Upland Second Street Session: Turning “Best Of” Into Big Revenue: Two Proven Growth Plays for Newspapers.

Second Street is a proud Gold Sponsor again at this years America’s Newspapers MEGA-Conference in Austin, TX. Join us at our corner Café to hear how newspaper groups are modernizing them into seven‑figure revenue engines.

Speaking Session:

Best Of programs continue to be one of the most profitable opportunities in local media—our session brings together leaders from Osteen Publishing Group and Wick Communications to showcase two proven, scalable approaches that elevate audience participation and advertiser spend without reinventing the Best Of model.

From self‑serve ecommerce ads built directly into the ballot experience to high‑engagement text‑to‑vote workflows, you’ll learn how simple operational enhancements can drive transformative results across a multi‑market portfolio.

Designed for publishers, revenue leaders, and digital strategists attending Mega, this session will highlight real‑world outcomes—including six‑figure gains in individual markets and models that compound group‑wide.

You’ll leave with a clear roadmap for turning existing Best Of programs into high‑margin, repeatable, always‑on revenue drivers that align perfectly with Mega’s focus on practical strategies that media executives can implement immediately.

You’ll discover:

• Boost revenue with self‑serve ecommerce ads embedded directly into the Best Of ballot.
• Drive higher audience participation and new revenue through text‑to‑vote engagement.
• Apply proven, scalable strategies to turn Best Of into a repeatable, multi‑market profit engine.

Moderated by: Julie Foley, Senior Customer Success Manager at Upland Second Street along with Vince Johnson, Osteen Publishing Group and Reilly Kneedler, Wick Communications.

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Reach out to our experts onsite Julie, Nick, Tom and John to get in touch.

About Mega-Conference

About the News Industry Mega‑Conference

The News Industry Mega‑Conference is the industry’s largest and most influential gathering of newspaper and media executives—“where the business of the media industry happens.” Over two fast‑paced days in Austin, leaders from across the country come

together for high‑impact sessions focused on the strategies, technologies, and market forces shaping the future of news. The conference delivers actionable insight on revenue models, digital transformation, audience growth, and operational innovation, making it the premier forum for publishers and department heads looking to move their organizations forward. mega-conference.com

Hosted at the Austin Marriott Downtown from March 30 – April 1, 2026, the event brings more than 700 media executives together to share best practices and explore new solutions. It’s designed as a working meeting—not a trade show—where decision‑makers engage directly with ideas and partners that accelerate performance. With its blend of practical sessions, strategic conversations, and collaborative learning, the Mega‑Conference continues to be the definitive annual event for leaders shaping the future of local news.

Who Should Attend?

Publishers, CROs, revenue and ad leaders, and digital strategists who want to scale Best Of programs into a meaningful, repeatable revenue stream across multiple newspapers.