Be The Media

Free BE THE MEDIA galleys for attendees of "Academic Research for Media Reform" symposium (Minneapolis, MN)

REGISTER NOW! Free galleys of BE THE MEDIA will be given to attendees of the Academic Research for Media Reform symposium for scholars. The symposium will be held on June 5 at the Hyatt Regency, 1300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN.

Through a double-blind peer review process under the auspices of the Institute for Information Policy at Penn State University, the Program Committee generated eight sessions of papers submitted by leading academics from the nation's top schools.

Symposium attendees will discuss the most pressing issues in the media reform community. The eight sessions will focus on:

• Media ownership
• Sustaining independent media
• Access to dominant media platforms
• Network Neutrality
• International media reform efforts
• The media reform movement
• Copyright and free speech, featuring Neil Netanel's new book, Copyright's Paradox
• Roundtable discussion with members of the "Future of American Telecommunications." This group is designing a media and telecommunications policy framework for the 2009 administration.

The full program and schedule is now online. Join us in this unique opportunity to engage in a dialogue between academics and media reform advocates - and get a free galley of BE THE MEDIA!

Learn how to create your own media!
Buy an advanced copy of BE THE MEDIA:

Be The Media at Book Expo America (May 29-June 1, LA, CA)

Last year, BEA had over 37,000 registered attendees and approximately 1,000 media representatives, including all major national news outlets.

How to "BEA" The Media:

Booth 5601: We are in booth 5601, next to the entrance of the West Hall in the Independent Publishers section. Galleys of the book are available for review at the booth.

New Title Showcase: Galleys are also available for review in the New Title showcase, located in the lobby of the West Hall.

Free autographed galleys: David Mathison will autograph a limited number of free BE THE MEDIA galleys on Saturday, May 31 from 2:30-3:00pm at Table 26 (in the Autograph Area at the rear of the West Hall).

Joining Mathison in this autograph time slot will be:

• Table 26: David Mathison (BE THE MEDIA)
• Table 24: Professor Robert Thurman (Why The Dalai Lama Matters)
• Table 22: Ray Bradbury (Farewell Summer)
• Table 20: Jamie Lee Curtis (Big Words for Little People)
• Table 15: Ernest Borgnine (Ernie)
• Table 06: Dr Ruth Westheimer (Dr. Ruth's Guide to Teens and Sex)

This 2-3pm Saturday autograph time slot is celebrity-packed. Free galleys will be autographed on a first come, first served basis - so be sure to get there early.

Learn how to self publish your own book
See chapter 2 in BE THE MEDIA:

David Mathison presenting Advanced Track class on Web 2.0; featured in 'Ask The Experts' (May 28-9, Los Angeles)

Founded in 1983, PMA (the Independent Book Publisher's Association) is a trade association of more than 4,000 independent publishers that serves book, audio, and video publishers in the US and abroad through cooperative marketing programs, education, and advocacy.

Publishing University, sponsored by PMA, is the most comprehensive and respected educational program in the publishing industry. Publishing University features three days of programming with four keynote speakers, early bird sessions, the Benjamin Franklin Awards Ceremony, and 85 courses in eight tracks:

Internet;  Marketing;  Sales;  Basic Publicity;  Advanced Publicity;  Editorial and Production; General Publishing, Legal and Finance; Advanced Track (See Advanced Track attendee pre-requisites, below)

2008 Publishing University: May 27-29 at the Wilshire Grand Hotel, 930 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles. Register now.

Wednesday, May 28 7-8:30am (Pacific Ballroom): ASK THE EXPERTS

ASK THE EXPERTS, featuring David Mathison
Ask The Experts is a special opportunity for attendees to meet with speakers and industry veterans for brief, one-on-one, private consulting sessions on a wide range of publishing topics, or anything on which you’d like feedback. Sessions are designed to provide free help to PMA members. Bring your materials and questions.

Mathison will provide attendees with free, personalized consultations on "Internet, Blogs, and Social Media."

Wednesday, May 28 (2-3pm): David Mathison will present a class on Web 2.0 tools for authors and publishers with publicist and journalist Nettie Hartsock of Hartsock Communications:

A Taste of the Web/Advanced Web 2.0 Tools:
DIGG, del.icio.us, wikis - Oh My!
"Learn which Web 2.0 communication strategies can make the biggest impact on the marketing of your book. Discover tips and techniques about many advanced Web 2.0 tools, such as DIGG, del.icio.us, wikis, podcasts, videoblogs and social media. Empower your usage of 2.0 tools and learn how you can drive critical awareness, get media coverage and enable long-term viral power on the Internet to increase your book’s success. Discover the keys to integrating online PR Web 2.0 efforts and blogging with traditional marketing and advertising. Are you ready to shine virtually?"

NOTE: This class is part of PMA's Advanced Track, designed to facilitate networking, group interaction, and answers to specific publishing questions. These classes are custom designed for experienced publishers. To attend the Advanced Track you must meet at least three of the following five prerequisites:

1. Attendance of least one previous Publishing University
2. Three years in publishing
3. Publishing as your primary business
4. $250,000 in annual sales
5. Five titles published
   

Thursday, May 29 7-8:30am (Pacific Ballroom): ASK THE EXPERTS

ASK THE EXPERTS, featuring David Mathison
Ask The Experts is a special opportunity for attendees to meet with speakers and industry veterans for brief, one-on-one, private consulting sessions on a wide range of publishing topics, or anything on which you’d like feedback. Sessions are designed to provide free help to PMA members. Bring your materials and questions.

Mathison will provide attendees with free, personalized consultations on: "Internet, Blogs, and Social Media"

Learn how to self publish your own book
See chapter 2 of BE THE MEDIA:

The Wizard of Oz at the Mountain Play: May 18, 25; June 1, 7, 8, and 15

In 2007, I volunteered to help with the Mountain Play's performance of the musical HAIR by valet parking bicycles.

I loved this gig!

Being car-free, I use my bike to travel all over Marin - even up the 2,571'  Mount Tamalpais.

I advised bikers on the best trails back to San Francisco, Mill Valley, Fairfax, and Stinson Beach.

If you want to cycle to the Play, here are some tips and a trail map (look for the MOUNTAIN THEATER). Please stay off the Panoramic Highway.

Valet parking was sponsored by the Marin County Bicycle Coalition.

Since this is bike to work week, why not head to the Play on 2 wheels? Here is what you can look forward to:

Pictures from the event (click for larger images):

Me, manning the valet bike area

 

Nice view from the valet parking area

View from the bike ride down the mountain

 

During the song Aquarius

 

Finale: Let the Sunshine In

 

All photos were taken with my Nikon Coolpix S1, which provides great quality for a camera the size of a credit card. It is critical to balance quality with size, weight, portability, and durability when you travel by bike!

I  took a few short videos with the same camera. Unfortunately I was not tapped into the sound board, nor did I have a tripod, so the audio and video quality is not the greatest.

Check out Susan Zelinsky and cast singing Good Morning Starshine and Let The Sunshine In:

I enjoyed the Mountain Play experience so much that I subsequently joined their Board of Directors.

A goal of mine is to apply the lessons from BE THE MEDIA to help this non-profit community theater group expand their presence beyond the performance, grow their audience, and increase their revenue streams with new products.

One of the Board's most important goals is "to nurture an appreciation of Mount Tamalpais."

This year, under the leadership of Executive Director Sara Pearson, we continue to  "go green" by encouraging bikers and hikers, recycling, using biodiesel fuel for buses to minimize cars on the mountain, providing alternatives to plastic water bottles, and teaching attendees the importance of protecting our water supplies.

Visit the emerald table for more information on creating a more sustainable Marin County, and a more sustainable world.

Many attendees do their part by taking the bus up to the mountain theater and hiking down the six mile, 1,900 foot grade after the show.

According to Executive Director Sara Pearson, "We provide detailed hiking maps, signage, and volunteers who lead and "sweep" the end of the hike. This extremely popular program draws 800 people per show, and encourages an appreciation of Marin's natural beauty encountered during the six mile downhill trek."

Be sure to bring lots of water and plan on a 2-3 hour hike down!

This year's play is the Wizard of Oz, a great show for the whole family. 

Performances are May 18, 25, June 1, 7, 8, and 15. Buy tickets here. SEE YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN!