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SIPA: What’s the best reason to attend the June 5-7 SIPA Conference?
MEG: The topnotch SIPA 2013 track chairs, all proven veterans in their company roles, have given the Conference a variety and timeliness of topics that is really impressive. The amount of information that will be covered in the 30+ breakout sessions is off the charts. There will be something for everyone.
You’ve lined up keynote speakers from The Christian Science Monitor. Tells us what’s in store there.
Jonathan Wells and John Yemma of CSM will join us to talk about how they’ve been able to reposition their well-established company for the digital age by making their newsroom digital first. They have also created premium B2B products in parallel. I saw their presentation in January, and it will really resonate with the SIPA membership.
What else excites you about the Conference?
The program and networking aspects are being directly enriched as the result of our merger with SIIA. This is the 37th Annual SIPA Conference, but the first to be held following our merger. In accordance, we’re marketing SIPA 2013 to the core SIIA membership in addition to SIPA, which will broaden the array of people who attend, enriching the Conference experience for everyone. On the programming front, Kathy Greenler Sexton, vice president of SIIA’s Content Division is serving as a track chair, and our SIIA government relations colleagues will also host a legal and regulatory breakout. They’re on Capitol Hill every week.
The White House keynote you have is most appropriate, given we’ll be about two blocks away.
Definitely, Josh Bolten served in the White House for over 10 years, most recently as Chief of Staff to George W. Bush. He’ll be joined by a Democratic counterpart in a “fireside chat” about the current economic climate, fiscal cliff and sequestration, and what we can expect during Obama’s second term. It is sure to be candid and informative.
What do you feel is your biggest responsibility as chair?
It’s definitely to the members, which means making sure the Conference addresses the most pressing business issues we face every day. I want to bring together the best possible array of speakers and variety of topics over the three days to ensure we do that. I also want to make it fun and beneficial from a networking perspective. And I think with events like BrainSlam, the Thursday SIPAwards Reception—send in your entries!—and a Fun Run both mornings with SIIA President Ken Wasch, it will be.
There’s also a SIPC element involved, I believe.
Yes, we’ve integrated 6 breakout sessions into the program that are part of SIPA’s new Specialized Information Publishing Certificate (SIPC). Conference attendees who have signed up for SIPC will be able to earn 6 credits by attending specific sessions throughout the conference. Members who wish to enroll in the SIPC can learn more on the event website.
And if I don’t run…
You can attend the Marketing or Editorial sub-group on Wednesday morning, and the Chapter or International sub-group on Thursday morning. The BrainSlam was brought back for Thursday afternoon after making a smashing debut last year. Conferences are always trying to figure out that post-lunch period. The BrainSlam requires participation and a groupthink mentality that makes it unique, participatory and informative. Don’t forget, we need you to submit Brainstorm business challenges for consideration. Have a tough business problem? BrainSlam is the place to solve it.
Do you recall your first SIPA Conference?
It was 2003 and I had just been named president of Pike & Fischer, then a subsidiary of BNA. As a business leader I needed to ramp up on both traditional and digital publishing and wanted to expand my peer network. SIPA immediately filled both needs. I suddenly had a much broader network of veteran professionals from whom I could learn from. They became, in essence, an extension of my own team.
Any words of wisdom for first-time attendees of a SIPA Conference?
Welcome! New people will find the sharing to be incredibly refreshing and are sure to come away with valuable and actionable insight. Think of SIPA 2013 like a professional family reunion, where old friends and colleagues look forward to seeing each other, and new “relatives” are warmly welcomed. We’ve also scheduled a special New Member, “Dutch Treat” dinner on Wednesday night to give new members a chance to meet other new members and maximize their Conference experience.
Anything else in closing? Will you get any sleep the next two months?
I hope so! I just want to add that nothing can replicate the value of a live, in-person event. Webinars and audio conferences are wonderful but they’re still virtual. The depth of value that you will get by being in the room with your peers at SIPA 2013 cannot be experienced elsewhere.
See you on Wednesday, June 5!
Wednesday, that’s what I forgot to mention. We’ve shifted to a Wednesday-to-Friday format! How great is that? Bring your spouse and/or family and extend through the weekend during one of the most beautiful times of the year in Washington. So come one, come all!
Meg Hargreaves is the senior vice president & publisher, Federal Legislative Services, for CQ Roll Call, An Economist Group Business, in Washington, D.C.
Ronn Levine began his career as a reporter for The Washington Post and has won numerous writing and publications awards since. Most recently, he spent 12 years at the Newspaper Association of America covering a variety of topics before joining SIPA in 2009 as managing editor. Follow Ronn on Twitter at @SIPAOnline