Breakfast w/Conference Partners

TelVue Corporation, Varto Technologies, LiveU, G&G Technologies, Cologna Productions

Partners/Attendees Private Meetings at their booths

New Jersey’s Film Industry: A Renaissance in the Garden State

With production on the rise across New Jersey, the NJ Motion Picture & Television Commission has taken steps to help enhance production in the Garden State, including the development of their Film Ready program and their new NJ411 business and crew directory. This panel will explore these initiatives, and touch upon how JAG members, many of whom have extensive production and state knowledge, can participate, and assist in helping New Jersey maintain its position as a top destination for production. Panelists: Charles Riccardi, Operations & Creative Director ; Moderator: Geoffrey Belinfante, External Relations Chair, JAG

Using College Interns and How to Find Them (Roundtable)

One of the great things about PEG channels is that they can provide a meaningful internship to young people who want to pursue a career in media production. Unlike the networks, there are no union regulations, no restrictions on what equipment can be used, and little but common sense to restrict creative young minds. The list of successful professionals that started their careers at PEG channels is lengthy. This panel will explore ways to find qualified interns and what to do with them once you have them on board to make their experience valuable and their management relatively painless. Panelists: Abigail Wilson, Production Manager, C-NET, PA; George Fairfield, Station Manager, Piscataway TV; Moderator: Don Smith, Station Manager, Cranford TV

Storytelling

The biggest challenge to anyone who has tried to produce a documentary or television show is to effectively communicate your message to an audience. That communication begins with knowing how to tell a story that is both compelling and entertaining. There are always decisions to be made as to the best way to accomplish this: is the story best told linearly? with re-enactments? with animation? using stock footage? How many interviews should be included, can there be too many talking heads? Where should I use a musical montage? Join Emmy and Peabody award winning producer George Roy as we explore the different techniques available to producers and how to use them creatively. Guest Speaker: George Roy, American sports documentary director, producer, and editor; Moderator: Geoffery Belinfante, External Relations Chair, JAG

A Legislative Discussion on what is currently happening National, at the FCC and here in New Jersey.

Hear about the latest changes, proposals, and actions happening nationally and at the state level that could affect our stations and municipalities. Discuss first hand with our panel of experts on issues such as policy changes, regulatory adjustments, and newly introduced bills that might impact our world as we currently know it. Where do things stand with Closed Captioning and learn about the latest undertakings of the FCC regarding broadband, net neutrality, and spectrum allocation. Panelists: Mike Wassenaar, President & CEO, Alliance for Community Media; Gerry Lederer, Partner, Best, Best & Krieger LLP; Moderator: Dave Garb, Legislative Committee, Chair

Legislative Lunch

Welcome: Bob Duthaler, President of JAG

Broadband Deployment in New Jersey and The Federal Incentives Funding Them

Clearly broadband access is not just necessary but required for so many things: information, education, employment, and entertainment. Now that federal money is being distributed to township to provide broadband service to everyone, we at JAG need to understand how this money is being used at the local level and what it means for our stations. There are a variety of programs that are supposed to feed money to New Jersey Municipalities—the BEAD Program, Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), Universal Service Fund, H.R.278 - BROADBAND Leadership Act, H.R. 339 - Broadband Resiliency and Flexible Investment Act. We will find out where things stand with them, how it could affect us directly, and how changes in our nation’s capital might affect NJ’s broadband efforts. Panelists: Robert Boyle, CEO, Planet Networks; Joe Rivera, Manager of Broadband Access, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities; Gerry Lederer, Partner, Best, Best & Krieger LLP; Mike Wassenaar, President & CEO, Alliance for Community Media; Moderator: Brian Wahler, Mayor of Piscataway

Partners/Attendees Private Meetings at their booths

Grants for PEG and Community Stations

As funding for Municipal and Community Channels becomes more and more difficult to come by in Municipal budgets, stations have to be more creative in the ways they find funding. Some stations have been successful in finding grants to fund programming, operations and even capital equipment. This workshop will explore sources stations can explore for grants to supplement the funding they receive from their municipalities. Panelists: Professional Grant Writer or Writers; Panelist: George Ruotolo, Chairman/CEO, Ruotolo Associates; Amanda Hicks--Associate, DIBHicks, LLC; Dianna Pell GPC, Dianna Pell Associates; Reed Carlson, Associate, Ruotolo Associates; Moderator: Geoffery Belinfante, External Relations Chair, JAG

Beyond Cable: New Ways to Communicate w/Your Citizens (Roundtable)

Municipal TV is not just cable anymore. We will discuss the various ways a municipality can communicate with their citizens beyond traditional cable television channels. The panel will explore and discuss new video trends in social media, live streaming and how access channels are entering the world of Over The Top (OTT) with their own channels on Apple TV, Roku and more. Panelists: Gina Forbes, Station Manager, Woodbridge TV; Jesse Lerman President/CEO, TelVue Corporation; Joe Fernandes, Assistant Supervisor, Woodbridge TV; Brandon Uhlig, Station Manager, Metuchen Media; Panelists/Moderator: Bob Duthaler, Managing Partner, DNS Media Group

How to Conduct a Great Interview: Interviewing Skills and Tips

Have you ever wondered how to prepare properly for an interview? How do you get the most out of your guest and avoid the single word answers? Learn how to effectively listen, react, and ask the right questions and the right time to ask them during an interview. Professional reporters from local channels in the New York/New Jersey Market will guide you through the steps to help make your next interview the best! Panelist: Panelist: Barry Farber American entrepreneur, sales consultant, author, and talk show host; Laura Jones, Television Journalists, Award-winning television host; Moderator: Don Smith, Station Manager, Cranford TV

New Programming Ideas- Best Practices (Roundtable)

Tired of the same programs year after year? Is their content in your community beyond council meetings and summer concerts? This panel is designed to give you some ideas on where to find new programming opportunities to enhance your program schedule. Discover new sources of programming that you might have overlooked right in your own backyard, and then learn how you can use AI to help create those programs. Panelists Ed Cologna, Station Manager, Newark TV; John Morley, Independent Producer; Aime Alonzo, Station Manager, Old Bridge Television; Moderator: Geoffery Belinfante, External Relations Chair, JAG

Exhibit Hall Closes

Thank You Reception with the Conference Partners

JAG’s 25th Anniversary Banquet and JAG Awards

Welcome: Bob Duthaler, President, JAG; Presentation of JAG Application Awards and President’s Ovation Award