The Dallas Morning News Creates Independent Events Division, Names Industry Veteran Alison Draper General Manager

DALLAS, Aug. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dallas Morning News has formed a new independent business division to meet the operational, marketing and promotional needs of event organizers and live-event producers in categories ranging from education and information to entertainment and sports.

Alison Draper has been appointed General Manager of the new CrowdSource, reporting to the CMO of The Dallas Morning News.  Draper joins CrowdSource from her most recent position as publisher of alternative newsweekly the Chicago Reader, where she shepherded the sale of the paper earlier this year.  Draper's experience includes three years with The Dallas Morning News from 2006-2009 as publisher of Quick, the quick-read daily paper, and as senior director of local advertising – Arts & Entertainment.  She also launched a previous internal events division at The Dallas Morning News.

Breaking the mold of traditional events sponsorship models, CrowdSource will create partnerships with event producers and others to provide an array of business and operational services, as well as branding and marketing that leverage the vast inventory and audience relationships of the portfolio of products produced by The Dallas Morning News.

"CrowdSource is an innovative approach that provides an onramp for event producers to execute their concepts in the North Texas area and will have the support of the marketing resources of The Dallas Morning News," said Jim Moroney, CEO and Publisher of The Dallas Morning News.  "What sets CrowdSource apart is its unique combination of attributes: the ability to provide operational support, willingness to consider equity participation and ability to connect with quality audiences who consume news and information in multiple formats."

In addition to the Chicago Reader and Quick, Draper's experience includes serving as vice president, chief sales officer and group publisher of CL, Inc. She also served five years as publisher of Dallas Observer, and 15 years in sales and senior management positions at New Times Media. 

"Alison is a proven leader in the field," said Moroney.  "She brings deep industry experience, a penchant for creative solutions and great credibility based on a career of achievements.  We're delighted to have her back."

Draper said, "CrowdSource is a game-changer in our industry.  We have the ability to leverage the horsepower of The Dallas Morning News' media organization, its audiences, its advertisers and media inventory to grow events quickly and strategically.  CrowdSource will seek out targeted event partnerships and consumer-driven event opportunities where the relationships will extend beyond traditional media sponsorships and take our financial and resource commitments to a level that creates scale and enhanced experiences for attendees.  We are looking at best-in-class events throughout the Southwest and in other areas of the country with an eye toward bringing them to Dallas."

Draper said CrowdSource will build on The Dallas Morning News' history of successful ventures, including its annual Top 100 Places to Work event, presently in its fourth year; Copa Al Dia, a youth soccer competition that just completed its fifth annual tournament; and Mystiqal, a Dallas Mardi Gras event that attracted record attendance for a first-time event.  It was the brainchild of Draper during her earlier tenure with The News.

About The Dallas Morning News
Established in 1885, The Dallas Morning News (dallasnews.com) is Texas' leading newspaper and the flagship newspaper subsidiary of A. H. Belo Corporation. It has received nine Pulitzer Prizes since 1986, as well as numerous other industry awards recognizing the quality of its investigative and feature journalism, design and photojournalism. Its portfolio of print and digital products reaches an average daily audience of more than 1.1 million people and includes online news and information sites; iPhone, Android and iPad apps; Al Dia (www.aldiatx.com), the leading Spanish-language daily in North Texas; neighborsgo (neighborsgo.com), a consumer-generated community news outlet; and Briefing, the free, home-delivered quick-read.

To advertisers, the portfolio of products is represented by DMNmedia (www.DMNmedia.com), the marketing solutions group of The Dallas Morning News, Inc.

About A. H. Belo Corporation
A. H. Belo Corporation (NYSE: AHC), headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a distinguished newspaper publishing and local news and information company that owns and operates four daily newspapers and related websites.  A. H. Belo publishes The Dallas Morning News, Texas' leading newspaper and winner of nine Pulitzer Prizes; The Providence Journal, the oldest continuously-published daily newspaper in the United States and winner of four Pulitzer Prizes; The Press-Enterprise (Riverside, CA), serving the Inland Southern California region and winner of one Pulitzer Prize; and the Denton Record-Chronicle.  The Company publishes niche publications targeting specific audiences, and its investments and/or partnerships include Classified Ventures, owner of Cars.com, and the Yahoo! Newspaper Consortium.  A. H. Belo also owns and operates commercial printing, distribution and direct mail service businesses.  Additional information is available at www.ahbelo.com or by contacting Ali Engle, Vice President/CFO, at 214-977-2248.

SOURCE The Dallas Morning News