2026 MediaMKRS Summit

WHO CREATES. WHO OWNS. WHO DECIDES: MEDIA’S NEXT 25 YEARS

THURSDAY, MARCH 5 | TIMES SQUARE, NYC

Tickets & Sponsorships

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Rafael Espinal

Commissioner, NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment

FIRESIDE CHAT

Chris Brancato

Film Writer and Producer

MODERATOR

Shawn Finnie

Executive Vice President, CULTURAL AGENCY, Reel Works Board Member

Summit Speakers

  • Ken Adams

    President, LaGuardia Community College

    Legacy & Future of Media

  • Lamonia Brown

    Founder and Creative Director, Cultural Connections Film Festival

    Legacy & Future of Media

  • Bob Caniglia

    Director of Sales Operations, North America, Blackmagic Design

    Innovation and Equity: Who Tells Tomorrow’s Stories?

  • Walter T. Geer III

    Chief Creative Officer, Innovation North America, VML

    BLACKWEEK: Advertising, Marketing, Tech & Culture 

  • John Gibson

    Vice President, Public Affairs and Industry Relations, Motion Picture Association

    Legacy & Future of Media, Moderator

  • Justin A. Gonçalves

    Creative Producer, Primordial Soup Labs

    Innovation and Equity: Who Tells Tomorrow’s Stories?

  • Amber Guild

    CEO, McCann NY

    BLACKWEEK: Advertising, Marketing, Tech & Culture, Moderator

  • Kanene Ayo Holder

    AI Ethics, Future of Work & Inclusive Innovation Consultant

    The Business of Ethical AI in Media, Moderator

  • Tiffani Lee Joseph

    AI Storyteller, Filmmaker, Creative Director, Co-Founder of Machine Cinema NYC

    Innovation and Equity: Who Tells Tomorrow’s Stories?

  • Lasherelle Morgan

    SVP, Legal, AI Innovation & Acceleration, NBCUniversal

    The Business of Ethical AI in Media

  • Cal Roberts

    Director, Creative Strategy and Insights, Shutterstock

    Lightning Talk

  • Nico Sahi

    MBA Candidate, Yale School of Management,

    Innovation and Equity: Who Tells Tomorrow’s Stories?, Moderator

  • Megan Segarra

    VP, Program Management, Blackweek

    BLACKWEEK: Advertising, Marketing, Tech & Culture 

  • Jamie Silverstein

    Director of Photography / Local 600 National Vice President

    International Cinematographers Guild, IATSE Local 600

    Legacy & Future of Media

Co-Chairs

  • Shawn Finnie

    Executive Vice President, CULTURAL AGENCY

    Reel Works Board Member

  • Dayo Harewood

    Senior Vice President, Creative, Paramount Brand Studio

    Reel Works Board Member

  • Dee Murray

    Vice President, Human Resources, Universal Entertainment Group

    Reel Works Board Member

  • Gerald Yarborough

    Creative Executive

    Reel Works Board Member

Panels

LEGACY & FUTURE OF MEDIA

Soundstages are rising across the region. Training programs are expanding. Yet the media industry is still recalibrating after a major downturn—and the future of work is evolving fast. This panel asks a bold question: Is the region truly positioned for the next 25 years of media production? 

INNOVATION AND EQUITY: WHO TELLS TOMORROW’S STORIES?

Emerging creative technologies are influencing not just who can create, but how stories are being told across the media and entertainment industry. This panel explores the tools, and what equitable growth in the industry could mean over the next 25 years.

BLACKWEEK: ADVERTISING, MARKETING, TECH & CULTURE

The creative economy sits at the intersection of culture, technology, and commerce. This panel explores how cultural insight fuels advertising and marketing strategies, how technology scales influence, and how creative labor is valued within today’s consumer economy.

THE BUSINESS OF ETHICAL AI IN MEDIA

AI is reshaping how content is developed, produced, and delivered, influencing workflows, governance, and decision-making across media. This panel explores how industry leaders are weighing efficiency and responsibility, and defining where human judgment remains essential as the industry evolves.

Become a Sponsor

    • Exclusive Presenting Sponsor recognition across the Summit

    • Verbal acknowledgment during the program

    • Full-page digital ad displayed throughout the Summit

    • Recognition across Summit-related social media

    • Eight all-day Summit access passes

    • Logo placement across Summit materials

    • On-screen recognition during Summit programming and breaks

    • Full-page digital ad displayed throughout the Summit

    • Six all-day Summit access passes

    • Logo placement on the Summit website

    • Half-page digital ad displayed during the Summit

    • Four all-day Summit access passes

    • Logo placement on the Summit website

    • Quarter-page digital ad displayed during the Summit

    • Two all-day Summit access passes

Learn more

WATCH THE 2025 SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS

About MediaMKRS

MediaMKRS by Reel Works educates and empowers individuals to succeed in the media industry. Our program offers comprehensive training, hands-on work experiences, networking opportunities, and unparalleled access to industry professionals needed for a thriving career.

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