Once & Future King: Can Syndication Save Content?
The publishing industry has always embraced new technology as a primary driver of success. Syndication was once the solution for an industry challenged by economics, technology, and globalism, allowing content to reach the widest audience at the greatest cost savings. But it hasn’t changed much in the last century. As new practices of media consumption emerge, publishers have seen their fortunes decline precipitously. While content may still be king, the distribution and consumption of that content have become increasingly problematic. Caught between outmoded business models and the disruptive dynamics of digital media, publishers now occupy an untenable position that impacts their ability to remain competitive and profitable. Can syndication once again save publishing by providing new modes of distribution, consumption, and revenue? This panel will discuss current syndication practices and explore the potential for reinvigorating an old idea for a new media world.
Presenters
Christel van der Boom is a communicator passionate about the Web, media and technology. She’s especially interested in how they receptively impact people’s daily lives as well as how businesses operate. Her professional experience covers public relations, marketing, corporate communications, as well as social media programs.
Currently, Christel develops communications strategies and marketing programs at Flipboard. Inspired by the beauty and ease of print media, Flipboardʼs mission is to fundamentally improve how people discover, view and share content across their social networks, including Facebook and Twitter. Instead of scrolling down a stream or timeline, Flipboard presents the updates, links, articles and photos that people are sharing like a magazine.
Jesse Levine has launched, run, and led syndication operations for The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Tribune Company, and The Christian Science Monitor. As President and CEO of the Los Angeles Times Syndicate, Levine launched the company's first international division and later launched Newscom (www.newscom.com,) the industry's first online content syndication portal.
Over the last several years, he has led syndication and new business development initiatives for several syndication startups, including his current role as CRO of Free Range Content. Jesse Levine's experience with domestic and international Fortune 500 Media includes technology sales, content syndication, creating and launching new content products, and building new syndication markets.
CEO Free Range Content (Repost.Us, Curate.Us)
John has been starting and leading companies for 30 years and has authored multiple US technology patents. He has had an email address since 1983. John's previous companies include CyberSource (CYBS) and Beyond.com (formerly BYND) where he was co-founder and EVP/CTO, and Specialix PLC where he was co-founder and technical director. John is the Chairman of the Board of the CloudView Foundation and an investor in a number of startups. John's photography has appeared in the Washington Post, Vanity Fair, LA and Philadelphia Weekly and numerous magazines.
Todd Martin is a technology infrastructure and software development executive with over 17 years of experience building and managing software and infrastructure. At NewsRight, he plays an integral role in helping set the company’s strategic direction, development, and future growth. Prior to coming to NewsRight, Martin was CTO for the Associated Press where he was focused on R&D around new technologies, and establishing the long-term vision and strategy for AP’s platforms and technology. The NewsRight News Registry platform was one of the initiatives inspired, developed and delivered under his leadership at the AP and earned AP several awards including being ranked as the 6th most innovative company by Information Week in 2011. Martin was also at IBM, Andersen Consulting (now Accenture), and the EAI market maker CrossWorlds Software. He has a degree in engineering from the University of California, Davis.
Sunday, March 11
