Innovation
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Once a year, between 2015-2019, Cox Media Group Technology product owners, designers, developers, and engineers took part in the annual Hackathon. The event has become a CMG crowd favorite, bringing team members together from across the country for an innovative and energetic employee engagement event unlike any other.
Teams participating in the Hackathon have 24 hours to ideate, design, and prototype a digital product or operational optimization that solves a real business challenge or problem in the media.
Their work is presented to a panel of expert judges and an audience of Cox Media Group personnel and guests. Two prizes are awarded by the judges, 1st place and 2nd place awards, and the audience votes in real-time to decide the winner of the “People’s Choice” award.
Each group looks to wow the judges by generating creative ideas to help address issues either internally or in the field for front-line employees. Judging criteria includes presentation, execution of a working prototype, business value, and the creativity with which the team accomplished its goals.
A self-funded event, organized by a dedicated group of employee volunteers led by Jason Munson, the organizing committee embodies the type of cross-departmental partnership that Cox Media Group needs to rise to the challenge to produce more technology solutions with an increasingly competitive industry.
Organizing Committee - Jason Munson, Lorne Cameron, Traci Schoenberg, Tracy Smith, Sherhonda Brown, Jason Foust, and Kineya Hood.
“Year after year our all-volunteer team raises the funds required to host an event that re-infuses the innovation culture into our work. The event serves as an opportunity for our organization to show our employees how much we appreciate them. We are able to offer two offsite social events during the hackathon thanks to our generous sponsors, and we ensure everyone knows the social events are a celebration of our extended digital team’s accomplishments throughout the year. None of this would be possible without our event volunteer team, they are the ones that ensure we keep the innovation spirit well-fed and that everyone feels like they have an opportunity to present the next great idea to the broader organization!”
Jason Munson - Sr. Director, Cox Media Group Technology
Ice-Breaker Social
The Hackathon is an opportunity for CMGt and our Partners to travel from various locations, work together towards a common goal, and strengthen partnerships along the way. One of the ways we facilitate this – is by offering several structured and unstructured opportunities for individuals at all participating organizations to get to know one another and talk about common interests – professional or otherwise. On opening night, we host an ice-breaker event to get the teams to know one another and build momentum and energy for the onsite kickoff.
Event Kickoff
Our event opener is when the teams learn about the theme for the Hackathon.
In 2017, CMGt Hackathon teams were challenged to dramatically increase audience engagement and loyalty and drive our 2020 Strategy: make our business more efficient, cut costs and eliminate redundancies. They only had 27 hours to brainstorm ideas, research and develop final concepts, build a demo and prepare an informative 15-minute presentation for a panel of three judges. The theme for the Second Annual Hackathon was “Engagement, Loyalty, and Efficiency.”
Participants Guide
We are excited you’ve decided to be a part of this year’s Hackathon. May the odds be ever in your favor!
Team Breakout
Teams are assigned a conference room and begin. All work takes place on-site at the CMGt’s operational HQ, One-Tech Center.
Onsite Socials
While our teams work with passion and courage towards introducing another set of innovation initiatives, we also take the opportunity to decompress, network, and learn more about our sponsors and partners.
Team Presentations
The teams had from 10 a.m. Thursday to 1 p.m. Friday to cultivate and develop their solution, and build a 15-minute presentation for the panel of judges.
The Hackathon’s goal was to end up with one or two strong solutions for CMGt’s business partners. The actual results were far greater. All of the teams collaborated like champions and brought their best ideas forward. After careful consideration, the judges selected two solutions that best conveyed the concepts of engagement, loyalty, and efficiency. The Audience had a chance to have their say as well, utilizing one of our sponsor’s solutions we implemented real-time voting by SMS to identify the winner of the “People’s Choice Award”.
Wrap Party
Team members worked long-hours, partners had opportunities to make new connections and strengthen old ones, and CMG has a portfolio of new ideas ready to be further explored and brought to market. The event closes with a Wrap-Party.
What People Are Saying
“What I especially loved from the presentations was the connections the teams made to address issues our employees face in the field every day in such a disruptive industry. These guys are unsung heroes to me! They don’t always get the spotlight, and this event is their spotlight. It’s the hallmark of their year.”
Marian Pittman - EVP, Product Management @ Cox Media Group
“This event was designed to support two strategic priorities – innovation and culture. The outcome (success/failure) is less important than the process and the opportunity to work together in this way. Although, by the end of the event, we always come away with very good ideas that are implemented as we move forward.”
Mark Beck - VP, Technology @ Cox Media Group
“The Hackathon encourages our employees to step away from their daily routines and focus exclusively on creativity. The ideas that come out of our Hackathon are fascinating. We have a great track record of incorporating most ideas into our existing roadmaps and projects. It’s also a celebration of employee engagement and a chance to have some fun!”