The Press List

Welcome to The Press List, our weekly newsletter alerting you to upcoming media events worth knowing about. For those of you who don't know, Internet Week -- which officially kicks off today -- is basically the Super Bowl for New York's digital media community. Parties and panels abound, and the Circus returns to town -- Mediabistro Circus, that is, this Tuesday and Wednesday at midtown's Times Center. Speakers include BusinessWeek.com executive editor John Byrne, NYMag.com general manager Michael Silberman, mediabistro.com managing editor Rebecca L. Fox, Edelman Digital SVP Steve Rubel, Thrillist co-founder and CEO Ben Lerer, Six Apart chief evangelist Anil Dash, Gary Vaynerchuk of Wine Library TV, New York Times Web newsroom editor Fiona Spruill, and BlogHer co-founder and COO Elisa Camahort Page. Cirque du Soleil will also be on hand for an exclusive performance that'll lend added big-top authenticity to the proceedings. In addition, there are plenty of other Internet Week events to enjoy, and we've isolated the don't-miss high points in our listings below.

Last week, we checked out the Pulitzer Prize ceremony at Columbia University with FishbowlNY editor Amanda Ernst. After the trophies were handed out, we spoke with New York Times executive editor Bill Keller who told us he felt "pretty damn good" about the five prizes that his paper brought home this year. Also spotted was Washington Post columnist and MSNBC political analyst Eugene Robinson who won this year's prize for commentary. We asked Robinson if he feared for the future of op-ed journalism with all the financial problems plaguing the media industry. For his part, a bullish Robinson doesn't "see a lot of newspapers or media institutions trying to cut back on opinion" because "opinion works really well on the Web, at least in terms of attracting new readers and bringing people to your site."

Post-Pulitzers, we headed downtown to Gawker Media headquarters for a party celebrating its controversial campaign for HBO's True Blood. Critics have argued that the campaign, which involved a fake press release saying GM had acquired a new blog, problematically blurred the advertising/editorial divide. Like a true adman, Campfire managing partner Steve Wax -- whose agency spearheaded the push for client HBO -- told us he's "absolutely" pleased with all the attention the campaign has received, regardless of its tone. Some Gawkerites expressed irritation with the BloodCopy campaign, but Gawker's Richard Lawson rejected the notion that the fake blog purchase crossed a line, shifting responsibility to the true believers: "If you saw a blog about vampires and thought it was real, then your problem isn't with Gawker Media."

After all the Internet Week action subsides, we'll be back next Monday to forecast which upcoming media events you'll want to know about and regale you with what went down at the prior week's hottest happenings. Be sure to check out 'Conferences, Etc.' and 'Beyond New York' for media events beyond the five boroughs in San Francisco, Arizona, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C...

--Hunter Walker

Monday June 1, 2009

StartupAlpha.com New Media Entrepreneurship Lunch
Networking event where entrepreneurs can bring business plans to make deals and get feedback
Host: StartupAlpha.com
Access: Open to the public -- RSVP Required
When: 12:30pm-2:30pm, Monday, June 1
Where: Whiskey Trader Lounge, 71 W. 55th Street, New York

mediabistro.com VIP Circus Party in New York
Party celebrating Mediabistro Circus for mediabistro.com VIPs -- Circus speakers, teachers, bloggers and AvantGuild members
Host: mediabistro.com
Access: Limited/Available on request
Previous/Expected Guests: Laurel Touby
When: 7pm-8:30pm, Monday, June 1
Where: Corio, 337 West Broadway, New York

Internet Week New York 2009 Kickoff Party
Party to celebrate the start of Internet Week
Host: YouTube, The Webby Awards, The New York Observer
Access: Closed/Private
When: 8pm-11pm, Monday, June 1
Where: The Puck Building, 295 Lafayette Street, New York

Tuesday June 2, 2009

Selling Yourself: How to Build a Brand in the New Digital World
Panel discussion on digital branding
Host: The New York Media Information Exchange Group
Access: Tickets available for purchase
Previous/Expected Guests: Ellis Henican, Ben Relles
When: 7:30am-9:30am, Tuesday, June 2
Where: Samsung Experience, Time Warner Center, Third Floor, 10 Columbus Circle, New York

Innovation & Digital Video
Web video panel discussion
Host: Columbia University School of Business
Access: Open to the public -- RSVP required
Previous/Expected Guests: Sree Sreenivasan
When: 11am-12:15pm, Tuesday, June 2
Where: Columbia University School of Business, Uris 301, 3022 Broadway, New York

NY Tech Meetup Showcase
Exhibition featuring demos from New York City tech startups
Host: New York Tech Meetup
Access: Open to the public -- RSVP not required
When: 3pm-6:30pm, Tuesday, June 2
Where: Fashion Institute of Technology, Great Hall, 227 W. 27th Street, New York

David Sedaris: When You Are Engulfed in Flames
Essayist David Sedaris reads from his latest book
Host: Strand Book Store
Access: Open to the public -- RSVP not required
When: 6pm-8pm, Tuesday, June 2
Where: Strand Book Store, 828 Broadway, Second Floor, New York

Shakers and Stirrers NYC
Regional networking mixer
Host: Networking for Professionals
Access: Tickets available for purchase
When: 6pm-8pm, Tuesday, June 2
Where: O'Brien's Irish Pub and Restaurant, 134 W. 46th Street, New York

New York Women in Communications Presents: Relax, Relate, Recharge
Talk with author Jennifer Weiner
Host: New York Women in Communications
Access:Open to the public -- RSVP not required
When: 6pm-8pm, Tuesday, June 2
Where: Saks Cafe, 611 Fifth Avenue, New York

Drinks4Startups
Networking party for New York Web startups in celebration of Internet Week
Host: CenterNetworks, Web2Fem, Web2NewYork, URDB
Access: Open to the public -- RSVP Required
When: 6pm, Tuesday, June 2
Where: Gallery Bar, 120 Orchard Street, New York

Wednesday June 3, 2009

Startup 2009
Exhibition and competition for tech startups
Host: Silicon Alley Insider
Access: Tickets available for purchase
Previous/Expected Guests: Jason Calacanis, John Battelle
When: 8am-7pm, Wednesday, June 3
Where: NYU Stern School of Business, Schimmel Hall, 44 W. Fourth Street, New York

Christopher Buckley in Conversation with John Tierney
Satirist Christopher Buckley interviewed by New York Times columnist John Tierney
Host: The Bryant Park Reading Room
Access: Open to the public -- RSVP not required
When: 12:30pm-1:45pm, Wednesday, June 3
Where: The Bryant Park Reading Room, 42nd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, New York

Thursday June 4, 2009

Social Media For Nonprofits
Roundtable discussion on social media applications for nonprofit organizations
Host: NY Social Media Roundtable
Access: Open to the public -- RSVP required
Previous/Expected Guests: Rachel Sklar, Soraya Darabi
When: 11:30am-2pm, Thursday, June 4
Where: The Center, 208 W. 13th Street, New York

Social-lizing: Social Media @ Night
Internet Week networking event
Host: SCENEPR
Access: Open to the public -- RSVP Required
When: 6pm, Thursday, June 4
Where: Stay Lounge, 244 E. Houston Street, New York

Semantic Advertising
Panel discussion on the foundation and future application of semantic technologies in the advertisement industry
Host: Peer39, New York Semantic Web Meetup
Access: Tickets available for purchase
Previous/Expected Guests: Geoff Reiss, Evan Sandhaus
When: 6:30pm, Thursday, June 4
Where: Hotel Pennsylvania, 18th floor, W. 33rd Street and Seventh Avenue, New York

Adrian Tomine & Seth in Conversation
Two New Yorker illustrators read from recent books they edited and designed
Host: Strand Book Store
Access: Open to the public -- RSVP not required
Previous/Expected Attendees: Adrian Tomine, Seth
When: 7pm-8:30pm, Thursday, June 4
Where: Strand Book Store, 828 Broadway, Second Floor, New York

Digg Meetup New York
Internet Week party for Digg users
Host: Digg
Access: Open to the public -- RSVP not required
Previous/Expected Guests: Kevin Rose, Alex Albrecht
When: 7:30pm, Thursday, June 4
Where: Webster Hall, 125 E. 11th Street, New York

Thrillist's "The Internet is Out of Control" Party
Invite-only Internet Week party
Host: Thrillist
Access: Closed/Private
When: 8pm-11pm, Thursday, June 4
Where: M2, 530 W. 28th Street, New York

Double Standards: Gawker Media Hosts The IAB
Networking event with Gawker Media and the Interactive Advertising Bureau
Host: Gawker Media
Access: Closed/Private
Previous/Expected Guests: Nick Denton
When: 8pm-10pm, Thursday, June 4
Where: Gawker Media, 210 Elizabeth Street, New York

Friday June 5, 2009

The Webutante Ball
Cocktail-formal Internet Week party
Host: Jessica Amason, Richard Blakeley, EMRG Media
Access: Open to the public -- RSVP required
When: 6pm-10pm, Friday, June 5
Where: The Empire Hotel, 12th Floor, 33 W. 63rd Street, New York

Conferences, etc.

Internet Week New York
Weeklong festival celebrating the Internet community and industry in New York
Host: Internet Week
Access: Limited/Available on request
When: Monday, June 1-Monday, June 8
Where: Various Locations, New York

Ypulse Youth Marketing Mashup
Industry leaders and experts discuss marketing to young people with technology
Host: Ypulse
Access: Tickets available for purchase
Previous/Expected Guests: Guy Kawasaki
When: Monday, June 1-Tuesday, June 2
Where: Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason Street, San Francisco

Mediabistro Circus
Conference exploring the convergence of media and technology
Host: mediabistro.com
Access: Tickets available for purchase
Previous/Expected Guests: Laurel Touby, John Byrne, Michael Silberman, Rebecca L. Fox, Steve Rubel, Ben Lerer, Anil Dash, Gary Vaynerchuk, Fiona Spruill, Elisa Camahort Page
When: Tuesday, June 2-Wednesday, June 3
Where: TheTimesCenter, 242 W. 41st Street, New York

PR Measurement Conference
Public relations strategy symposium
Host: PR News Online
Access: Tickets available for purchase
When: 8:30am-5pm, Wednesday, June 3
Where: National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW #1300, Washington, D.C.

Association Media & Publishing 2009
Association publishing conference
Host: Society of National Association Publications
Access: Tickets available for purchase
When: Wednesday, June 3-Thursday, June 4
Where: Capital Hilton, 1001 16th Street NW, Washington, D.C.

Beyond New York

Blogging the Narco Wars
Discussion of how reporters are covering drug smuggling in Tijuana
Host: Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists
Access: Open to the public -- RSVP not required
When: 7pm, Wednesday, June 3
Where: Los Angeles Central Library's Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth Street, Los Angeles

Exclusive Screening of DARE
Screening of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival selection DARE
Host: Ypulse
Access: Open to the public -- RSVP Required
When: 8pm, Monday, June 1
Where: Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason Street, San Francisco

Twitter -- How to Leverage the New Must-Have Tool for Marketing
Workshop on using Twitter for marketing
Host: Market4Demand's Marketing Educational Series for Entrepreneurs
Access: Open to the public -- RSVP Required
When: 8:30am-12pm, Wednesday, June 3
Where:Network Meeting Center at the Techmart, 5201 Great America Pkwy # 122, Santa Clara, CA

Shakers and Stirrers Scottsdale
Business networking mixer
Host: Networking For Professionals
Access: Tickets available for purchase
When: 5:30pm-7:30pm, Wednesday, June 3
Where: Sol y Sombra, 20707 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, Arizona

2009 Internews Media Leadership Awards
Awards ceremony honoring international journalism
Host: Internews Network
Access: Tickets available for purchase
Previous/Expected Attendees: James Nachtwey, Bob Edwards, Kathy Bushkin Calvin
When: 6pm-7:30pm, Tuesday, June 2
Where: DLA Piper, 500 Eighth Street NW, Washington, D.C.