Niche Media Conference, April 8-10, 2026 ORLANDO, FL.
Industry-leading keynote speakers, awesome networking events, and 5 tracks of learning and inspiration:
Publisher Strategy, Ad Sales Training, Audience/Marketing Growth, Digital Strategy, and Editorial Strategies Track.
Wednesday, April 8, 2026:
9am-4pm
Show Office and Registration Open — PICK UP YOUR BADGE HERE!
Jr. Ballroom on 1 foyer
9am-11am
Sponsors Set-up in Jr. Ballroom Foyer
Jr. Ballroom on 1 Foyer
1pm-1:30pm
NICHE KICKOFF CELEBRATION AND MEGA PRIZE GIVEAWAY: Get the information you need to make the most of your Orlando Niche experience and meet your fellow attendees, PLUS win over $2,000 in cash and prizes on the Niche Wheel!
Jr. Ballroom on 1
1:30pm-2pm
Sponsor Tour Card Break: Meet your next resource partner & get those Sponsor Tour Cards signed for a chance to win a free pass to the Niche Media Conference in 2027! Coffee sponsored by: Progress Printing Plus
Jr. Ballroom foyer on 1
FIVE EXTENDED Breakout Tracks to Choose From...
2pm-4pm
Breakout #1 – Audience Development and Marketing Strategies for New Audience (and Revenue!): LAUNCH IT!! Ready to spark new revenue growth and take your brand to the next level? This fast-paced breakout brings together three industry-leading experts who will show you how to launch ideas that actually move the needle. From bold new audience growth strategies to the power of streaming TV ads to the launch of new audience research, you will leave with fresh concepts you can launch the moment you get home. If you want practical ideas, real-world examples, and inspiration to charge into your next quarter, this is the session for you.
Jodie Cook – Baxter Research, Ken Campbell – AdCellerant
2pm-4pm
Breakout #2 – Media Sales Training with Ryan Dohrn: Led by BILLION-DOLLAR sales coach Ryan Dohrn, this is the best Conference foundation for experienced sales executives and media newbies alike. Covering all media sales markets, with updated and NEW information: Top 5 AI tools to help you book 35% more meetings, 7 Ways to Avoid Being Ghosted by Advertisers, 10 Proven Prospecting Email Templates, and more! Plus, quick tactics presented by ad sales experts from SRDS. Bring your media sales questions and challenges to this fast-paced training afternoon!
Hosted by: MediaOS
Ryan Dohrn, Founder & CEO at Brain Swell Media
2pm-4pm
Breakout #3 – Consumer Publishers Roundtable: For Consumer, Hobbyist, and City & Regional Publishers Only! Join fellow publishers for an energizing “open mic” session designed to spark ideas, solve challenges, and share what’s really working in your niche. Bring your questions, your wins, and your frustrations. This is your space to brainstorm and connect. Guided by experienced moderators, discussions will explore fresh revenue opportunities, smart AI applications, inflation impacts, digital strategy shifts, evolving readership habits, standout “Best Of” programs, sales success stories, print cost management, and more. It’s an inspiring, idea-packed afternoon that will jump-start conversations and connections.
Moderated by
Jon and Erin Westman, Publishers of Coastal Style
2pm-4pm
Breakout #4 – B2B Publishers Roundtable: For business audience and association publishers. Bring your niche-specific questions, brainstorming, and venting to this “open mic” afternoon with your peers. Your moderator will help guide topics like: sales teams, staff hiring, remote work, print costs, digital tools, overhead, new revenue, market shifts, financing, events and more. Excellent way to get the ideas flowing and make peer connections to keep chatting with for the rest of the week.
Moderated by Nancy O’Brien, Aviation International News
2pm-4pm
Breakout #5 – Editorial and Design Roundtable:This editorial and design feedback group is back by popular demand! Open to Editors, Designers, and their related staff to discuss and strategize around topics ranging from copyright issues, custom content creation, AI impact on graphics and media facts, outsourcing, writing amazing headlines, writing for Google/SEO, what great design means to revenue, balancing workloads, how to do more with less staff, and so much more! YOU drive the conversation with your editorial peers in this dedicated afternoon seminar.
The SAGE of all things media, Bo Sacks, will moderate this session.
4pm-6pm
SPEED PUBLISHING NETWORKING EVENT AND PARTY
HOSTED BY PUBLICATION PRINTERS!
This is a Niche attendee event favorite! Think speed dating with a unique twist. This is the ultimate game of networking, fun, and happy hour drinks. DO NOT MISS this fun meet & greet game before you head out for dinner! 99% positive feedback from past attendees!
Jr. Ballroom on 1
6pm – Dinner on your own. After dinner, meet at the lobby bar for drinks and fun.
Thursday, April 9, 2026:
8am-4pm
Show Office and Registration Open — PICK UP YOUR BADGE HERE!
Jr. Ballroom on 1
8am-9am
Caffeinate and Circulate! Breakfast on your own. Coffee, sponsored by Progress Printing Plus, is served as you prep for your day at Niche! Click for a list of resort restaurants.
Jr. Ballroom foyer on 1
9am-9:45am
MORNING PRIZE GIVEAWAY AND POWER KEYNOTE: The Adventure Crews: From YouTube Dreams to Real-World Impact. Discover how Cole and Emily, The Adventure Crews, built a worldwide audience and captured the cover of Attitudes and Latitudes Magazine. This keynote explores their journey from backyard adventures to international storytelling success—and what media creators can learn from their rise.
Jr. Ballroom on 1
9:45am-10am
Sponsor Tour Card Break: Meet your next resource partner & get those Sponsor Tour Cards signed for a chance to win a free pass to the Niche Media Conference in 2027! Coffee sponsored by: Progress Printing Plus
Jr. Ballroom foyer on 1
FIVE Breakout Tracks to Choose From...
10am-11am
Breakout #1 – PUBLISHER STRATEGY TRACK: The Journey at Energy Central: From Media Company to Community Platform: Discover how Energy Central transformed from a traditional editorial brand into a vibrant community powered by user content and guided by expert community managers. Learn what it takes to make the same shift in your own media business.
Track Host: Publication Printers
Audra Grazga, Publisher and Founder, Summit Path Advisory
10am-11am
Breakout #2 – SALES TRAINING TRACK: Pipeline Power: From Prospects to Profit: Turn chaos into clarity. Learn how top media sellers build, track, and manage pipelines that actually convert. Discover practical systems to prioritize prospects, shorten sales cycles, and create predictable revenue.
Track Host: MediaOS
Nancy O’Brien – Aviation International News
10am-11am
Breakout #3 – AUDIENCE & MARKETING GROWTH TRACK: Registration, Membership, and Subscription. What’s the difference? The words sound similar, but the strategies are not. Learn how to design programs that attract, engage, and retain audiences through the right mix of registration, membership, and subscription models.
Greg Krehbiel, Founder, The Krehbiel Group
10am-11am
BREAKOUT #4 – DIGITAL STRATEGY TRACK: The Reels Deal: Boosting Engagement through Short Videos. Reels are not just for influencers. Publishers and brands are using them to grow audiences and drive clicks. Learn how to create compelling Reels that spark conversation and loyalty.
Richard Makinson, Publisher, Utah Stories
10am-11am
BREAKOUT #5 – EDITORIAL AND DESIGN TRACK: Next Level Newsletters. Newsletters are changing fast. Personalization, smarter segmentation, and new content formats are reshaping what drives growth. This session shares the latest strategies media companies are using to grow lists, improve engagement, and create stronger audience loyalty. If you want fresh ideas to elevate your newsletter results, this is your session.
Zac O’Brien, Publisher, ActiveNORCAL – Zac McCaan, MediaOS
11am-11:30a
Sponsor Tour Card Break: Meet your next resource partner & get those Sponsor Tour Cards signed for a chance to win a free pass to the Niche Media Conference in 2027! Coffee sponsored by: Progress Printing Plus
Jr. Ballroom foyer on 1
11:30am-12:30pm
Breakout #1 – PUBLISHER STRATEGY TRACK: The New Content Gold Rush: Protecting and Licensing Your Editorial Data. AI companies need quality content. This session, led by the Magazine Coalition, explains how publishers can protect their work, negotiate fair licensing, and build new revenue streams from their data.
Track Host: Publication Printers
Darryl Wiggins and the Magazine Coalition Team
11:30am-12:30pm
Breakout #2 – SALES TRAINING TRACK: Why Is Selling Digital So Hard? Learn What 92% of Salespeople Don’t Know. Selling digital often feels harder than it should. Many teams assume the challenge is a lack of technical knowledge, but the real issue is the way we approach the sale. In this session, digital sales expert Shannon Kinney breaks down why digital feels complicated, why traditional media is caught in the same cycle, and what top performers are doing differently. You will leave with a clear and simple approach to selling digital that builds confidence, removes confusion, and helps you win more business. Track Host: MediaOS
Shannon Kinney, CEO, DreamLocal
11:30am-12:30pm
Breakout #3 – AUDIENCE & MARKETING GROWTH TRACK: Supercharge Your Subscription Strategy: Discover how leading media companies build systems that attract, convert, and retain paying subscribers. This session walks you through the tools + tactics to keep revenue flowing month after month.
Natalie Sorge, NPS Media
11:30am-12:30pm
Breakout #4 – DIGITAL STRATEGY TRACK. Building Community on YouTube: 8 Tips that Work. Discover how to create deeper connections with your audience using YouTube. From comments and playlists to live chats and storytelling, this session gives you tools to grow a thriving community around your channel.
Cole and Emily Crews, The Adventure Crews from Youtube
11:30am-12:30pm
Breakout #5 – EDITORIAL AND DESIGN TRACK: Generative AI, SEO, and Policy: What Every Media Team Needs to Know. AI is changing how we write, rank, and work. Learn how to use generative AI responsibly, create SEO-friendly content that performs, and establish clear AI policies that protect your brand and your people.
David Arkin, Founder, Arkin Consulting
12:30-2pm
LUNCH and POWER KEYNOTE: Value Streams to Media Company Revenue Success:
Publisher, Dr. Jeffrey Magee, has led a highly successful niche publication for 34 years that has attracted advertising dollars from Mercedes-Benz, Marriott Hotels, High Point University, and more, phenomenal access to content contributors, along with paid subscriptions of a circulation of more than 417K Quarterly readers. In this session, he will help every member of your media team discover new ways to monetize your media product and uncover revenue opportunities that are often overlooked. Dr. Jeff will explore proven frameworks such as the 911 411 311 model and Whole Person Whole Account thinking to help align sales, marketing, content, and leadership around smarter growth. Designed for anyone involved in building a media brand, this session challenges the idea that our medium is declining and shows how media companies can continue to grow and profit.
Jr. Ballroom on 1
2pm-2:30pm
Sponsor Tour Card Break: Meet your next resource partner & get those Sponsor Tour Cards signed for a chance to win a free pass to the Niche Media Conference in 2027! Coffee sponsored by: Progress Printing Plus
Jr. Ballroom foyer on 1
2:30pm-4pm
Breakout #1 – PUBLISHER STRATEGY TRACK: The AI Road Ahead: From Caution to Confidence: AI is not just a tool, it is a vehicle for transformation. Explore how publishers, editors, and sales professionals can move from hesitation to confident adoption with practical strategies that deliver results.
Track Host: Publication Printers
David Arkin, Founder, Arkin Consulting
2:30pm-4pm
Breakout #2 – SALES TRAINING TRACK: Bundle Smart, Sell More: From print to pixels, bundling works. Learn how to create multimedia sales packages that increase advertiser spend, strengthen renewals, and make selling easier than ever.
Track Host: MediaOS
Zac Reynolds, Director of National Advertising, Times Media Group
2:30pm-4pm
Breakout #3 – AUDIENCE & MARKETING GROWTH TRACK: The Future of Subscriber Growth: How to Rapidly Build Your Audiences Using Meta, AI, and Automations. Discover a proven, step-by-step system for growing newsletter and magazine subscribers using Meta’s newest tools, AI, and Zapier automations. Learn how top publishers are turning social audiences into loyal readers faster and more efficiently than ever.
Scott McIntosh, Founder, Digital Treehouse
2:30pm-4pm
Breakout #4 – DIGITAL STRATEGY TRACK: The Branded Content Blueprint. Branded content has become one of the strongest revenue opportunities for modern media companies, yet many teams still struggle with how to launch it, price it, and sell it the right way. Join digital sales expert Shannon Kinney for a clear and practical look at what makes branded content work. You will learn how to build ethical branded content programs that serve your advertisers, protect your audience, and generate meaningful revenue.
Shannon Kinney. CEO, DreamLocal.
2:30pm-4pm
Breakout #5 – EDITORIAL AND DESIGN TRACK: AI and the Future of Publishing Earthquake: the shape of things to come. The future of publishing and content consumption will belong to AI agents. The consumer / reader won’t go out into the digital world to find content, but will have a personalized agent that seeks, curates, transforms, and compiles the content for him. It will be somewhat like the news feed I get when I swipe left on my phone, but more personalized
and more comprehensive.
Greg Krehbiel, Founder, The Krehbiel Group
4pm-4:30pm
Sponsor Tour Card Break or go freshen up for the Networking event in 30-mins.
Jr. Ballroom foyer on 1
4:30pm-6pm
January Spring Networking Extravaganza. Food, drinks, meet people, explore new ideas, prizes, fun.
Jr. Ballroom on 1
6pm – TBD Dinner on your own. Meet at the lobby bar after dinner for drinks and fun.
Friday, April 10, 2026:
8am-Noon
Show Office and Registration Open — PICK UP YOUR BADGE HERE!
Jr. Ballroom on 1
8am-9am
Caffeinate and Circulate! Breakfast on your own. Coffee, sponsored by Progress Printing Plus, is served as you prep for Niche day #2. Click for a list of resort restaurants.
Jr. Ballroom foyer on 1
9am-10am
FRIDAY Power Keynote #1: Niche Your Product IP For Top Dollar, Increased Circulation & Greater Attraction: Ready for me from Publisher Dr. Jeffrey Magee? After yesterday’s power keynote… come ready to grow even more! In this session, you will learn how to immediately differentiate your media vehicle from AI-driven and social media-driven content that many believe has replaced the need for traditional media and why that belief is flawed. Using the USFx2x4 Model, we will show how to position your media brand so it does not compete with the broader internet, but instead leverages it for greater ROI. We will also discuss the importance of clarity around your three avatars and how aligning them creates a healthier and more sustainable media business. This is a must-attend session for anyone looking to stay relevant and competitive in today’s changing media landscape.
Jr. Ballroom on 1
10am-10:30am
Nichee Awards: Publisher and Magazine of the Year Announcement and Celebration
Jr. Ballroom on 1
10:30am-11am
LAST CHANCE! Sponsor Tour Card Break: Meet your next resource partner & get those Sponsor Tour Cards signed for a chance to win a free pass to the Niche Media Conference in 2027! Coffee sponsored by: Progress Printing Plus
Jr. Ballroom foyer on 1
11am-11:30am
FRIDAY Power Keynote #2: ChatGPT joins Niche Media Conference owner Ryan Dohrn live on the stage for their first LIVE media interview ever. Ryan will discuss the future of print media, the shift to AI in media, and what ChatGPT plans to do in relation to ethics in media, given the increasing presence of AI-generated content everywhere. Anything could happen. Don’t miss it!
Jr. Ballroom on 1
11:30pm-Noon
$3000 Sponsor Prize Giveaway and event wrap-up
Jr. Ballroom
See you next year. Head to the airport or hang with your new publishing pals by the pool.
The above schedule, topics, and speakers are subject to change.
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