Becoming an iMA member contributes to building a unifying force within public media that has cross-industry vision able to strengthen public media by forging collaborations, facilitating digital strategy discussions, brainstorming system-level digital initiatives and platforms and establishing partnerships. Membership in iMA allows you to participate and help drive those discussions that are shaping our future.

In addition, iMA membership provides very tangible and quantifiable benefits. Members will receive the following benefits:

  • Annual Conference Discount: Significant discount on the annual conference and tickets from conference partners.

The 2012 conference will have focused tracks for both executive and technical staffs and will once again be hosted with a strong partner. Tickets to the iMA conference and tickets to the partner event will be provided at a significant discount for iMA members this year.

  • Education: Discounted and free educational opportunities – on-line, virtual and in person.

iMA is working on developing several offerings with partners for both on-line and classroom training around topics that you have requested. These courses will be offered at a significant discount to iMA members.

  • Webinars: Access to special webinar series for public media professionals, technical staff and executive management.

iMA partnered with NCME to host a number of highly popular digitally focused webinars in 2011. Those webinars will continue in 2012, but they will be less frequent. iMA will begin hosting webinars that are focused on specific needs and topics of interest for the member community.

  • Peer Discussion Groups: Opportunity to participate in peer discussion groups facilitated by iMA to share the challenges and solutions of different professions within public media.

iMA has begun hosting discussion groups for members targeting professional groups where issues and challenges and ideas are exchanged. iMA finds individuals from similar positions and organizes and moderates the conversation in a variety of mediums.

  • Public Media Knowledgebase: Access to a growing content and information database relevant to Public Media.

iMA is building a Public Media Knowledgebase that will house cross industry information and resources relevant to public media. There are vast resources available in the industry, but it’s hard to know where to find everything. 

This database will contain industry-wide station contacts & information, national organization information and service offerings, industry new media initiatives, a calendar of industry events and relevant events outside industry, industry assets (or location of assets), best practices, standards, papers, research, policies, strategies, recommendation database for tools, technology and third parties.

  • Research: Full access to iMA developed research about industry initiatives, executive perspectives and technology topics.
  • iMA Grants: iMA is actively pursuing grants for project and consulting work. iMA members will be the beneficiaries of those grants. 

iMA received a $125,000 grant for social media strategy consulting from IBM in the spring of 2011. The grant services went directly to iMA members. iMA continues to pursue additional opportunities to fund initiatives that can benefit its members. 

  • Targeted Public Media Consulting: iMA is working with partners to shape very targeted consulting engagements for public media. 

iMA is pursuing specific consulting that is needed within public media and specifically requested within iMA membership. These offerings are being shaped and customized for iMA members. They will be offered to everyone in public media, but members will receive a significant discount.

  • Innovation Discussion: Investing in iMA helps move this discussion forward within our industry.

iMA and its board have a vision of the entire industry. We are working to track the trends and successes and experiments. We are also facilitating conversations at all levels to help the industry move forward. Becoming a member of iMA allows you to be a part of that discussion and to influence the discussion. Your voice is welcome and needed as this industry tackles the challenges of the changing landscape.

iMA will continue to grow its services as we grow our capacity and hear more from our members.  Please tell us what you think and give us your suggestions on our Feedback page.