Rise of New Media: Telling Better Stories

Digital media has become the world’s dominant source of the distribution of ideas. Average citizens are more likely to get their information from YouTube than from those who understand the issues of the day. This rapidly changing landscape presents both perils and possibilities. The lowered barrier to entry in the digital space provides more opportunities than ever before for upstart media entrepreneurs to break through.

Kite and Key Media and Emergent Order Foundation are two such upstart media enterprises that have cracked the code on how to tell compelling stories and break through the noise. High production value, humor, and a strategic focus on brand and audience have made these new entrants in the media space highly e ective with rapidly growing audiences.

Sponsored by Chris Burget Shea Foundation

Panelist

Vanessa Mendoza Kite & Key Media

Vanessa Mendoza is the CEO and co-founder of Kite & Key Media. Before launching Kite & Key, she spent nearly 15 years in leadership positions related to public policy research, working with scholars and journalists to translate complicated issues to the broader public.

CEO and co-founder of Austin, Texas-based content studio Emergent Order, John Papola is an award-winning director and producer. His former employers and clients include major networks and brands like Spike TV, Nickelodeon, Whole Foods Market, and MTV as well as creative ad agencies such as Crispin Porter, Razorfish and JWT.