October 01, 2011, 2:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Reception and Dinner

Dinner Discussion: Why You Are Here
What makes your sites distinctive in the community news environment? We’ll talk about the successes you’ve had and the challenges you face next.

Presentation by:

• Janet Coats, Journalism Initiative Manager, The Patterson Foundation
• Vikki Porter, Director, Knight Digital Media Center, USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism

October 02, 2011, 5:30 AM - 7:00 AM

Setting the Business Horizon

Where are you now as a business? Where do you want to be? How much money do you really need? We set the table for our time together.

Presentation by:

• Rusty Coats, Founder and President, Coats2Coats

October 02, 2011, 7:15 AM - 8:00 AM

Building the Business Plan

A working session in which participants begin work on their business plans

Presentation by:

• Rusty Coats, Founder and President, Coats2Coats

October 02, 2011, 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Building Organizational Capacity

What are the gaps between what goes into a business plan and what is the current reality? What are some strategies for overcoming the critical capacity issues that stand in the way of long-term sustainability for your work? What are the hallmarks of successful small businesses? How do you balance the need to manage daily operations with the imperative to build for the future?

Presentation by:

• Janet Coats, Journalism Initiative Manager, The Patterson Foundation
• Emily Lowrey, Magic City Media
• Lisa Williams, Founder & CEO, Placeblogger.com

October 02, 2011, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Building the Business Plan Part II

Translating the morning discussions into the framework of a business plan and a 100-day campaign aimed at building organizational capacity, kick-starting revenue initiatives and building a base for sustainability.

Presentation by:

• Rusty Coats, Founder and President, Coats2Coats

October 02, 2011, 12:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Small Group Workshops

Participants will break off into three groups of four publishers and one business facilitator to workshop specific capacity issues: How do you better use what you already have? How do you get the resources/manpower/tools you need to build long-term sustainability?

October 02, 2011, 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Reception and Dinner

Boot Camper expertise discussion - Publishers will share a best practice from their own experience that relates to our discussion of the day

October 03, 2011, 5:30 AM - 7:00 AM

Revenue Sources and Strategies: Advertising

Best practices and what to watch out for in building advertising revenue, including local sales, ad networks and other revenue sources, drawing from site publishers and business facilitators.

Presentation by:

• Rusty Coats, Founder and President, Coats2Coats
• Joe Michaud, Local Interactive Strategies LLC
• Emily Lowrey, Magic City Media

October 03, 2011, 7:15 AM - 8:45 AM

Revenue Sources and Strategies: The Non-Advertising Options

What is the value of building diversified revenue? Which areas can maximize return and help maintain focus? A deeper dive from the BxB session with nonprofit site publishers and business facilitators.

Presentation by:

• Rusty Coats, Founder and President, Coats2Coats

October 03, 2011, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Working Lunch – Metrics for Growth

Pick-up Box Lunches in Lexington Avenue Room, return to Madison Avenue Room for presentation
How to Set Targets - Tied back to Capacity conversation

Presentation by:

• Susan Mernit, Founder, OaklandLocal.com, Social Media Consultant

October 03, 2011, 10:15 AM - 11:45 AM

Revenue Retention

Getting the money the first time is only half the equation - how do you retain business and build results?

Presentation by:

• Eleanor Cippel, Managing Director, Sales, Business Development and Operations, E. W. Scripps Company

October 03, 2011, 12:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Small Group Workshops: Tailoring Your Plans

Pulling together the capacity and revenue conversations and focusing on what that means for your business plan. We’ll work in small groups with a business facilitator for each conversation

October 03, 2011, 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Working Dinner: Tailoring Your Plans

Dinner with your working group to continue tailoring your plans

October 04, 2011, 5:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Presenting Your Plans

Each publisher will present his/her 100-day plan and receive feedback from the business facilitators and the larger group. The goal: To help you make your plans operational.

October 04, 2011, 8:45 AM - 10:15 AM

Working Lunch

Revising your 100-day plan based on feedback and incorporating what you’ve heard.

October 04, 2011, 10:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Plan Review – What You’ve Changed

We’ll revisit the presentations and discuss what you’ve changed based on the feedback; refine your immediate to-do list

October 04, 2011, 12:15 PM - 1:00 PM

Wrap-up and Next Steps

Presentation by:

• Rusty Coats, Founder and President, Coats2Coats
• Joe Michaud, Local Interactive Strategies LLC
• Emily Lowrey, Magic City Media
• Eleanor Cippel, Managing Director, Sales, Business Development and Operations, E. W. Scripps Company
• Janet Coats, Journalism Initiative Manager, The Patterson Foundation
• Michele McLellan, Consultant, Knight Digital Media Center, Block by Block Community News Summit
• Vikki Porter, Director, Knight Digital Media Center, USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism

Powerpoint: You Need a Peep: How to Find, Recruit, Interview, Hire and Manage People (May 16)
Video: You Need a Peep: How to Find, Recruit, Interview, Hire and Manage People (May 16)