Digital Discourse / Content

All-New Information Industry Summit to Showcase Boldest Business Models, Products & Services

December 6, 2012 By

SIIA today invited information industry executives to attend the 12th annual Information Industry Summit, held Jan. 30-31, 2013 in New York City. The conference, which has been redesigned for 2013, will gather leaders from media, publishing, and information services companies, as well as technology and private equity organizations, to help them identify next-generation opportunities for growth and innovation.

With the theme “Breakthrough,” the goal of the Summit is to challenge information industry executives with fresh ideas, products and services to help them discover new opportunities and break into new markets. Presentations will spotlight leading executives as they discuss how their companies reinvented themselves, navigated risk and adopted new technologies to achieve dramatic growth in an ever-changing market. The Summit will also explore challenges and opportunities in an industry encountering unprecedented disruption, rapid fluctuations in customer expectations and behavior, and game-changing technological breakthroughs. Panels will also explore more specific topics such as the private equity landscape and the monetization of big data.

Other highlights of the Summit include the Content CODiE Awards , which honors the year’s best products, and the Previews program, which introduces emerging content and content-technology companies set to revolutionize the industry and a Showcase that will be highlighting all the CODiE Finalists and PREVIEWS participants throughout the conference.

WHO: Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA)

WHAT: Information Industry Summit

WHEN: January 30-31, 2013

WHERE: Pier Sixty (Chelsea Piers Sports and Entertainment Complex), New York City

View the complete Summit schedule.

Kathy Greenler Sexton is Vice President and General Manager of the SIIA Content Division. Contact Kathy at kgsexton@siia.net.

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Filed Under: Content, Information Industry Summit

Meet IIS Breakthrough Conference Chair Simon Beale

December 3, 2012 By
Simon Beale

Simon Beale, IIS Co-Chair

I sat down with IIS Conference co-chair Simon Beale, Senior Vice President Global Sales and Training of ProQuest to discuss IIS, what sessions he’s most looking forward to, and what he has learned as a result of co-chairing the industry’s premier conference for information executives.

Kathy: Why did you decide to co-chair IIS this year?

Simon: This is my second term on the SIIA Content Board and, given that the IIS is our most important annual event, agreeing to co-chair the conference with Clare Hart has proved to be an excellent way of providing guidance and input into its shape and development. With the dramatically accelerating pace of integration of technology into the content business, the SIIA IIS has the opportunity to become the cornerstone for thought leadership for the key leaders in our industry in debate and discussion.

Kathy: What are your goals for the conference this year?

Simon: The goal for January’s conference has been somewhat different this year. For the 2013 IIS Conference we wanted to ensure that C-suite executives from across the media, publishing and information landscape would be able to spend a couple of days at IIS in New York watching, listening and participating in a discussion between the industry leaders as to where we see this industry heading. IIS will be raising the bar for the debate amongst our most senior execs.

Kathy: What is unique about IIS?

Simon: We’ve always been lucky in that the range and diversity of the membership of SIIA gives us the ability to tap into an incredibly rich seam of knowledge and experience from across the information industry. The combination of existing SIIA member companies and start up and emerging companies, all sharing ideas and contrasting views is what makes IIS a unique event. You will not get a room with this level of focused industry firepower at any other conference.

Kathy: What should people expect this year and why is that different from previous years?

Simon: The 2013 IIS will be more focused towards C-suite executives than previous conferences. We are narrowing our focus. We have put together the premier line up of speakers and panels. We have assembled an agenda that will provide thought provoking sessions for the leaders in our industry. The schedule has been tailored to provide the maximum value for time spent for these execs. The key executives from across the software and information industry will not want to miss these two days.

Kathy: Any favorite sessions you are looking forward to?

Simon: I think the George Colony keynote will provide a great exposition of the impact of some of the key technology trends, while several of the panel discussions have got stellar industry lineups. I also think the leadership dinner, hosted by Nicholas Thompson of the New Yorker will be a wonderful evening!

Kathy: Anything you learned or were surprised by in your work planning IIS 2013?

Simon: I learned few things. I was stunned by how much work the IIS steering committee has put into this event. I have no doubt that it will be the most successful and though provoking IIS for many a year and this will be down to the hard work that the committee has put in (all in their spare time, I hasten to add). I learned how great an impact a creative and decisive co-chair like Clare Hart can have on shaping an event of this type. Her influence has been profound. I also learned how much of a juggling act putting all the moving pieces together can be and, for that, we have you Kathy to thank, ably assisted by Jenny.

IIS Breakthrough 2013

 

 

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Filed Under: Content, Information Industry Summit Tagged With: , , ,

Registration Tips and Tricks

November 20, 2012 By

The SIIA recently switched over our database and CRM system, so when registering for IIS Breakthrough 2013, you may notice the change. The new system will allow members and non-member alike to register for events, manage privacy preference and subscriptions. Its designed so that each person has an “account” that you can log into and from that account you can easily manage everything.

Since the system is new we thought we would talk you through a tutorial for the system for IIS Breakthrough 2013.

1. Login by logging in you will save yourself time on registering for SIIA events. Select the “remember me” box and the system will automatically recognize you and your preferences moving forward. You can change your preferences at anytime, under manager your account. An added bonus is that you will be logged into the SIIA site overall, so members will have access to all SIIA member resources without further logins! you can retrieve your login information here.

2. New users if you have never participated in a SIIA event, you will need to follow the 3 step process to create a user account.

Step 1 Enter your contact information. You can attach your individual user account to your company by selecting the “Find my Company” button.

Step 2 If you attached your information to a company, please confirm your company address. If you did not attached your information to a company please complete address information.

Step 3 If you are interested in receiving communications from any specific area of the SIIA, please indicate your preferences, the select the “Create Contact” button.

Once you’re done, you’ll receive an email from membership@siia.net with the Username and Password. After your initial login and registration, your information will be stored in our system so you don’t need to re-create a user ID or profile again. Note: If you think you may have an ID and forgot, contact membership@siia.net OR walk through the steps to reset on your own.

With the new registration system, you decide exactly what you want to participate in while at IIS, and all of the information will be emailed to you at the end of the registration process.

If you have a promotional code you will be able to enter it on the Shopping Cart screen of the registration process.

Finally, if you have any problems with the registration process please contact James Gerald, Event Registrar (jgerald@siia.net or 202.789.4478).

Thanks, and happy registering!

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Filed Under: Content, Information Industry Summit Tagged With: ,

From the Judges Interview Tips for Previews Applicants

November 5, 2012 By

 

Larry Schwartz, President, Newstex
Larry Schwartz, President, Newstex

With the Previews application deadline coming up November 21, I sat down with Previews Chair/Judge Larry Schwartz, to get some tips on what makes for a successful previews presentation, both to the judges and at IIS 2013 in January.

JH: What sparked the Previews concept?

LS: Wow that tests my memory. It started organically with me and Ed Keating. I was frustrated that small companies were not getting enough exposure at SIIA, and SIIA was not enough to bring small companies/startups into the SIIA community. Ed and I had several lobster roll sessions and came up with the idea, originally as a stand alone conference the day before IIS.

JH: What is your most memorable Previews moment?

LS: Two come to mind, first when Fred Wilson spoke at I believe the first Previews event. It was a great speech about information wants to be free. Watch it here.

My second moment was the Alumni lunch we had in 2008 and 2009 I believe. It was a great to see all of these content related companies networking under the SIIA previews banner.

JH: Rumor has it that you are the “Simon Cowell” of the Judges. If you’re Simon, then who is Paula?

LS: Ha! You mean who gives the love? Randy Marcinko :-)

JH: You have been judging previews since it launched in 2007. What is the best advice you could give potential applicants?

LS: When presenting your company in 5 minutes tell a story! The audience does not want facts and figures about your startup or hear your 10 page resume. They want you to tell a story about the problem your company is trying to solve. Some of the best Previews companies were the ones that described the problem and then showed how they were solving it. Boardroom Insider is a great example. They are helping to solve the problem of finding detailed information about senior executives by using public source data to build deep and insightful profiles of senior executives at major companies nationwide. Tell a great story that solves a problem.

 ________________________________________________________________

About Previews

Previews showcases innovative B2B content companies – publishers, media, content aggregators, and technology plays – who have at least a Series A round of financing, generate less than $10 million in sales, and have actual customers. If that describes your company, apply now.

Selected companies will present at IIS 2013 to over 300 leaders from the information industry. Previews presenting companies present to secure funding, strategic partnerships, new customers or even an exit.

Apply Now

Questions? Contact Jennifer Hansen.

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Filed Under: Content, Information Industry Summit Tagged With: , , , ,

Apply to Present Your Company at the 2013 SIIA Previews

November 1, 2012 By

Do you want to present your company to over 300 information industry leaders and decision makers? Are you interested in finding investors, partners, or acquisition opportunities? If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, then you should apply to present your company at the 2013 SIIA Previews.

For the past six years, SIIA Previews have showcased innovative content companies, including publishers, media, aggregators, and technology plays, and the 2013 SIIA Previews will feature the 100th Preview Company!

You can view updates on all of the SIIA Previews alumni and apply to present at the 2013 SIIA Previews on the SIIA website. Browse through the alumni list and you’ll see companies that have achieved great success. Examples of companies that have been acquired since they presented at an SIIA Previews event include:

  • Pubget: Acquired by Copyright Clearance Center
  • Associated Content: Acquired by Yahoo! for $100 million
  • FeeDisclosure.com: Acquired by Bankrate
  • Keibi Technologies: Acquired by Lithium Technologies
  • TutorVista: Acquired by Pearson
  • Generate, Inc.: Acquired by Dow Jones

SIIA Previews Qualifications and Application Instructions

Does your company qualify?
To apply to present your company at the 2013 SIIA Previews, yours must be a B2B content company that provides content or content technology products or services (e.g., publisher, content aggregator, technology play) with under $10M in revenue and actual customers. Furthermore, your company must not have received more than a Series A round of financing and must not generate more than $10 million in sales.

How do you apply?
You can apply online. Nominations open on October 9, 2012 and close on November 21, 2012.

How are presenting companies selected?
Nominated companies will present a 5-minute pitch to the Previews Selection Committe via webinar during the first two weeks of December. The committee will identify the top companies to present at the January 30th SIIA Previews event during the SIIA’s IIS 2013: Breakthrough conference, which will be held from January 30-31, 2013 at Pier Sixty in New York City. The final five SIIA Previews presenting companies will be announced the week of December 20, 2012. Selected SIIA Previews presenters will have an opportunity to be coached by the Selection Committee, which will be scheduled during the first two weeks of January 2013.

What should presenters know about the event and their participation in the event?
Presenting companies will get five minutes plus a question and answer session in front of leaders of the information industry. The audience will vote on the “Most Likely to Succeed.” Presenting companies also have an opportunity to exhibit and showcase their product throughout the two-day IIS 2013 conference, and they can attend the IIS Reception where they can network with other IIS attendees.

When the winning company be announced?
The SIIA CODIE Awards event wraps up the IIS 2013: Breakthrough conference on January 31, 2013. The presenting company that received the most “Most Likely to Succeed” votes during the SIIA Previews event will be announced during the ceremony.

Newstex President Larry Schwartz will be a member of the SIIA Previews Selection Committee again this year. Even if your company isn’t a match to apply to present at the SIIA Previews, we hope to see you at IIS 2013: Breakthrough.

You can get all of the details and apply on the SIIA website. Good luck to all of the 2013 SIIA Previews applicants!

_______________

This post was written and originally posted by SIIA Member Newstex.

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Filed Under: Content, Information Industry Summit Tagged With: , ,

CODiE Awards Judges: A Conversation with the Coordinator

October 31, 2012 By

Nominations have closed for the 2013 CODiE Awards, and I am definitely excited about the variety and caliber of products in this year’s program. I know our judges are looking forward to reviewing the products as well. Our first round review is the core of the CODiE Awards. It is also the portion of the program that gives me the most interaction with the judges and nominees. I am constantly in contact with both groups, ensuring that everyone has a great experience.

What is the first round review?

For the first round review, two judges review each product in each category. For example, products nominated in two categories will be assigned four judges. During this first round, judges participate in product demonstration s given by the nominees. Two options are available for the products demonstrations:

– Live product demonstration: Nominations walk through their product webinar-style with the judges participating as they do the walk-through

– Recorded product demonstration: Nominees may already have a video product demo that can be sent to the judges to watch.

We recommend that the nominees keep the demos to under an hour. If it is a live demo, remember to leave time for Q&A with the judges.

The first round review also includes product access. It’s beneficial for the judges to get a feel for the product on their own, as a supplement to the guided demo. Product access can happen in several forms, including temporary online login information or by sending the physical product to the judge.

I also suggest sending as much additional information as you would like to the judges. This can be additional links to PDF’s, videos, news releases, etc.

Who are the judges?

We take great care in selecting the industry experts who volunteer as judges. Each division reviews every judge application to determine if he/she is qualified. We want to ensure there are no conflicts of interest.

For our software and content categories, the judges consist of industry executives and analysts, members of the media, bloggers, investors, and even some customers.
For our education categories, we use educators and administrators as our judges. They are the users of these products and can best determine what products may work the best in their classrooms.

Judging is a great experience because it gives the customers a chance to review the products and provide feedback that the companies can use to make improvements.

How can you help?

We are still looking for judges in several of our categories in Content, Software, and Education. If you are interested in judging or can recommend a colleague please complete our brief judge application.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Wendy Tanner Wendy Tanner is CODiE Awards Coordinator. Follow the CODiE Awards on Twitter @CODiEAwards

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Filed Under: All About the Cloud, Cloud Computing, CODiEs, Content, Content Events, Ed Tech Industry Summit, Education, Education Events, Finalists, Information Industry Summit, Mobility, Personalized Learning, Social Media, Software, Software Events, Uncategorized

SIIA Weighs in on Supreme Court Arguments in ‘First Sale’ Case – Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley & Co.

October 29, 2012 By

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court held arguments in Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley & Co. – a hotly contested case that threatens the U.S. information industry. Last month, SIIA filed an amicus brief in the case, which involves the legality of purchasing copyrighted works overseas and selling them here in the U.S. without authorization from the publisher.

We believe that, if the First Sale Doctrine were to apply to materials made and sold overseas, it would severely undermine U.S. companies’ ability to compete in foreign markets. At today’s Supreme Court argument, the Justices seemed fairly split on the issues. Wiley’s counsel, Ted Olson, reiterated a critical point made in SIIA’s brief – that there are many of exceptions in the Copyright Act, including the Fair Use Defense, which can be used to prevent the concerns raised by the appellant.

Ultimately, we hope that the Court will be convinced by the very real argument that both publishers and consumers will face direct harm if our markets are allowed to be flooded with copyrighted material that was intended for purchase overseas. American consumers will be defrauded into buying products that may be inferior or otherwise very different from those intended for U.S. markets, while confronting higher prices in the long run. Meanwhile, consumers and students abroad will lose access to valuable U.S. resources that were created for them.

Keith Kupferschmid is General Counsel and SVP, Intellectual Property Policy & Enforcement at SIIA.

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Filed Under: Anti-Piracy, Content, Policy, Policy - Intellectual Property Tagged With: , ,
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