Poynter’s Media Innovation Tour

Get exclusive access to the most innovative media organizations in the U.S.

Ever ask yourself, ‘what would The New York Times do?’ Are you inspired by the Pulitzer Prize-winning work at The Washington Post? Do you wonder about how to make social media platforms like Instagram work better for you?

With Poynter’s weeklong Media Innovation Tour, you will get an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of these and other major media organizations in Washington, D.C. and New York City.

Poynter’s president Neil Brown, Poynter digital tools reporter Ren LaForme and American Press Institute deputy director Jeff Sonderman will serve as your guides, helping you put into context the latest revenue-generating products and innovative publishing strategies in your own newsroom.

The tour’s small group size and exclusivity give you direct access to the best minds in the news business. This face-to-face access is one reason why past participants raved about the Media Innovation Tour as a “complete career highlight” and “once-in-a-lifetime experience, relevant to all media executives.”

Confirmed stops on Poynter’s 2019 Media Innovation Tour include The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, National Geographic, American Press Institute, Pew Research Center, Politico, PolitiFact, Chartbeat, The Atlantic and Instagram.

We will continue to update this page as we confirm more. 

Join us for an exhilarating journey between cities and journalism titans. The Media Innovation Tour is restricted to 10-12 participants. Applications are now open. 

Instructors:

“The tour surpassed my expectations. I was amazed by the sheer diversity and depth of exposure to some of the biggest names in American journalism, as well as the ringside view of the contemporary challenges they face and how they respond to them. It was very much worth the time and financial investment—and I do regard participating in this tour as an investment.”

– 2017 Media Innovation Tour participant

Schedule

Here’s a look at the 2019 Media Innovation Tour schedule.

Sessions and speakers are subject to change.

Washington D.C.

Day 1

• Check in to The Madison Washington, DC, a Hilton Hotel
• Welcome and introduction
• Group welcome dinner

Day 2

• Pew Research Center: What research tells us about digital audiences
• American Press Institute: Best practices for driving subscriptions
• National Geographic: Harmonizing legacy and digital platforms
• The Washington Post: How to do the full digital buildout, an afternoon news meeting
• Wrap-up discussion
• Group dinner with PolitiFact team

Day 3

• Politico: Creating and managing a full suite of products, executing a continuous growth strategy
• The Atlantic: Making the most of events, and growing legacy and digital publications simultaneously
• NPR: How a new digital product like NPR One can enrich an organization
• Wrap-up discussion
• Train travel to New York City
• Check in to The Knickerbocker Hotel, Times Square

New York City

Day 4

• Program recap and look ahead
• The Associated Press: How to evolve a digital strategy, deep dives into emerging technologies
• Instagram
• Wrap-up discussion
• Group dinner

Day 5

• The Wall Street Journal: Using analytics to build audiences, driving digital innovation
• Chartbeat: Measuring what matters, the return of the homepage
• Wrap-up discussion
• Group dinner

Day 6

• The New York Times: Takeaways from big projects that anyone can use, how to do a super hit podcast
• Wrap-up discussion

“The trip was simply amazing — from the mix of fellow attendees, to the way you guys interacted with us, and of course the access to the world’s leading minds in media and tech. It was everything I hoped I would experience and more.”

– 2016 Media Innovation Tour participant

Media Innovation Tour Investment

Registration for this exclusive, executive-level event is $8,250 per attendee. A 50% deposit is required upon acceptance to reserve your spot. Sa.

Price includes:

• Accommodations for five nights, Sunday through Friday
• Train transportation from Washington, D.C. to New York City
• Ground transportation during the tour
• Some meals during the tour

Price does not include:

• International and domestic flights to Washington, D.C., and from New York to home city
• Airport transfers and baggage fees
• Extras

The Media Innovation Tour is both inspiring and instructive. Participating is an investment in your professional development and your organization’s future. 

Who will benefit

Publishers, editors and media leaders around the world who are responsible for revenue, digital content development, audience development or new product lines in their organizations. Journalism educators will also benefit from the insights at cutting-edge news organizations. Please note that all sessions on the tour will be in English.

Questions?

Please email Leah Bickely at lbickley@poynter.org.