From AI & Blockchain to Future of Mobile & The Economist’s “Marketing Holy Grail” -- Here’s How the FUSE Program is Shaping Up

Last week I discussed the format of the FUSE tech summit we’ll be holding in Philly September 12-14. One key component of FUSE is the forward-looking general sessions, where media technology experts and peers at media and publishing companies will share high-level insights and practical use cases.

Below are some highlights from the program. Learn more about FUSE here. See if you qualify here (or pass along to a colleague you think should attend.)

Opening Keynote: From Here to 2020

This keynote session will look at the state of the publishing industry and the many challenges CDOs, CMOs, and CTOs are facing. In this session, FUSE Conference Chair Jeffrey Litvack will review the market dynamics that are affecting our industry and the new types of investment that will be needed in marketing, content creation, and ad tech to provide growth. Jeffrey will explore the technology-driven world we live in and what publishing in 2020 will look like.

Futurist Keynote: How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing the Media Business

Director of Syracuse University’s New Media Management Graduate Program Stephen Masiclat will explore how artificial intelligence (machine learning) will impact the media industry and the opportunities it presents media businesses. Steve will draw upon his academic research as well as his experience advising for media businesses and investment firms, touching on the implications of AI on blockchain technology, IoT, telematics, adaptive content, and more.

Publisher Spotlights

In a series of Publisher Spotlights, fellow publishers will present specific use cases based around the three tech themes at FUSE -- Content, Marketing & Data, and Ad Tech. Among others, The Economist's Subrata Mukherjee will share his vision for creating a best-in-brand, data-driven marketing “Holy Grail.” Todd Unger, CDO & CMO for Daily Racing Form, will share how the company has integrated data and live-streaming video into its content offering.

Publisher Spotlights: The Evolution of Content

Content is evolving in leaps and bounds. Data and automation have enabled publishers to deliver ever more personalized content experiences. Meanwhile, publishers are experimenting with new platforms and tools for producing and distributing content and interacting with audiences. During this session, we’ll hear from three publishers on specific use cases of how they’re evolving to stay on the cutting edge of content that attracts and engages audiences.

Publisher Spotlights: The Ad Tech Revolution

From the challenges of scaling native advertising, to viewability, to finding the right programmatic position, publishers are in a constant battle to keep pace with advances in ad technology and economics. In this session, we’ll hear how leading publishers are setting themselves up programmatically, improving targeting abilities, working with social platforms, and more.

Publisher Spotlights: Taking Data to the Next Level

Audience data is at the crux of every publishing and media company’s business and by now most leading publishers have made sophisticated data manipulation a priority. Yet many are still experimenting with the most effective ways to capitalize on and monetize their data assets. We’ll hear two case studies of publishers that have used data to grow their businesses in concrete ways.

Fireside Chat with Google: Mobile World, Mobile Content

For many, reading on the mobile web is a slow and frustrating experience -- but it doesn’t have to be that way. In early 2016, Google launched the Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) Project, an open source initiative that embodies the vision that publishers can create mobile optimized content once and have it load instantly everywhere. Here, Google’s Craig DiNatali will discuss the importance of speed on mobile, how the AMP project has fared so far, and what opportunities and challenges publishers should be aware of for the future of mobile publishing and monetization.

See full FUSE agenda here.