Board Meeting | Member Training | Confabs | Pinnacle Awards
CMA will hold its monthly board meeting at 12:30 p.m. ET Thursday, May 14.
Click Here to Register to Attend
Ashley Caudill
Rob Steedley
“Creating an Effective Ad Sales Strategy” (two sessions)
2 to 5 p.m. ET Monday, May 11, and Tuesday, May 12
Cost: $200 for members; $350 for non-members
Developing an effective advertising strategy can be one of the key components for any adviser, but it can be an especially challenging part of the role if you’ve come from the editorial side. In this two-day, in-depth training, you’ll learn skills to develop your team from the ground up or enhance your existing framework.
Topics will include:
- Sales cycle
- Pricing structures: frequency & bulk discounts; CPM, CPC
- Organizing an effective small sales force
- Job descriptions: responsibilities & duties
- Setting goals
- Working with agencies
- Digital metrics
- Ad processing & procedures
- Documentation: trade-outs, make-goods
- Compensation: hourly, stipend, commission
Presented by Ashley Caudill, programming & marketing manager at flytedesk, and Rob Steedley, business manager for The Signpost at Weber State University
(Topics are subject to change)
ASHLEY CAUDILL is the programming and marketing manager at flytedesk, the largest campus advertising network in the country. She is also a Kent State Student Media alum with over five years of experience in student media advertising sales. She is dedicated to supporting college media organizations, helping them build strong, lasting businesses by providing the necessary resources and tools.
ROB STEEDLEY is the business manager for The Signpost at Weber State University and serves as the awards and recognition director for College Media Business and Advertising Managers. CMBAM is a nonprofit membership organization for university student media groups that connects sales, marketing, design and management students — and advisers — to support independent student journalism.
Register for the Member Training
Crystal Howard
Billy Ferris
"Building a Successful Student-Led TV Station"
5 p.m. ET Wednesday, May 20
Cost: FREE
The conversation will focus on TV newsroom structure, defining roles, and creating sustainable and resourceful workflows for producing consistent student-led content. We will discuss staff structure, best practices for meetings and content creation, equipment and software options, payroll structures, collaboration opportunities, and more.
Presented by Crystal Howard, University of Texas at El Paso, and Billy Ferris, Auburn University
BILLY FERRIS is the assistant director of Student Media at Auburn University. The student-run media outlets he oversees are The Auburn Plainsman (Newspaper), The Auburn Circle (Literary & Arts Magazine), Eagle Eye TV (TV Station), The Glomerata (Yearbook) and WEGL 91.1FM (Radio Station). Billy oversees the strategic direction of Student Media at Auburn while supervising a staff of three full-time professionals. He also serves as the primary advisor to The Auburn Plainsman and Eagle Eye TV. Billy has been a part of Auburn Student Media since 2015. Before that, Billy has been an instructor in the School of Communication and Journalism at Auburn University.
CRYSTAL HOWARD is the assistant director of Student Media & Publications at the University of Texas at El Paso, where she oversees The Prospector and Minero Magazine. She brings over a decade of experience in media and communications. A former TV reporter and assistant director of student media at Georgia Southern University, she now brings her industry experience into student affairs, mentoring the next generation of journalists through hands-on storytelling and multimedia production. Her work centers on leadership development, ethical journalism, and helping students find their voice and see themselves as professionals in the media industry. Outside of work, she’s a runner, proud mom, and firm believer that storytelling isn’t just a skill, it’s a tool for confidence, voice, and impact.
Register for the May Confab
Did you know CMA members can access Confab recordings online for a limited time following each event? Recent Confab recordings are available in the members-only section of the CMA website, along with the Adviser Handbook and other helpful resources.
The 2026 Pinnacle Awards are now open, and entries will be accepted via BetterBNC until midnight ET Wednesday, June 17. Finalists will be announced in August, and winners will be announced at the CMA/ACP joint Fall National Convention Nov. 4-7 at the Westin Kansas City Crown Center.
The Pinnacle College Media Awards are a national contest, recognizing excellence in student-produced college media. The contest honors overall excellence in student work on college newspapers, websites, magazines, yearbooks, radio and television stations, produced during an academic year.
Complete information regarding categories, rules and instructions, and entry guidelines can be found here.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at [email protected].
