In Partnership with the VR/AR Association

Welcome to StoryNEXT 2016, a conference dedicated to new frontiers in storytelling, brought to you by USA TODAY NETWORK and the New York Television Festival.

USA TODAY NETWORK and the New York Television Festival will bring together leaders in virtual reality storytelling, technology and advertising to focus on the opportunities and challenges of content creation, distribution and monetization.

SCHEDULE

10:30am

Doors Open

11:00am

OPENING KEYNOTE: Virtual Reality: State of the Union

StoryNEXT kicks-off with a dynamic keynote detailing the current state of the VR landscape, emerging trends, breakthroughs, and what is to come.

12:00pm

Exhibitor Showcase: Technology & Media

Experience the latest technology and VR content demos. *The Exhibitor Showcase will remain open for the duration of the conference.

1:00pm

Capturing the Stories of Today: VR in Journalism and Documentary

Experts across the non-fiction storytelling spectrum will weigh in on the rapidly evolving medium, its ethical implications, and look at the tremendous opportunities (and challenges) for building empathy and engagement through immersive storytelling.

• Gabo Arora, United Nations & LightShed
• Niko Chauls, USA TODAY NETWORK
• Jessica Lauretti, HuffPost/RYOT
• Graham Roberts, New York Times

2:00pm

Pioneering Advertising and Marketing in Virtual Reality

Since the dawn of television, advertising has helped to define the structure of its programming and experiences. Years later, with the onset of online video, audience attention and interactivity have helped shape new programming and a more direct relationship with brand advertisers. As we explore the potential of virtual reality storytelling, what is the next step for advertising and how will brand visionaries shape the next chapter?

• Kelly Andresen, USA TODAY NETWORK
• Andrew Cochrane, Mirada
• Eric Grant, Razorfish
• Jonathan Shipman, Framestore

2:45pm

Hospitality Break

3:15pm

VR for All! Breaking Down Platform Barriers and Creating a Mass Audience

As virtual reality moves beyond early adopters to mainstream consumers, the industry’s biggest hardware and platform players will discuss the challenges and opportunities of building a new audience in a new medium.

• Drew Bamford, HTC
• Paul Beddoe-Stephens, Facebook
• Aaron Luber, Google
• Tony Mugavero, Littlstar

4:15pm

CLOSING KEYNOTE: The Dawn of AR

5:00pm

Journalism 360 Powered by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Google News Lab, and Online News Association presents ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS

• Breakthrough VR Production
• Interactive Storytelling
• Monetization
• Women in VR

5:00pm

COCKTAIL PARTY Sponsored by Facebook

For more info, contact kris@thevrara.com