Conferences
Local Media Association provides its members with excellent networking and educational opportunities through our annual conferences and attendance at major industry events.
Fall Publishers' and Advertising Directors' Conference
This is Local Media Association's largest conference of the year and always provides excellent revenue producing ideas. Major advertisers take this opportunity to speak with our members in both group sessions and in one-on-one meetings regarding their advertising strategies. Concurrent sessions are offered allowing both the publisher and advertising director to choose meetings that relate specifically to their needs.
MultiMedia Key Executives Conference
This conference allows senior level executives a chance to meet and discuss current and future trends, challenges and objectives. Usually held at a top resort in a warm weather climate, this conference leaves plenty of time for a variety of networking opportunities.
Classified Multimedia Conference
This very successful conference takes place in the fall at an affordable hotel in a major city. All aspects of the newspaper classified advertising department are covered including private party, employment, automotive and real estate. Other topics such as motivating your staff and retaining good employees are also explored.
Free Member Webinars
Local Media Association conducts many free webinars throughout the year; all members are invited to participate in these informational sessions. Past topics have addressed such timely issues as 'Do Not Call' rules, recruitment advertising updates, department store initiatives and readership study findings.
Advertiser Meetings at Industry Events
One of Local Media Association's top priorities is the facilitation of one-on-one meetings and roundtable discussions with major advertisers for our members. During these meetings, advertisers talk openly about what suburban and community publications can do to capture more of their business. Strong relationships have been formed over the years and more and more of our members are walking away with new and/or bigger schedules from major retailers.
Contests / Awards
Local Media Association believes that one of the best ways for our members to evaluate and improve the quality of their publications is to compare their content and design with other like publications. Several annual contests have been developed to ensure that ideas are consistently shared among member newspapers and that the best are nationally recognized.
Advertising & Promotions Contest
This contest recognizes excellence in the field of advertising and marketing. Members compete in their circulation classes and a special award is presented to both the Advertising Director of the Year and the Classified Manager of the Year. Awards are presented at Local Media Association's Fall Publishers' and Advertising Directors' Conference.
Editorial Contest
Local Media Association's most popular contest of the year includes thousands of entries from members across North America. This contest recognizes editorial excellence in six different circulation classes that separates dailies from non-dailies. The Suburban Journalist of the Year award is decided in conjunction with this contest. Awards are presented at Local Media Association's Spring Publishers' Conference.
General Excellence/Newspaper of the Year
This contest recognizes the top newspapers in the country in six different circulation classes. The winners earn bragging rights to be the called the best suburban/community newspaper in the country. Awards are presented at the Local Media Association's Fall Publishers' and Advertising Directors' Conference.
Local Community Website
Our Local Community Website contest commemorates excellence in online media. From best local community website to local website innovator of the year and everything in-between; this contest represents the top web initiatives from community and suburban newspapers while providing superb best practices for Local Media Association members to explore.
Dean Lesher Award
The Lesher Award has recognized outstanding leaders in our industry since 1982, when the award was bestowed upon its namesake, Dean S. Lesher. Winners are chosen based on their achievements in one or all of the following area:
- Pioneered new concepts in suburban newspaper publishing
- Exemplified the excellence of suburban newspapers by publishing outstanding newspapers
- Provided civic leadership within the community or communities in which his or her newspapers are published
- In some way has enhanced the suburban newspaper industry.
Marketing
Local Media Association Suburban Market Research Study
Local Media Association commissioned the Reynolds Journalism Institute at the University of Missouri to conduct random telephone interviews of more than 2,600 adults in suburban areas of 11 DMAs across the U.S. The study examines suburban adults’ demographics, local newspaper readership, use of advertising information, shopping habits and purchase intentions. Research findings available for free download.
Borrell Associates, Inc. Research Studies
Local Media Association seeks out timely and relevant studies that specifically address the needs of suburban and community newspapers. Borrell reports available to Local Media Association members include:
- 2011 Benchmarking Local Online Media: 2010 Revenue Survey
- Interactive Classifieds Outlook 2011
- Real Estate Outlook: 2008-2013
Major Advertiser Directory
This comprehensive directory lists over 500 media buyers at major retailers, third-party newspaper placement agencies and recruitment agencies from across the country. It contains complete contact information including region of responsibility when available. This directory is distributed to all publishers, advertising directors, major account mangers, and classified managers who are members of Local Media Association.
Local Media Today Newsletter
Local Media Association publishes an informative monthly newsletter and mails it to over 4,000 industry managers and executives in North America. Local Media Today contains major account information, call reports, breaking news, events and trends affecting suburban and community newspapers. Click here for more information regarding Local Media Today.