How AI Is Reshaping Media Sales, Revenue, and Operations
- Jon Accarrino
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Artificial intelligence isn't just transforming media—it's rewriting the rules of engagement. At the Local Media Consortium's Digital Connections 2025 summit, industry pioneers took the stage for the “How Media Companies Are Using AI To Optimize Sales, Revenue & Operations” panel to reveal how AI is driving revenue, streamlining operations, and unlocking new creative potential for media companies. From automated content generation and secure enterprise AI tools to data monetization strategies, the panel — moderated by Ordo Digital's Jon Accarrino — delivered actionable insights into how media groups are turning AI hype into tangible results. With insights on everything from ad automation to ethical data use, this session proved that the future of media isn't just about adopting AI — it's about wielding it wisely.
The Stage Was Packed—And So Was the Agenda
Five industry leaders, 100+ slides, seven videos, and 45 minutes to cover it all. From the moment Accarrino kicked off the panel with a voiceover intro from his friend, the late Don Pardo (the legendary SNL announcer is also his “PowerPoint voice-over guy”), the energy was electric. The session delivered on its promise: a fast-paced, no-fluff deep dive into the AI tools and strategies transforming local media.
Here are some of the session’s highlights…
AI in Sales & Marketing: From Automation to Revenue
Lindsay Stewart (CEO, Stringr) showcased how her platform leverages “trusted data” to fuel AI-generated content. A live demo revealed how easily users can create animations — like a sample traffic report from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport to the conference hotel — with customizable ad placements.
Richard Cox (Griffin Media) highlighted AI’s role in ad creation, sharing how his team slashed production time for digital promos and video ads using tools like Creatopy and Waymark. Who’s doing the creative? Ad Ops or designers? The answer now is: “anyone using AI,” Cox quipped.
Michael Newman (Graham Media Group) tackled data leakage risks head-on, emphasizing how Graham’s in-house AI tool, Spark, empowers employees to quickly accomplish common tasks, like generating sales proposals, without relying on free, unsecured platforms, like ChatGPT.
Operational Wins: Saving Time and Money
The panel shifted to AI’s operational impact, with Lindsay Stewart demonstrating Stringr’s “set it and forget it” automation for news generation.
Richard Cox revealed how Griffin Media uses AI to streamline coding—even for employees with no technical background.
Michael Newman (Graham Media) drilled into AI cost management, explaining why choosing the right AI model matters. “Not all models are priced the same,” he noted, pointing to a chart comparing options like ChatGPT, Cohere, and Claude.
Newman also added that his company was able to significantly reduce costs by optimizing which AI models are used for each app and Spark. Additional cost savings were also realized by using AWS Bedrock to host some models.
The Future: Predictions and Partnerships
The session closed with a peek into what’s next. Dan Goikhman (Dappier) warned publishers about AI’s data-scraping risks but offered solutions: Dappier’s marketplace lets publishers monetize their data while creating AI-powered on-site experiences. Goikhman showed a few examples that his company has created for Morgan Murphy Media.
David Schmeltzle (BizBudding) doubled down on the value of publishers forming partnerships with AI companies. One standout example? ProMatchups, an AI prediction engine for sports. When asked whether the 1981 Celtics (LMC’s Tobias Bennett’s favorite team) could beat the 2025 squad, the bot’s analysis outshined generic AI models — showing its value for AI-powered white-label sports content for publishers.
The Clock Ran Out — But the Insights Didn’t
With 20 seconds to spare, Jon Accarrino wrapped the panel, proving once again that a jam-packed agenda doesn’t have to mean chaos. The audience left with actionable strategies — and a reminder that in the AI era, the only constant is change.
Missed the session? Catch highlights from attendees on LinkedIn and start thinking about attending next year’s LMC Digital Connections 2026!
Kommentare