MAP Strategies Group CEO delivers keynote address at influential media conference
(Clockwise) MAP Strategies Group CEO Mi-Ai Parrish kicks off the annual Mega-Conference in Phoenix this week with Francis Wick of Wick Communications, Indigo Trigger’s Christopher Prinos, Arizona Republic Executive Editor Greg Burton, and Jeremy Gilbert of Northwestern University.
MAP Strategies Group CEO Mi-Ai Parrish headlines an important gathering of media professionals this week at the annual News Media Mega-Conference in Phoenix.
Mega-Conference is presented by America’s Newspapers and the News/Media Alliance, organizations committed to delivering the latest information on key industry topics for publishers, market leaders and department heads.
Ms. Parrish delivers the keynote address Six Ways Supporting Local Journalism May Reduce Fine Lines & Wrinkles, after an introduction and General Session welcome by Francis Wick, President of Wick Communications, and Greg Burton, Executive Editor of The Arizona Republic.
“There’s nothing more important to protecting democracy than having quality, credible local journalism,” says Parrish, who serves on the boards of the Poynter Institute, The Associated Press, Common Sense Media, The 19th and other media organizations. “Having a healthy, trusted news ecosystem also has been proven to ensure higher quality of life, achievements, educational outcomes, overall health in the communities they serve, and, therefore, fewer lines and wrinkles.”
Gatherings like the Mega-Conference facilitate important, actionable conversations among industry peers rather than solely among internal teams, leading to innovations and solutions to many news industry challenges, such as the loss of third-party revenue, growing news deserts, threats to democracy like pink slime news and disinformation, among others.
The opening General Session also features a presentation on the hot topic of Artificial Intelligence by Jeremy Gilbert, Professor and Knight Chair in Digital Media Strategy at Medill at Northwestern University, and a panel discussion led by Christopher Prinos of Indigo Trigger, “Current Trends in Lead-to-Cash: People, Process and Platforms.”
Ms. Parrish served as president and publisher of The Arizona Republic/AZCentral.com and market president at USA TODAY Network, where the team won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for “The Wall,” a multi-layered, multi-media examination of the southern border with Mexico. Prior to The Arizona Republic/USA Today Network, she held similar leadership roles at the Kansas City Star, and (Boise) Idaho Statesman, and an array of newsroom roles at (Minneapolis) Star-Tribune, the San Francisco Chronicle, among others. Parrish was the first Korean-American publisher in mainstream media, first BIPOC publisher in Idaho, Kansas City and Phoenix, and first woman publisher in Kansas City. She continues work in diversity and inclusion in media, the weaponization of information, and coverage of justice and equity.