Experts to discuss impact of mobile technology on news industry at Digital
Journal Future of Media event in Toronto

TORONTO, Sept. 1 /CNW/ - How is mobile technology influencing news media? How should media professionals adapt to mobile news consumption? These are some of the questions to be discussed at a popular speaker series taking place in Toronto on Sept. 8.

Happening at DigitalJournal.com's annual "Future of Media" event, the panel includes executives from Facebook Canada, The Globe and Mail, Global News and more. Speakers will explore how media organizations are adapting to emerging mobile technologies and readerships, how social media has changed news consumption and what the future of media holds. DigitalJournal.com's Future of Media gathering will include a panel discussion and debate and will end with an interactive Q&A with audience members and users on Twitter and Facebook.

This highly anticipated event will take place Wednesday September 8 at the Drake Hotel Underground (1150 Queen Street West) at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and admission is free and open to the public.

Seating is limited and will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Last year, Future of Media was completely sold out.

The Future of Media panel is made up of a diverse group of industry leaders:

• Kunal Gupta, CEO of Polar Mobile
• Elmer Sotto, Head of Growth for Facebook Canada
• Anjali Kapoor, Managing Editor of the Globe and Mail Digital
• Mark Evans, a digital marketing/social media strategist and co-founder of the MESH conference.
• David Skok, Senior Producer of Online Content for Global News

The Future of Media will be moderated by DigitalJournal.com.

Panelists will address how social and digital media are changing traditional journalism; why mobile technologies are increasingly being regarded as a discovery point for news; how real-time information is changing mainstream media and the role of mobile devices; and how changing media consumption habits offer a glimpse into the future of media.

"In the most recent years, news organizations have recognized the growing trend in mobile news consumption and have seen these results in the quickly growing proportion of visits to their digital destinations from mobile devices," said Kunal Gupta, CEO of Polar Mobile. "However, as we are still in the early phase of mobile, the profits to be made from mobile do not yet seriously rival the profits from their primary website and so most organizations are not paying attention to the opportunities that a mobile presence can offer."

The Future of Media event is sponsored by Queensway Audi, Toronto's No. 1 Audi dealer; Suite 66, Canada's largest independent online advertising sales organization; Dell Canada; Rogers Wireless; Flip Video; Palm; and CNW Group, Canada's leading newswire provider.

At The Future of Media event, sponsors are providing many high-end gadgets and tech toys as raffle prizes to attendees. The prizes include: a 32GB Apple iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G courtesy of Suite 66; a Dell Studio 15 notebook with artist lid courtesy of Dell Canada; 5 Flip Ultra HD camcorders courtesy of Flip Video; a Samsung Galaxy S Captivate smartphone courtesy of Rogers Wireless; and a Palm Pre smartphone with Touchstone Charging Dock courtesy of Palm. Wireless plans for devices are sold separately.

More info on the event can be found by visiting DigitalJournal.com/djfom or on the Future of Media's social media release.

Please note: Due to a last-minute scheduling conflict, Facebook Managing Director Jordan Banks is unable to attend the Future of Media conference as previously indicated in prior releases. Taking his place on the panel is Elmer Sotto, Head of Growth for Facebook Canada. For those interested in Jordan Banks' views on the changing media landscape, DigitalJournal.com will conduct a sit-down interview with him to discuss social media's impact on news and Facebook's role in the future of media.

About DigitalJournal.com:
DigitalJournal.com is a global digital media company and online news outlet read by millions of people. Headquartered in Toronto, DigitalJournal.com covers breaking news from around the world and is a recognized leader in social news with 25,000 reporters in 175 countries around the world. DigitalJournal.com also consults news organizations on how to empower their audience to acquire content, drive revenue and increase engagement from digital media properties.

About The Future of Media:
DigitalJournal.com started its annual Future of Media event in 2009 to bring media executives, entrepreneurs, developers and journalists into one place to talk about changes in the media landscape. As the only free event of its kind, The Future of Media is widely attended by the who's who in Canadian media and business.

For further information:

For images, interview opportunities, press passes to the event, contact Digital Journal CEO Chris Hogg at 416-410-9675 or [email protected]