Top Techs Tackle The Future Of TV News

A panel of leading technologists from Tegna, Raycom, CBC Radio-Canada , Gray Television and Nexstar Broadcasting will weigh in on news technology’s future at TVNewsCheck’s inaugural NewsTECHFutures Retreat.

Robert Lydick, VP of information technology and station operations for Tegna; David Burke, VP-CTO of Raycom Media; Bruce MacCormack, head of strategy-media technology and infrastructure services at CBC Radio-Canada; Mike Fass, VP of broadcast technology for Gray Television; and Blake Russell, EVP of station operations and content development for Nexstar Media Group will look at a bevvy of issues they’re facing, including the IP transition, augmented reality, artificial intelligence and slowing down the propagation of fake news.

Jim Casabella, former director of advanced technology for the ABC Owned Stations Group, will moderate the discussion.

“This is a seminal moment in news technology, with augmented reality increasingly finding its way into news storytelling and with the IP transition and the dawn of artificial intelligence in news production now on the horizon,” said Kathy Haley, TVNewsCheck publisher and co-founder. “Robert, Dave, Bruce, Mike and Blake are critically important voices in news technology and we look forward to a lively conversation about how they see these and other technologies playing out in local and network news.” 

The May 31 retreat will be held at Atlanta’s OMNI Hotel at CNN Center and will bring together engineering, news and production leaders to discuss a range of emerging news technology issues.

The day will kick off with an off-the-record technology tour of CNN led by Turner’s Bob Hesskamp, head of engineering; Michael Koetter, SVP of digital media systems; and Matthew Holcombe, SVP of production broadcast engineering.

Later in the day, Tom Foreman, an Emmy Award-winning CNN journalist, will talk about his pioneering efforts at using AR in news reporting. Another panel will feature news directors talking about their challenges and how technology can help solve workflow and storytelling issues they face.

The NewsTECHFutures Retreat will gather engineers who are already implementing or working with these technologies in the newsroom to talk about their experiences. The event will provide an opportunity for engineering managers from networks and station groups to exchange information and to begin to chart their course forward. The event is co-located with the Sports Video Group College Sports Summit.

To register for NewsTECHFutures retreat, click here.