An executive at the OMMA Mobile conference spoke about the multiple ways consumers are now getting information and the challenges that it presents to publishers. The ?The new rules of digital content currency? session also addressed the opportunities that new media gives media companies.

?At MTV, we think the new creation of content combines experts and curation, crowd surfing information with our viewers and giving users context,? said Dermot McCormack, executive vice president of digital media at MTV Networks, New York.

?Publishers need to think about how they can rise above the culture,? he said.

Mr. McCormack said that MTV?s push in mobile has always been to create content to engage users.

?We are taking a platform-agnostic approach to mobile, but we are aware of which platforms users are engaging with the most,? Mr. McCormack said.

In particular, the executive talked about a specific app the publisher has that puts a focus on what MTV was originally known for ? discovering new artists and music.

The MTV Music Meter app compiles a list of up-and-coming artists for consumers to discover.

The app aggregates social conversations, including Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter.

It then knocks off popular artists, such as Lady Gaga, who music fans already know, to give users an updated list of artists. 

With the amount of media and news that consumers have at their fingertips, publishers need to find a way to stick out as a trusted source for consumers, per Mr. McCormack.

?There is only so much time people have to find out what they should be paying attention to,? Mr. McCormack said. 

In particular, MTV has faced challenges staying relevant to its demographic of consumers who have grown and expect content to be on more than one screen.

Mr. McCormack also said that with the flood of information has come a new wave for lesser-known publishers that now have the ability to reach consumers.

?Trusted sources are not just for the big guys now,? Mr. McCormack said.

?Brands have a natural lead with consumer authority, but publishers such as the New York Times and blogs are also important,? he said.

The executive also talked about the importance that social media plays with the new age of publishing.

Publishers need to use already existing social media tools to measure content, as well as look at how many ?likes? or ?retweets? content generates.

For example, MTV?s most recent VMA awards pushed 9,000 tweets per second.

?From a publisher?s perspective, you have to think about how you get your message in through 9,000 tweets,? Mr. McCormack said.

?It?s important to continually look at your brand and keep your core assets to create a new authority with users,? he said.