4 minute read
Dear Expert
Looking Toward Tomorrow
MFM conference mastermind Charles Warner spills the beans on what’s in store for attendees of Media Finance Focus 2021.
Dear Expert, I’m thinking about attending MFM’s Media Finance Focus 2021 online conference this year, but I don’t know what to expect. Can you please give me an idea of what’s planned? Curious in Cleveland
Dear Curious,
I’d be happy to! The many MFM committees that are developing sessions for the conference are interested in tackling pretty big questions, and some of the issues they raise are intertwined.
Ways of reducing expenses is one of them. And human resource concerns are significant. For example, what does working remotely do to employee morale, staff monitoring along with hiring and firing decisions? Some employees love not commuting and feel more productive at home, while others find they are less creative and miss casual conversations with coworkers in the office that spark their creativity. And what are employees doing about career advancement when there is so much less face time?
Tax issues are lurking as states and counties try to drum up fees from those working in new locations. Internal auditors face new challenges as employees and documents are now in multiple places. And as cyber terrorists become ever more sophisticated, IT controls over remote computers must be enhanced.
That’s just a taste of the many vital issues that will be discussed during Media Finance Focus 2021, which is themed “Together Toward Tomorrow.” Once again, it’s a virtual event, and runs from May 11 to July 29. All told, 42 sessions along with a dozen roundtables are on the drawing board.
The Accounting Committee will look at the latest changes and best practices in both the public and private sectors. It plans to take a look at how the pandemic has impacted lease accounting. It will also focus on robotic process automation, along with other forms of automation. Environmental social and governance issues are the topic of another session.
The Interactive and Digital Media Committee will give insights into streaming – consumption data as well as revenue issues and opportunities. It will also examine how COVID-19 is pushing some companies to the technology tipping point and shed light on third-party cookie issues. The conference will also have a dedicated session on effective ways of selling digital opportunities.
The Television Committee will dive into the future of television as we know it. One session will focus on the latest rule and policy changes coming from Washington. A related session will discuss how the political changes in the U.S. may affect labor relations and unionizing efforts. This track will also look at the latest in the world of music licensing.
The newspaper industry continues to face an uphill battle, as circulations shrink and preprint advertisers fall. The newspaper track will look at how to expand revenue sources. Issues related to expenses will also go under the microscope – what to save or cut. Another session will look at systems and processes that can make a remote workforce safer from a cybersecurity standpoint. This
track will also examine how the programmatic world is impacting the newspaper industry. The Games Committee will be back with a powerful track. One session will look at online roadblocks facing the industry. Another will offer insight into the latest in games valuation. Mobile content and eports are the topics of two other discussions as well. Media Finance Focus has three general sessions planned. The first will feature two speakers. Joe Batista, chief creatologist from Dell Computer, is first in line. He will address how many professionals are looking for a new playbook moving forward and how to develop a formula for change. Next up is Tina Harris, the chair of race, media and cultural literacy in the Manship School of Mass Communication at Louisiana State University. She will present her research on critical communication pedagogy, race and identity communication as well as diversity. A second general session will feature a panel of experts who will focus on the work-from-home trend. Don Thompson, executive vice president of human resources at Sinclair Broadcast Group, will join that conversation. The third general session will showcase Deloitte’s state of the entertainment industry research report. Tracks are also in the works for credit, radio, internal audit, tax, network programming and streaming. BMI will be providing a musical afternoon as well. So don’t wait – sign up now. We look forward to seeing you in May! Do you have a professional puzzle that W. Charles Warner, Jr. is the president of MFM and BCCA experts might be able to Broadcast Finance, Inc., a media management answer? We’ll mine the contact base and find consulting firm. He serves as MFM’s conference the right person to answer your question. program director and CFO. Warner can be Just contact TFM editor Janet Stilson at reached at charlie.warner@mediafinance.org.
