Guy Tasaka, a digital executive and technology leader well known in the local media industry, starts this week as managing director of the new LMA Technology Resource Center, funded by Google News Initiative.

Tasaka

The LMA Technology Resource Center will assist media organizations of all types and sizes with strategies and consulting aimed at improving selection, implementation, optimization and long-term success of enabling technologies.

For Tasaka, the new role is a next step in an innovative career that includes serving as senior director, product management at WideOrbit; general manager, mobile at GateHouse Media; vice president and chief digital officer at Calkins Media; and serving as an industry consultant and co-founder of a technology-focused startup.

“I’m very excited for this opportunity and to be part of LMA. This is a time of media disruption and along with disruption comes opportunity,” Tasaka said. “While most people think of me as the ‘digital guy,’ I’ve spent half my career in the core newspaper, television, audio and magazine business. I’ve worked in research, strategic planning, marketing, circulation/audience and advertising. I hope that I can bring my diverse experiences to help assist media companies as they address their technology pain points, but also help with their larger strategic business needs.”

“We have been helping local media companies with technology issues for a long time,” said Nancy Lane, CEO of LMA. “We have fixed broken links on websites, set up payment portals, vetted new technology providers and much more. The addition of Guy Tasaka, a former LMA Innovator of the Year, will enable us to do so much more. Technology is critical to the long-term sustainability of local media and often becomes a roadblock. Guy is the perfect choice to lead this new initiative at this critical time. We are thrilled that GNI is funding this.”

Under Tasaka’s leadership, the Center will help industry constituents in several ways, including:

  • Routine discussions with technology and business leaders at local media organizations of all sizes and types, at corporate and property levels, to develop understanding of technology needs and challenges and find common ground where possible.
  • Developing and sharing a deep understanding of leading platforms, service providers and enabling technologies for local media, including content, distribution, advertising, consumer revenue, customer relationship management and general business platforms.
  • Working with media companies individually (at group and local property levels), serving as a resource when technology concerns or troubleshooting needs arise.
  • Building and consulting with cohorts of local media organizations, and helping to improve their strategic processes for selecting, implementing and operating key technologies.
  • Producing industry reports on technology best practices and new ideas, as well as conference programming on technology strategies for LMA events.

About Local Media Association / Local Media Foundation

Local Media Association brings all media together to share, network, collaborate and more. More than 3,000 newspapers, TV stations, radio stations, digital-only publications, and research and development partners engage with LMA as members or constituents of our programs. As a 501(c)(6) trade association, LMA is focused on the business side of local media. Its programs and labs focus on revenue growth and new business models. LMA helps local media companies develop their strategies via cutting-edge programs, conferences, webinars, research and training.

Local Media Foundation serves as the innovation and transformation affiliate of LMA. Incorporating our four strategic pillars — business transformation, journalism funded by philanthropy, industry collaboration, and sustainability for publishers of color — LMF helps provide local media companies the strategies and resources for meaningful innovation and impactful journalism projects.