Gaelynn Lea and More at PRPD19

This year’s PRPD conference is shaping up and here are some great reasons for you to attend.

“Accessibility, Inclusion and the Power of Music” – Thursday, August 29 at 11:45 am.
You will not want to miss the closing session this year, so make your travel plans accordingly. Gaelynn Lea gained national attention when she won NPR’s Tiny Desk Content is 2016. Her unique mix of haunting original songs and traditional fiddle tunes captivates audiences worldwide. In addition to performing and recording, she speaks passionately about disability rights and accessibility in the arts. Join us as Andrea Swensson, host of “The Local Show” on The Current speaks with Gaelynn Lea about her career her music and how public radio changed her life, followed by a live performance. 

“Your Digital Stream, Your Station’s Future”

A station’s digital infrastructure is a vital component in its audience service and sustainability strategy. Streams, smart speakers, apps, metadata, platform relationships, product development and the staff and budget to execute are all the elements that come together to make your station a viable choice for a digitally savvy audience. Join the panel of experts for a conversation of how to develop a streaming infrastructure that is as robust as your over-the-air broadcast.
 
“Voice Coaching for Producers and Managers”
Sometimes it’s difficult to talk with on-air talent about things like presentation, style, energy or nerves. We know how to identify what we want, but it’s often difficult to articulate that effectively when  coaching talent. Jessica Hansen is the voice of NPR’s funding credits and she coaches for NPR, member stations, corporate groups and professional theatre companies as well as hosts, journalists and private clients nationwide. In this session, Jessica will help you better understand the relationship with talent and give you language to talk with your on-air staff to allow you to get immediate results.

 
“Building a Local, Loyal Digital Audience”
In 2018, WNYC, KPCC and WAMU purchased local news website with the intention of engaging with younger, digital-first audiences. The challenges include integrating cultures, establishing outcomes, identifying metrics, differentiating brands and pursuing diversity. After a year and a half, we’ll see how these efforts are faring. Our panel includes representative from KPCC, WNYC and WAMU talking about the lessons they’ve learned along the way.
 
“The Sound of Public Radio Music”
Music format stations from Classical to Americana are beloved and respected cultural instutitions in their own communities and on the national stage. Public radio’s celebration of music in all its forms is vitally important to American cultural life and now it’s time to showcase the impact we have on audiences, artists, the music industry and our own local ecosystems. Join our panel from the Noncomm Music Alliance, learn about the emergence of a new music format for public radio and see how these strategies translate to local service.

“Public Radio Tech Survey 2019”
Just completing its 11th year, the Public Radio Tech Survey gathers data about the relationship our audiences have with technology. This data can help us plan, strategize and navigate the digital terrain so we can make the best decisions about how we use our resources. PRTS provides a comprehensive survey with over a decade of trackable data points that illustrate our listeners’ use of digital media in a rapidly changing environment. Join Fred Jacobs as he walks us through the 2019 data.


“Research, Relevance, and Racial Bias: The Case for Culturally Relevant Newsrooms”

A recent survey of Minnesota media professionals unearthed a disturbing disconnect: While a majority of journalists say it is necessary to understand racial bias in order to be effective in their jobs, most have never received employer-sponsored unconscious bias or similar training. Yet despite this lack of training, the majority of Minnesota journalists feel confident in their ability to report on racial and cultural groups other than their own. This disconnect not only undermines accuracy and fairness in news coverage, it stokes harmful stereotypes and traumatizes people and communities whose narratives are routinely under-represented, misrepresented or absented as a result. In this session, participants will utilize World Café-style table-top discussions to unpack this and other research findings from the 2019 Racial Narratives in Minnesota Media Survey and create the case – and roadmap -- for making cultural competency an essential qualification for anyone working in public media. The panel includes Cecilia Stanton-Adams, director of culture and inclusion, Minnesota Public Radio, Linda Miller, director of network journalism and inclusion, American Public Media and Andi Egbert, senior research associate, APM Research Lab.

“Five Things You Can Do To Make Your Station Sound Better Next Week”
How’s that for a mysterious title? Programmers and managers are busier than ever before and something that means you run out of time to work on the basics. Take an hour during the conference to learn (or remind yourself) about five things you can do staring as soon as you get back to work to make your station sound better. Along with well-established techniques, we’ll talk about how to promote smart speaker listening, including podcasts on the air and more. 
 

Sessions and events are being confirmed every day and we'll be announcing more very soon.

Register now to get the best rates and reserve your room in the hotel block!