1-1 discussions and networking in Foyer
Eliot Room: 1315-1345: Round table small group discussions with speakers and experts
Auditorium: 1245-1315: Presentation by PageSuite on the latest mobile options and how niche consumer and b2b publishers are taking advantage of them
Auditorium:
1400-1515 Panel session
New communities: creating value by bringing together audiences online and at live events
Speakers:
Rob Chambers MD of Total Telecom, on using social media and online communities to build international b2b events
Owen Davies, CEO of My Time Media, on building an ecommerce business around enthusiast communities in print and online
Ben Wood, Head of Events marketing at Incisive Media on the latest techniques in marketing live events
Miles Bossom, MD of Comms Business, on building engagement with event visitors
Matt Cooke, Google+ on how publishers are using Google+ and Hangouts to build communities
Open panel Q&A
Read more about the content of this session
Eliot Room: 1415-1445 Round table discussions with speakers and experts
1515-1600 Tea & Networking break in Foyer
Eliot Room: Round table small group discussions with speakers and experts
1615-1645: Workshop with Flume Training: How to avoid the top five mistakes sales teams make today
Read more about round table discussions
Auditorium:
1600-1715 Panel session
New platforms: how to reach a global digital audience and what are the new rules
Chair: Rebekah Billingsley, former Publishing Director at Immediate Media and now Founder, Big Cat Consulting
Speakers:
Lindsey Mooney, UK vendor manager, Kobo, on what book publishers have learnt about publishing digital content internationally and what it means for magazine publishers
Luca Forlin, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Google, on how specialist publishers are successfully using Google Currents, Play Magazines and Plus
Richard Walker, Director of Consumer Revenues at Future, on how Future are using a range of digital platforms to take their niche titles to new international markets
Read more about this panel session
1715 Media Pioneer Awards 2013 - announcement of winners
More about the Media Pioneer Awards and 2013 shortlist
Conference finishes 1745, followed by networking drinks in the Foyer
More updates to speakers and programme coming soon. Be aware that timings may change.
Delegates can listen to candid case studies, take part in open panel Q&A sessions, or discuss hot topics with experts in informal round tables.
Plus you can book 1-1 advice sessions and take part in informative workshops during the day
And network with an inspiring group of innovative specialist publishers and media people.
Read about round tables, practical workshops and expert 1-1s
2012 Picture gallery
Conference Programme 2012
24 May 2012: ThinkTank Birmingham
The 2012 Specialist Media Conference, held at Think Tank Birmingham on 24 May, was the place to learn about innovation in niche consumer and b2b media markets, across print, live events and digital media, and make new business contacts with pioneering media businesses.
The theme of the day was "Think Niche, Act Global" and innovative publishers from across the UK shared their experiences of taking their specialist content to new audiences using creativity and new technology.
Missed the 2012 Conference? Get the Conference Pack with highlights, research and speaker presentations.
Morning session: 9.30-12.30
Specialist Media Insights
- Carolyn Morgan, MD Specialist Media Show will present highlights of new Specialist Media Insights research on how publishers are adopting digital media, what challenges and opportunities they see, and how their revenue mix is shifting
Consumer Media Panel
- Rebekah Billingsley, Publishing Director, Immediate Media, with the latest insights from their recent tablet launches in niche markets
- Richard Walker, Director of Consumer Revenue, Future Publishing, on what they have learnt about building databases and developing ecommerce in niche markets
- Sam Spurdens, Director, LOOP Digital Media, on his journey through building an app from scratch and expanding internationally, and what he has learnt about video production and attracting global ad budgets
- Tony Harris, CEO of Boat International, on how he has built a global events business and licensed print edtitions worldwide, plus the importance of building key relationships
- Panel Q&A chaired by Tim Brooks, former MD of Guardian, director at Emap, IPC
B2B Media Panel
- Marcus Wilkinson, Publishing Director IDG, on creating marketing solutions for advertisers across web, print, social media for a portfolio of free b2b titles
- Ben Heald, CEO of Sift Media: on his experiences of pay gateways and commercialising b2b communities
- Peter Houston, Content Director at Advanstar: on the challenges for editorial teams creating content across digital media, events, social media and elearning
- Alex Martinez, MD of award winning b2b publisher Sigaria, on developing premium membership propositions
- Jeska Harrington Gould, MD of Research, panellist
- Panel Q&A chaired by Joe Hames, Business Media Group, PPA
Networking lunch and opportunity to visit exhibition and workshops
Afternoon session: 2.00-5.00
Specialist Media Insights: Benchmarks for your own business with an in-depth look at this new research polling 170+ publishers on their current and planned activity across mobile, web, events, ecommerce, social media. Interactive session run by Carolyn Morgan (Conference Theatre)
Round table discussions: informal small group sessions with speakers and experts (VIP Delegate area)
- Tablet publishing for specialist magazines: Mike Goldsmith, Editorial Director, Future
- Creating multichannel content: Peter Houston, Content Director, Advanstar
- Creative ad marketing solutions: Marcus Wilkinson, Publishing Director IDG
- Switching to site licences: Jeska Harrington Gould, MD Research
- Managing Ad teams in multi-channel world: Jordan Adams, MD Love Media Sales
- Social Media in B2B: case studies in promoting events: Ricky Warren
- Email marketing secrets: latest ideas and innovations from Adestra
- Data journalism and infographics: new editorial skills, Caroline Beavon, Birmingham City University
- Adding value by curating content: Patrick Smith, The Media Briefing
- Driving traffic to your content: social media tips for publishers: Paul Bradshaw, Online Journalism blog
- Balancing free and paid content: Ben Heald of Sift
- Developing International Content: Eric Ingrand, EnVeritas group
- Multi-Platform Certificates: showcase your brand: Andy Flint, ABC
Partnering with Apple, Google and Amazon (Conference Theatre)
How publishers can work with the new gatekeepers. Practical tips and case studies.
Panel discussion chaired by Tim Brooks
- Madhav Chinappa, Head of Partnerships, Google News & Magazines
- Mike Goldsmith: Ed Director, Mobile, Future
- Ben Greenish: MD Spectator
- Richard West, Marketing Director MagPlus (Bonnier) and former Apple Exec
Media Pioneer Awards presentation sponsored by Audience Media
5pm Networking drinks sponsored by Circdata
Delegates will be able to question speakers and experts in panel sessions and small group round table discussions.
“As an independent publisher and event organiser, I find the Specialist Media Show offers unrivalled learning and networking opportunities. I especially appreciate the opportunity to get under the skin of important business issues through the roundtable discussions” Oliver Romain, MD AEP Media.
MDs, Publishers and Directors from these companies have already booked: Future, Immediate Media, IPC, NatMags, Citywire, Practical Publishing, Optimus Education, Accession, NatMags, David Hall Publishing, Rocco Media, Peach Factory, Western Business Publishing, Wanderlust, Boat International, Research, Telegraph, DODS, RCN Publishing, Akabo Media, Metal Pages, Wild Bunch Media, GreenStar Media, Loop, Sift, Advanstar, IDG, Spectator....
Presentation of Media Pioneer Awards will take place at the end of the conference, followed by networking drinks reception, sponsored by Circdata.
2011 Conference programme
What’s working for other publishers?
How to win in print, digital and events?
2011 Conference delegates heard from pioneering specialist publishers and media owners and questioned them in panel sessions and round tables.
Senior publishers and directors attended from :
IPC * Bauer * Dennis * Econsultancy * Telegraph * Bourne Publishing * Kelsey * My Hobbystore * Accession * Crains * BIP Solutions * Local Living * Veterinary Business Development * PPA * Rocco Media * FIPP * Advanstar * Think * Athene publishing * Stylist * Singletrack mag * Intent Media * The Media Briefing * Treasury Management International * Fish and Fly * Sift * Magicalia * Spectator * Time Out * B2B marketing * Subhub * VIVO media * Total Pet Publishing * VRL Financial * Research Research * Rocco Media * Stable Media * Gofar Enterprises * Fall Line * Metal Pages * Media Mergers * Crimson Business * MMC Publications * Miles Publishing * Merlinis * Songlines
for a day of inspiration, best practice and networking.
Read the 2011 conference highlights
Browse the 2011 conference gallery
Join the Specialist Media Network for free downloads of conference presentations and to be the first to hear about the 2013 Conference Programme and special early bird ticket offers.
Contact us if you are interested in speaking at future conferences.
What delegates said:
Both Mike and I found the day well spent, returning both inspired and having made some good contacts. The inspiration alone was worth the time away from the office through what is enough of a demanding time for everyone in publishing. Alison Queenborough, Publishing Director BPG
A must for anyone working in specialist media who wants to understand the options and opportunities available for a passionate audience. Chris Templeman, Ad Director, IPC Media
The show artfully managed a strong mix of exhibition, presentations, roundtables and workshops covering everything from postage to profiting from digital media. If you missed it, keep an eye out for next year’s event. I promise, it will be well worth the journey. Congratulations to organiser Carolyn Morgan and the team for a superb event. Peter Houston, Editorial Director Advanstar
There was plenty of thought-provoking content to make the day worthwhile. It's on my radar for next year. Philip Gibbs, Publishing Director, Ocean Media