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.
Updated 2026 CONFERENCE AGENDA COMING SOON!
Wednesday, April 8, 2026:
9am-4pm
Show Office and Registration Open — PICK UP YOUR BADGE HERE!
Jr. Ballroom on 1
9am-11am
Sponsors Set-up in Jr. Ballroom Foyer
Jr. Ballroom on 1
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!): In an era of declining social traffic and the rise of AI, publishers face unprecedented challenges in building new audiences. Join us for a workshop that explores the strategies you need to thrive in this evolving landscape. Led by Melissa Chowning, Founder & CEO at Twenty-First Digital, you’ll learn how to develop owned audiences, leverage emerging technologies like AI, and navigate the challenges of changing search behaviors. Discover actionable insights and practical tips to take your audience development strategies into 2025 and beyond.
Melissa Chowning, Founder & CEO at Twenty-First Digital,
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: Selling Value when Advertisers are Focused on Price; Creating your 2025 personal sales plan, 25 email subject lines to use today, and over 55 other sales tips & tricks. Bring your media sales questions and challenges to this fast-paced training afternoon with your fellow media sales warrior, Ryan Dohrn!
Hosted by: MediaOS
Ryan Dohrn, Founder & CEO at Brain Swell Media
2pm-4pm
Breakout #3 – Consumer Publishers Roundtable: For consumer/hobbyist/city & regional 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, inflation concerns, shifting readership, and more. Excellent way to get the ideas flowing and make peer connections to keep chatting with for the rest of the week.
This session led by Barb Krause, Publisher/CEO, Nei-Turner Media Group and Dena Frisch, Regional Sales Manager, BRAVA Magazine.
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.
Led by Chris Messer, Vice-President / Group Publisher, Endeavor Business Media.
2pm-4pm
Breakout #5 – Editorial and Design Roundtable: This editorial and design feedback group is back by popular demand, and led this year by Mr. Magazine himself, Dr. Samir Husni. Open to Editors, Designers, and their related content 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!
led this year by Mr. Magazine himself, Dr. Samir Husni.
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 – TBD Dinner on your own. Meet at the lobby bar after dinner 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 is served as you prep for your day at Niche!
Jr. Ballroom foyer on 1
9am-9:45am
Opening Power Keynote: Meet TikTok’s “Princess of Print” Kelsey Russell. Her TikTok followers know her as “the Print Princess” and “the girl who reads the newspaper”. Kelsey Russell engages more than 89,300 fans on TikTok, where she evangelizes print newspapers and media literacy.
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: Rules of the AI Publishing Road
Three publishing tech experts share their thoughts and strategies on the future of AI and how it will change the face of publishing (and everything else!) forever. This is a great “state of the industry” discussion driver and foundation for the rest of your strategy sessions at the Conference.
Track Host: Publication Printers
Melissa Chowning, Founder & CEO at Twenty-First Digital,
10am-11am
Breakout #2 – SALES TRAINING TRACK: How to Sell Digital Advertising in 2025 with AI
Discover the future of digital advertising in this game-changing session led by Broadstreet Founder and Publisher Kenny Katzgrau. Kenny will reveal cutting-edge strategies for leveraging AI to boost ad sales and streamline your workflow. Whether you’re new to AI or looking to enhance your sales techniques, this session will equip you with actionable insights to stay ahead in the ever-evolving digital advertising landscape.
Track Host: MediaOS
Kenny Katzgrau, CEO, Broadstreet and Publisher at RedBankGreen
10am-11am
Breakout #3 – AUDIENCE & MARKETING GROWTH TRACK: 100,000 Followers! 10 Proven Ideas to Boost Social Engagement with Your Readers
Zach shares specific examples of how Active NorCal grew their social channels to over 100,000 engaged followers.
Zach O’Brien, Publisher, Active NorCal
10am-11am
BREAKOUT #4 – DIGITAL STRATEGY TRACK
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10am-11am
BREAKOUT #5 – EDITORIAL AND DESIGN TRACK
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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: Rules of the AI Publishing Road
Three publishing tech experts share their thoughts and strategies on the future of AI and how it will change the face of publishing (and everything else!) forever. This is a great “state of the industry” discussion driver and foundation for the rest of your strategy sessions at the Conference.
Track Host: Publication Printers
Melissa Chowning, Founder & CEO at Twenty-First Digital,
11:30am-12:30pm
Breakout #2 – SALES TRAINING TRACK: How to Sell Digital Advertising in 2025 with AI
Discover the future of digital advertising in this game-changing session led by Broadstreet Founder and Publisher Kenny Katzgrau. Kenny will reveal cutting-edge strategies for leveraging AI to boost ad sales and streamline your workflow. Whether you’re new to AI or looking to enhance your sales techniques, this session will equip you with actionable insights to stay ahead in the ever-evolving digital advertising landscape.
Track Host: MediaOS
Kenny Katzgrau, CEO, Broadstreet and Publisher at RedBankGreen
11:30am-12:30pm
Breakout #3 – AUDIENCE & MARKETING GROWTH TRACK: 100,000 Followers! 10 Proven Ideas to Boost Social Engagement with Your Readers
Zach shares specific examples of how Active NorCal grew their social channels to over 100,000 engaged followers.
Zach O’Brien, Publisher, Active NorCal
11:30am-12:30pm
Breakout #4 – DIGITAL STRATEGY TRACK
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11:30am-12:30pm
Breakout #5 – EDITORIAL AND DESIGN TRACK
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12:30-2pm
Lunch and Power Keynote
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: Rules of the AI Publishing Road
Three publishing tech experts share their thoughts and strategies on the future of AI and how it will change the face of publishing (and everything else!) forever. This is a great “state of the industry” discussion driver and foundation for the rest of your strategy sessions at the Conference.
Track Host: Publication Printers
Melissa Chowning, Founder & CEO at Twenty-First Digital,
2:30pm-4pm
Breakout #2 – SALES TRAINING TRACK: How to Sell Digital Advertising in 2025 with AI
Discover the future of digital advertising in this game-changing session led by Broadstreet Founder and Publisher Kenny Katzgrau. Kenny will reveal cutting-edge strategies for leveraging AI to boost ad sales and streamline your workflow. Whether you’re new to AI or looking to enhance your sales techniques, this session will equip you with actionable insights to stay ahead in the ever-evolving digital advertising landscape.
Track Host: MediaOS
Kenny Katzgrau, CEO, Broadstreet and Publisher at RedBankGreen
2:30pm-4pm
Breakout #3 – AUDIENCE & MARKETING GROWTH TRACK: 100,000 Followers! 10 Proven Ideas to Boost Social Engagement with Your Readers
Zach shares specific examples of how Active NorCal grew their social channels to over 100,000 engaged followers.
Zach O’Brien, Publisher, Active NorCal
2:30pm-4pm
Breakout #4 – DIGITAL STRATEGY TRACK
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2:30pm-4pm
Breakout #5 – EDITORIAL AND DESIGN TRACK
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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 is served as you prep for Niche day #2.
Jr. Ballroom foyer on 1
9am-10am
FRIDAY Power Keynote #1
Jr. Ballroom on 1
10am-10:30am
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 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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