Below you can find all the relevant information including the next steps and timeline should your session be chosen for the 2026 NETA Conference.
The NETA Conference is dedicated to providing public media professionals with meaningful and relevant connections to the people and ideas that are at the heart of our mission to educate, engage, and entertain. It’s a time to get energized with new ideas, deeper insights, and connections.
Breakout sessions are one of the highlights of the conference and we want to ensure everyone has meaningful, relevant, and interactive learning opportunities. All sessions will be in a hybrid environment with live presenters. Our platform allows live Q&A from our virtual audience, and we will work with you to ensure that you have everything you need to successfully present to the in person and virtual audiences.
NETA invites our members and public media organizations to submit breakout session proposals for consideration.
While proposals on all relevant areas to public media are welcome, we are seeking to offer sessions produced by NETA members and partners that focus on one or a combination of the following areas:
- Content (production & programming)
- Education (early learning, K-12, youth media, lifelong learning)
- Community Engagement
- Marketing & Communications
- Professional Growth & Station Innovation (strategy, team growth)
Suggested interactive learning format:
- Opening activity/question
- Presentation
- Q&A break
- Share ideas/challenges
Session proposals should be innovative and forward thinking, share new opportunities, demonstrate how impact is measured, and engage unserved and underserved audiences.
Live Breakout Session
All sessions are scheduled to be virtual and 60 or 90 minutes in length.
As you develop your session ideas, think about how you can incorporate attendee participation and active engagement for virtual attendees.
There will be space for up to 30 live breakout sessions scheduled on September 14-16. Subject to change.
Primary Producer
NETA requests that one primary producer is identified for each session. The primary producer is the main point of contact for NETA and responsible for organizing session content, speakers, and other logistics. The primary producer is responsible for meeting all conference deadlines to ensure the session is included in the conference.
Registration
All accepted primary producers are responsible for registering and attending the conference. The primary producer of the session is responsible for coordinating these details with each of the session speakers. All speakers must be registered by August 7, 2026.
Sharing Resources
The primary producers will be responsible for uploading session resources (deck, documents, etc.) based on the breakout session timelines. These resources will be shared with conference attendees and NETA membership following the conference. If your proposal is selected, you will be provided with instructions on uploading your presentation materials.
Session proposals will be selected through a review process that includes systemwide online voting, review by the NETA Peer Learning Communities Executive Committees, NETA Board, and NETA staff.
Monday, April 6 - Conference registration opens (NETA Members only)
Tuesday, May 12 - Breakout session RFP form open.
Wednesday, May 13 - Breakout session Q&A meeting. Zoom registration will be available soon.
Friday, May 29 - Deadline to submit a session proposal
Monday, June 8 - Session voting open.
Monday, June 15 - Session voting closed
Week of June 22 - Review with NETA Leadership and Conference Curriculum Committee
Monday, June 29 - Notification sent to all session submitters (producers have until Friday, July 10 to confirm acceptance)
Wednesday, July 1 - Conference registration opens (non-NETA Members)
Monday, July 20 - Announce line-up of sessions
Week of July 20 - Strategy meetings with session producers
Friday, August 14 - Deadline for all speakers to be registered for in-person conference
Friday, September 4 - Deadline for final session details in conference platform
Wednesday, September 9 - Deadline for all final presentations to NETA
September 14-16 - Breakout Sessions at conference
Friday, September 18 - Deadline to upload final deck/materials for Public Media Learns