DNA 2009 - Newsletter

DNA2009: A “Must Attend!” for Newspaper People Everywhere

The newspaper industry is changing faster than almost anyone predicted.
Millions of readers are migrating to their paper's websites but millions more aren’t! Many of the biggest names in the newspaper world have been the subject of potential bankruptcy. The New York Times has one of the most successful websites in the world and yet it has already mortgaged its new building to pay off its debts. If online doesn’t work for them, can it work for anyone?

The Mecom Group, with over 300 titles in Europe, has sold their German holdings in order to get control of their financial situation. The LA Times has made a series of lay-offs and is now channeling much of its journalistic effort into online video. Almost all of the the prominent Belgian and Dutch newspapers are firing substantial numbers of staff.
Is it THE END OF THE NEWSPAPER BUSINESS….. or is it A NEW BEGINNING?

DNA2009 brings together innovative thinkers from European and American newspapers to tell us what they are doing… what is working. What is not. Globally the newspaper business is the ‘canary in the coal mine’. The web went to text before it went to video. What happens to papers today, will happen to TV in a decade or less. Will anyone be ready? We’ll maintain this thread throughout the program of DNA2009. In several sessions you‘ll hear and learn from newspaper people like:

Peter Vandermeersch

Peter Vandermeersch, General Editor in Chief and General Director of Belgium Newspapers De Standaard and Het Nieuwsblad: He has worked for these Belgian newspaper since 1988. Despite the downturn in the newspaper business, he this year again succeeded in gaining more readers for Belgian’s most prestigious newspaper, De Standaard.

> At DNA Peter gives a Keynote speech and he will join the debate "The Established Media React".

Bart Brouwers

Bart Brouwers is a member of the Netherlands Press Council (Raad voor de Journalistiek) and was part of the recent governmental taskforce to discuss the future of print news. But above all he is the very innovative Editor in Chief of the most popular Dutch Free Sheet Spits (1.7 million readers daily) with journalists who constantly bring the news directly to their audiences by Twitter.

Wolfgang Blau

Wolfgang Blau is Editor in Chief for the online teams of Berlin’s leading daily newspaper TAGESSPIEGEL, of Germany’s highly respected and most widely read weekly quality social liberal newspaper DIE ZEIT in Hamburg and of a newsportal for teenagers, Zoomer.

Pierre Haski

Pierre Haski is Editor in Chief of the French internet newspaper Rue89, created by former “Liberation” journalists. It began publishing during the French presidential election and now has one million unique users. Rue89 has a team of journalists and a network of bloggers who create the site’s original content.

Scott Anger

Scott Anger is currently Director of Video at the Los Angeles Times, a newspaper which is rapidly making the transition to online video.

Michael Rosenblum

Michael Rosenblum has, for over 20 years now, been on the cutting edge of the digital ‘videojournalist’ revolution. During this time, he has lead a drive for videoliteracy, and the complete rethinking of how television is made and controlled. His work has included the complete transitioning of The BBC's national network (UK) to a VJ-driven model, starting in 2002.

Katharina Borchert

From the WAZ Media Group, one of the leading publishing companies in Germany, Katharina Borchert is the Chief Editor of the online newspaper DerWesten.de and also the Managing Director of WAZ NewMedia. She is responsible for the company’s online business. The group publishes 38 daily newspapers with a circulation of more than 4 million copies and has become one of the most influential media companies in Europe.

Jim Willse

is the Editor of the Newark Star Ledger (Conde Nast). The paper is undergoing a period of radical reorganisation in order to adapt to the changing digital world. Having lost 40% of their newsroom staff, the newspaper has recently reinvented itself by training journalists to make online video and launching a daily live webcast. Written off by Editor and Publisher Magazine only a few months ago the Star Ledger has been described in the American Journalism Review as the phoenix that rose from the ashes.

Over 50 top speakers

And over 50 other top speakers such as Kris Peeters (Flemish Minister President), Jodi Williams (Barack Obama’s web team), Jeff Jarvis, internationally acclaimed author of ‘What Would Google Do?’, Richard Gizbert (Al Jazeera), Jonathan MacDonald (OgilvyOne), Ben Hammersley (Wired), Pat Loughrey (BBC), and many others from the world’s leading and innovative media and broadcast companies: Google, Microsoft, Telegraaf Media Groep, MSN, Associated Press, journalism.co.uk, NOS News, Nu.nl, Reuters, Sky News, Russia Today, Al Jazeera, BBC, Digitalsunray media, Dailyme.tv, …

> DNA2009 BE THERE OR GO BROKE

Focus on Nedstat

Nedstat, European leader in website analytics, is one of the sponsors of this year’s DNA conference. Its products and services enable companies to improve the effectiveness and profitability of their online communication and business.

Nedstat’s video analytics Stream Sense^TM creates new ground breaking reports to answer critical questions about video stream usage including all important click behavior during advertising messages. Sitestat mobile analytics provide an in-depth view of mobile browsing and conversion. Detailed, real-time analytics report on phone brands and types, screen sizes, browsing behavior and mobile conversion.

Nedstat makes website analytics straightforward and accessible for users of all levels and disciplines. Products are easy to use, reports are clear and fast to access, customization is easy and services and support are personal and high quality.

Nedstat has six offices throughout Europe and employs 180 people. Their client list consists of well-established and worldwide operating companies, including in the media sector, e.g. Aberdeen Journals, Wegener Media Ventions, Endemol Nederland, RTL Nederland, VRT, Haymarket, Elsevier, Wolters Kluwer and many more.