Conference Planning Highlights

June 20, 2019

We’re busting at the seams to tell you about THE AGENDA – and you’re chomping at the bit to receive it! The team has been vetting dozens of proposals to put together a strong, relevant experience for you. We’ve tweaked out the grid (hello, 9 a.m. start time!) and will release a full agenda for your planning purposes ASAP.

Here’s some of the confirmed sessions:

  • Public Radio Tech Survey – Back for the 10th year, this is one of the most popular conference sessions. In his trademark style, Fred Jacobs will deliver insights and forecasting drawn from interactions with public radio listeners. In a world swimming with tech updates, this is uniquely tuned to your life.
  • How to Talk to Talent – Jessica Hansen’s insanely popular voice coaching is back with a twist. This workshop will help you better understand the problems, give you language to talk with talent, and get immediate results.
  • Case Studies for Building a Local, Loyal Digital Audience – Learn about efforts to build younger, digital-first audiences including lessons learned along the way and strategies you can employ to engage your local community online. 
  • Digital Infrastructure How-to – Learn how to develop a streaming infrastructure that is as robust as your station's over-the-air broadcast infrastructure. Smart speakers, apps, metadata, platform relationships, a product development strategy and the staff and budget to execute - all of these elements come together to make your station viable.
  • 5 Things You Can Do To Make Your Station Sound Better Next Week
  • Stay tuned for sessions directly applicable to music stations, 2020 Election Coverage, podcasting how-to’s and more.

Format Meetings Upgrade

  • This year we’re making sure there’s a moderator for every format group meeting. Join your format family members to discuss issues and vet ideas specific to your cohort. There will be separate meeting spaces for News-Talk, Classical, Jazz and AAA stations.
  • We have added a cohort meeting for Independent Producers!

New Trainer for the PD Workshop

  • This year, Helen Barrington and Dan Klefstad will join forces to co-lead this vital workshop. The majority of PDs in public radio have gone through this training at some point in their career. Of course this workshop is great for newbies – and it’s also relevant as a refresher if you are one of the many that attended 5, 10, 15 or more (eek!) years ago. There’s still room for a few more participants so sign up today.
  • One PDW alum told us, “I was in the class last year, and it's a bummer that Tanya is not there. But Dan is AMAZING. Just listen to a few of his ME segments. Good job PRPD.”

Diversity and Inclusion

  • These efforts are arguably the most important work of our time as we strive to reach new audiences and catch up to our evolving communities. Lunch with APM - Inclusivity in Content: Diversifying Sources, Voices and Staff is a must-see presentation.

Nielsen Audio 101

  • The wizards of data Dave Sullivan and Carl Nelson from the RRC will hold a workshop for those new to Nielsen Audio and audience research to cover the basics for both PPM and Diary markets. This workshop is free for PRPD members and a minimal fee for non-PRPD members. Reserve your spot today.

New this year is the RRC Suite, where RRC staff will be available for conference attendees to drop in and ask more intermediate and advanced questions of the experts. The suite will be open on Monday 8/26 in the afternoon.

And because we all know the REAL reason you go to conferences is to have fun:

  • Join APM and MPR for the opening night party on Monday evening - it will knock your socks off. We’ll be convening at legendary Orchestra Hall for a warm welcome to the Twin Cities with food, drinks and entertainment.
  • Friday, August 30 is MPR Day at the Minnesota State Fair, consistently voted the best fair in the country. Minnesota Public Radio enjoys a unique relationship as the only media organization to have a dedicated day at the Fair. MPR Day at the Fair features live broadcasts and special programming from MPR News, Classical MPR and The Current, plus special fair-themed merchandise, a members-only giveaway, activities all day at vendor booths, and more fun than you can shake a deep-fried-candy-bar-on-a-stick at! 1A will be part of the festivities as part of their "1A Across America" initiative. Consider extending your time in the great state of Minnesota and join MPR at the Great Minnesota Get Together to see a truly great example of community engagement, state-wide impact, audience-centric and cross-platform programming, and buckets of cookies!
  • More TBA soon – including a “microshow” from The Current and Live From Here!

Register now to secure the best rates.

The early bird rate ends June 24.