E-News : October 15, 2008
News of the Week
Media Professionals Kick Off October with ABM's Media Mixer
In between bites of mini burgers and sips of those complimentary cocktails, media industry professionals in the b-to-b space (and beyond) chatted the night away at Redemption Bar & Grill in New York City on October 6 at ABM’s latest Media Mixer.
With ABM’s mixers building quite the reputation for attracting young professionals and seasoned media veterans alike, it was no surprise that last Monday night’s mixer drew in a diverse crowd from all parts of the media industry. The dimly-lit back bar provided an intimate setting for the night’s attendees, from companies such as MediaPost, Mediaedge, Qwikker and Men’s Health magazine, to catch up with familiar faces and meet new ones. Business cards were exchanged, photos were taken and the networking was in full effect, with nearly everyone sticking around until long after their drinks ran dry.
Showing it pays to drop your business card in the bucket, ABM gave away the highly-coveted prize, this time a $50 American Express gift card, to lucky winner Matthew Caldecutt of Trylon SMR (and repeat mixer attendee!).
Just in case you missed out on the media-mixing action this month, no need to worry - ABM will be bringing you another installment in November! So stay tuned for the details, and in the meantime, e-mail Wally Koval at w.koval@abmmail.com to get your name on the list for Media Mixer updates. You can also visit us on Facebook to explore ABM’s latest efforts for young professionals.
Click here to join American Business Media on Facebook!
ABM Resources
2008 Media Revenue & Cost Report
Results free for survey participants
American Business Media’s newest piece of research, the 2008 Media Revenue & Cost Report, provides a wealth of valuable benchmarking information on revenues and expenses in the b-to-b publishing industry. The survey was compiled by Bay Sherman & Craig, LLP/Media Consulting Group, a firm that provides financial, operational consulting and accounting services to the publishing and trade show industries. The 2007 data includes 225 titles from 28 companies.
ABM encourages its members to take advantage of this important and useful member benefit as you analyze your operations and plan your budgets for the future. The survey data is free to participants, while non-participants can purchase a copy.
For more information, or to request a copy of the survey, please contact John Holden at j.holden@abmmail.com.
Event Report
ABM Presents Important Insights from its Largest Research Study to Date THIS NOVEMBER!
American Business Media has commissioned global management consulting firm Booz & Company (formerly Booz Allen) to conduct a major industry study exploring the three most critical issues facing our membership during this period of transformation: content optimization, technological needs and organizational structure.
Booz & Company has already interviewed 28 media member companies, and 14 more have been scheduled. In addition, all ABM media member companies will be asked to participate in an online survey so that all will have the opportunity to be heard, ensuring a robust study.
“Strategic insights on the transformation of our media business from the Booz & Co. engagement will explore new possibilities for all members to diversify and grow their market leadership in today's rapidly-changing digital world,” said ABM Chairman Gary Fitzgerald, chairman/CEO of Meister Media Worldwide. “Exposure to the study’s findings, from keynote addresses to break-out and networking sessions, make this year's Top Management Meeting a must-attend for ABM members.”
All member CEOs and their key staff members should plan to be present when ABM unveils the study at its 2008 Top Management Meeting, this November 17-19, in Chicago. Because this is THE ABM meeting you can’t afford to miss, we’ve priced it so you can! (First ABM member attendee: $950. Each additional company attendee: $525.)
Join us for the unveiling of this study, and gain course and direction for working through the industry’s difficult transitional period. Specialized break-out sessions will allow you to choose your path for the future.
For more information, contact Mark Rothman at m.rothman@abmmail.com or 212.681.1106.
ABM Announces 2008 Littleford Award Finalists
American Business Media is proud to announce the five finalists for the 2008 William D. Littleford Awards: Big Five Tours and Expeditions, Bob Nilsson, BP, Home Builders Blitz and HOPE International. Each finalist, nominated by an ABM member company, represents outstanding dedication to corporate community service:
- Big Five Tours and Expeditions (nominated by NORTHSTAR Travel Media’s Travel Weekly) recently launched a charitable foundation, “Spirit of Big Five,” to act as a formal entity to support the various causes the company and its employees have been involved in for the past 19 years.
- Bob Nilsson (nominated by McGraw-Hill’s Engineering News-Record), retired president and now senior advisor to Turner International, a unit of Turner Corp., recently created the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Second Chance Scholarship, which raises funds to pay the difference between what the VA provides for amputee vets each month and what it really costs to live – while recipients attend school and receive help to begin a career in real estate, design or construction.
- BP, plc (nominated by Nielsen Business Media’s Convenience Store News) unveiled Helios House, the first LEED-certified gas station in the U.S. This unique store is not only loaded with energy-saving and environmentally-friendly features, but is also used as a classroom for BP employees to educate consumers about sustainability and climate change.
- Home Builders Blitz (nominated by Hanley Wood’s Builder) is the largest single building event in Habitat for Humanity’s history, and has built more than 780 homes since its inception. Bringing professional builders into Habitat’s work has allowed the organization to serve even more families in need.
- HOPE International (nominated by Hanley Wood’s Builder) is a small micro-credit organization which has disbursed nearly 100,000 loans to more than 50,000 clients in 12 countries, which recipients use to start businesses. HOPE also provides clients with savings services, business training and, in some areas, healthcare.
Winners, recognized for contributing their time, money and talents to community-based initiatives, will be announced at a gala luncheon on November 19, during ABM’s Top Management Meeting in Chicago. The Grand Littleford Award winner will receive a $3,000 donation from the Littleford Foundation. Click here to reserve your seat now.
Established by William D. Littleford, the awards recognize companies, organizations or individuals that are actively involved in community service programs geared towards alleviating critical social problems, whose efforts were covered in ABM member news outlets and nominated by editors/publishers of Association members.
The Littleford Awards strive to raise the visibility of the business media editorial product; encourage increased coverage and recognition of community service success stories; and motivate other organizations to apply such solutions in their own communities.
For more information about the Littlefords, contact Debbie Humphreys at 212.661.6360 ext. 3318 or d.humphreys@abmmail.com.
Join ABM On the Road for its First International Business Media Conference in India
To support ABM’s new position as the global b-to-b association and its strategic initiative to help members grow globally, ABM is delighted to produce, in partnership with BPA Worldwide and Cross Border Media, the first international business media conference in India, taking place February 12-13, 2009, at the Taj Mansingh Hotel in New Delhi.
Why India?
- India supports over 15% of the world’s population.
- India is the world’s largest democracy.
- English is a primary language spoken in India.
- India’s economy is the fourth largest in the world.
- Untapped markets lead to new areas for growth for b-to-b information companies.
The conference will provide a forum for business media companies around the globe to meet with their Indian counterparts, forming mutually-beneficial alliances and exchanging best practices.
Hear from some of India’s leading b-to-b publishers and learn how you can cash in on this highly-profitable market through a variety of methods, including licensing, joint ventures, acquisitions, wholly-owned subsidiaries and outsourcing.
Click here for more information or to participate. Attendance is limited and will be grated on a first come, first serve basis, so don’t delay!
Government Affairs
The Latest Buzz on Net Neutrality
During ABM's Top Management Meeting next month, a recently-approved recommended net neutrality policy by the Information Policy Committee (IPC) will be submitted to the Government Affairs Committee (GAC) and the executive committee of ABM's board for approval.
Net neutrality is defined as the idea that content owners and internet customers should be assured unhindered access to the lawful content of their choice without interference by internet providers based on the content's source, ownership or destination.
Government regulators such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as well as Congress, are carefully looking at the future of the Internet, including consumer rights, free-flow of content, competition and the deployment of many technologies available to both users and service providers.
ABM believes that the government should establish uniform regulations that assure consumers are able to receive non-discriminatory access to the lawful Internet content of their choice, in accord with the level of service to which they subscribe. In turn, content providers should be able to ensure their customers, regardless of the Internet service provider with which they contract, receive unhindered access to important information, and those customers in return, should be able to receive that information without discrimination based on that content or destination.
eMedia Update
ABM Video Network Checks the Roadmap with Matt Egol of Booz & Company
The word is out about “A Roadmap for Profitable Revenue Growth,” the new study the Association commissioned global management consulting firm Booz & Company to conduct on behalf of the business media industry. Starting at 9:00 tomorrow morning, visit www.AmericanBusinessMedia.com and tune into the ABM Video Network to watch Matt Egol, partner at Booz & Company, discuss some of the specifics and goals of this new study, and how the conclusions will benefit ABM members.
Where did the idea for the study originate? This summer, Bob Carrigan, CEO of IDG Communications, led a group of C-Level executives – comprised of members of ABM’s Strategic Planning Committee – down to Washington, DC to discuss the most important tactical challenges faced by ABM media member companies today.
Based on their input, ABM tasked Booz & Company (formerly known as Booz Allen) to conduct this major new research initiative that explores three of the most critical issues facing the Association’s member companies: content optimization, technological needs and organizational structure.
Matt will be on hand to help present the findings of this study at ABM’s Top Management Meeting in Chicago next month, but you can catch a quick preview of what kind of important conclusions the study will reveal on the ABM Video Network!
Remember, at www.AmericanBusinessMedia.com, you can access any of our video content on-demand. Just click on the title in the list of videos beneath the Dragonfly player on ABM’s homepage, to watch our content when and how you want!
Remember: Watching the ABM Video Network requires you to update to version 9 of Adobe’s Flash Player. And it’s easy to download: Just click here to access the update and download it to your computer!
Research Central
The Importance of Advertising During Times of Economic Uncertainty ... It's a Fact
During a recession, reduction in input costs combined with the increased marketing effectiveness of a proactive firm should result in improved business performance.*
That’s just one of many significant findings from American Business Media’s recently-produced PowerPoint presentation, “The Importance and Value of B2B Advertising During Times of Economic Uncertainty.”
ABM recognizes that some marketers are concerned about investing in advertising during this current period of economic uncertainty. To address these concerns, this presentation summarizes the wealth of data that has been accumulated over time, clearly demonstrating that companies who either steadily continued or aggressively increased their advertising experienced overall growth as well as continual growth past the period of economic uncertainty.
* Pennsylvania State University: ISBM Report, Raji Sriniva, Gary Lilien, and Arvind Rangaswamy, 2002
Did You Know?
Of all consumers, Gen Y and Gen X consumers spend the least amount of time reading print magazines and newspapers and watching TV.
Find out what sources the Millennials, young professionals ages 18-24, use to seek information on a product or service, and more, by checking out ABM’s latest research study, “Young Professionals as Decision Makers,” and be sure to pass it along to your colleagues.
ABM continues to make strides in raising the visibility and stature of the business information industry among tomorrow's leaders. Therefore, in addition to this research, our monthly "Outside the Cube" video broadcast and blog series, both featuring Wally Koval, target the Millennium generation. Furthermore, ABM's monthly Media Mixers bring young professionals together for cocktails, connections and career advice.
Click here to check out ABM's latest research on young professionals.
B-to-B Research Study Reaches Milestone
The recently-conducted Forrester consulting study, commissioned by American Business Media, has generated more than 50,000 visits and 14,000-plus downloads. Thousands of b-to-b media professionals are benefiting from this critical research study … So what are you waiting for?
The study simultaneously examined more than 800 marketers who operate in the business media space and 800 end-users to provide an incredibly accurate and insightful assessment of the current state and value of b-to-b media. It’s one of the most comprehensive studies ever done in the business media space, and industry professionals are finding it an invaluable tool for analyzing the trends and impact of b-to-b media on both end users/decision-makers and marketers.
ABM’s Forrester consulting study conveys just how important industry-specific media properties are. Find below six versions of the study available to best fit your specific needs:
- The complete version
- The complete version broken out by the 21 industry categories
- One ideal for brief presentations at agencies and to clients
- One confirming the power of industry-specific Magazines
- One confirming the power of industry-specific Events
- One confirming the power of industry-specific Digital Media
Also take advantage of our webinar tutorial and learn how to best utilize the study’s findings, especially valuable during this time of economic uncertainty. Act now and access this important industry research, or contact Richard Bertin at r.bertin@abmmail.com for more information.
Top Media Moves
Nstein Technologies announced the release of Nstein Technologies’ WCM 4.0. The new release, based on publisher feedback, is designed to increase editorial productivity by providing intuitive tools for the creation and management of complex sites and microsites.
Putman Media has entered into a partnership with JobTarget, a specialist in job board development and management, to create online career centers.
The McGraw-Hill Companies announced it has been named to the top 10 on this year's list of 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers by Working Mother magazine. This is the second year in a row the company has earned a spot in the top 10 and the fourth consecutive year it has been honored as a "100 Best Company" by the magazine.
Anne Houghton has joined Freeman as VP, creative accounts. Houghton comes to Freeman with more than 20 years of design and management experience in the exhibit and event industry.
Penton Media has named former Thomson Financial president and CEO Sharon Rowlands as CEO. Rowlands will replace John French, who announced he was stepping down from the chief executive position in July.
Event Calendar
Streaming Video 360:
Unlock Your Revenue and Profit Potential with Streaming Video
December 3, 2008, Radisson Martinique Hotel, New York City
Are you offering streaming video as part of your digital offerings? If not, you are missing out on its potential to extend your brand, engage and add value for your audience, and most importantly, boost your revenues.
Join American Business Media and BtoB/Media Business during this one-day event and hear case studies from b-to-b leaders in online video – from smaller publishers to large – about how they’re driving their revenues with this platform; find out which business models will help you bring in revenues for your brand; determine the infrastructure and talent you need for your organization to take this technology to market; learn from advertisers on the migration of their dollars to video and how to capture your share; and much more!
PLUS: For those charged with executing this technology, don't miss our must-attend breakout sessions on the creation, shooting, editing and production of video!
Click here for more information …
Member Event of the Week
The McGraw-Hill Companies'
Outlook 2009 Industry Forecasts and Trends Executive Conference
October 22-23, 2008, Capital Hilton, Washington, DC
Click here to find out more.
To see your event featured here, please contact us at info@abmmail.com.
Job of the Week
Digital Ad Sales Rep, Questex Media Group
Committee Watch
The following is a list of upcoming ABM Committee and Council meetings. All meetings are at ABM's New York offices, and time listed is EST, unless otherwise noted.
October 20, 2008, 3:00 PM EST
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