AAN Madison Conference Guide
2025 AAN SCHEDULE
Huge thanks to our host publication:
Wifi Network: Francis Marion Meeting | Password: king1924
WEDNESDAY (7/9/25)
Registration and Welcome Cocktails: 5-6 p.m.
Welcome to MadisAAN!
We’ll meet in the Sky Bar for welcome drinks (free beer and wine, cash liquor) and apps and to kick off registration. Meet with the board, make dinner plans and get a head start on chatting with our amazing sponsors.
THURSDAY (7/10/25)
Breakfast: 8 - 9 a.m.
Come take advantage of the breakfast buffet in the Gallery while mingling with our sponsors or take to a table in Grand Ballroom A/B.
Note for all sessions on Thursday, Track AB is in Ballroom A/B and Track C is in Ballroom C .
Session 1: 9 - 9:50 a.m.
AB: Editorial/Design
“Holy Sh*t” – The Unconference, Part One
An unconference on what the hell we’re going to do next as media outlets in 2025 and beyond. Get together, brainstorm, share the talking stick and let’s plan how to make this conference count.
C: Publishing/Marketing
Non-Profit Revenue for For-Profit AAN Members (sponsor: News Revenue Hub)
Duc Luu from the Knight Foundation and Ellen Meany from Alternative Newsweekly Foundation discuss options for grants, fellowships, collaboration and other sustainability options regardless of your company’s tax status.
Session 2: 10 - 10:50 a.m.
AB: Editorial/Design
From Layout to Leadership
Creatives are stepping into executive roles in a rapidly changing media landscape. Through real stories, interactive exercises, and a look at changing technologies impact on creative jobs, this session offers a candid, energizing roadmap for designers and art directors navigating the leap into leadership.
C: Publishing/Marketing
Vendor Showcase
Select sponsors offer lightning round presentation of their offerings—get a quick sense of some of the most exciting and sustaining offerings on the show floor this year.
Break: 10:50 - 11:10 a.m.
Coffee and treats in the Gallery. (Thanks Vistar Media!)
Session 3: 11:10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
AB: Editorial/Design
(sponsor: Reporter’s Shield)
Kevin Goldberg is the First Amendment specialist at the Freedom Forum, where he works to educate the public on the importance of the First Amendment and oversees the Freedom Forum’s network of experts.
C: Publishing/Marketing
Tips and Tricks from the AAN Tech Stack Checklist Program (Sponsor: Lede)
Stacy Volhein details some of the best take-aways so far from the Tech Stack Checklist program and offers advice on tech pitfalls to avoid in your publishing stack.
Session 4: Lunch & Fireside Chat
12:15 - 1:45 p.m.
Sponsored by Google News Initiative and Newspack
Join us with a beautiful view of Lake Mendota as we enjoy lunch and welcome Wired Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond for a chat with Isthmus Publisher Jason Joyce, exploring Wired’s approach to deep-dive investigative work on DOGE, the Trump administration, technology, Artificial Intelligence, crypto, digital security, the economy and more.
Session 5: 2 - 2:50 p.m.
AB: Editorial/Design
Creating Robust Internship Programs
Hear from editorial leaders who have crafted effective internship programs to build a pipeline for the industry while improving the lives and work ethic of students interesting in the industry.
C: Publishing/Marketing
Surviving Lawsuits and Legal Threats in the Current Environment
Hear the Erie Reader’s story of SLAPP suits and legal wrangling as we explore solutions in what may be an increasingly hostile political environment for journalism.
Break: 2:50 - 3:30 p.m.
Coffee and treats in the Gallery. (Sponsored by Vistar Media)
Session 6: 3:30 - 4:45 p.m.
AB: Editorial/Design
Cover Show
Let’s look at the cover highlights from the last year! Hosted by Ryan Williamson of CITY Magazine, Rochester.
C: Publishing/Marketing
Financial Standards
If you participated in the pre-conference survey this come see the results this year and learn more about what’s typical when it comes to costs and revenues for your fellow publishers.
Cocktail Reception: 5:30 - 7 p.m.
Jump on the bus for a quick ride to the Wisconsin Historical Society for drinks, apps—and a look at their unique collection of underground and early alternative publications. Then walk to the Union for dinner, check out State Street, walk/Uber to dinner downtown or return to the hotel for multiple dining options.
FRIDAY (7/11/25)
Breakfast: 8 - 9 a.m.
Come take advantage of the breakfast buffet in the Gallery while mingling with our sponsors or take to a table in Grand Ballroom A/B.
Session 7: 9 - 9:50 a.m.
AB: Editorial/Design
Unconference Part Two: Reporting in these Times
Dive deeper into the topics we identified throughout day one when it comes to challenges that newsrooms and newsroom leaders face in reporting the news and sustaining a team.
C: Publishing/Marketing
Publishers’ Roundtable (sponsor: EmpowerLocal)
Let’s mix it up with ideas for sustainability, revenue, succession planning, collaboration, philanthropy, new competition and more.
Session 8: 10 - 10:50 a.m.
AB: Editorial/Design
Working with Influencers
American Press Institute presents this session on how your publication can collaborate with social media influencers to increase the impact of your coverage.
C: Publishing/Marketing
Media Kits that Sell with Kenny Katzgrau
Tips and tricks for a modern media kit, particularly in the age of digital advertising.
Break: 10:50 - 11:10 a.m.
Coffee and treats in the Gallery. (Thanks Vistar Media!)
Session 9: 11:10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
AB: Editorial/Design
Cover Cage Match
Cover Cage Match challenges small teams to concept and pitch a cover design—headline, layout —based on a series of unique story prompts. With just minutes to brainstorm and sketch their ideas, teams will battle it out for cover dominance in a fun, high-energy format. Whether you’re a designer, editor, or curious creative, you’ll sharpen your news judgment, test your teamwork, and get inspired by how others interpret the same wild stories. Bold thinking and a sense of humor highly encouraged.
C: Publishing/Marketing
Reader Revenue Case Studies
Two very different publications worked with two different providers on two different reader revenue campaigns—join Isthmus and Bluelena on the same stage with The Onion and News Revenue Hub to compare and contrast reader revenue solutions.
Session 10: Keynote Luncheon and Awards
12:15 - 1:45 p.m.
Dan Perkins, known worldwide as Tom Tomorrow, joins us for a humorous and painfully relevant keynote experience, leading into the presentation of the 2025 AAN Awards and AAN Honors. Lunch is served!
Session 11: 2:00 - 2:50 p.m.
AB: Editorial/Design
AI Tools for Journalists
C: Publishing/Marketing
Beyond the Byline: Community Events as Powerful Engagement Tools
Jake Hylton from LOOKOUT explores how newsrooms can leverage events to deepen audience engagement and foster trust. He’ll focus on the importance of creating community-centric events that prioritize genuine connection and civic engagement, going beyond simply using events as fundraising opportunities.
Break: 2:50 - 3:00 p.m.
Session 12: 3:00 - 3:50 p.m.
AB: Editorial/Design
Photography for Non-Photographers
C: Annual Meeting
Voting members join the Executive Committee in conducting association business; if you can’t make it please make sure someone has your proxy!
Session 13: Unconference Part Three:
The Readout, Ideas and Inspiration
4:00 - 5:15 p.m.
Let’s talk about everything we got from this conference and what we can do in these trying times for journalists and journalism outlets. Story ideas, revenue solutions, audience engagement and general inspiration to head home and fight the worthy scrap.
Cocktails with a View: 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Drinks and apps overlooking the lake, plus free pontoon boat rides (weather permitting) on Lake Mendota! Then we send you off into the evening with a variety of different entertainment options, including a bluegrass show on the hotel grounds, multiple restaurants on-property or recommendations for a lovely evening on State Street or downtown around the Capitol.
AAN ASSOCIATION GUIDANCE DOCUMENT
AAN exists to provide services and leadership that ensure the success of its members, and to strengthen alternative journalism through advocacy and education. Our association bylaws, found on our website, outline the fundamental rules for our governance.
This year, we’ve developed an Association Guidance Document which outlines how AAN functions in service of our bylaws: how we communicate, how we make decisions, how we manage conflict, how we hold accountable and more. We ask you to review this document by following the QR code pictured here.
AAN CODE OF CONDUCT
AAN’s board of directors and staff welcome you to the 2025 Annual Convention in Madison! We’ve looked forward to this gathering in a spirit of curiosity, collaboration and respect, and discussing our vital work together—while having a lot of fun in the process.
AAN has developed a Code of Conduct, which you can view by scanning the QR code pictured here. Our goal, as always, is to ensure a safe and productive environment for all members, employees, volunteers, sponsors, speakers, and friends of AAN.