The 4th AAN Publishers Conference took place during peak foliage season -- "fall colors" in flatlanderspeak -- in beautiful Burlington, Vt., October 11 to 13, 2012.

That enticing image above is from the cover of host Seven Days' new tourist pub, BTV. You can read through it here.

What's Working Where -- and Why?

Thursday, October 11
5 p.m. on...
Dinner Chez Routly. Any time after 5 p.m. -- the sun sets at 6:15 p.m. these days -- come over to the home of Seven Days publisher Paula Routly for dinner, drinks and conversation. Overlooking Lake Champlain, her place is three blocks from the Courtyard Burlington Harbor Hotel. Dinner by Dish -- one of the best caterers in the state. Bring a towel if "hot tub under the stars" sounds appealing.

Friday, October 12
(All sessions and take place at Main Street Landing, right across Battery Street from the Courtyard Burlington Harbor. )
9:30 a.m.
"Toast" Yet? Continental breakfast
Sponsor Presentation: Ian Blasch, UrbanChalk

10 to 11:30 a.m.
Opening Session
* Welcome from AAN President Fran Zankowski and conference host Paula Routly.

* Check-in with Bradley Zeve: Who are you and why are you here? What are your greatest challenges right now?

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
What's Working Where -- and Why?
General Discussion of "The Characteristics of a Successful Alt Weekly: Does Your Paper Have Them? Can You Get Them?"
Discussion Leader: Matt Mansfield, Director, Medill School of Journalism

1 to 2:30 p.m.
Lunch with Tim Peek, Executive Producer for Transformation at NBC News
Tim was news editor at Vermont Times before he left print to work for NBC back in the '90s. He went from being a producer at "Inside Edition" and then "Dateline" to a string of high-level new-media positions that sound like seminars from the last 10 years of AAN conventions. Depending on the day, his title seems to vary between "Digital Storytelling and Monetization Expert" and "Executive Producer for Transformation." Drawing from his background in newspapers and broadcast, he'll talk about how to surf the wave of change instead of being engulfed by it, including how to leverage new technology and platforms to grow new audience and revenue.

2:30 to 2:45 p.m.
Break

2:45 to 3 p.m.
Ch-ch-changes
The Independent (Lafayette) has just transitioned to a monthly print paper and daily online destination known as IND Media. Publishers Steve and Cherry Fisher May will talk about the research, reasons and results from the change.

3 to 5 p.m.
Steal, Beg and Borrow.
Blair Barna will lead a discussion on the ideas we've found from each other that are working and successful, ones from other media that we can use and places in the business and political community that we can look at for monetization and leadership solutions. We’ll present the best ideas out there regardless of whether the publishers of those papers attend.

5 to 7 p.m.
Vermont Beer Tasting
(Seven Days, 255 South Champlain Street, three blocks from Main Street Landing.)
The Vermont State Brew? Sorry, Willamette Week, but it ain't Magic Hat. Come taste the beers that have made # 9, well, number nine. This is the land of Heady Topper, Rock Art Ridge Runner, Hill Farmstead, Switchback, Lawson's Hopzilla, Otter Creek Black IPA, Shed and Long Trail Double Bag.

7 p.m.
Dinner at Penny Cluse, one of the most popular breakfast-lunch-brunch eateries in downtown Burlington. There is always a line -- except when AAN rents the place for dinner. Chef-owner Charles Reeves will cook up creative hors d'oeuvres for maximum schmoozing followed by a Vermont-focused family-style dinner served at long tables. We'll have the restaurant to ourselves.

Saturday, October 13
(Morning and afternoon sessions and take place at Main Street Landing, right across Battery Street from the Courtyard Burlington Harbor. Lunch will be aboard M/V Northern Lights, which leaves from King Street Ferry Dock.)
9 to 10 a.m.
Continental breakfast
Sponsor Presentations: Robert Wescott, cXense; Maytal Fligelman, Onswipe

10 to 11 a.m.
Promoting Leadership from Within and Other Models of Succession
Roundtable moderated by Amy Austin

11 to 11:30 a.m.
Peter Dykstra from Environmental Health News talks about his news service, the partnership with AAN and the state of environmental news coverage.

11:30 a.m.
Depart for King Street Ferry Dock

11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Lunch cruise on Lake Champlain with Ice Cream Activists Ben Cohen & Jerry Greenfield. They've stopped making ice cream, but not trouble. Is there a lesson here for us all? Save room for dessert.

1:45 to 2 p.m.
Return to Main Street Landing

2 to 2:45 p.m.
Money Models
Foundations, non-profits, collaboration and competition for Alt-Weeklies
Presented by Tiffany Shackelford and Jay Youngdahl

2:45 to 4:30 p.m.
Learning from Local Competitors and Colleagues: They say keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Seven Days has assembled a panel of local media colleagues that have rolled out some brilliant innovations -- some of which could be described as "alternatives" to the alternative. Listen carefully for partnering and pilfering ideas.
Moderator: Cathy Resmer

Anne Galloway, VT Digger -- Vermont's nonprofit online news site is wonky, but it's kicking ass. We have plans to collaborate on political coverage leading up the general election.
Jan Schultz, Front Porch Forum -- You can find real community -- as well as a plumber or babysitter -- on this network of 100 neighborhood online spaces across Vermont. Michael wants to take it nationally.
Alex Martin, WCAX-TV -- Young Alex belongs to the third generation of Martins to run the locally owned CBS affiliate, and he rolled out a daily deal program here long before Living Social came to town. Seven Days reporters go on the news three times a week, and we did collaborate on the "daily deal" product together.
Al Levy, Route 802 -- Al was Bradley's roommate at the University of Vermont. Now he's partnering with Seven Days and two other local Vermont publishers to create a statewide network of individual geographic apps. Because they all use the same platform -- a vendor called mConcierge -- the publisher partners are selling into each other's apps. The Seven Days app, called BurlApp, is awaiting approval from Apple. You may be able to see the mobile web version at burlappvt.com.

4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Final Thoughts

7 p.m.
Burlington Dine Around
American Flatbread -- The best locavore pizza in town. Big oven right in the middle. The franchise started here in Vermont.
L'Amante -- Husband-and-wife-owned-and-operated Italian resto. Try the squash blossoms.
Leunig's -- Parisian-style bistro located on the liveliest corner in Burlington -- Church and College. Great people watching. Good food.
Pistou -- The young chef -- a Middlebury grad -- was nominated for a James Beard Award this year -- the restaurant's first in operation.
Farmhouse Tap & Grill -- High-end locavore burgers and brews. Incredibly busy and loud. The place used to be a McDonald's, but now it’s the opposite. There's a “speakeasy” downstairs.
A Single Pebble -- Real Chinese food with great tasting menu. Big, round conversation-conducive tables with Lazy Susans.

Local Events of Interest
Bill McKibben's Climate Change Musical Road Show It's a dress rehearsal, apparently, which means we're not dead yet.
Ira Allen Chapel, University of Vermont, 7 p.m.

"Leaf-Peepin', Cider-Sippin' Revue." Vermont's comic drag queen troupe -- count em, three -- aren't very convincing, but they are enthusiastic. This is their annual "variety show."
Three Needs, 185 Pearl Street, 7, 9 & 11 p.m. $10.

Registration Information and Fees
Registration for the Publishers Conference is limited to two participants per publication. Participants may include owners, publishers or senior managers. Attendance is limited to the first 40 registrants.

The registration fee is $499 per person, and includes dinner on Thursday, continental breakfast, lunch and dinner on Friday and continental breakfast and lunch on Saturday. Attendees may purchase guest passes as follows: $200 for both of the dinners and $50 for the luncheon boat cruise on Saturday.

Hotel Information
Courtyard Burlington Harbor
25 Cherry Street
Burlington, Vermont 05401
Phone: (802) 864-4700