2026 Local Media Fest Agenda

9 a.m.-9:05 a.m.: Welcome and Local Media Fest Kickoff | Room 621 Executive Dining Room

Kick off Local Media Fest with a warm welcome, a look at what’s ahead, and a few surprises to set the tone for an energizing week of learning, networking, and big ideas. Welcome remarks from Jay Small and Julia Campbell, co-CEOs, Local Media Association

9:05 a.m.-9:50 a.m.: Opening Keynote Session: Why Local News is Essential | Room 621 Executive Dining Room

For eight years, Dean Baquet held the top editorial position at the New York Times. He now leads the Times’ local news fellowship program, which creates partnerships and provides reporters in local newsrooms. Baquet is a passionate supporter of local news, and in this keynote shares his vision for why local news is essential to our communities. Presenter: Dean Baquet, former executive editor, The New York Times

9:50 a.m.-10:30 a.m.: Executive Leadership Session: The Local News Playbook: Data Driven Keys to Sustainability| Room 621 Executive Dining Room

FT strategies collected data from more than 400 news publishers globally and analyzed that data to identify the key practices and strategies that drive local news sustainability. The newly released Local News Playbook takes these findings and turns them into an actionable roadmap – a must for any local news leader looking to sustain and grow their business. Presenter: FT Strategies

12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.: Lunch — Plus Our Innovators of the Year | 621 Executive Dining Room

Join us for lunch, where we will recognize our Innovators of the Year and hear from our lunch sponsor.

Revenue Track: The Future of Local Advertising

Local advertising has been transformed by the evolution of the internet, market consolidation, shifting consumer behavior and growing complexity for local businesses trying to market effectively. This session will explore whether local media can build stronger future revenue through new advertising and marketing-services models, smarter use of AI and shared services, and a renewed role in helping local businesses and communities thrive together. Moderator: Jay Small, co-CEO, Local Media Association

Audience Track: Hosted by RTDNA

Audience focused session led by the fabulous team at RTDNA! Moderator: RTDNA

Tech Track: Hands-on Tool Training with Google News Initiative

Learn about the best tools from GNI. Host: Google News Initiative, assisted by April Pilolli and Pinay Jones from the Knight x LMA BloomLab

2:45 p.m.-3:30 p.m.: Breakout Sessions

Revenue Track: Local News Fund Success Stories

Finding new ways to fund the journalism that matters most to your community has never been more important. Hear directly from leaders behind some of the most successful Local News Fund philanthropic support programs in the country, as they share how they built fundraising efforts rooted in community-driven giving and foundation support. This session is packed with real insights for any media organization looking to strengthen its commitment to local news and make a lasting impact in the communities it serves. Moderated by John Celestand, head of funding, KnightxLMA BloomLab

Audience Track: Hosted by RTDNA

Audience focused session led by the fabulous team at RTDNA! Moderated by RTDNA

Tech Track: Hands-on Tool Training with Google News Initiative

Learn about the best tools from GNI. Host: Google News Initiative assisted by April Pilolli and Pinay Jones from the Knight x LMA BloomLab

Research shows audiences are increasingly turning to Creators as relatable, trusted information sources. In this session, hear how traditional news outlets are reaching younger audiences and expanding their platform reach through partnerships with these creators, including how to find and vet trusted partners, how to structure these partnership agreements, and how creators and news organizations can mutually benefit from these collaborations. Presenter: Jennifer Chang, senior director of innovation & experimentation, The Houston Chronicle. Moderator: Frank Mungeam, chief innovation officer, Local Media Association

Revenue Track: Audience First, Revenue Follows: The New Playbook for Media Sales

The best close isn’t a great rate card. It’s the moment a prospect leans back and says, “I had no idea you reached that many people.” Local media has built something remarkable: a loyal, engaged audience that no algorithm can replicate. The outlets winning right now are the ones who figured out how to lead with that story and let their reach open doors that a product pitch never could. This panel is about what happens when you put audience first. Panelists will share real stories about the conversations that changed, the deals that followed, and why prospects who once overlooked local media became some of their best clients. Moderator: Robert Walker-Smith, head of revenue, Knight x LMA BloomLab

Audience Track: Audience experiments from FIMS Lab

Audience experiments from the Family and Independent Media Sustainability Lab! Presenter: Chase Heatherly, chief revenue officer, The Post and Courier, Charleston, S.C. Moderator: John Humenik, chief strategy and operations officer, Local Media Association

Tech Track: Hands-on Tool Training with Google News Initiative

Learn about the best tools from GNI. Host: Google News Initiative, assisted by April Pilolli and Pinay Jones from the Knight x LMA BloomLab

11:45 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.: Lunch on your own

1:00 p.m.- 1:40 p.m.: General Session: What AI Means for Local News

AI isn’t just a tool to increase efficiency of newsrooms. AI will profoundly change the ways people find and share information, and news leaders must prepare now for these transformative disruptions to tier business, according to Newsroom Robots founder Nikita Roy. In this presentation, Roy describes three massive disruptions to the traditional model of news, and how leaders can meet this moment and leverage the opportunities created by AI. Presenter: Nikita Roy, founder, Newsroom Robots

1:45 p.m.- 2:30 p.m. AI for Audience: AI Moonshot Experiments

Learn more about Moonshot AI Experiments! Presenters: Neal Boling, KHQ, Inc., Shane Benjamin, The Durango Herald, and Ra-Jah Kelly, The Washington Informer. Moderator: John Humenik, chief strategy and operations officer, Local Media Association

AI for Revenue: From Efficiency to Dominance: Advanced AI Tactics for Modern Sales

Many media sales professionals are already using AI — but they’re using it the same way everyone else is. This session goes beyond surface-level prompts and basic automation to show how top-performing reps and teams are leveraging AI as a strategic sales advantage, not a productivity hack. You’ll learn how to use AI to see deals earlier than competitors, personalize outreach at scale, run better discovery, anticipate objections, and shape deals before buyers do. Moderator: Shannon Kinney, founder, Dream Local Digital

AI for Product: Are You AI-Exposed? Protecting Your News Organization’s Data 

Artificial intelligence creates many opportunities for news innovation. But AI also exposes news organizations to many new risks. In this essential session, Jon Accarrino, founder of ORDO Digital, walks news leaders through the key privacy and security risks news organizations face both from using AI and from having their content used by AI, including a security and tools checklist, and the key steps leaders must take to keep their data and their brand secure. Presenter: Jon Accarrino, founder and CEO, Ordo Digital

3:30 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.: Super Sales Workshop Session

Join hosts Shannon Kinney and Peter Lamb for one of the most energizing sessions of the day. Seven local media sales leaders will each share an innovative sales idea that’s actually working right now in the field. Bold strategies, fresh approaches, and real-world tactics you can bring back to your team. If you’re looking to shake up your playbook or just need that one spark to ignite your next big idea, this is the session you won’t want to miss. Presenters: Shannon Kinney, founder, Dream Local Digital; Peter Lamb, president, Lamb Consulting.