Publishing Panel
Amanda Close
VP Digital Channel & Marketing Development at Random House
Amanda Close is the VP of Digital Channel & Marketing Development at Random House. She leads a team that establishes strategy, terms, poliy, and programs relative to new business models. Her team is also responsible for identifying new business opportunities and managing existing digital relationships.
Hilary Van Dusen
Senior Editor Candlewick Press
Hilary Breed Van Dusen is a senior editor at Candlewick Press, an independent publisher that specializes in books for children. She acquires and edits middle grade and young adult fiction as well as nonfiction for the same age groups. She was previously an editor of children's books at Little, Brown and Company and of professional development books for elementary school teachers at Heinemann. She served as the assistant director of The National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance and reviewed books for the Horn Book Magazine and Guide.
Jon Fine
Director of Author & Publisher Relationships at Amazon
Jon P. Fine is director of Author and Publisher Relations for Amazon.com, coordinating outreach to the author and publishing communities, including the company’s grant program which supports a diverse range of not-for-profit author and publisher groups dedicated to fostering the creation, discussion and publication of new writing and new voices (www.amazon.com/author-grants). He joined the company as Associate General Counsel for media and copyright in January 2006, and subsequently led business development for Brilliance Audio following its acquisition in 2007. Prior to joining Amazon.com, he served as VP and Associate General Counsel for Random House, Inc., where he directed legal affairs for the Alfred A. Knopf division as well as for Random House of Canada. He previously served as Senior Media Counsel at NBC, handling content and associated issues for NBC News, Saturday Night Live, MSNBC, CNBC and other divisions; as counsel at King World Productions for Inside Edition and other “reality-based” programming; and as a litigation associate at Debevoise & Plimpton, where he focused on copyright, libel, internet and other media-related matters. He is a graduate of Cornell University and of the University of Virginia School of Law. Following law school, he served as Judicial Clerk for United States District Judge Sam C. Pointer, Jr. He is a native New Yorker, who now lives in Seattle.
Mitchell Fox
CEO WGA Global Marketing Group
Currently, Fox lives in NYC and has created a holding company (WGA Global Marketing , Inc.) with multiple businesses such as an affinity marketing based insurance company, developing innovative media property and an incubator division with an innovative media property about to launch. Before this, Fox was President/CEO of 8020 Media Co., a web based media company that manages two online communities, JPGmag.com and Everywheremag.com. Prior to 8020 Media Co., Fox worked at Condé Nast for almost 20 years. He joined Condé Nast in 1989 when he became publisher of Details. Fox led the fledgling magazine to become the "Magazine of the Year" (1994) as noted by AdAge, and twice earned top ten honors (1993 and 1994) on the HOT LIST as noted by AdWeek magazine. In 1994, Fox was appointed Publisher of Vanity Fair. In 1996 Fox was named Condé Nast Publisher of the Year after managing a spectacular turnaround at Vanity Fair. In 1997, Fox was appointed Vice-President of Condé Nast in charge of Corporate Sales. In November 1999, he was promoted again to Senior Vice President, Corporate Sales. In 2001, Fox was named President and CEO of The Golf Digest Company upon acquisition from The New York Times Company. Following the acquisition, he was named Group President, Conde Nast Publications, and responsible for 14 titles and web sites. Fox is currently on the Board of Advisors of the School of Journalism at Stony Brook University.
Paul Rossi
Managing Director and EVP, Americas at Economist
Since 2008, Paul Rossi has filled the role of Managing Director and Executive Vice President of The Economist Group for the Americas, which includes The Economist magazine, Economist events and conferences, and research and brand extensions. In addition to overseeing The Economist Group, which includes CQ Roll Call, he is also responsible for Economist Education, a series of online education courses geared towards global executives, as well the Ideas People Channel, an online advertising network based on The Economist audience, and Economist Online Fairs, an online fairs business for education, recruitment, and business services. Paul joined The Economist in 1987, managing advertising sales for the Middle East and Africa. In 1990, he opened The Economist's office in Singapore, where he served as Advertising Director in Asia. He became Advertising Director in North America in 1996. In 2000, Paul became Commercial Director of The Economist online, and Publisher of the site in 2003, where he further established the website as a profitable global business. In January 2005, he was named Publisher of The Economist in North America, responsible for all commercial aspects of The Economist, including advertising, circulation and marketing for The Economist magazine, The Economist online, and other Economist-brand businesses. In 2007, BtoB Media Business named Paul one of its top publishing innovators. In 2008, Adweek called The Economist the hottest magazine in America, naming Paul one of two Executives of the Year along with The Economist’s Editor-in-Chief. Paul serves on the board of directors for the BritishAmerican Business organization and is also on the board of the Hope Program, a career development program for homeless and welfare-dependent adults in New York City.
Michael Wolf (Moderator)
Founder & Managing Director at Activate
Michael J. Wolf is Co-Founder and Managing Director of ACTIVATE, a strategy and technology consulting firm which helps leading media, technology and entertainment companies position their businesses for growth and build new digital businesses. In addition, he and his partners work with tech innovators to develop their growth strategies. During his career, he has directed many innovations, strategic alignments and transactions in the content, technology and communications industries. Previously, Michael was President and COO of MTV Networks where he was responsible for leading the business, technology and production operations for the $7bn television and interactive media company. MTVN’s global brands include: MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, and Vh1. Before MTVN, Michael was global managing partner of the Media, Entertainment and Internet practice at McKinsey & Company. He joined McKinsey from Booz Allen Hamilton where he was Senior Partner and Founder of the firm’s global Media, Entertainment & Internet Practice. He was a member of Booz Allen’s executive management team and board of directors. Most recently, he served as Guest Editor of Media Magazine’s “Digital Transformation Issue” and is the co-author of “Redefiners: Capturing Media Growth Dollars”.