Leonard Downie, Michael Silberman, Adrian Van Klaveren

      Pioneering BBC News executive Adrian Van Klaveren will discuss the BBC’s bold new “Creative Future” initiative by delivering the opening keynote at the seventh annual Online News Association conference Oct. 6 at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C.

      Van Klaveren will address what is expected to be ONA’s largest assembly ever, with attendees from the United States and abroad attending the two-day conference Oct. 6-7.

      As deputy director and controller of production for BBC News, Van Klaveren has editorial, production and financial responsibility for television, radio and online news, with a particular emphasis on new services. He also oversees key technology projects across BBC News.

      The BBC recently announced a breakthrough “Creative Future” initiative -- a major restructuring that aggressively embraces Web 2.0 techniques. Van Klaveren will discuss how this large, international media company is pioneering the revolution in broadcast news. He'll cover news on demand and two way news, and their editorial and organizational implications. He'll also share examples of what the BBC is currently doing and explore future challenges faced by media in general.

      Van Klaveren has been with the BBC for 22 years, starting as a TV news and current affairs producer, then running the BBC's extensive Newsgathering operations in the UK and around the world. In recent years he's been instrumental in leading changes within BBC News to address the shifting broadcast environment, changing demands from audiences and new technological possibilities. While in Newsgathering, he introduced the use of video phones as a way of gathering news material, as well as the use of store and forward technology for delivering material from location.

      Recently, he's overseen BBC News' move into podcasting and video podcasting, and has developed its overall mobile strategy. He was behind BBC News’ pioneering use of user generated content - exemplified by the BBC's coverage of the July 7 bombings in London. And he has championed the BBC Editors' blog, contributing to it himself, as well other blogs based on BBC programs and staff.

      Also speaking at the conference will be NBA franchise owner and digital visionary Mark Cuban. Cuban owns HDNet and the Dallas Mavericks, is renowned for blogging, and is also a majority partner in Sharesleuth.com, a blog aimed at exposing securities fraud.

      Many other top journalism and Web 2.0 leaders will be on hand to share insights into commerce, content and convergence, the three tracks on which the program centers. The conference is aimed at veteran Web parishioners, newcomers and managers charged with growing the bottom line.