Reflects industry’s digital evolution and strengths

Arlington, VA – The Newspaper Association of America today announced it has changed its name to News Media Alliance and launched a new website, www.newsmediaalliance.org. The announcement is the culmination of a larger strategic plan to highlight the news media industry’s evolution to multi-platform, digitally-savvy businesses and premium content providers.

The organization’s new focus better reflects the fully-integrated multi-platform media organizations that comprise its membership. The new website visually depicts this expansion of news media into digital and mobile formats, with a modern look and feel that incorporates imagery of what it means to be a news media organization today: communicating in real-time across multiple platforms. The site is also mobile-responsive to accommodate the increasing number of readers accessing the site on mobile devices.

News Media Alliance Vice President of Innovation Michael MaLoon says of the changes, “Our transformation efforts are designed to show the positive trajectory of the industry and to share the innovation and growth taking place, especially in the digital space. There are so many great things happening in our industry right now, and our job is to tell those stories.”

In addition, for the first time the organization is broadening its membership requirements to allow digital-first and digital-only news organizations publishing original content to become members. The association has a number of new tools and resources it will be making available to members in the coming months that reflect the digital focus of its membership, including:

• ideaXchange, a new online community for News Media Alliance members launching this fall. Accessible through the new website, ideaXchange will provide a platform that will make sharing, brainstorming and learning from one another easier than ever.
• metricsXchange, a new digital benchmarking tool exclusively for members. This dashboard will allow comparisons between markets and publications, providing new insights into the news media industry’s digital business efforts. The Alliance will also provide analyses and highlight newsworthy trends mined from the tool.
• mediaXchange, the News Media Alliance’s major annual event, will take a reimagined approach. Taking place in New Orleans in 2017, the event will focus on the future of the news media industry. The Alliance will hold other events for members designed to share information and foster innovation.

As the industry has expanded to reach audiences on digital, social and mobile formats, the association’s approximately 2,000 news organization members have become increasingly optimistic about the future of the industry.

“The news media industry should be optimistic. All evidence shows that people of all ages want and consume more news than ever,” states News Media Alliance President and CEO David Chavern. “We need to focus on new ways to address the needs of audience and advertisers. Advertising on news media digital and print platforms continues to be one of the most effective ways for advertisers to reach important audiences. Publishers are working to adapt advertising across all platforms, make ads less intrusive and increase consumer engagement.”

The News Media Alliance will continually evolve to ensure resources are available to members that facilitate growth and revenue diversification.  Chavern doesn’t see the challenges as insurmountable. “All industries periodically face disruptive market and technology changes, and like many others before us, I believe we will come out of it stronger.”

For more information visit www.newsmediaalliance.org.