Lots of “D” at RTDNA

NOLA, September, 2011

It was nice to see so many old friends attending RTDNA in what will hopefully be the beginning of a viable return to conference independence from NAB.

Truth be told, the event was a mere shadow of the glory days of yore when the entire Convention Center was filled, Affiliate Relation’s swag flowed, and the budget for the CNN bash was only slightly less than a Hollywood Studio premier after-party.

That was then… the good news now; they put the D in RTNA. Digital technology, Social Media, Mobile…that was the buzz. on the floor.

For the first time in several years, layoffs, budget cuts and “I can’t wait to retire” were not the whispered headlines I heard. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t call it a chorus crescendo of glee, but it was nice to hear lots of positive ideas and see a level of confidence that TV News is well positioned for the future in the rapidly evolving Digital Communications world.

I doubt RTDNA will ever fill the Convention Center again, but heck, who needs it? Sat-trucks are being replaced with WiFi, you can edit on a laptop, and camera-phone carrying Vox Populi shooting UGC are your new freelancers.