The 10 Biggest Digital Media Events this Spring
As a professional in the digital video or branded content industry, you don’t want to miss some of the hottest digital media events this year. From SXSW to MarTech, these conferences and summits cover innovation in digital video, virtual reality, the future of storytelling, marketing technology, and much more.
1. South by Southwest: March 9–18, 2018
Location: Austin, TX
Cost: $545-$1650
Reasons to go: A conference, film, music, interactive media, gaming, and comedy festival rolled into one, SXSW is one of the biggest media events of the year. 2018 speakers include VR pioneer Nonny de la Peña, Melinda Gates, the CEO of Dell, CNN correspondents, and more. The conference features over 25 tracks for you to follow, such as Brands & Marketing, Film & TV Industry, VR/AR, and News & Journalism. Beyond keynote speeches and panel sessions, SXSW also offers multiple opportunities for networking through meetups and parties.
Storyhunter’s David Berkowitz will be at SXSW as well, so watch out for him or send us a message if you’d like to meet!
2. Intelligent Content Conference: March 20–22, 2018
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Cost: $1,395-$2,795
Reasons to go: The ICC offers workshops, networking events, and panels, as well as a technology showcase for content and marketing professionals. Hosted by the Content Marketing Institute, this media event is a great place to learn about the future of storytelling and hear from industry leaders like Andrew Gordon, a master storyteller and Pixar animator.
3. Digiday Publishing Summit: March 21–23, 2018
Location: Vail, CO
Cost: $3,295-$5,195
Reasons to go: This Digiday summit will focus on how media publishers can take control of their futures by focusing on strategies, such as subscription models, programmatic work, or video offerings. Speakers include the Chief Content Officer of Business Insider, the CEO of HuffPost, the Chief Product Officer of VICE, and more.
4. VidCon Europe: March 22–24, 2018
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Cost: €599 before March 19
Reasons to go: VidCon’s Industry Track brings together media and marketing professionals to network and discuss the future of digital video. Speakers include executives from Facebook, Instagram, VidIQ, Nestle, and more. The conference will host panel sessions, AMAs, workshops, and meet-ups on a number of subjects designed for both brand and media publishers.
5. NAB Show: April 7–12, 2018
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Cost: $235-$855
Reasons to go: NAB Show is one of the largest events for media, entertainment, and technology professionals investing in content. Attracting 100,000 attendees every year, you will have access to over 200 sessions on topics, such as virtual reality, AI, and branded content. Attending NAB will also give you the opportunity to meet and network with people who are driving the future of content.
6. Ad Age A-List & Creativity Awards: April 19
Location: New York, NY
Cost: $450
Reasons to go: The Ad Age awards gala honors creative innovators and leaders in the marketing industry. Judges for the awards include creative officers and directors from Airbnb, Twitter, and McCann among others.
7. MarTech: April 23–25, 2018
Location: San Jose, CA
Cost: $79-$2,245
Reasons to go: MarTech draws senior marketing, technology, and digital executives together for a three-day conference for networking and sessions on marketing technology innovations, strategies, and ideas. Speakers include executives from Amazon, The New York Times, McKinsey & Company, and more. If you’re a media professional interested in connecting the dots between tech and marketing, this conference is a must-attend.
8. Content Marketing Conference: May 2–4, 2018
Location: Boston, MA
Cost: $849-$1,399 before March 17
Reasons to go: CMC focuses on the art of content creation and the science of marketing performance through keynote speeches, workshops, and sessions on video marketing and content strategy. They also have a special track for media professionals interested in exploring the intersection of comedy and marketing.
9. The Digital Content Summit: May 15, 2018
Location: London, United Kingdom
Cost: £358.80 — £1,198.80
Reasons to go: Hosted by the Business Reporter, DCS is in its fifth year and calls itself a must-attend for professionals interested in publishing, digital media, marketing, and innovation. Geared towards branded content, the summit is split between two tracks: designing content for new technology and making the most of your audience. 2018 speakers have not been released yet, but in 2017, they featured heads from Google, the New York Times, Twitch, and more.
10. Brand Marketing Summit: May 30–31, 2018
Location: San Francisco, CA
Cost: $1,695-$2,795 before March 2
Reasons to go: Hosted by Incite Group, this brand and social media marketing summit brings together brand and content leaders to discuss topics ranging from the science of storytelling to the next generation of social media. Speakers include chief marketing officers from Levi’s, National Geographic, Turner, GE Digital, and more.
Attending any of these events? Storyhunter will be at a few of them, so drop by to say hello or learn more about us. Hope to see you there!
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By D. Simone Kovacs, Storyhunter Editor
