A Relevant Conference

[Peggy Wilkins]

Quite by accident, I stumbled on an announcement of this conference,
which took place in New York City today.  Christie Hefner was a
keynote speaker, and Playboy had other presence in the conference as
well.

from http://www.the-dma.org/dmacircday/keynotes.shtml:

Publishing Executives Panel
9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M.

Magazine Reinvention - Strategies for Reinvigorating Magazine Brands

Moderator:
Michele Jaworski, Director of Staff Development, Time Consumer Marketing
Panelists:
Denise Anderman, Publishing Director, Popular Science
Jamie Trowbridge, President, Yankee Publishing
Cable Nauhaus, Editor-in-Chief, Folio Magazine
Jackie Leo, Editor-in-Chief, Readers' Digest Magazine

Join this panel of magazine executives as they discuss why and how
their magazine has been re-invented.

It could be said that magazines undergo continuous reinvention. And
that is true. Constantly staying ahead of customer needs and
preferences and incorporating that into the magazine's edit and
marketing is business as usual in publishing. But more substantive
reinvention such as a repositioning has repercussions that ripple
through the entire magazine affecting edit, circulation, ad sales and
production. Don't miss this opportunity to hear top magazine
executives illustrate the reinvented successes of their magazines!


Hall of Fame Luncheon and Keynote Address
12:00 P.M. - 1:45 P.M.

Christie Hefner
Chairman & CEO
Playboy Enterprises

Hefner oversees policy, management and strategy in all areas of
Playboy Enterprises. She joined Playboy in 1975 and worked in a
variety of the Company's businesses. In 1988, she was elected to her
present position.

Hefner has restructured operations and initiated the Company's highly
successful electronic and international expansion, forming alliances
with international partners that now produce and distribute 19
editions of Playboy, the nation's and the world's leading monthly
magazine for men. Under Hefner's direction, the Company successfully
extended the Playboy brand into television, which is now the Company's
biggest moneymaker.

The Company operates networks in more than 60 countries throughout
Europe, Latin America and Asia. Embracing the Internet, Hefner was the
first to go onto the Web with Playboy.com, which is one of the most
popular online destinations for men and will report profits in 2003.

Hefner has served on the Direct Marketing Association's board and
serves on the board of the Magazine Publishers Association.