WILMETTE, Ill.- "New Media Success Stories" is the timely topic to be addressed during the Boating Writers International annual meeting at the Miami Boat Show.

"This will be an excellent opportunity for writers, editors, publishers and industry marketing managers to learn how to leverage the growing influence of the new online platforms," said Kim Kavin, BWI president.

The "New Media" session will feature three panelists who have harnessed the power and intrigue of Internet communications and who will share their experience with attendees:

Ian Atkins, group general manager for www.YachtWorld.com and www.Boats.com, the former featuring more than 115,000 paid listings, making it the largest collection of brokerage boats available via the Internet.

Ben Ellison, who works independently and writes the marine electronics daily blog online at www.panbo.com, reports readership of more than 50,000 unique visitors per month.

Glen Justice, a former New York Times staffer who created and edits the online magazine www.MadMariner.com which has attracted almost 300,000 unique visitors and about 1.5 million page views since its launch in June 2007.

The event is open to the marine community and requires no ticket for admission. It is scheduled for the second hour of the BWI Annual Meeting on Friday February 15 which runs from 8 to 10 a.m. in the Miami Beach Convention Center, rooms A101/102.