MIT Enterprise Forum of NYC Presents - Hyperlocal News: A New of World of Journalism, Sustainable Business Models, and the $30 Billion Local Ad Market - Panelists from The New York Times, Patch Media and TheAlternativePress.com February 24, 2011

Newspaper content will greatly change in the upcoming years. The idea of "virtual town squares" appears promising. Opportunities abound for those entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, journalists, advertisers, politicians and technology companies with a strong LOCAL hook, looking to get into the hot up-and-coming field of “helping communities discover the news of everyday life.”

MIT ENTERPRISE FORUM OF NYC presents:

Hyperlocal News: A New of World of Journalism, Sustainable Business Models, and the $30 Billion Local Ad Market

Featuring a panel discussion with hyperlocal pioneers from The New York Times, Patch Media and TheAlternativePress.com

Overview: With the steep decline in advertising revenue for hard copy newspapers and increase in expenses, the world of journalism is undergoing massive changes in short order including the advent and surge in hyperlocal news.

As everyone from the largest of media companies to independent local hyperlocal news sites seek to capitalize on the $30B local advertising market, which hyperlocal business models are succeeding and why?

How will hyperlocal news change the world of journalism?

Among the issues discussed:

• Why Hyperlocal News is poised to become a major business very soon.

• The changing journalism business model. How we got where we are and what does the future hold what kinds of companies will be winners, what business models, incumbents versus upstarts.

• How technological advances have caused profound changes in the world of journalism and what the future of technology might hold for the profession of journalism, including mobile devices/iPad and including economy of scale in content and ad sales fueled by technology.

• How will the changing world of journalism impact advertising and marketing for businesses throughout the country and the world?

• How will recent and developing transactions affect this space (such as Groupon’s $6B offer from Google, rejected)?

Panel Moderator:
- Stephen J. Balog, Chief Investment Officer, Executive Vice President, Beacon Trust

Panel Speakers:
- Jim Schachter, Associate Managing Editor of The New York Times/NYTimes.com
- Michael Shapiro, Founder and CEO, TheAlternativePress.com
- Warren Webster, President of Patch Media

DATE:
Thursday, February 24th, 2011

TIME:
5:30pm - 6:00pm: Reception
6:00pm - 7:30pm: Panel Discussion
7:30pm - 8:30pm: Networking

PLACE:
The New York Times/NYTimes.com
The New York Times Building
620 Eighth Avenue (40 - 41 Streets)
New York, NY 10018-1405

ADVANCE REGISTRATION: www.mitef-nyc.org

COST:
Free to members of MIT Enterprise Forum.
$50 non-members, $10 extra at the door.
OR join the MIT Enterprise Forum for an annual fee of $100 and attend 12 months of events for FREE.