Sept 28, 2021 Tuesday

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Robin Thurston has reinvented and changed the game of traditional subscription business models and is on a mission to create the ultimate active lifestyle network. He recognized a need for a platform that brought together all aspects of the outdoor ecosystem and launched Outside+, a premium subscription bundle combining all of the Outside brands into a single offering. This digital content hub is the first of its kind, bringing content, commerce, and community together under one umbrella. Robin has redesigned Outside’s offerings to represent the future of media and how to create a sustainable subscription model.

Publishing has changed and journalism as we know it, it’s in a crisis. As a result, many new monetization models have sprung up in an effort to keep outlets alive. Brian Smith, senior content marketing manager, Outside Magazine, Eve O’Neill, senior staff writer, Wirecutter and Michael Calore, senior editor at Wired, have figured out how to use affiliate revenue, paywalls, and branded content to fund their publications’ journalism. While these monetization models are certainly not mutually exclusive, these editors will share pros and cons of each.

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If a product isn’t Best of Show worthy, it won’t win a Best in Show. But not all Best of Show worthy products get the attention needed to win the awards they deserve. Veteran PR professional Eric Henderson will share his formula for getting the attention of top outdoor editors to win best in show awards and getting into gear guides, while Sean McCoy, editorial director of Gear Junkie, Switchback Travel, iRunFar, Explorers and others, will share his team’s process for combing through product while at tradeshows, selecting products for buying guides and winning the coveted GJ Gear of Year award.

It’s all about lifestyle (and sometimes health insurance). If you work in media, you know how volatile the industry can feel — it’s not uncommon to think about job leaps, whether it’s from freelancer to editor, staff writer to brand copywriter, journalist to PR. There are a lot of options out there for media professionals, but navigating these lines takes some finesse. These successful media professionals will tell you how and why they made career jumps from pure play media to brand to destination marketing organization and further afield. And why some of their career switches made them come running back to the outdoor industry.

Who knew that there is such a breadth of legal knowledge within the outdoor media community!? Two attorneys involved in outdoor blogging and influencing walk participants through essential legal issues every brand and content creator should know: trademark basics, contract documents and terms, and ways to limit your personal liability. These outdoorsy attorneys will provide you with ideas for a few tools to use as you formalize and protect your content, blog, or brand.

Join marketing leaders from Outdoorsy, the most-trusted global online RV rental and outdoor travel marketplace, to learn why they put their brand mission into action every day – and why you should too. Learn about how their business changed during COVID, how they leaned into organic channels to tell their story and why that all led them to double down on being a business that gives back. Whether it’s to stand out from the competition or just to be a brand that matters, values matter and Outdoorsy will share how you can put your mission into action.

Covid has changed everything. Suddenly, the outdoor industry is the center of attention for hot button political, economic and social issues. Lisa Aangeenbrug, executive director of Outdoor Industry Association will share insight into the industry’s role in shaping these issues and where the industry will go in the future.

Covid has changed the press trip game for DMOs and content creators. Deborah Park, who currently manages Visit Estes Park’s communications strategy, will share insights on the state of press trips from a DMO perspective. Monica, host of the Monica Goes show, will share her tips for pitching a DMO in a way that ensures you still get paid, despite the shrinking budgets due to Covid.