The Return of Three-Dot Journalism…

I grew up reading The San Francisco Chronicle, where the sports page was printed on green paper and the columnists were one-of-a-kind. Charles McCabe (who attributed the improvement in the column he wrote in the morning to the three martinis he had for lunch); Art Hoppe; and Herb Caen, the master of three-dot journalism…

I’m going to borrow their styles for my final article of 2023 as I highlight some of my favorite things from the past year…

Quote of the Year

“We try to do what the client needs. When you start pushing your initiative, and not your client’s initiative, I don’t think that’s the key to success.”
           – Dave Bestler, CFO, Hubbard Radio

Dave said this on a recent webinar with Gordon Borrell while reviewing the results of the Borrell/MFM study on the profitability of digital advertising. He captured the essence of a successful business in any industry in two declarative sentences…

Event of the Year

This is a tough one because MFM did so many outstanding events, but if pressed I’d have to call it a tie between the National Credit Conference, which we conducted in conjunction with Mike Denson and the National Media Credit Professionals, and the three MFM Regional Meetings in Washington, DC, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. The National Credit Conference attracted a record number of attendees and the electricity within the audience was palpable. The Regional Meetings each grew in size from the 2022 sessions and featured absolutely incredible panels of experts on generative artificial intelligence from Deloitte, Grant Thornton, KPMG, RSM, and Genpact. MFM members can expect more of this level of dynamic, impactful events…

Topic of the Year

Artificial Intelligence. But you already knew that… Was there another topic more hotly discussed in 2023? And this one – unlike NFTs and the metaverse – has legs…

Speaker of the Year

Jim Collins. If you attended the MFM Annual Conference in Los Angeles you know what I’m talking about. A once-in-a-lifetime student of successful businesses whose tips and tactics I use every day…

Collaboration of the Year

Another tie… The first goes to MFM and MediaVillage whose collaborative relationship has resulted in the creation of what I think is the best publication for media and entertainment financial professionals in the business – MFMInSites.com. The video interviews with industry leaders and subject matter experts and in-depth articles on topics that affect every aspect of a company’s operations are fascinating and timeless. The second goes to the MFM/Borrell Associates collaboration that resulted in a myth-busting study on the profitability of digital advertising and opened the door for additional research projects that will no doubt provide value to financial executives in the media and entertainment industry.

It’s been quite a year. Thanks to all the MFM members – and the most dynamic, engaged, and committed Board of Directors I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with – who made it possible. 2024 here we come…

Posted at MediaVillage through the Thought Leadership self-publishing platform.