E-News : October 20, 2009

News of the Week

New Member Profile: XNiP

American Business Media is delighted to welcome XNiP to Association membership.

What is XNiP?

Your world is filled with loads of great information. All of those great magazine articles you wanted to clip out, the important newspaper stories, that great film, the radio broadcast you heard in the car, those Web pages, your best friend’s favorite book, that pile of business cards, the address of that romantic Italian restaurant you keep losing, etc. … Wouldn’t it be cool if you could save all of that information in one convenient place? With XNiP, you can collect and organize everything important to you with just the touch of a finger in seconds, and store it in one place. Like it? XNiP it! 

Check out XniP’s informative video here.

 

Top Media Moves

Four new directors have been elected to the FIPP management board. They are: Eija Ailasmaa, President & CEO, Sanoma Magazines BV, The Netherlands; Eckart Bollmann, Executive Board Member, Bauer Media Group, Germany; Rupert Heseltine, Deputy Chairman, Haymarket Media Group, UK; and Ulrika Saxon, CEO, Bonnier Magazines and Bonnier Tidskrifter, Sweden.

Looking to capitalize on the growth in custom content produced directly by marketers, the Custom Publishing Council announced that it has created a corporate membership program.

ALM announced the promotion of Fabio Bertoni to the new position of VP, Deputy General Counsel.

 

'What ABM Means to Me'

American Business Media is working harder than ever to enhance the value proposition of your membership, and we’re constantly encouraged by positive feedback from our members.

Here in E-news each week will be a member testimonial which reflects how individual members view the ABM value proposition.

“Business media has changed dramatically since I entered the business almost 30 years ago as an ad salesman. The days of being a print, event or e-media company are over. To succeed going forward, you must serve your audiences with the information and insight they want, when they want it, and how they want it. As the only association addressing the full array of media platforms utilized by integrated business media companies today, ABM stands as an important source of information and relationships for business media leaders.”
- John Failla, CEO, Tesoro Events LLC

 

Click here to follow ABM on Twitter!

Click here to become a fan of ABM on Facebook!

 

Job of the Week

Associate Publisher, National Law Journal, ALM

In addition to the “Job of the Week” highlighted in each issue of E-news, ABM has recently expanded its online job board to better reach out to the membership and media community with quality career opportunities. Powered by mediabistro.com, the site is updated constantly with openings across the country and enables you to search by industry and location. So what are you waiting for … Click here to begin your search! 

 

Committee Watch

Custom Media Council: October 22, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST, ABM Headquarters

Healthcare Media Council: October 28, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST, ABM Headquarters

Finance Committee: October 29, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST, ABM Headquarters

  

  

New Speakers Added to Lineup of Industry Thought Leaders
at the ABM Executive Forum
Only two weeks away ... Register now!

There are only two weeks left to reserve your seat at ABM’s all-new 2009 Executive Forum, taking place at 7 World Trade Center in New York this November 3 & 4 and featuring a powerful agenda, an impressive line-up of industry thought leaders to provide attendees with real answers for today as well as real solutions for tomorrow, and two days of valuable networking opportunities.

We have just announced some exciting new speakers who will join the already impressive lineup at this year’s conference, including:

• Steve Davis, SVP/Group Publisher, SRDS; Jeff DeBalko, President/CIO – Business Media Division, Reed Business Information; and Jane Ottenberg, President, TMG, who will join Tim Fixmer, President, Stamats Business Media, for the session, “Beyond the Advertising Budget – Accessing the Marketing Budget.”
• Jeremy Gilbert, Assistant Professor, Medill School of Journalism, who will join Steven Brill, Co-Founder, Journalism Online, and Rick Segal, Chief Executive, North America/Global Practice Leader, B-to-B, Gyro:HSR, for the session, “Meeting the Challenges of the New Competitors - Leveraging Your Brand, Your Content and Your Bottom Line.”

Click here to view the updated agenda.

For attendees outside the New York City area, we have provided a list of hotels near 7 World Trade Center at a variety of different price points, and we encourage you to consult the list as you plan your trip. Please call the hotel directly to make your reservation.

Interested in sponsoring this event? Contact Jane O’Connor at (212) 784-6367 or at j.oconnor@abmmail.com for available opportunities.

ABM's 2009 Executive Forum is sponsored by Aequor Technologies, Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority, Booz & Company, BPA Worldwide, BtoB Media Business, CDS Global, The Jordan, Edmiston Group, Inc., Readex Research, SRDS, and Worldcolor.

  

  

USPS Confirms: No Rate Increase for 2010

Good news for ABM members: Postmaster General Jack Potter announced last Thursday that there will be no rate increase for market-dominant products (including First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, Periodicals, and single-piece Parcel Post) for the 2010 calendar year. The decision comes on the heels of the Postal Service’s recent financial struggles in today’s tough economic climate.

“This is the right decision at the right time for the right reason. Promoting the value of mail and encouraging its continued use is essential for jobs, the economy, and the future of both the Postal Service and the mailing industry,” stated Potter in a statement to Postal Service customers.

The Postal Service is currently considering changes in pricing for its competitive products (Priority Mail, Express Mail, Parcel Select, and most international products), and is expected to announce a decision next month.

David Straus, ABM’s Washington counsel and postal expert, has advised ABM members who have budgeted for a small rate increase for next year to eliminate any increase from their budgets.

ABM members should also be aware that the Postal Service’s new “droop test” for flats, which takes effect in January, could cause some publications to experience a significant increase in postal charges. If you have any questions on how the droop test may affect your publications, contact David Straus at dstraus@thompsoncoburn.com.

 

  

ABM Offers 20% Member Discount on All Outsell Research

ABM is proud to announce its latest membership benefit: a 20% discount on all must-read industry reports from leading research and advisory firm Outsell, Inc. The Outsell Store houses hundreds of recent research studies delivering fact-based recommendations about markets, companies and trends in the information industry.

They include:

• B2B Trade Publishing & Company Information: 2009 Market Forecast and Trends Report
• Information Management Benchmark: 2009 State of the Function
• The Big Three in Education & Training
• Global Sourcing: Powerfully Creating Value and Driving Change in Publishing
• Legal Professionals’ Information Use, Habits, Preferences and Satisfaction

Click here to enter the Outsell Store, and enter promotional code 101209 during checkout to receive your ABM member discount.

 

  

ABM's Editorial Code of Ethics Revised to Reflect Integrated B-to-B Model

As entries begin to pour in for the industry’s most prestigious and sought-after editorial honors, ABM’s Jesse H. Neal Awards, it’s important to remember the ethical practices that guide b-to-b editors in their daily activities.

And just as this year’s Neal Awards competition has been revamped to reflect the industry’s transformation and the multi-platform suite of products utilized by editors today, ABM’s Editorial Committee has revised the Association’s Editorial Code of Ethics, now available online, so that it applies to all b-to-b events and print and digital media – including but not limited to Web sites, social networks, e-newsletters, directories, search engines, blogs, digital editions, video, podcasts and webcasts.

“Maintaining the editorial integrity of ABM member media brands has become increasingly complex and challenging, but also, perhaps, has never been more important than in today’s economic landscape,” said Whitney Sielaff, editor of Nielsen’s National Jeweler and chair of the editorial sub-committee that revised the code. “It was critical that the Editorial Committee addressed the sweeping changes in content production and consumption we’re confronting today.”

“Especially important has been the integration of delivery platforms from the perspective of both marketers and audiences,” he continued. “As a result of the Committee’s work, b-to-b editors can now rely on a clear set of guidelines specifying appropriate action for producing independent, high-quality content regardless of platform, whether print, online or face-to-face.”

Click here to access the revised Editorial Code of Ethics. More than mere guidelines, the code acts as a manual for the highest form of business conduct and serves to champion the standards that ensure the credibility of, direct the missions of, and enhance the value of all media.

  

  

Calling All B-to-B Editors!

Submit your best editorial work now for the chance to be honored with one of the b-to-b industry’s most prestigious editorial awards.

Click here for your ticket to editorial stardom, or here to download the call for entries PDF. Submissions must be postmarked by Friday, December 4.

This year, in order to reflect the transformation of the b-to-b industry, a recently-created subcommittee of ABM’s Editorial Committee explored the various outlets currently being utilized by b-to-b editors to reach their audiences, and built the list of categories for the 2010 competition accordingly. As a result, over 50% of the categories are all-new this year, so we encourage you to read the entry form carefully as you prepare your submissions.

If you don’t see the category you entered last year, click here to find out where to submit your entries for categories that are no longer part of the competition.

The Neal Awards, including the Grand Neal, will be presented at the March 2010 ceremony in New York City.

Questions about the entry process? Consult our Frequently Asked Questions, or contact Petrina Hicks at (212) 661-6360 ext. 3322 or at p.hicks@abmmail.com.

 

  

ABM Hits the Road for Los Angeles in Just One Month
Second annual L.A. Regional Program free for members!

In less than one month, on November 18, ABM will hit the road for Los Angeles, bringing its second annual L.A. Regional Program to members on the West Coast. In addition to providing an opportunity for like-minded b-to-b media professionals to network with one another, ABM's half-day regional program will address the most pressing industry issues today … all at no cost to members!

The November 18th program will feature a presentation by Jack Semler, President & CEO, and Dick Rogers, EVP & Research Director, at Readex Research, who are in the process of conducting a developmental research project aimed at providing media brands with total audience measures across all channels of the brand: reach, frequency, behaviors and influences. 

Click here to view the full agenda and speaker line-up, or to register.

ABM’s L.A. Regional Program is sponsored by Aequor Technologies.

  

  

Trade Show Industry Honors Top Achievers,
Brings the Future into Focus at TSE's Gold 100 Awards & Summit

The bright, California sunshine paled in comparison to the star power found in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, last month when the industry’s leading senior-level trade show executives attended an intensive day-long summit, meeting with business innovators and thought-leaders to tackle the industry’s burning issues and celebrate the newest crop of trade show superstars.

For participants, the Trade Show Executive (TSE) annual Gold 100 Awards & Summit was a unique opportunity to dialogue, debate, celebrate and network at the highest level, as TSE magazine, along with ABM, one of seven supporting associations and 29 sponsors, “pulled out all the stops” to provide an inspiring, content-rich experience that would set the standard for the industry.

Dialogue, Discussion and Debate

Held September 24, the fast-paced program was jam-packed with novel ideas. The summit, which consisted of panel discussions, live interviews and interactive sessions, boasted a speaker’s roster of “Who’s Who” in the trade show world, and addressed head-on the many industry topics swirling in today’s economic climate.

Futurist Watts Wacker, author of The Visionary’s Handbook, was the keynote speaker. “Your job—putting buyers and sellers together—is going to become more important than ever,” Wacker told his audience, “and now it’s going to be very different.” He challenged attendees to forego conventional wisdom in light of the systemic changes in the U.S. business environment, and introduced the intriguing concept of “deviant marketing,” which means using a strategy that runs counter to what everyone else is doing.

Others in the assembled brain trust included: Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association; Peter MacGillivray, vice president of events and communications of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA); Paul Woodward, incoming (2010) managing director of UFI – The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry; TSE president Darlene Gudea; TSE chief economist Frank Chow; Liz Crawford, show director for Advanstar Communications; Chris Meyer, vice president of convention sales for the LVCVA; Kam Diba, creative director for NBC/Universal; Aaron Bludworth, COO of the George Fern Company; Terence Donnelly, vice president of trade show markets at Experient; and John Barber, vice president of digital at Immersa Marketing.

Issues debated and discussed ran the gamut: the pressures of a volatile economy and the hope of a 2010 recovery; creating next year’s budgets during this year’s crisis; using the new technology tools; “must-do” social networking strategies; forecasting; innovation; experiential marketing; and other burning issues and controversies of the day.

Celebrating the Industry’s Star Performers

But weighty issues weren’t the only business of the day. The trade show execs were also there to honor the high achievers in their midst, which culminated at the Gold 100 Awards Gala Thursday evening. The event drew presidents, CEOs, CFOs, executive VPs, group VPs, show managers, trade show industry association leaders and others, who came together to recognize the Top 100 Trade Shows of 2008 and applaud the success of the recipients of TSE’s top honors, the Gold Grand Awards.

Gold Grand Awards went to standouts in 13 categories. While “big” mattered in some cases (the sprawling 2.3 million net square-foot CONEXPO-CON/AGG was named “Largest Show of 2008,” and also received the award for “Highest Economic Impact on a Local Economy”), shows of all sizes competed in other categories, including “Leading Brand,” “Top Show Organizer,” “Most Innovative Practices” and “Against All Odds.”

“This has not been an easy year for the trade show industry – or any other industry for that matter," said Darlene Gudea, president, Trade Show Executive Media Group. "By honoring the shows that set the Gold Standard for the exposition industry, we are not only recognizing those events that have thrived during the severe economic downturn, but also putting a spotlight on the new ideas and strategies that others can follow.”

The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was a big winner, grabbing awards for “Largest Annual Show” and “Highest Global Participation.” The show also tied with Hanley Wood’s Surfaces and the Radiological Society of North America’s RSNA Scientific Assembly & Annual Meeting for the “At the Forefront of Technology” Award.

“The International CES team is thrilled to receive these awards,” said Gary Shapiro. “We strive to make CES the most important technology event in the world, and being identified as such by an objective third party means a lot.”

Rick McConnell, president of Hanley Wood Exhibitions, says the distinction as “Technology Leader,” which Surfaces won, is both validation and incentive. “Surfaces serves a rapidly changing marketplace, and it was great to be commended for how we’ve tuned in to our audiences. This kind of endorsement is going to make us work even harder to maintain our leadership position.”

Competition was strong in other categories, too, resulting in a two-way tie for “Top Show Organizer” between Reed Exhibitions and Nielsen Business Media, both of which organized eight shows on the Gold 100 roster.

The Complete List of 2008 Grand Awards:

• Top Show Organizer: Reed Exhibitions and Nielsen Business Media. Each company managed eight Gold 100 shows. Reed organizes No. 21-ranked SHOT and 470 events worldwide. Nielsen organizes 75 events. Its ASD/AMD Trade Shows are held twice a year and were ranked 23rd and 24th.
• Largest Show: CONEXPO-CON/AGG. Spanning a whopping 2.28 million nsf, it was the largest trade show ever held in the U.S.
• Largest Annual Show: International CES. Reaching 1.85 million nsf, the perennial winner placed No. 2 on the Gold 100 list.
• Largest Semi-Annual Show: MAGIC Marketplace. The two shows, the flagship in the portfolio of owner Advanstar Communications, together total nearly 2 million nsf and 700,000 attendees from the apparel industry. The February show was No. 8 on the Gold 100 list. August ranked No. 12.
• Leading Brand: Medical Design & Manufacturing and MEDTEC. Canon Communications’ medical-device brand features ten shows worldwide. Each show includes a number of co-located events that broaden the overall scope. MD&M West ranked No. 52 on the Gold 100. MD&M East was No. 87.
• Highest Economic Impact: CONEXPO-CON/AGG. The giant show drew 143,000 attendees who had an estimated total impact on the Las Vegas economy of over $234 million.
• Most Innovative Practices: World of Concrete. The Gold 100 show, which ranked No. 16, had innovations in nearly every aspect of its operations, from recycling to space sales to attendee networking.
• Highest Global Participation: International CES. A third of its attendees – about 28,000 people – came from 141 nations outside the U.S. The association used an aggressive outreach to draw overseas attendees.
• At the Forefront of Technology: A three-way tie among International CES, Surfaces and the RSNA Scientific Assembly & Annual Meeting. At the International CES, visitor usage of MyCES search-and-planning platform soared. Twittering began eight months before the show. Surfaces, ranked No.40 on the Gold 100, offered the Zeppelin interface application, which linked the show Web site to the attendees’ personal planning portal. RSNA Scientific Assembly & Annual Meeting offered RFID badges, which provided extensive attendee tracking that translated into rich data on prospective buyers for exhibitors and floor traffic for the organizers. The show placed No. 35 on the Gold 100 and the largest in the Medical & Healthcare sector.
• Leadership in Green Initiatives: Natural Products Expo East (ranked No. 99 on the Gold 100) and West (ranked No. 65). The Colorado-based company was heralded for its extensive planning with an eye on making the show as green as possible. Management focused on recycling as well as other details such as travel distances by sources.
• Against All Odds: Accessories, The Show. This once-struggling show, acquired by Business Journals Inc. in 1997, is now thriving in the competitive New York and Las Vegas markets. It runs seven times annually and brings in about 60,000 attendees from 60 countries. That’s roughly a 20-fold improvement in just over a decade.
• Staying Power: The NAMM Show. This music instrument industry expo entered its 108th year ranked No. 33 on the Gold 100. It is the show that means business: a significant share of industry business transacted annually occurs during the show. NAMM, The International Music Products Association, invests a big part of its show profits into programs to develop attendance.
• Fastest-Growing Show: Mid-America Trucking Show. Exhibit Management Associates, Inc. held its largest show ever in 2008 with 869,149 nsf, up more than 103,000 nsf from 2007. Increased marketing and growth in the trucking industry contributed to a move-up in the Gold 100 rankings from No. 16 in 2007 to No. 15.

 

  

Less Than Two Weeks Left to Enter the 12th Annual Littleford Awards!

If you or your organization has produced an extraordinary corporate community service program within the past year, you have just two weeks left to submit your work for recognition in ABM’s 12th Annual William D. Littleford Awards. The entry deadline is Monday, November 2 … Click here to enter today!

Named after and established by the late William D. Littleford (who was chairman emeritus of BPI Communications, Inc. until his passing in May), 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.

Through the course of his storied career, Littleford was intent on helping those in need and worked to recognize and celebrate, through media, those who made extraordinary efforts in their community. He established these awards for several purposes: to raise the visibility of the business media editorial product; to encourage increased coverage and recognition of community service success stories; and to motivate other organizations to apply such solutions in their own communities.

The awards will be presented at the 56th Annual Jesse H. Neal Business Journalism Awards, next March in New York City.

Click here for more information, and here to view the 2008 Littleford Award winners for inspiration as you prepare your submission.

                                                                                                                                  

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