Convention Hotel:
Cedar Rapids Marriott
1200 Collins Road N.E.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402
(319) 393-6600
(800) 396-2153

$89.95 per night
($100.74 including tax)
(mention IBNA Convention for special rate)
Click to register online.

Registration/Continental Breakfast

Scott Libin is WCCO-TV's news director. He leads the station's news department and is responsible for all aspects of journalism at WCCO.

Scott joined the station in the fall of 2007 from The Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg, Fla., where he led seminars for journalists. He was a Poynter faculty from 1995-1998 and again from 2003-2007. Scott's teaching specialties are leadership and ethical decision-making. He has conducted training at television stations and journalism conferences internationally in areas including newsgathering, writing, producing and management.

From 1998-2003, Scott was news director of KSTP-TV, the ABC affiliate in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Before joining Poynter for the first time, he spent nine years at WGHP-TV, in the Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem, N.C., market, where he was vice president of news. Scott began at that station as a reporter, later working as weekend anchor, managing editor and news director.

Early in his career, Scott worked in Washington D.C., first as a congressional press secretary, then as a national correspondent for an independent television news bureau serving stations around the country. He holds a master's degree in journalism and public affairs from American University in Washington, and a bachelor's degree in English and journalism from the University of Richmond.

Julie Kraft, a veteran of Magid’s Media Strategy Group is a senior consultant working with international and domestic clients. Her consultation work includes strategic planning and guidance for television stations and networks across their various platforms. Julie’s clients have experienced significant success in following the formula of market research leading to a strategic plan and following through with focused implementation.

Julie also has a keen eye for innovation and is often called upon to speak to TV stations and broadcast groups on implementing new tools and technology. She does not believe in innovating for innovation’s sake; but instead encourages clients to use new tools and technology which support their brand.

Julie also works with non-media businesses on strategic planning, marketing, and communication needs.

Julie came to Magid in 1998 from WOI-TV in West Des Moines, Iowa, where she was news director. In her nearly 10 years at WOI/News 5, Julie held a number of positions including reporter, anchor, producer, backup assignment editor, and news director. As news director, Julie faced a number of challenges beyond the everyday battles of winning daily coverage in newscasts and meeting budgets. Those challenges required quick thinking, decisive actions, and the development of clear action plans. Under her leadership at WOI, the news department won the Edward R. Murrow award for a special report on children and cancer.

Prior to joining WOI, Julie helped launch one of the first local news operations on cable in the United States for Time Warner. While at KTCB, she coanchored the 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts, as well as did daily street reporting and investigative reporting. Julie was just 24 years old when she took home “First Place Investigating Reporting” from the Iowa Associated Press for an investigation on flaws within the local 9-1-1 system.

Julie graduated from the University of Northern Iowa Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Communications-Radio/TV and was named “Outstanding Alum 2005” for the Department of Communications Studies.

Julie is an avid runner who regularly participates in road races. She believes a focused drive, determination, and discipline can lead to success.