Program Info

2009 RTNDA@NAB Schedule
last updated December 17, 2008, subject to change

Sunday, April 19

3:00 to 4:30 pm: Hands on Time
“One Man Band Reporting-Day One”
Leader: Al Tompkins/Poynter
Room: Ballroom Pavilion Room

4:00 to 5:30 pm: Opening Supersession: “Leading News Reinvention”
The gloomiest year ever in some newsrooms leads some to wonder whether there is a viable future for broadcast news.  Part of the reason for the slump on the business side is the growing lack of relevance of traditional broadcast models to younger audiences. Traditional TV and radio spot advertising is no longer capable of sustaining the operation, capital, and profit needs of many stations.  Those stations have looked to change models to support free broadcasting.  News managers may sometimes have trouble helping find and adjust to these models.  This session helps introduce attendees to what is working in the industry now.
Producer: RTNDF
Panelists: TBA
Room: Ballroom A, B, or C

5:30 to 6:30 pm: Opening reception 
Room: Networking lounge of exhibit floor.
Sponsor: TBA

Monday, April 20

7:45 to 8:45 am: RTNDA Business Meeting
Room: Ballroom D, E, F, or G

9:00 to 10:15 am: NAB Opening session
Room: Barron Room

9:00 am to 1:00 pm: The (News) Doctor is In
“What’s Wrong with My Website?”
Leader: TBA
Room: Ballroom D, E, F, or G

9:00 am to 1:00 pm: Showcase of Excellence
“The 2008 Murrow Winners--Television”
Producer: TBA
Room: Pavilion Room

9:00 am to ?:?? pm: Hands on Time
“One Man Band Reporting-Day Two”
Leader: Al Tompkins/Poynter
Room: Ballroom Pavilion Room

9:00 am to 5:00 pm: Exhibits open
 
10:30 to 11:45 am: Concurrent sessions

Session A: “The New Journalism Networks”
Around the country, once-competitive news organizations are beginning to create formal consortiums to begin sharing content on a regional or statewide basis.  OHNO, the Ohio News Organization, partners eight traditional news outlets. In South Florida, three newspapers have joined forces, while eight more have formed the Northeast Consortium, prompted by their dissatisfaction with the Associated Press. Mi-Whi, the Miami (Ohio) Whitewater Valley Public Media project includes broadcasters. Where should broadcast, public TV, and cable TV fit into this mix?  What are the advantages and disadvantages to the journalism and to the public of collaboration vs. competition?
Producer: J-Lab
Panelists: TBA
Room: Ballroom D, E, F, or G

Session B: Moving Content Across Platforms 
Content: A look at best practices and working solutions to keep content moving between your station’s many platforms, rewriting and repackaging to optimize it for the next intended audience.  Making the most of the constantly publishing model is the goal of this informative session
Producer: TBA
Panelists: TBA
Room: Ballroom D, E, F, or G

Session C: No A**holes in Your Newsroom 
Content: There has been recent research about rudeness in the workplace and the damage it can do to employee cognitive function. In other words, employees don't work well when they work for / with assholes. Surprise right? Well there are specific things a manager can do to stop rudeness and bullying in their newsrooms. This session will key in on those.
Producer: RTNDF/Kevin Benz
Panelists: TBA
Room: Ballroom D, E, F, or G


11:45 am to 2:30 pm: Exhibit floor time (or NAB TV lunch)

1:00 pm to 4:00 pm: The (News) Doctor is In
“Managing and Leading Millennials” Leader: Mackie Morris  
Room: Ballroom D, E, F, or G

1:00 pm to 5:00 pm: Showcase of Excellence
“The 2008 Murrow Winners--Radio”
Producer: TBA
Room: Pavilion Room

2:30 to 3:45 pm: Concurrent sessions

Session A: “Debunking the Myths”
Content: Find out what the viewers (especially those 18-24 year olds) really say and do.  What's really going on in most television newsrooms with staffing and budgets?  This session presents new research on the trends with our audience and in our newsrooms which debunks many of the television myths. Hear the most recent research done for RTNDA, including the Future of News study which showed wide gaps between what news directors think about the audience and what the audience actually says, as well as a survey this summer of news directors about their staffing levels, budgets, and coverage plans. This is a  "fun" and informative session--not a boring research presentation.
Producer: Mary Rogus
Panelists: Mary Rogus and Bob Papper
Room: Ballroom D, E, F, or G

Session B: “Live Streaming Video: A How To”
Content: Every major news event will soon be streamed live from multiple angles and your newsroom will need to be prepared to do so, too. This session looks at the shift from news at set times to live news being covered around the world as it happens from multiple angles.  Presenters deal with both the equipment and editorial challenges working with live feeds presents.
Producer: Andrew Finlayson (tentative)
Panelists: TBA
Room: Ballroom D, E, F, or G

Session C: “The Managers’ Challenge Improv”
Content: This session plays out tough conversations between bosses, employees, advertisers, and story subjects.  This interactive session will help you find out how you’d deal with the toughest challenges you’ll face.  Better yet, it will help you see how others handle the same challenges.
Producer: RTNDF/Jill Geisler
Room: Ballroom D, E, F, or G

4:00 to 5:15 pm: Supersession  “Cashing in on Business and Financial Coverage”
Content: Top business leaders and financial reporters gather to discuss coverage of last year’s market problems and how stations and reporters can learn to do better on what will be an important story for our audiences for many years to come.  Hear about what all of us missed leading up to the crash and get advice on where to look for the big financial stories of the future.
Producer: RTNDF/National Endowment for Financial Education
Panelists: TBA
Room: Ballroom A, B, or C

5:30 to 7:00 pm: Paul White Award ceremony and reception
Recipient: TBA
Producer: Ed Esposito
Room: Ballroom A, B, or C (same as previous supersession)
Reception sponsor: TBA

Tuesday, April 21

7:30 to 8:45 am: RTNDA/NAB Breakfast
“Covering the New Administration”
Content: With a new administration in place in Washington, correspondents and editors from the major news outlets gather to discuss the differences in the new administration as compared to the Bush years, as well as what they see ahead.  Those in the trenches at the White House will report on the daily changes we’ve seen, as well as the ones we might have missed.
Producer: TBA
Panelists: TBA
Room: Barron Room

9:00 am to 1:00 pm: The (News) Doctor is In
“BBC College of Journalism”
Leader: Steve Selman
Room: Ballroom D, E, F, or G

9:00 am to 1:00 pm: Showcase of Excellence
“2008 RTNDA-Unity Award Winner”
Producer: TBA
Room: Pavilion Room

9:00 am to 12:00 pm: Hands on Time
“One Man Band Reporting-Day Three”
Leader: Al Tompkins/Poynter
Room: Ballroom Pavilion Room

9:00 am to 5:00 pm: Exhibits open
 
9:00 to 10:30 am: Concurrent sessions

Session A: “Maintaining Leadership While Doing More with Less”
Content: News managers are being told to produce more content on more platforms more hours of the day with the same or fewer people on staff.  RTNDF takes us through a best practices guide to help any struggling manager find a way to fill that content demand with quality news material.
Producer: RTNDF
Panelists: TBA
Room: Ballroom D, E, F, or G

Session B: “Two-Way TV: Running a Successful Ombudsman Program”  
Content: In a world filled with chances to blog and e-mail about content, few stations are finding a way to address the feedback they get on-air to reach the full audience.  This session reviews a successful local station ombudsman program on-air weekly, increasing and improving audience feedback.
Producer: Kent Collins
Panelists: TBA
Room: Ballroom D, E, F, or G

Session C: “Navigating your Way through Legal Issues on the Web”
Content: The basics of media law, fair use, and more that all of us learned in school years ago are changing fast.  This legal information session gets you up to date on the latest rulings they tell you what you can and can’t do with what you find on the web, as well as what you should watch for on your own website.
Producer: Kathy Kirby
Panelists: Kathy Kirby, TBA
Room: Ballroom D, E, F, or G


10:45 am to 12:15 pm: Concurrent sessions

Session A: “Beyond Google: Really Mining the Web for Information”
Content:  Reporters using just Google and other basic search tools are missing most of the information out there on the web.  Social networks, Twitter, and other new tools produce information that can go into reports—and beat the competition that hasn’t yet figured out how to use the same tools.
Producer: Bill Silcock
Panelists: Amy Webb, principal consultant at Webbmedia Group, LLC. (tentative), TBA
Room: Ballroom D, E, F, or G

Session B: “Visually Connect with your Viewers”
This session provides an overview of research results – viewers’ opinions on their preferences and what connects with them visually and emotionally, as well as what alienates them.  Details include what is most effective with different demographics.  Attendees will take away specific information on what works with their targeted viewers
Producer: Kathy Mosher-Boule (tentative)
Panelists: Marv Danielski with Magid, Matthew Carson with FX Group, Ray Rodriguez with GO, Eric Haugen with FX Lighting
Room: Ballroom D, E, F, or G

Session C: “Winning your Second Quarter Hour”
Content: Getting existing viewers to watch longer is the easiest way to double your news numbers.  In this example-packed session, Graeme Newell shows you newly discovered formatting and showcasing techniques to hold an audience.  Using dozens of examples from cable, national news and local news, you'll learn simple formatting techniques that hang on to audiences. Discover the specific places in your newscast that are most vulnerable to erosion.  From packages, to VO's, to opens, you'll see specific ways to lead your audience down a carefully designed path.  Learn to flow viewers all the way to the end of your newscast, and on to the next show.
Producer: Graeme Newell
Room: Ballroom D, E, F, or G

12:15 pm to 2:45 pm: Unopposed exhibit time (or NAB Radio lunch)

1:00 pm to 4:00 pm: The (News) Doctor is In
“One-on-one Manager Coaching” Leader: Jill Geisler  
Room: Pavilion Room

1:00 pm to 5:00 pm: Showcase of Excellence
“RTNDF scholarship and fellowship winners share their work”
Producer: TBA
Room: Ballroom D, E, F, or G

3:00 to 4:15 pm: Concurrent sessions

Session A: “The Ethics of Digital Journalism”
Content: This session deals directly with the new challenges journalists face from the changing technology and abilities of a digitally-equipped newsroom.  Panelists deal with real-life challenges today and those that will exist in the future as technology continues to make manipulation of content more possible.
Producer: RTNDF/EEJF
Panelists: TBA
Room: Ballroom D, E, F, or G

Session B: “VJ Time Management”
Content: One-man-bands have to do it all.  How do they budget time to do a complete story when they can't log or write when the drive.  How do they manage crunch time with writing and editing? See a 15-step guide that helps VJ's manage time to do same-day turns on stories.
Producer: J. J. Murray (tentative)
Panelists: TBA
Room: Ballroom D, E, F, or G

Session C: “Adding More than Stories to your Website“  
Content: Gannett and other TV stations are starting to put searchable databases on their websites. Does it generate web traffic and monetize their ad revenue? Broadcast websites aren't typically moneymakers, but a few are leveraging what they have available. The audience is basically 9-5 on the web and we're missing opportunities. We need to begin sharing ideas on how to integrate everything we do on the web, how to drive traffic to the web, etc.
Producer: Lane Beauchamp
Panelists: TBA
Room: Ballroom D, E, F, or G

4:30 to 5:45 pm: Supersession: “Reaching New Audiences Now”
Content: This supersession looks at approaches that are working now, creating content for the web, whether video, text or enhancing traditional stories, as well as understanding the new realities of the business and exploring new business models.  Attendees will learn to expand their newsroom’s reach online, utilize podcasting, form community portals and partnerships, explore emerging technologies, and create content for mobile devices and other alternative deliver methods.
Producer: RTNDF
Panelists, AP, ONA, TBA
Room: Ballroom A, B, or C

Wednesday, April 22

8:00 to 9:15 am: RTNDA/BEA/NABEF Educator Breakfast
Content: TBA
Producer: Stacey Woelfel
Panelists: TBA
Room: Ballroom A, B, or C

9:00 am to 5:00 pm: RTNDA/BEA/NABEF Career Fair

9:00 am to 3:00 pm: Exhibits open

9:00 am to 12:00 pm: Hands on Time
“One Man Band Reporting-Day Four”
Leader: Al Tompkins/Poynter
Room: Ballroom Pavilion Room
 
9:30 to 10:45 am: RTNDA/BEA Supersession: “Hyper-Local!  Interactive!  It's All About the Content!”
Content: Learn how to make your website the "Go To" cyber-spot for your community from one of the leading innovators in interactive media.  Rob Curley is the guru for community journalism online and he will give a show and tell, interactive workshop on how to generate original local content that maximizes the potential of your website, and draws those precious younger demographics.
Producer: Mary Rogus and BEA
Panelists: Rob Curley and TBA
Room: Ballroom A, B, or C

11:00 am to 12:15 pm: Concurrent sessions

Session A: “Voice – Finding and Fixing the Four Fatal Flaws”
Content: News Directors will take away a better understanding of the causes that underlie the most common vocal problems they hear in job applicants and in their employees.  They will also take away specific resources that will help them to fix those problems.
Producer: David Cupp (tentative)
Panelists: TBA
Room: Ballroom D, E, F, or G

Session B: “Current TV College Program”
Content: A session for teaching best practices in multimedia skills to college students and other beginners.
Producer: Amy Grill (tentative)
Panelists: TBA
Room: Ballroom D, E, F, or G

Session C: “Polishing Your On-Air Look”
Content: How to dress and do hair and makeup for the anchor desk and out in the field--not out in the club!  With the HD transition, we have to be really careful about how we apply makeup, style our hair and dress.
Producer: Nicole Livas, WAVY-TY (tentative)
Panelists: TBA
Room: Ballroom D, E, F, or G


12:30 to 1:45 pm: Concurrent sessions

Session A: “Working With Law Enforcement”
Content: A session on setting up and nurturing relationships with law enforcement spokespeople to make the accessible and willing to get back to you, to work past the “no comment” answer, to reach the right people to get the most on your story, and to better develop long-term law enforcement sources.
Producer: Jeff Lanza, former FBI agent
Room: Ballroom D, E, F, or G

Session B: “Faith and Politics Beyond the Election” 
Content: The news media have done a good job of covering the influence of faith on the election process, and faith has been a major element of the presidential campaigns.  A program objective would be for those who make news decisions to retain that interest in faith and religion beyond the election, and consider news angles that explore the role of faith in political decisions between elections.
Producer: Frank Imhoff (tentative)
Panelists: TBA
Room: Ballroom D, E, F, or G

Session C: “Interactive Web-Based Partnerships”
Content: This session will discuss creating a model by which commercial stations and local communication/journalism programs can work together to create student-run ITV sites.
Producer: James Forsher, Seattle University (tentative)
Panelists: TBA
Room: Ballroom D, E, F, or G

1:45 pm to 3:00 pm: Unopposed exhibit time

2:00 to 3:00 pm: Closing reception