New England Newspaper & Press Association

Freelancers who work on a project basis have an enemy, and that enemy is scope creep. When a project balloons out of control, we can burn out and client relationships turn sour. Learn how to avoid this fate from a panel of veteran audio freelancers, sharing guidance that will come in handy for those working in any kind of medium. This discussion will cover how to negotiate a strong contract, how to manage shifting responsibilities on a project, and when to walk away.

Speakers:

• Dennis Funk, Founder and Editorial Director, Written in Air
• Isis Madrid, Co-founder, Pizza Shark
• Lushik Lotus-Lee, Atlanta-based freelance producer and editor
• Moderator: John Asante, LA-based independent producer

What does it mean for journalism to truly stand with the communities it serves? Join NENPA University and Dr. Anita Varma, a leading voice in ethical journalism and faculty member at the University of Texas at Austin, for a thought-provoking session on Solidarity Journalism — an approach that prioritizes the lived experiences of marginalized communities in the service of basic dignity.

In this webinar, Dr. Varma will share practical frameworks for journalists and editors to distinguish solidarity for basic dignity from partisanship, prioritize truth over both-sidesism, and build credibility through inclusive, justice-driven coverage. Learn how solidarity journalism can strengthen journalism’s pursuit of truth, deepen audience connection, and uphold the core mission of journalism to serve the public in an era of growing polarization and disinformation.

Perfect for reporters, editors, and newsroom leaders committed to meaningful community engagement and more equitable journalism.

In this essential workshop, discover the transformative power of Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and how it redefines digital measurement for news organizations. We will delve into what truly sets GA4 apart from previous analytics platforms, exploring its event-based data model and integrated approach to understanding user behavior across different platforms and devices.

Participants will gain a clear understanding of how measurement works in GA4, moving beyond traditional page views to focus on more meaningful user engagement metrics. Through practical strategies and real-world examples, you will learn how to leverage GA4’s full potential to identify trends, optimize content, enhance reader engagement, and ultimately drive your news organization forward in today’s dynamic digital landscape. This session will equip you with the knowledge and actionable insights to make data-driven decisions that foster growth and sustainability.

Note this session will not be recorded. So please plan to attend at the session date and time.

Presented by Iain Christie

With 20 years of experience in digital marketing, publishing, and tech, Iain Christie is now a Business Analyst for the Google News Initiative. Since spring 2022, he has instructed publishers in North America on leveraging Google tools for business sustainability, growing audience engagement, strengthening reader/advertising revenue, and leveraging the potential of AI.

As AI becomes more integrated into newsrooms, recent research reveals a growing trust gap between media organizations and their audiences. This gap threatens reader trust, brand reputation and may lead to legal and regulatory challenges.

To address this, the Alliance for Audited Media analyzed leading AI guidelines and collaborated with publishers to understand how they’re responsibly using AI to develop the Eight Pillars of Ethical AI Use. These guidelines are built for publishers, by publishers, and include:

• Ethical policies and bias mitigation
• Transparency and clear disclosures of AI-generated content
• Rights, permissions, and human oversight
• Fairness, privacy, training, and risk management

This session will explore the Eight Pillars and share best practices that prioritize reader trust, stakeholder confidence and alignment with industry standards.

Speakers:
– Kristina Meinig, Vice President, Market Development, Alliance for Audited Media
– Katrina Eddy, Vice President, Technology Assurance, Alliance for Audited Media

A lot has happened this year at the CDC with walkouts, layoffs and the disappearance of data and reports, presenting major challenges for journalists who report on public health. Especially when reporting on infectious disease, the compromising of the CDC as a source of public health data and up-to-date information about outbreaks has huge implications for public health. But that’s not all that has been lost — not by a long shot. The Secretary of Health and Human Services has also undermined the CDC as a source of trustworthy information about drug use/harm reduction, autism, chronic disease and diet.

Although the dismantling of the CDC has cost the country its oldest, most stalwart resource for public health information, the CDC diaspora has not vanished in silence. Join us for a conversation with former CDC officials Deb Houry, former Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Director for Program and Science; Demetre Daskalakis, former Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases; and Daniel Jernigan, former Director of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases. Moderated by AHCJ Health Beat Leader Tara Haelle, the discussion will explore:

• Who, if anyone, has taken over data collection and communication about infectious disease.
• What is missing, now, from the national public health picture.
• Their biggest worries about the potential consequences of the loss of this body of expertise and communication.
• Where journalists should turn for the reliable, evidence-based reporting resources that formerly had a home at the CDC’s web pages.

Join two powerhouse media leaders for an inside look at how they’ve each turned promotions into proven, scalable revenue machines.

At Gannett, Rebecca’s team has engineered a $30M+ annual promotions business through a finely tuned mix of people, process, and technology on a national scale. And at Federated Media, Deb led a local-first initiative that trained sellers to make promotions a true client solution—driving seven-figure revenue growth and 80% team adoption.

In this session, you’ll learn how to:

• Empower your people: Build and train teams that drive creativity, accountability, and consistent results.
• Operationalize your process: Create repeatable playbooks that scale from local to enterprise.
• Maximize your technology: Use the right platforms to transform bold ideas into measurable client wins.

Whether you’re leading a national media group or a local team, you’ll walk away from this session with a practical framework to build your own revenue machine—turning short-term wins into sustainable growth.