Poised to push the industry to identify
new growth paths and revenue models
Around a dozen Indian delegates from Dainik Bhaskar,
Dainik Jagran, Eenadu, Malayala Manorama, Mid Day,
The Hindu, and The Times of India to join the event
Scheduled to be held in Los Angeles during May 6-8, the annual INMA World Congress 2012 is all set to bring together the leading executives from elite publishers of newspapers, magazines, web sites, tablets, and mobile worldwide. Pushing the industry to identify new growth paths and revenue models under the galvanizing theme of ‘New Oxygen, New Growth’, the event will feature the newsmedia industry's best keynote presentations and case studies.
Even as old metrics point to decaying parts of the news industry, integrated multi-media and a new corporate culture renaissance represent the new oxygen for a new revenue growth path that will fund great journalism well into the 21st century. At the upcoming INMA World Congress, the keynote presentations and case studies will focus on: identifying revenue growth path models; the practical steps to implementing cross-departmental culture change; implementing an ethic of innovation company-wide; driving cross-platform advertising sales in the emerging channels; implementing bundled subscriptions across print and digital platforms; and the latest research on how consumers interact with news brands across platforms.
Around 400+ delegates from 40+ countries, including CEOs, editors, executives from digital, marketing, advertising, audience, business development, strategy, research will be participating in the event. From India, Ravi Dhariwal, president of INMA and chief executive officer, Bennett, Coleman & Company Ltd; K Balaji, director, The Hindu - Kasturi & Sons Ltd; Manajit Ghoshal, managing director & chief executive officer, Mid Day Infomedia Ltd; Sanjay Gupta, chief executive officer, Jagran Prakashan Ltd (JPL); Vikas Joshi, vice president marketing (West), Dainik Jagran; Sachin Kalbag, executive editor, Mid Day Infomedia Ltd; Vipon Khatwani, vice president marketing (North), Dainik Jagran; Harsha Mathew, assistant editor, senior general manager, Malayala Manorama; Shrijeet Mishra, chief operating officer, Bennett, Coleman & Company Ltd; Alok Purohit, chief operation officer (MPCG), Dainik Bhaskar; Arunabh Das Sharma, executive president, Bennett, Coleman & Company Ltd; and I Venkat, director, Eenadu are to join the congress.
Connecting with young readers
The presentation of Sanjay Gupta will emphasize on ‘Connecting with young readers through an integrated editorial programme’. Jagran Sanskarshala (School of Indian Value Systems) is a unique programme aimed at imparting cultural and corporate values to young readers. Specially designed editorial columns were carried in Dainik Jagran over an eight-week period and at the end of it, more that 1,00,000 young readers took an examination based on this content.
Digital revenue models of the future
As news publishers aim to price content and get consumers to pay for digital access, McKinsey & Company has developed a four-point look at what media companies should be prioritising in the next five years. They include consumer-paid content, next-generation premium display advertising, how to build lead-generation networks, and video. With presentation of Michael Lamb, principal, McKinsey & Company, the attendees would learn about the best practices across media companies and the strategies behind these best practices.
Digitisation, diversification, and entertainment
Recent years were all about the transformation from a traditional (print) publishing company to a digital and diversified media and entertainment house. The presentation by Christian Unger, CEO, Ringier AG, having a 180-year-old history of innovation, will outline the course Ringier decided to take and experiences made on this journey. Ringier is a Switzerland-based media company with newspapers, magazines, and more in eight European countries as well as China and Vietnam.
Anatomy of transformation
The internet is forcing choices. If made definitively, these focusing decisions can lead to new growth and successful transformation. Most newspapers are unwilling to make these tough choices: inching their way down in print costs, still trying to cover every type of story, and trying to do both print and digital in the same organisation. The Deseret News has had unprecedented growth in both print and online areas by focusing its editorial emphasis on stories that are distinct to its voice for faith and family. This has enabled the company to double print circulation, launch a national Sunday, and create a separate digital division – leading to double-digit audience growth and three straight years of over fifty percent online revenue growth. With presentation of Clark Gilbert, president and CEO, Deseret News Publishing Company, the session on the anatomy of transformation will focus on the organisation, financial, and content implications of a digital-first strategy.
As such the newsmedia industry's cutting-edge event, the INMA World Congress will borrow heavily from the best practices of the top media companies, yet will be at the forefront among associations in integrating digital and packaged-goods companies in leveraging the news industry's strengths. So by joining this value-laden conference, one can take home ideas to apply immediately and concepts to navigate the companies in the turbulent years ahead.
