First Joint Newspaper Technology Conference to Be Held in 2003 in Las Vegas ORLANDO, Fla., June 21 -- The Newspaper Association of America will combine its Newspaper Operations SuperConference with NEXPO, the Association's annual newspaper technology exposition and conference June 16-21, 2003 in Las Vegas. "Putting these two conferences together makes sense for our members and other interested parties from both a logistical and an economic point of view," explained NAA President and CEO John F. Sturm. "In discussions with our stakeholders -- attendees, exhibitors, our Technology Committee and others -- we found they were looking to accomplish more with their limited travel budgets. Starting next year, our customers can attend multiple events in a single trip." The combining of SuperConference, which previously was held in January, and NEXPO, traditionally a mid-to-late June event, will continue after 2003. The combined event will be held in Washington, D.C. in 2004, and planning is underway as to when and where it will be held in subsequent years. Recommendations include moving to an early spring date and holding more events in the Northeast. In addition, other NAA conferences will be held in conjunction with NEXPO and SuperConference on a rotating basis, giving a wider range of newspaper- industry professionals an opportunity to learn from each other. Other recommendations that NAA is pursuing include: * Attracting more user group and newspaper group meetings to NEXPO * Adding focused interactive sessions to the conference program, where newspaper people and exhibitors can brainstorm on the industry's most urgent challenges * Expanding attendee marketing efforts * Exploring ways to bring NEXPO to non-attendees via nontraditional channels such as the Internet, CD and mail * Launching a NEXPO Strategic Advisory Committee to increase newspaper and exhibitor participation in long-term NEXPO strategy development. NEXPO 2002 is being held June 21-25 in at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.