11 Years Strong. 100+ Media Leaders.
One Must-Attend Event.
Join decision-makers shaping the strategy behind audience growth, newsroom transformation, subscriptions, and revenue.
This is more than a conference—it's a gathering of forward-thinking leaders trading ideas, tackling tough questions, and building what's next. From practical insights to peer connections, the agenda is built to spark actions—and help publishers lead with confidence in a rapidly changing world.
Where Publishing Leaders Power the Future
For the past decade, the Mather Symposium has been the premier gathering for media professionals across North America. This annual event brings together 100+ industry peers to explore data-driven strategies, innovative ideas, and the future of news through impactful conversations and real-world insights.
20+ Leaders On Stage
Actionable Strategies
Publisher Case Studies
Industry Benchmarks & Trends
Networking Opportunities
2026 Speakers
We’re excited to reveal our newest confirmed speakers,
with more to be announced soon as we round out an incredible lineup!

Phil Andraos
General Manager
Reuters Digital

David Chivers
Founder
Digital Acceleration Partners

Kelli Dakake
VP of Engagement and Retention
Hearst

Rodney Mahone
Chief Revenue Officer
Chronicle of Philanthropy

Stacy Spikes
Co-Founder and CEO
MoviePass

Irina Platonova
SVP, Marketing & Product
Daily Racing Form

Darya Ushakova
CMO
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Featured Speakers From Past Years

Tony Hunter
CEO
McClatchy

Katrice Hardy
CEO
The Marshall Project

Gert Ysebaert
CEO
Mediahuis Group

Emilie Harkin
SVP of Growth
The Guardian

Louis Deering
VP of Digital Subscriptions
MediaNews Group

Kelli Dakake
VP of Digital Subscriptions
Hearst

Earl Wilkinson
CEO & Executive Director
INMA

Sarah Jarvis
Senior Director of Revenue Generation & Consumer Marketing
The Philadelphia Inquirer

Curtis Huber
Senior Director of Circulation & Audience Revenue
The Seattle Times

Sara Fischer
Media Correspondent
Axios
Agenda
Stay tuned - More information coming soon!
Thursday, February 26th
Dallas Morning News HQ (DMN) followed by Mirador Dallas
Map to DMN | Map to Mirador (Group Dinner)
Get ready for a full day of inspiring keynotes, dynamic panels, insider knowledge, and hands-on audience sessions!
After a day packed with big ideas and bold conversations, we’ll head to nearby Mirador for a lively group dinner—complete with delicious food, refreshing drinks, and great company!
Set in the Heart of Dallas
We’re thrilled to once again partner with our long-time client, The Dallas Morning News, who will host next year’s event at their historic headquarters in downtown Dallas.
Formerly the city’s Central Public Library and now a vibrant hub for media and innovation, this iconic venue offers the perfect backdrop for bringing the industry together.
Find it on the map: 1954 Commerce St, Dallas

This event is reserved exclusively for publishing professionals.
Each ticket includes full access to two days of
sessions plus all after-hours networking events.
Plan Your Trip
Transportation

Nearest Airport
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
(40-minute drive to venue)

By Subway
Closest DART station: St. Paul (Orange Line)
(7-minute walk to venue)
Meet Our Symposium Sponsors
Admiral is a Visitor Relationship Management (VRM) platform that helps publishers grow revenue by recovering adblock losses, launching subscriptions and donations, collecting first-party data, and engaging visitors—all through a single, no-code tag.
Arc XP is a comprehensive digital experience platform developed by The Washington Post. It empowers publishers and brands to seamlessly manage content, subscriptions, e-commerce, and audience engagement—delivering personalized, scalable experiences across all digital channels.



Pugpig is the leading mobile publishing platform powering 400 apps for over 150 publishers globally spanning news media, consumer magazines and business media. Their platform allows media brands to launch deeply engaging mobile apps that significantly drive up reader revenue and retention.

Viafoura is a digital engagement platform that helps publishers build and manage on-site communities with tools like real-time commenting, live chats, personalized feeds, and AI-powered moderation. It drives user interaction, registrations, and subscriptions, while providing valuable first-party data and audience insights. Viafoura integrates easily with existing systems, giving publishers full control over the user experience and community standards.























Wednesday, February 25th


