Thank God for new media. It’s through these e-channels that I’ve recognized how important it is to look beyond what I know and be open to all that I don’t.

Take the printing industry. Those of us in and “of” it need to get outside more. We need to branch out in terms of what we’re reading, where we’re reading it, and whom we’re paying attention to.

I’ve learned and continue to learn about the potential of newer channels, including Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook, by participating in them daily. They are more educational than I could have imagined.

And one of the best parts? Meeting new movers and shakers: experts in new and old media who have their fingers on the pulse of trends in publishing, printing, and marketing. My kind of people.

I produce an annual conference that’s designed to enlighten print buyers and print designers. So I pay close attention to events in our industry. Who’s speaking? What are the topics? What might attendees learn?

For years, event themes have revolved around printing, understandably. All sessions dealt with print manufacturing in some way. Trends, new applications, growth opportunities, how to sell print better, and so on.

But over the past year and a half, an interesting thing started to happen: Outsiders were being let in. Not the usual boldface headliners, like sports figures or entertainers. Oh, no. Experts in marketing. Experts in new media.

When I saw that David Meerman Scott will be presenting at NPES’ annual conference this year, my eyes popped out of my head. This is news.

Last year at our 4^th conference, we had Drew Davis of Tippingpoint Labs present on “The Online Content Explosion & the Opportunities in Print.” I found Drew when one of my Tweeps (i.e., Twitter people) recommended him. He was the most popular speaker, and it wasn’t just due to his off-the-wall presenting style. He was leading us to new publishing pastures.

Drew’s coming back this year. I expect he’ll be wilder and more inspirational than ever. His session’s called “Reinventing Print: The Gutenberg Paradox.” I will tell you this: Drew Davis is someone to watch.  Visit his firm’s website at www.tippingpointlabs.com. And by all means, grab a seat at his session this November.

And how excited am I about Bo Sacks keynoting on November 4^th, with Dr. Joe Webb? You have no idea. They’re talking about “Marching Toward 2020: The Turbulent Path of Printing & Publishing.”

This will be the first time that Bo and Dr. Joe will be co-presenting. Anything could happen. We know to expect brilliance from Dr. Joe Webb, who has spoken regularly at our annual event. But I have no idea what to expect from Bo Sacks.

I traveled down to NYC last Spring just to meet him at a conference about e-reading technology. I took copious notes – because everything I heard was valuable and critical to my work.

Afterwards, we sat and talked over a leisurely lunch; it was clear he is a leading expert in publishing. Bo’s been involved in publishing since he was 18 and seems to have held just about every job in the industry since then. Without further adieu, I asked him to keynote.

His firm, Precision Media Group, does private consulting and publishes “Heard on the Web: Media Intelligence,” a daily newsletter that I now get – and read religiously. Check out his website at www.bosacks.com, and get a load of some of the places at which he’s spoken. Sign up for his newsletter while you’re there. According to his site, over 11,500 people get his “slanted collection of news gathered daily.” He describes it as a labor of love. I can relate.

These are just some of the examples of going outside the print manufacturing industry to help remain plugged into what’s happening in our field and, as important, within the larger field of communications.

Am I saying that outsiders are preferred speakers? Certainly not. We cannot keep pace with changing trends in printing, buying and design without learning from industry speakers. But we can no longer operate in a vacuum. It’s time to get outside more. With this Conference, I am offering you the chance to do just that.

This much I know: the opportunity to benefit from presentations by Bo Sacks, Drew Davis, Dr. Joe Webb, and all of our 2010 speakers, does not come around often.

You can learn from professionals via social media. But you cannot compare that to the rich experience of hearing and seeing them up close and in person.

Grab this opportunity to meet these publishing/media stars in November. I promise you will thank me for it.

© 2010 Margie Dana. All rights reserved. Your comments are encouraged. You’re free to forward this email to friends and colleagues. However, no part of this column may be reprinted without permission from the author.