It’s not hard to understand why these topics were key at this year’s MPA American Magazine Media Conference. Key members of the industry attended this year’s conference to analyze and share thoughts about the state of all things media.
Quality Content – Expert Storytelling presented a compelling way to begin the discussions, with David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker, interviewing director Ron Howard. The filmmaker shared the evolution of media through his life, especially as it relates to world events, and specifically focused on the challenges of good storytelling, commenting that “quality and trust matter more now than it ever did.” Of note is his most recent work with National Geographic on the development of Genius, a new series to be released in April.
The Magazines Work – How and Why discussion brought together a panel of popular independent leaders, including Andrew Clurman, president and CEO, Active Interest Media; Bonnie Kintzer, president and CEO, Trusted Media Brands; Declan Moore, CEO, National Geographic Partners; Marvin R. Shanken, founder and chairman, M. Shanken Communications; Pam Wasserstein, CEO, New York Media; and moderator Jim Rutenberg, media columnist for The New York Times and contributor at The New York Times Magazine. The group debated current challenges and strategies for success, noting that there is “an urgency to be in media in some kind of proactive way.”
Editors Take the Stage: Journalistic Standards in the Spotlight featured Gretchen Carlson, news anchor and advocate, who moderated an engaging discussion about the current state of m
edia and news. She was joined by Jess Cagle, editorial director, People and Entertainment Weekly; Jane Francisco, editor in chief, Good Housekeeping, and editorial director, Hearst Lifestyle Group; Cindi Leive, editor in chief, Glamour; Adam Moss, editor in chief, New York; and Liz Vaccariello, editor in chief, Meredith Parents Network.
The day also included awards, first with the resurrection of the MPA Kelly Awards, which honored outstanding media advertising. Best Print Magazine Creative was awarded to The New Yorker for “On the Go” An Augmented Reality Experience, accepted by publisher Lisa Hughes.
The 2017 MPA Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Charles H. Townsend, former chairman of Condé Nast, for his lifelong contributions to publishing and media.
Visit CEO Margot Knorr Mancini’s Content Strategy blog for valuable insights and observations from her experiences in the publishing industry. If you have a suggestion for a topic you’d like to know more about or have industry news to share, drop us a note!
Posted by: Margot Knorr Mancini
