• Solving your media dilemmas
• Working proactively to build relationships with the media
• Deciding when to contact the media and who to contact
• Taping and critique of mock interviews
• Developing and delivering strong messages
• Preparing a spokesperson for a media interview
• Managing ongoing issues

Preparing and Responding to Hurricane Katrina & Other Disasters
Last year, the nation's attention was focused on the massive destruction and human suffering caused by hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and fires. This panel will provide an overview of how the cable industry responds to and prepares for natural disasters before, during and after. We will examine how communication officers from MSOs, programmers and non-profit organizations execute and implement communications plans for employees and local communities devastated by these disasters.

Moderator:
Terry Connelly, Senior Vice President & General Manager, The Weather Channel
 
Participants:
Joann Donnellan, Director of Media Relations , The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Alicin Reidy-Williamson, Vice President, Public Responsibility, MTV Networks
Steve Sawyer, Vice President, Public & Government Affairs, Cox Communications, Inc.
Melany Stroupe, Public Relations Manager, Cable One

Dynamic Duos: Programmers and Local Operators Partnerships
Learn about strategic partnerships between Programming Networks and Local Operators on Public Affairs initiatives. Whether it’s a new network, an established network, or a household brand, you’ll hear about new and existing highly visible, locally driven public affairs initiatives that successfully partnered networks and operators to create a positive impact in the communities they serve. This panel will also highlight partnerships with third party nonprofit associations and/or with educators and with elected officials.  

Moderator:
Anne Cowan, Senior Vice President, Communications & Marketing, CTAM

Participants:
Kate Getzfread, Regional Director of Community Relations, Comcast
Reinaldo Llano Jr., Manager, Community Relations, Florida Group, Bright House Networks
Libby O'Connell , Senior Vice President, Corporate Outreach, A&E Television Networks
Steve Roth, Marketing Manager, C-SPAN Networks
Casey Schick, Director, Affiliate Marketing & Ad Sales, Fox Cable Networks
Stacy Zaja, Manager, Community Relations, Time Warner Cable/Wisconsin Division

Triple Threat: How the RBOCs', satellite companies' and programmers' expansion of services is impacting cable's business
The competitive landscape is now open to phone companies, satellite, broadcasters and even content providers looking to expand their services or partner with each other to offer a three (or even four) product bundle. How are cable companies responding to the challenge these competitors pose? We'll discuss the impact these developments have had on the cable industry and examine some of the new services in development from content providers like ESPN, Apple and Google.

Moderator:
Alex Swan, Director of Media Relations, ARRIS
 
Participants:
Lidia Graciela Agraz, VP Public and Government Affairs, Time Warner Cable/Austin
Sherita Ceasar, Vice President & General Manager, Charter Communications
Alex Horwitz, Director, Public Affairs, Cox Communications/ Northern VA
Daniel Torras, Senior Director, Mobile ESPN

Leveraging Relationships with the Educational Community to Grow Revenue
The technology requirements of schools and school districts are rapidly changing and becoming increasingly sophisticated. As the cable industry looks to offer advanced content and technology solutions to schools as part of an overall business services strategy, an increasing number of schools are looking to establish relationships with cable companies. In a panel comprising MSO and programmer representatives, and moderated by a representative of the CTAM Business Services committee, attendees will hear how ventures with schools and school districts have increased revenue, offered new opportunities and enhanced relationships with public officials.

Moderator:
Douglas Levin, Director of Education Policy, Cable in the Classroom
 
Participants:
Trent Anderson , Vice President, Education, Cablevision Systems Corporation
Jennifer Caserta, Senior Vice President, Marketing, IFC
Dale Fulton, Senior Vice President, Curricular Development, Discovery Education
Chuck Kaplan, Chief Operating Officer, Narad Networks, Inc.

Trends in the Industry or Cutting Edge Public Affairs
The cable industry, like few others, has a unique ability to educate and engage the community in "hot button" social issues. Through local and national Public Affairs initiatives the cable industry leverages this ability to influence positive change in our communities and in the country.

Moderator:
Bev Greenberg, Vice President, Public Affairs, Time Warner Cable/Wisconsin Division
 
Participants:
Ana Gabriel, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Comcast Midwest Division
Stephen Macias, Corporate Communications & Public Relations, Here! Networks
Anthony Surratt, Executive Director, Public Relations, Cox Communications, Inc.
Denise Young Farrell, Director, Public Affairs, Lifetime Television Cox Communications, Inc.

What's New in Programmer Community Affairs Programs? #2

Discovery Kids en Espanol  Discovery Networks      
DKEE and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund have joined forces to promote the importance of higher education and to inspire Hispanic American kids to pursue a 4-year college degree.
 
In Pursuit of Justice  Court TV   
Learn how Court TV uses provocative programming, educational resources and events to spark what works and doesn’t work in our justice system.
 
Mentor’s Walk: Creating the New Girls Network  Oxygen   
Learn how a simple walk in New York’s Central Park has turned into a nationwide public affairs campaign of support and validation for women.

WE Empowers Women  WE: Women’s Entertainment
Learn how WE Empowers Women (WEW) proactively builds partnerships with national organizations to develop mentorship, education and health programs focusing on issues and causes important to women.
 
A Healthy BET  BET          
A Healthy BET is an initiative of the BET Foundation to promote healthy lifestyles among African-Americans through PSAs, community forums, health materials, toll-free number, a national fitness challenge and a summer camp for overweight girls
 
GSN National Vocabulary Championship  GSN       
Following along the lines of Get Schooled, which awarded more than $400,000 in college tuition to winners, the NVC will pit students against each other in regional vocabulary challenges for big college tuition awards.

Preview Panel: What is the CTPAA Public Affairs Institute?
An inside look at CTPAA’s three-day graduate-level program designed to extend your views on issue management, message development and delivery - and deepen your strategic appreciation for the overall role public affairs can play within your company.
 

Participants:
Kathleen Schafer, Assistant Professorial Lecturer
The Graduate School of Political Management
The George Washington University

Tiffany A. Wright, Director of External Programs
The Graduate School of Political Management
The George Washington University

3rd Annual Public Affairs Achievement Awards
(Award presentation and reception)
The Public Affairs Achievement Awards recognize individual CTPAA members for their outstanding contributions within cable public affairs.
Co-Sponsored by: A&E Television Networks & Bright House Networks
2006 Recipients:
Al Aldridge, Director, Public Affairs, Bright House Networks, Indiana
Paul Jacobson, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Adelphia Communications
Libby O'Connell, Chief Historian and Senior Vice President, Corporate Outreach, A&E Television Networks
Meredith Wagner, Executive Vice President, Public Affairs & Corporate Communications, Lifetime Television

9:00 a.m. - 10:40 a.m.
Grand Ballroom
Salons I & II

Kyle McSlarrow, President & CEO, NCTA

Moderator:
Ed Henry, CNN Washington Correspondent

Part Two
Grassroots: Strategies to Win Policy Victories & Shape Public Opinion

Sean Gagen, Grassroots Solutions

Reaching out to non-traditional markets - when media vehicles don't exist
What happens when you need to gain awareness for your product among niche audiences, or have to communicate with targeted diverse communities and there are no traditional media outlets that speak directly to these markets? This session brings together participants to discuss their insights on reaching non-traditional markets for public affairs, image and branding purposes.
 
Moderator:
Dan Ballister, Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs, Bright House Networks
 
Participants:
Christine Chen, Executive Director, Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote
Liza Sabater, Founder and Publisher and Managing Editor, Culturekitchen.com
Bob Witeck, CEO, Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc.