All meetings and programming will take place at the Gleacher Center.
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Collaboration Day, sponsored by CitySpark
(Private meeting) 9 a.m.-5 p.m.: News is Out: Led by Penny Riordan, director, business strategy and partnerships, LMA.
(Private meeting) 1 p.m.-5 p.m.: Knight x LMA BloomLab cohorts 2-3 combined: Led by BloomLab program directors John Celestand, Apryl Pilolli and Robert Walker Smith.
(Private meeting) 1 p.m.-5 p.m.: Family and Independent Media Sustainability Lab: Led by Jay Small and Julia Campbell, program co-directors.
(Private meeting) 1 p.m.-5 p.m.: Word In Black: Led by the Word In Black board, publishers and Nancy Lane, co-CEO, LMA
1 p.m.-5 p.m.: LMA Lab for Journalism Funding: Led by Frank Mungeam, chief innovation officer, LMA. All graduates of the lab, as well as the current cohort, are invited to attend this workshop that will feature case studies, Q&A with funders and much more.
6 p.m.: Invitation-only Collaborative Dinner sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal
Tuesday, Sept. 24
Beverages sponsored by Newspack
8 a.m.-8:30 a.m.: Collaborative member breakfast
8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Collaborative meetings continue
- Word in Black
- News is Out
- Knight x LMA BloomLab
- FIMS Lab
- Lab for Journalism Funding
- Comcast Fellows
10 a.m.-5 p.m.: One-on-one meetings with R&D partners
When completing your LMA Fest registration, check “Yes” to participate in the one-on-one R&D meetings! You will then select which of the industry’s premier R&D partners you’d like to meet to learn about the newest products and services (with a focus on revenue growth). Learn more about all the sponsors holding meetings here.
Click here to select companies you’d like to meet with at LMA Fest.
LMA Fest programming begins at 11 a.m. with an opening workshop
Thank you to our track sponsors for the day:
- Senior Leadership Track, sponsored by United Robots
- Digital Sales Track, sponsored by BlueLena
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Branded Content Workshop | 621 Executive Dining Room
If you don’t have a storytelling sales strategy, it’s time to build one! Local media companies are finding six-figure sales success by focusing on combining the power of storytelling and sponsorship while engaging unique audiences. Discover actionable revenue growth steps and hear success stories combining sponsorship, custom storytelling and distribution, which we playfully call The Peanut Butter and Jelly Plan.
Presenters: Peter Lamb, president, Lamb Consulting; Liz Hayes, director of strategy, The Branded Content Project; Julia Campbell, chief business transformation officer, LMA / general manager, The Branded Content Project
12:45 p.m.-2 p.m.: Lunch, Welcome and LMA Fest Kickoff, sponsored by TollBit | 621 Executive Dining Room
Join us for lunch and remarks from LMA and LMF leadership as we start the LMA Fest program.
Welcome remarks presented by Nancy Lane, co-CEO, Local Media Association; Jay Small, co-CEO, Local Media Association; Tom Shaw, board chair, Local Media Association Board of Directors; chief product officer, Shaw Media; and Larry Lee, board chair, Local Media Foundation Board of Directors; publisher/owner, The Sacramento Observer
2 p.m.-3 p.m.: Keynote Sessions
Senior Leadership Track: Press Forward Presses Forward — What’s Next for This Major Funding Effort | Room 100
With much anticipation, Press Forward was announced in the fall of 2023 with a $500+ million commitment to local news sustainability. Much has happened since then, including the hire of a dedicated director and the establishment of regional chapters. In this session, we’ll hear updates and plans from the leaders of Press Forward and major foundations supporting it, with plenty of time for Q&A.
Panelists: Jim Brady, vice president, journalism, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; Dale Anglin, director, Press Forward; Silvia Rivera, director,
local news, MacArthur Foundation. Moderator: Nancy Lane, co-CEO, LMA.
Digital Sales Track: Borrell’s Corey Elliott on the State of Local Media Advertising | 621 Executive Dining Room
Ready to revolutionize your local media advertising game? Corey Elliott of Borrell Associates will fill us in on the current state of local media advertising, what small and medium business leaders are thinking, and the pivotal role of local content in advertising success. Discover how to apply the latest trends and data to boost your advertising impact and grow your business.
Presenter: Corey Elliott, executive vice president, Borrell Associates.
3:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m.: General Session
Optimizing Reader Engagement and Revenue with Google Tools | 621 Executive Dining Room
Learn from Google how to use products like Revenue Manager to optimize digital revenue and leverage first-party audience data.
Presenter: Anntao Diaz, Head of Google News Programs & Tools, Google.
4:15 p.m.-4:30 p.m.: Break with R&D partners, sponsored by Audience
4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.: Breakout Sessions
Senior Leadership Track: State of Local Media 2024 — CEO Roundtable | Room 100
Join top media CEOs for an insightful roundtable discussion on the current state of local media. The executives will share their perspectives on current challenges and opportunities. Gain firsthand insights into the strategies and innovations shaping the future of local media in our communities.
Panelists: Judi Terzotis, president and publisher, The Advocate; Ken Doctor, chief executive officer, Lookout Local; Catherine Badalamente, president and chief executive officer, Graham Media Group; Hiram Jackson, CEO of Real Times Media and publisher, Michigan Chronicle. Moderator: Nancy Lane, co-CEO, LMA.
Digital Sales Track: Cash In on Creativity — Boosting Media Revenue with Event Ideas | 621 Executive Dining Room
Discover new event ideas that will grow revenue. This session will provide successful examples and practical strategies for using creative events to attract community involvement and secure valuable sponsorship opportunities.
Panelists: April Brumley Hinkle, chief revenue officer, Texas Tribune and LMA Innovator of the Year; Zack Kucharski, executive editor, The Gazette; Tracy Brown, chief content officer, Chicago Public Media. Moderator: Penny Riordan, director, business strategy and partnerships, LMA.
5:45 p.m.-6:45 p.m.: Welcome Happy Hour at Lizzie McNeil’s Irish Pub (400 N. McClurg Ct., Chicago, IL 60611), sponsored by Taboola
When you walk out of the Gleacher Center, take a right towards the river and go down the stairs. Take a left at the river and walk along the riverwalk. Once you go under the bridge, the restaurant is up on your left.
Wednesday, Sept. 25
8 a.m.: Breakfast with R&D partners, sponsored by Column
8:30 a.m.-9:15 a.m.: Breakout Sessions
Senior Leadership Track: Philanthropic Success Stories | Room 100
Join us for an inspiring panel discussion where local media leaders share philanthropic funding success stories. Learn how philanthropic support is driving innovation and sustaining high-quality journalism for media organizations.
Panelists: Elinor Tatum, publisher/editor in chief, New York Amsterdam News; Ashley Talley, enterprise executive producer, WRAL; P. J. Browning, president newspaper division, Evening Post Publishing. Moderator: Frank Mungeam, chief innovation officer, LMA.
Digital Sales Track: Turning Data into Dollars: Real-World First-Party Data Monetization | Room 306
Learn how to transform your audience data into revenue with practical insights and real-world case studies. This session will equip revenue leaders with actionable strategies to monetize first-party data, unlocking new revenue streams.
Panelists: Stephanie Slagle, vice president, chief innovation officer, Graham Media Group; Tanisha Leonard, president, Pitch Black; Tom Shaw, chief product officer, Shaw Media. Moderator: Penny Riordan, director, business strategy and partnerships, LMA.
9:30 a.m.-10:15 a.m.: Breakout Sessions
Senior Leadership Track: Local News Policy Unpacked — A Discussion with Steve Waldman | Room 100
Join us for an insightful discussion with Steve Waldman, CEO and founder of Rebuild Local News. This session will delve into the latest policies and legislative efforts that have impact on local news, offering in-depth analysis and expert perspectives. Gain valuable insights into how these efforts may affect the future of local journalism.
Presenter: Steve Waldman, chief executive officer and founder, Rebuild Local News. Moderator: Janis Ware, publisher, The Atlanta Voice
Digital Sales Track: Sponsorship Sprint — Four Winning Sales Ideas in 40 Minutes | Room 306
In this fast-paced session, discover powerful, actionable strategies to boost your sponsorship sales. Panelists will share four innovative sales ideas designed to attract and secure top-tier sponsors. Get ready to energize your sales approach and achieve remarkable results!
Panelists: Amber Nettles, associate publisher, Chicago Reader; Bethany Lane, revenue strategist, QCity Metro; and Kelly Hulin, advertising sales director, The Seattle Times; Allison Taylor Levine, founder & CEO, Local Journalism Initiative & Spotlight Delaware. Moderator: Julia Campbell, chief business transformation officer, LMA.
10:15 a.m.-10:30 a.m.: Refreshment break with R&D partners
10:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m.: Breakout Sessions
Senior Leadership Track: AI in Action — Innovative Ideas for Media Companies | Room 100
Discover how artificial intelligence can revolutionize your sales, news, and operational strategies with innovative ideas and practical solutions. This session will showcase cutting-edge AI tools and strategies that can streamline workflows, enhance customer interactions, and drive unprecedented audience growth. Hear from industry leaders and AI experts about practical applications and success stories that will give your local teams a competitive edge.
Panelists: Lynn Walsh, assistant director, Trusting News; Mike Reilley, UIC senior lecturer and founder, JournalistsToolbox.ai; Dorrine Mendoza, AI product and partnerships lead, American Journalism Project. Moderator: Apryl Pilolli, director, Knight x LMA BloomLab.
Digital Sales Track: Fostering Long-Term Partnerships and Sparking New Business | Room 306
Explore how to cultivate enduring client relationships and ignite new business in this dynamic session. Industry experts will share innovative strategies and practical insights for fostering long-term partnerships. Learn techniques to strengthen client connections and open doors to fresh opportunities for growth and success.
Panelists: Larry Lee, publisher/owner, The Sacramento Observer; Sonny Messiah Jiles, CEO, Defender Media Group; Tom Sly, VP, digital revenue, The E.W. Scripps Co. Moderator: Robert Walker-Smith, digital revenue director, Knight X LMA BloomLab.
11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: Networking Lunch | PIMCO Midway Bar & Veranda, 5th Floor
Pick a table, make new friends and there will be a thought provoking question on each table to discuss as a group.
12:30 p.m.-1:10 p.m.: Breakout Sessions
Senior Leadership Track: Business Transformation Strategies for the Future | Room 100
In this session, hear from leaders on the front lines who are transforming and growing revenue. Our panelists will share strategies, progress to date and expected outcomes.
Panelists: Jeff Moriarty, EVP/chief product officer, Nexstar Digital; Amber Aldrich, senior director of advertising, Seattle Times Media Solutions. Moderator: Kevin Lloyd, co-founder, ColumbusBlack.com.
Digital Sales Track: Supercharge Your Sales Team I — Winning Strategies for Recruitment and Onboarding | Room 306
Boost your sales management game in our afternoon Supercharge sessions. This first session will provide innovative recruitment and retention strategies from sales management experts — because you can’t close and fulfill sales without attracting and keeping a high-quality team on board.
Panelists: Peter Lamb, president, Lamb Consulting; Dennis Sheely, director of advertising operations, Sonoma Media Investments; Todd Handy, advisor, Audience. Moderator: Julia Campbell, chief business transformation officer, LMA.
1:20 p.m.-2 p.m.: Breakout Sessions
Senior Leadership Track: Best Strategies to Grow Revenue in 2025 and Beyond | Room 100
An open-mic ‘lightning round’ where attendees share their best revenue-generating ideas with each other.
Moderators: Tracy Brown, chief content officer, Chicago Public Media; Eric Barnes, CEO, The Daily Memphian
Digital Sales Track: Supercharge Your Sales Team II — Winning Strategies for Creative Compensation Plans and Retention | Room 306
In the second Supercharge session, we’ll explore creative compensation and incentive plans to keep your sales team excited and motivated. Learn from sales experts as they share innovative ideas and proven techniques to design reward systems that drive success and elevate team performance.
Panelists: Peter Lamb, president, Lamb Consulting; Dennis Sheely, director of advertising operations, Sonoma Media Investments; Todd Handy, advisor, Audience. Moderator: Julia Campbell, chief business transformation officer, LMA.
2 p.m.: LMA Fest Concludes
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