2016 PRIMA Spring Conference

Indy Sign 550Mark your calendars for Wednesday evening through Friday noon, April 27-29, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The PRIMA Conference features discussions with public media leaders. The sessions are designed to feature less presentation and more conversation than possible at larger conferences. Come prepared to ask questions and exchange ideas with your colleagues.

The conference kicks off with a Wednesday night reception at Indianapolis Colts Grille – Peyton Manning Room featuring a Fajita Bar Buffet. Thursday night join us for a Thursday night dinner at the Indy 500 Hall of Fame at the Raceway  and a Kiss the Bricks Tour Including a photo opportunity at the finish line and pit row.

Meals included:
Wednesday – Evening Reception
Thursday – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Friday – Breakfast, Box Lunch

Registration Fee:
PRIMA Members: $325
Non-PRIMA Members: $425

Guest Tickets:
Guest Ticket for Wednesday Evening Reception: $20
Guest Ticket for Thursday Evening Dinner and Tour: $80

Complete the 2016 PRIMA REGISTRATION FORM and email it to the PRIMA Treasurer, Regina Dean at regdean@utk.edu or fax it to Regina  (865) 974-3941.  PRIMA will send you an invoice for the registration fee if payment is not returned with the form. The registration payment deadline is April 4th for early registration. A higher registration fee will apply after April 4th.

The conference hotel will be the Hilton Indianapolis at 120 West Market Street.  Register/Reserve your hotel room here. You may also call to register at: 1 (800) 774-1500.

If the Hilton Indianapolis is full, we have a small block of overflow rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn (which is an easy 2 blocks from the Hilton Indianapolis, our main hotel). People should call the front desk at the Hilton Garden Inn (317) 955-9700, ask for the PRIMA rate ($169).

Airport to Hotel Transportation

  • Taxi   about  $35
  • Green Line Shuttle   $10    multiple hotels  https://goexpresstravel.com/indy_express
    Looks like it’s about 30 minutes to the hotel, drops off across the street.
  • Uber   picks up in the cell phone lot at the airport.

The conference meetings will be hosted the Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations at the WFYI facilities. Transportation will be provided between the hotel and WFYI.

Our bus times from the hotel to WFYI –  two trips daily

  • 4/28  7:15am, 7:40am / return 4:30pm, 5pm
  • 4/29  7:40am, 8:00am

Conference Sessions

  • Radio and the Connected Car – Talk with Paul Jacobs of Jacobs Media
  • The NextRadio Project – Talk with Jeff Smulyan, Chairman, CEO and Founder of Emmis Broadcasting, leading advocate of activating FM chips in smartphones
  • Reaching New Audiences: What is the Strategy? – A discussion with some of Public Radio’s Major Program Providers: Anya Grundmann,  Vice President for Programming and Audience Development for NPR; Melinda Ward, Chief Content Officer for PRI; Nancy Cassutt, executive director, MPR News and programming; and John Barth, Chief Content Officer for PRX
  • The NPR/Station Compact: NPR Budget, Program Fees, and more – Update and discussion with Loren Mayor, Chief Operating Officer, Gemma Hooley, Vice President/Member Partnership, and Michael Lutzky, Vice President of Business Development
  • New FCC Ownership Report Rules and More – An update and Q&A with attorneys Meg Miller and Ernie Sanchez
  • The Future of NPR News – A discussion with Chris Turpin, Vice President of News and Operations and Scott Montgomery, Managing Editor, NPR Digital News
  • Capitol Hill Update – A discussion with NPR’s Mike Riksen,Vice President for Policy and Representation for NPR and the public radio system
  • NPR Digital Services and NPR One – A discussion with Zack Brand, Vice President of Digital Media and Tamar Charney, local editorial lead for NPR One.
  • What is Happening with the Interconnect? – A Public Radio Satellite System discussion with PRSS’s Michael Beach, Vice President of Distribution and Maryfran Tyler, Senior Director, Strategic Planning

Full Conference Agenda

Events and Activities

  • Wednesday night reception at Indianapolis Colts Grille – Peyton Manning Room, featuring a Fajita Bar Buffet (Located a block from the hotel)
    • Guest ticket available for $20
  • Thursday night dinner at the Indy 500 Hall of Fame at the Raceway  and a Kiss the Bricks Tour Including a photo opportunity at the finish line and pit row.
    • Guest ticket available for $80
  • A Tour of the WFYI Radio & TV facilities
  • The World Famous PRIMA Suite!
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