Before Apple's iPad even reached stores, the media industry was abuzz. Could this be the Hail Mary device that will save print? Only time will tell, but large newspapers and magazines are placing their bets--plunging ahead with plans for new digital editions, whether they be on the iPad, Amazon's Kindle, Barnes & Noble's Nook, or some other device. As e-readers and other portable devices become more ubiquitous, how are smart broadcasters and publishers preparing? Will consumers actually be willing to pay for content on these new devices? Is there an iTunes-like model? How will advertising be served? What about video? And who will control valuable subscriber information: publishers, the device manufacturers, or the telephone companies that offer connectivity? You won't want to miss this electric conversation about our industry's future.

Legacy sites, niche sites, affiliations with national sites, mobile & more -- your digital offerings to potential advertisers are probably plentiful.  but are they meeting their needs?  Are you able to effectively sell them and most importantly, are the advertisers getting results?  We will hear from a variety of advertisers on this subject and learn what is working and what is not, where the budgets are going, and what you can do to better position yourself to secure their advertising budgets.

NOTE:  Attendees who register for the Blinder/SNA Boot Camp only can attend this breakout session at no additional cost.

As digital publishing grows in complexity, and media companies downsize their staffs, outsourcing and consulting are more important than ever. But how do you choose the right service provider or consultants? How can you best protect yourself when negotiating contracts? Instead of spending thousands of dollars on proprietary software, is open-source shareware or freeware an option? Listen and learn as our panel shares tales of smart picks and disastrous mistakes.

Forget about the iPad. The iPhone is already here--along with the Blackberry, the new Palm, and other phone devices. Is your current Web site optimized for mobile? Should you be investing in new mobile applications? How do you choose which device to target for your new apps? What about GPS: Can local businesses target consumers based on their location? Is anyone having success with retail transaction apps? We'll explore our increasingly wireless world, and how your media company can thrive in it.

This space will be worth $46 million by 2014* - do you have a plan to capture your share of this revenue? The categories that make up online shopping sites - coupons, advertising circulars, promotions, contests, deals and more - are about to explode over the next five years. Now is the time to plan your strategy; time is of the essence.

There is an industry-wide movement underway that is bringing local media together - newspapers, radio stations, TV, pure plays and more - to develop a comprehensive national shopping site that has a gyper-local focus. zip2save.com launched in mid-October 2009 and is experienceing rapid growth in traffic and revenue. New media partners are signing up every week and advertisers are getting results.

In this session you will learn about the strategy of zip2save.com, the research behind it, the reaction from national and local advertisers and success stories from media partners.

*Source: Borrell Associates

 NOTE:  This session requires full registration to the Interactive Media Conference for those wishing to attend.

Almost everyone is doing more with less--less money, fewer staffers, closed bureaus. Even if the economy recovers, all the lost journalism and media executive jobs aren't likely to come back. One potential for filling the void: partnerships with other media organizations, nonprofits, and journalism startups. These projects have the added benefit of exposing companies to media platforms they may not be familiar with. In just one shining example, see how *The Times-Picayne, *PBS's *Frontline,* and Propublica joined forces for a series on the troubled New Orleans police department.

We are all seeing the numbers from McKinsey and Borrell on how "Main Street is Going Interactive."  Now hear from the actual LOCAL customers themselves on what their perceptions are about the products and solutions they are buying!  A panel of local business marketing professionals (retail, medical, service, etc.) who are currently using online advertising will talk frankly about what they are doing; they'll discuss their current results and what they expect from their investment.

NOTE:  This session requires full registration to the Interactive Media Conference for those wishing to attend.

Across the country, entrepreneurs are experimenting with new ways of doing local news, and challenging the old media model. Should mainstream media fear these startup efforts? Meanwhile, some newspapers and TV stations are starting their own hyperlocal news sites and blogging platforms. We'll take a look at the latest and smartest local initiatives.

(North) Americans like to think they're leading the world, but when it comes to new media, some of the most exciting applications and approaches are coming out of Latin America.  Our panel, presented in association with the Inter American Press Association (IAPA), brings thought leaders from major media organizations across the hemisphere to Las Vegas to teach us about new approaches to interactive journalism, mobile, and the business of Web sites.

Static ads aren't enough to grab reader attention, and today's consumers are even able to tune out animated advertising. So how can media companies help their advertising clients break through the online clutter and grab consumers' attention? Our experts will explain the newest and most revolutionary forms of marketing campaigns appearing online and in the mobile space--including social media, reader interaction, co-branding, and geo-targeting. Plus: The latest thinking on the best way to organize your sales team.

Many media companies are using Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other social media sites to disseminate content and interact with users. But what do all the Tweets and status updates (which take place away from your own page views and advertisers) get you? What happens when you invest time and energy in an application that goes the way of Friendster? We'll take a look at the smartest social media efforts and suggest ways to build real reader and viewer loyalty. Our panelists will explore these issues, and the $64,000 question: Can anyone monetize this stuff?

Could 2011 be the year that consumers start paying for Web news and information? It's been a crucial question asked throughout this conference, and we'll close with a wrap-up of what we've learned about paid content, subscriber-only services, payment systems, and other metering programs. No one knows exactly what the future will bring, but our panel will offer practical advice on how to prepare your company for various pay models.

The 15th Annual EPpY Awards honor the best media-affiliated Web Sites.