Join us for Dayton PRSA Media Day, where industry professionals will share insights on key topics shaping the future of public relations, communication, and marketing.

A breakfast buffet will be available at 8:30 a.m. with sessions beginning at 9:00 a.m. The event will conclude at 1:00 p.m.

Session 1

Inside the Newsroom: What Media Leaders Want PR Professionals to Know in 2026

Today’s media landscape is evolving faster than ever. Newsrooms are adapting to shrinking resources, changing audience habits, digital-first demands, and the pressure to produce content across multiple platforms — all while continuing to deliver timely, accurate journalism.

Join PRSA Dayton for a candid conversation with newsroom leaders from across the Miami Valley as they provide an inside look at how modern newsrooms operate and what public relations professionals can do to build stronger, more effective relationships with the media.

This panel discussion will explore what makes a strong pitch, the best ways to work with reporters and producers, how organizations can provide valuable resources to busy newsrooms, and where local journalism may be headed in the future. Panelists will also share practical insight into newsroom workflows, deadlines, audience expectations, and the realities of covering news in today’s fast-paced environment.

Panelists

• Loni Snow, News Director with WHIO
• Steve Diorio, Assistant News Director with WDTN
• Adam Aaro, News Director with WKEF
• Ashley Bethard, Editor with DDN

Bios

Loni Snow, News Director with WHIO
Loni Snow is the News Director at Cox Media Group's WHIO-TV in Dayton. She is an Emmy Award winning journalist with more than 20 years of experience in the news industry. Her career has taken her to newsrooms across five states. She has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists and the Vegas Chamber of Commerce for her work in investigative and consumer reporting.

Steve Diorio, Assistant News Director with WDTN
Steve Diorio is a Beavercreek native and a 1984 graduate of Beavercreek High School. He earned a degree in mass communications from Wright State University. He began his broadcasting career in 1987 as an intern at WDTN and was hired full time as an assignment editor in January 1989. In 1997, he was promoted to operations manager, a role he held until May 2007, when he became news director. He served as news director through December 2012. In 2013, Diorio joined University of Alabama’s WVUA to oversee the station’s operations. WVUA produced local news coverage for the Tuscaloosa area while providing hands-on experience for student interns studying at the university. During his tenure, many former student interns went on to careers in broadcasting across the country, including positions with network affiliates. In 2024, Diorio returned to WDTN as assistant news director.

Adam Aaro, News Director with WKEF
Adam Aaro is the News Director at Dayton 24/7 Now, where he leads the newsroom with a focus on connecting with audiences across all platforms. Since stepping into the role in 2024, Adam has championed a digital-first approach to journalism — encouraging teams to break and update stories online and on social media in real time rather than waiting for traditional newscasts. Under his leadership, the newsroom has emphasized speed, accessibility, and audience engagement across broadcast, digital, and social platforms. Prior to becoming News Director, Adam co-anchored the station’s evening newscasts for more than eight years. 

Before coming to Dayton, he worked as a weekend evening anchor in Columbus, Ohio, and previously held reporting and anchoring roles in Bend, Oregon; Green Bay, Wisconsin; and Rochester, Minnesota. Passionate about storytelling and the evolving role of local television news, Adam enjoys mentoring journalists and helping audiences better understand the stories shaping their communities. He lives in Springboro with his wife and three daughters.

Ashley Bethard, Chief Content Officer of Cox First Media and Editor-in-Chief of the Dayton Daily News
Ashley Bethard is a digital media executive, writer, and editor with deep expertise in content strategy, audience development, and newsroom leadership. She currently serves as Chief Content Officer of Cox First Media and Editor-in-Chief of the Dayton Daily News, overseeing a portfolio of respected brands including the Dayton Daily News, Journal-News, and Springfield News-Sun.

In her role, Bethard leads editorial and digital strategy across platforms, guiding teams that produce impactful community journalism while driving audience growth and engagement. Her work spans content creation, product innovation, and the distribution of journalism across websites, mobile apps, social media, newsletters, and emerging digital channels.

Bethard’s career reflects a strong track record of expanding digital audiences and evolving legacy media organizations. In addition to her leadership in journalism, she is an accomplished creative writer.

Her honors include selection to the Newspaper Association of America’s “Top 30 Under 30,” the Ohioana Walter Rumsey Marvin Grant, a Pushcart Prize nomination, and participation in the Tin House Writer’s Workshop.

Session 2

AI Visibility: Where Does Your Company Show Up in AI Answers?

AI-powered tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity are changing the way people search for information, discover businesses and make decisions. Instead of clicking through pages of search results, users are increasingly relying on AI-generated answers to determine who to hire, what to buy and which organizations they can trust. The question is: when AI tools generate those answers, does your company appear?

This session will explore how brands are showing up — or being left out — in the rapidly evolving “AI-first” landscape. Attendees will learn how AI platforms gather and surface information, what influences visibility and credibility within AI-generated responses, and why traditional SEO alone is no longer enough.

Most importantly, participants will leave with a practical, actionable playbook they can begin using immediately, including:

• Quick wins you can implement today across your website, content and public-facing digital presence
• The highest-impact actions based on your organization’s current marketing and communications goals
• Simple strategies to improve your company’s visibility, accuracy and recommendation within AI tools

Speaker: Dave Burnett, AOK Marketing 

Bio: Dave Burnett is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and digital marketing expert with over 25 years of experience building and scaling businesses. Best known as the founder of AOKMarketing.com, PromotionalProducts.com and co-founder of Achievers.com—sold for $110M— Dave’s journey is defined by perseverance. After securing a dream domain through 16 years of follow-up, and recovering from a traumatic brain injury while still running multiple companies, he’s proven that resilience fuels results. Today, he leads AOKMarketing.com, PromotionalProducts.com, co-runs Valleywood Capital, and coaches business leaders through Bloom Growth. Based in Toronto, Dave is a speaker, columnist, and lifelong advocate for bold action and continuous learning.

Session 3

From Scroll to Strategy: Social Media Insights for PR Professionals

Social media continues to evolve at a rapid pace, changing how organizations communicate, build trust, manage reputations, and engage with audiences. From shifting algorithms and audience behaviors to the rise of short-form video, creator content, and emerging “newsfluencers,” communications professionals are navigating a digital landscape that looks far different than it did even a few years ago.

Join PRSA Dayton for a discussion featuring social media and digital communications experts as they explore the current state of social media and what public relations professionals need to know to stay relevant and effective in 2026.

Panelists will discuss emerging trends, platform shifts, audience expectations, content strategy, analytics, crisis considerations, brand voice, and the growing intersection between PR, marketing, and digital engagement. The conversation will also examine how organizations are thoughtfully leveraging influencers and trusted online voices while maintaining authenticity and credibility.

Panelists 

• Lisa Braun: Sr. Director of Social Media and Content Strategy with Cincinnati Reds
• Roxy Couse: Miamisburg-based corporate influencer

Bios 

Lisa Braun, Sr. Director of Social Media and Content Strategy with Cincinnati Reds
Lisa Braun is in her 17th season with the Cincinnati Reds, joining the organization in 2009 as marketing manager. In 2011, she launched the Reds’ social media presence and quickly established herself as an industry leader in leveraging digital content to build consumer connection. Braun has an extensive background in entertainment and media, including seven years as MTV’s vice president of promotion and music marketing. Her radio experience includes on-air, programming and marketing roles at stations in Ohio and Indiana. In 2022 and 2023, Braun was selected as the Major League Baseball Katy Feeney Leadership Award recipient for the Cincinnati Reds. She also was named one of the Cincinnati Business Courier’s People to Know in Technology and was inducted into the Matthew 25 Ministries Humanitarian Hall of Fame. Braun is a graduate of Bowling Green State University.

Roxy Couse, Miamisburg-based corporate influencer
Roxy Couse is a digital storyteller, career creator, and founder of Sloefy — a platform giving people the blueprint to build a personal brand that opens doors. Known for her wildly relatable “workplace universe,” she empowers millennials and working moms through career confidence, self-care, and personal finance, backed by 15 years inside startups and Fortune 500 companies like Dillard’s Inc, Whirlpool Corporate, Avery Dennison, and Univar Solutions, and an ecosystem of 600K+ with 100M+ views across TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads.

Session 4

Your New Communications Partner Is AI: Who's Really in Charge?

Artificial intelligence can write, edit, summarize, and generate ideas in seconds. It has become a valuable partner for communications professionals, but it also raises an important question: Who is really in charge?

As AI becomes part of everyday communication, the communicator's role is shifting from creating every word to directing the process, exercising judgment, and taking responsibility for the final message. This presentation explores where AI strengthens communications, where it creates risk, and why credibility, trust, and organizational voice still depend on people.

Speaker: Sally Berry, University of Dayton 

Bio: Sally Berry is a Lecturer in the School of Business Administration at the University of Dayton, where she teaches courses in marketing, organizational behavior, and business law at both the undergraduate and MBA levels. She previously served as MBA Director, overseeing recruitment, program development, and corporate engagement while mentoring students and managing program operations.

Before joining academia full-time, Sally built a distinguished career at LexisNexis, where she held leadership roles in content development and global operations. She directed large editorial and legal analysis teams, spearheaded international transitions, and led multiple Six Sigma continuous improvement initiatives. Earlier in her career, she practiced law, representing clients in criminal and appellate cases, and served as a certified Guardian ad Litem.

Deeply committed to service and leadership, Sally serves on the Executive Boards of Dayton Live and The Human Race Theatre Company and is a graduate of the Leadership Dayton Class of 2025. She was also an AI Fellow in the School of Business during the summer of 2025, contributing to innovative projects integrating artificial intelligence into business education.

Tickets

$70.00 PRSA Members or active PRSSA Members (any chapter in the US)
$60.00 Earlybird rate before October 1

$90.00 Anyone who doesn't have an active PRSA or PRSSA membership
$80.00 Earlybird rate before October 1