Nine, News Corp and the NRL join Mumbrella Publish conference lineup

Nicholas Gray, CEO of News Corp’s The Australian, is the first speaker revealed for a session on publishing funding models to take place at Mumbrella’s annual Publish conference this September.

Gray will join the newly announced interactive session about reader-revenue models

In the session, three of the industry’s senior leaders will discuss their various reader revenue solutions, why the model has been chosen, what the reception has been and what size of audience they have managed to build. Once each speaker has provided a rundown of their reader revenue model, the audience will be given the opportunity to decide who has the best model of the three in a real-time vote.

Gray is returning to Mumbrella’s Publish conference for the third time. Since he first spoke, News Corp’s The Australian has built a sizeable subscription base, which he has previously attributed to helping the newspaper post a profit.

Meanwhile, Nine’s new digital editorial director, Kerri Elstub, has been confirmed for the panel Full Service Publishing and the 3D Consumer.

Elstub will join previously announced speakers Myki Slonim, Vice Australia director and publisher, and Kate Murphy, Nova Entertainment’s national commercial strategy director, Create. Together they will look at the concept of ‘full service’ publishing – distributing content across a number of different platforms.

In another new session, the question ‘Has journalism become a profession for the rich?’ will be tackled head-on. A panel of industry experts will reveal whether they think it has and whether the current situation requires action.

Smith will tackle the question: Has journalism become a profession for the rich?

Rachel Smith, founder and director of Rachel’s List, and Tilly South, founding member and secretary for Interns Australia will join the panel and look at the evidence, solutions and impact this has on wider society.

The session will explore the decrease in entry-level roles, the demand for fully trained recruits for publishers and broadcasters and the issue of unpaid internships – something critics claim excludes all but those from the richest backgrounds.

Also joining the lineup is the NRL’s general manager for commercial and digital strategy, Todd Hewitt, and Frank Digital’s founder and creative director, Matt Barbelli.

The pair will join Pacific Magazines’ Will Everitt in a session that tackles user experience in publishing. They will look at new user experiences and if publishers are increasing their opportunities to gain readership and attract partnerships.

NRL’s Todd Hewitt will join the UX panel

Hewitt first joined the NRL as senior manager for partnerships in early 2017 while Barbelli has spent the last ten years running his own business.

Mumbrella’s Publish conference takes place at the Amora Hotel Jamison in Sydney on September 20. Earlybird tickets are on sale now.

Zoe Samios

Zoe Samios worked at Mumbrella between 2016 and 2019, finishing up as senior media reporter in March 2019.

topics Frank Digital Interns Australia Matt Barbelli mumbrella publish Nicholas Gray NRL Rachel Smith Rachel's List the australia Todd Hewitt

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