Conference programme 2006
The DPA annual Conference and Awards took place on 23 May in London. Below is the programme to the day. Delegates who attended the event can download speaker presentations.
Understanding and Managing Change
Opening keynote
Search - the pace quickens
The speed of online development has been breathless over the past few years, but Google reckons this is just the beginning. The search behemoth has announced a whole range of product developments in the last few months, many of which could impact data providers and publishers.
The DPA Conference is your chance to hear from Google itself about the potential of products such as Google Local, Google Earth, GoogleBase and Google Book Search. And what's happening with Google Adwords and Adsense - how can you profit from buying and carrying Google ads?
Rabin Yaghoubi, Director of Strategic Partner Development - Google Europe
Is content still King?
Data publishing finds itself at the centre of attention. Opportunities and challenges emerge from every direction as traditional directory and database publishers adopt and adapt to new business models, competitive environments and regulatory initiatives.
How are data publishers reacting to this new world? How is the greater availability of free content impacting on traditional relationships between customers and users? Is less still more or are we in a world of data silos and mountains where the means of delivery and access mean more than the content itself? How should data publishers bring their traditional skills to bear on adding value to the freely available and competing data sources, which are increasingly available?
David Worlock will bring his extensive experience in publishing to the current discussion on the opportunities and challenges facing all parts of the data publishing sector.
David Worlock, Chairman - Electronic Publishing Services
The joys of Public Sector Information - How to work with PSI to create new data products
Data publishers continue to lead the way in adding value to public sector information. Entrepreneurial vision combined with new technologies and government initiatives to encourage creative re-use of publicly held information assets have resulted in new and innovative "born-digital" products.
This session will look at the do's and don'ts of working with public sector information through the experiences of three publishers who have successfully created new products and data services involving PSI. They will describe their experiences in dealing with the organisations that hold the data and highlight what has worked and how to avoid the tensions and pitfalls which may lie in wait for the unsuspecting publisher. The session will start with a overview of recent regulations on PSI and the evaluation of the Database Directive.
Moderator: Trevor Fenwick, Managing Director, Euromonitor International Plc (DPA Director of Public Affairs)
Speakers: Keith Dugmore, Director - Demographic Decisions
Christopher Roper, Founder - Landmark Trust
Jake Arnold-Forster, CEO - Dr Foster
Online data - new providers, new deliveries, new challenges
Will peer reviews and bloggers replace trusted editorial content for consumers seeking hotels, records or restaurants or does professionally compiled editorial content still have a place and commercial value? Simon Ferguson reviews trends in the travel industry - one of the biggest online markets.
Simon Ferguson, Publisher - DG&G travel information
Web 2.0 - the issues for publishers
The new buzzword in the online world is Web 2.0. What does it mean - and more specifically what does it mean for publishers? Kate Worlock, Director at EPL, explains Web 2.0 is intended to signify that the web has undergone a step change, and that the business models in use today are a world apart from those being used in the early days of the internet. In this new era, users have considerable control in shaping the services they use.
The community collaboration, argues Kate, will have an impact on a whole range of publishing marketplaces. Web 2.0 offerings could be used as extensions to trade shows and exhibitions, or to provide user commentary around product guides. However, to date B2B and directory publishers have done little to take advantage of these techniques.
Kate Worlock, Director - Electronic Publishing Services
Models of Excellence
We hear from some "best-in-class" publishers on how they've developed and grown their business, dealing with competition, new technologies and changing market demands.
Moderator: Jerry Gosney, Managing Director, RBI Search, (DPA Conference Chairman)
Bankers Almanac has been around for over 150 years - and for the first 145 years the main thing that changed was the imprint date on the book cover. But as Kerry Hewson explains, over the last five years the brand has moved from book to web, delivering richer, more interactive content at a higher premium. But is the book still important? - you bet it is.
Kerry Hewson, Publishing Director - Financial Publications, Bankers Almanac
Yell uses market research to gain competitive edge. While a company the size of Yell has big budgets, Jan Barkatullah says keeping one step ahead of the competition can be achieved in a number of ways, and not all require big bucks. She will give practical examples on the simple ways to understand your market and she will explain the pros and cons of different techniques, so that you can do it too.
Jan Barkatullah, Head of Market Research - Yell Group
Membership survey feedback
Once again, this year the DPA will augment its annual review of sector prospects and performance with a more in-depth survey of what matters and concerns DPA members. We will be surveying attitudes to new online competitors, threat or opportunity?, discussing areas of skill shortage, and reviewing and comparing how members recruit and reward staff in critical areas, such as editorial, IT and sales. Conference chairman, Jerry Gosney will present the findings and invite delegates to chip in with their views and experiences.
Jerry Gosney, Managing Director - RBI Search (DPA Conference Chairman)
Closing keynote
Managing Change
When change happens, the stakes are high and the pressure is on. People step up, or they step back. Some respond with enthusiasm and are self-motivated to embrace the challenge, others become de-motivated and resistant to embrace the change - reluctant to step out of the comfort zone, their knowledge, skills and experience failing to show up in the workplace. Management guru, Alex MacPhail, will offer guidance to companies struggling to cope with fast level of technological and management change.
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