Wait… that movie reference is almost 30 years old? Can’t be. Well, if you’re snowed in, go watch Jerry Maguire.
On our Camp.Fire call this past week, we (okay, I) talked a lot about our focus on AI and automation.
We have a new community just for publisher AI strategists (email me), we have a new podcast series (join us on Feb. 6 with Amanda Sabreah), and our event, AI Publisher Response, in May. But my goal wasn’t to say we’d be talking about AI, but to get feedback on how much we talk about AI vs everyone’s day-to-day.
One attendee's response was clear: I want new ideas to make money NOW. Preach!
It made it clear what Beeler.Tech has to get done at Base.Camp San Antonio this March because each and every one of you is trying to do the same thing: balance today with our work for the future. Bubble or no, AI will impact publishing overall but also at an individual level: you’re expected to do more.
Well, my tired friends, how are you going to do that?
I have the answer:
You’re going to collaborate. You’re going to save each other time.
Thinking of how AI can help with RFPs, Jason Tollestrup’s session can help. Self-serve? Dana Gerber’s got you. We’ve got two keynotes that will open your eyes to new ways of thinking. From Sunday night, when we kick off with planning our new mentorship program, to Wednesday’s wrap-up, we’re going to earn our money by helping you make money today and in the future.
Sure, I probably had you at hello, but if you wouldn’t mind, you will only truly complete me when you register. Let’s make magic happen on the River Walk in a little over a month.
Hot off the presses, we’ve got four juicy reads for you this week:
- AI Publisher Response Live: Trust, strategy, and what’s next Did you miss the first AI Publisher Response Live podcast session last week? Get caught up now, as we prepare for AI Publisher Response on May 6 in NYC. In this conversation, we dug into practical strategy, including how publishers define their relationship with LLMs, where publisher leverage shows up in marketplace models, and how trust can be measured and strengthened as AI reshapes distribution. This video recording is open to all.
- The publisher response to AI in 2026 In this Camp.Fire, Rob Beeler frames the conversation around a collective publisher response to an AI-influenced world – less doomsday, more problem-solving. The discussion opens up to publishers, ad tech partners, and operators grappling with real pressures. This conversation is for our exclusive publishers and partners only community. Please ask in the community for the password to watch this video.
- Start ’em, sit ’em: publisher priorities for H1 2026 As Fantasy Football season has wrapped and we’re now enjoying the NFL playoffs, Rob is back in the “ad ops draft room” with Craig Leshen, President at adops․com, for the latest installment of Start ’em, Sit ’em – diving into H1 2026. The big question for the first half of 2026 is: how do publishers protect, productize, and scale what they already have in a world shaped by AI, automation, and fewer traditional clicks?
- Trust, scale, and the new economics of programmatic In December’s Camp․Fire, guest speaker Chris Kane, Founder of Jounce Media, unpacked the findings from their latest annual market sentiment survey. Chris provided a rare, data-driven overview of how publishers and supply-side platforms are perceived by the buy side and, crucially, how those perceptions translate directly into spend. This conversation is for our exclusive publishers and partners only community. Please ask in the community for the password to watch this video.
Want to get caught up on everything we’ve published? Start here.
Here’s the latest news, and yes, it’s all true:
- The entire Base.Camp San Antonio agenda has gotten so much bigger Jason Tollestrup of The Washington Post will show us how RFPs are a big opportunity for publishers. Dana Gerber of Yahoo will guide a pulse check on where we are with self-serve strategies. Kiyonna Carr of Yahoo, Chelly Jones of The Washington Post, Gareth Glaser of Gamera, and Ashley Wheeler of Magnite will also lead powerful discussions with our community… and this is only the beginning! Check out the agenda, and raise your hand to join us now. March is almost here!
- Register now: AI Publisher Live on Feb. 6 with Amanda Sabreah This AI Publisher Response Live virtual session will feature Rob Beeler, along with Amanda Sabreah of Thought Factory. Amanda is coming in from the brand side to tackle a clear reality: publishers have a brand problem. We’ll dig into what “think like a brand” looks like in practice, and how that shift changes how audiences, partners, and the market recognize publisher value. Bring your questions and jump into the chat.
Let’s talk about 2026, folks, because we’ve got a lot planned:
- Base.Camp San Antonio: March 1-4, 2026
- Navigator NYC: May 5, 2026
- AI Publisher Response: May 6, 2026
- Navigator London: June 9, 2026
- Base.Camp La Jolla: October 4-7, 2026
- Base.Camp Madrid: November 8-11, 2026
Now is the time to raise your hand if you’re interested in attending any of these events. The earlier you raise your hand, the more we can work with you (and your budget) to help you be in the rooms you need to be in.
A full list of all 2026 events we’re involved in, all in one nice little package:
- Base.Camp San Antonio - March 1-4, 2026
- Advertising Economic Forum NYC - March 18-19, 2026
- Digital Day Camp: Spring - April 15 & 16, 2026
- Navigator NYC - May 5, 2026
- AI Publisher Response Event - May 6, 2026
- Navigator London - June 9, 2026
- Base.Camp La Jolla - October 4-7, 2026
- Digital Day Camp: Fall - October 21 & 22, 2026
- Base.Camp Madrid - November 8-11, 2026
Chicago AdTech Happy Hour
Feb 10, 5:00 pm CT
Parlor Pizza Bar in West Loop @ 108 N. Green St.
Our Chicago friends are hosting the first AdTech Happy Hour of 2026. This one is unsponsored. In Chicago? Don’t miss it! Send us pictures!
Join the Community!
Thousands of professionals, of all ages, worldwide turn to Beeler.Tech as their meeting place for all things publisher revenue operations. Join the Beeler.Tech Community here! Your teams and colleagues are welcome, too.
Join the Women’s Space
Our Women’s Space continues to grow, and we’re developing a Code of Conduct for all Beeler.Tech events: something every attendee will agree to, and something we hope the wider industry adopts. The goal is simple: raise the bar on respect and professionalism for everyone.
We have a Slack channel and a WhatsApp group. The WhatsApp chat is more active, but you’re welcome in either (or both) if you want to be part of the conversation. Please reach out to Melissa if you would like to join one or both.
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