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Jeff Sigmund
Communications Manager
(571) 366-1088
Jeff.Sigmund@naa.org

March 27, 2008

Arlington, Va. – Newspaper publishers and editors, along with the industry’s digital, technology, production and operations professionals, will converge April 12-16 at the 2008 Capital Conference at the Washington (D.C.) Convention Center. The event will merge the annual conventions of the Newspaper Association of America (NAA) and the American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE), combining conference events and sessions that will address mutual issues affecting the industry.This year the NAA NEXPO conference and trade show coincides with the NAA/ASNE meetings, with a portion of programs scheduled as joint sessions.

“As newspapers transform themselves into multimedia companies, a gathering of industry experts is critical to helping us reach our goals of broadening reach and audience, while maximizing revenue in a competitive media environment,” said NAA President and CEO John F. Sturm. “Combining three essential industry conferences into one event will allow attendees to interact with colleagues from across the newspaper spectrum, listen to experts present successful strategies and experience the latest newspaper products and services firsthand.”

As in years past, The Associated Press will hold its annual meeting and luncheon in conjunction with NAA’s Annual Convention. The AP Annual Meeting will take place on Monday, April 14, with the AP reception and luncheon to follow. Republican presidential nominee John McCain (R-Ariz.) and U.S.  Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) are scheduled to speak at the meeting, which begins at 10:30 a.m. ET.  Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (R-N.Y.) is scheduled to speak at the NAA/ASNE luncheon on Tuesday, April 15 at 12:45 p.m. ET.

Following are program highlights of the Capital Conference. As speakers continue to be confirmed, the most current program, lodging information and registration details are available at www.naa.org/capitalconference.

Saturday, April 12

10 a.m.-5 p.m.
NEXPO Show Floor Opens
The NEXPO 2008 exhibit hall opens with NAA’s annual ribbon cutting ceremony at 9:45 a.m. on Concourse B of the Washington Convention Center. More than 200 exhibitors with products and services for today's newspaper media company will participate. The New at NEXPO pavilion hosts over a dozen new suppliers, exhibiting for the first time at NEXPO.


10:30-11:45 a.m.
Consolidating and Outsourcing
As more newspaper companies are considering consolidating or outsourcing their operations, this session will explore the impact of this decision in the approval process and beyond. Participants are: Kelly Benson of the Orlando Sentinel (moderator), Harriet Boyd of The Los Angeles Times, Joe Gallo of The Columbus Dispatch, Toni Humphreys of Gannett Co., Inc. and Bill Blackwood of America Color.


Sunday, April 13

1:45-3 p.m.
Young Readers: The Future is Now (program sponsored by the NAA Foundation)
Efforts by newspapers to reach out to children and teens today result in engaged young adult readers tomorrow, according to NAA Foundation research. Two new studies reinforce this conclusion, one highlighting the role that high school journalism plays in fostering student achievement; the other examining the media-consumption habits of young adults. Presenters: Jim Abbott of the NAA Foundation, Robert Barnard, Decode Inc., Toronto, Canada; Jack Dvorak, Director, High School Journalism Institute, Indiana University.


3:30-4:45 p.m.
Building Audience in a Fragmented Media World
The most recent data on media usage suggest the audience for news is fragmented more than ever on the basis of age, education, income and interests. This discussion will focus on what it takes for a news organization to make the transition from mass medium to a series of niches that make money and build audience. Participants: Jennifer Carroll of Gannett Co., Inc., Elizabeth Osder of Yahoo! Media Group, Chris Peck of The Commercial Appeal, Michael P. Smith of, Media Management Center, Northwestern University; and Lisa Williams of H20town and Placeblogger.com.


Monday, April 14


9-10:15 a.m.
General Session: Making Journalism Matter
This multimedia presentation will focus on great journalism, with a video line-up of last year’s outstanding journalistic endeavors that used new media to intensify impact and interactivity. Participants: Jonathan Landman of The New York Times, Diane McFarlin of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Shawn McIntosh of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Anthony Moor of The Dallas Morning News, Thomas Rosentiel of the Project for Excellence in Journalism; Hollis Towns of The Cincinnati Enquirer.


2:45-3:45 p.m. (Breakout sessions)
Creating the Roadmap
This session will focus on how newspaper companies are transforming themselves into multiple media distribution channels that integrate editorial and advertising content across all platforms to reach targeted audiences. Participants: Linda Grist Cunnigham of the Rockford Register Star, John Kelly of The Palm Beach Post, Chuck Peters of Gazette Communications. Owen Smith of NAA will moderate.


The First Amendment on the Front Burner
Reporters still face jail or financial ruin for refusing to reveal sources and government secrecy remains rampant. A national effort led by ASNE to promote the First Amendment will be unveiled. Panelists: Paul Boyle of NAA, Tim Franklin of The Baltimore Sun, Ken Paulson of USA TODAY and Patrick Yack of the ASNE Freedom of Information Committee.


Tuesday, April 15

10:30-11:45 a.m.
Innovation – Successful Change Happens
This general session will feature CEOs from established, traditional businesses discussing how their companies continue to evolve and stay relevant in the marketplace through customer feedback and innovative change. Participants: Stephanie Burns of Dow Corning Corporation, Phillip Faraci of Eastman Kodak Company, A.G. Lafley of Procter & Gamble. Scott Anthony of Innosight LLC will moderate.


Wednesday, April 16

11 a.m. - Noon
General Session: Making the Publisher/Editor Partnership Work
This session will examine how to establish a leadership partnership among editors and publishers. Participants: Elizabeth Brenner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Gregory Favre of The Poynter Institute, Barbara Henry of The Indianapolis Star, David Hiller of The Los Angeles Times, Charles Pittman of Schurz Communications Inc.


Press Credentials

Members of the working press can request press credentials by contacting Jeff Sigmund at jeff.sigmund@naa.org or (571) 366-1088. All news media will be asked to show photo identification and current press credentials or a letter from an assigning editor.

Note to Bloggers: Unaffiliated bloggers requesting press credentials may obtain a qualifying letter from the Media Bloggers Association by contacting Robert Cox at rcox@mediabloggers.org or 928-223-5711. Advanced notice of attendance is required for credentialing. Requests must be submitted by 5 p.m., April 9.  Press credentials must be picked up in the NAA Press Room #160 at the Washington Convention Center.

Sponsors of the Capital Conference include: American Express, Associated Press, Audit Bureau of Circulations, Belo, Bloomberg News, Brainworks Software, Dario Designs, DPS-Database Publishing Systems, EidosMedia, Inc., Flint Group; Gannett Newspapers, Goss International Corp., Hearst Newspapers, Houston Chronicle, KBA-North America, Inc., Media News Group, Inc., Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Morris DigitalWorks, Mutual Insurance, Nstein Technologies, OCE North America, Parade Publications, Profitpackaging, Inc., Publishing Group of America, Reuters, SAXOTECH, TKS USA, Inc., Transcontinental Printing, US Ink, USA WEEKEND Magazine, The Washington Post

NAA is a nonprofit organization representing the $59 billion newspaper industry and more than 2,000 newspapers in the U.S. and Canada. NAA members include daily newspapers, as well as non-dailies and other publications published throughout the world. Headquartered just outside Washington, D.C., in Arlington, Va., the Association focuses on six key strategic priorities that affect the newspaper industry collectively: marketing, public policy, diversity, industry development, newspaper operations and readership. Information about NAA and the industry also may be found at www.naa.org.