• by Sara Guaglione , March 25, 2020

Publishers are hosting events online as the spread of COVID-19 shrinks the events business.

Events supposed to take place this month, like the Ellie Awards, were postponed due to the threat of the virus.

Event planning and management platform Bizzabo, which serves publishers such as CNBC, The Atlantic and The Wall Street Journal, found its publishers hosted a total of 342 events last year — an average of seven events per publisher on average — and generated roughly $22 million in revenue through event registrations.

Bizzabo estimates a canceled event could result in a loss of $3 million.

Alon Alroy, cofounder of Bizzabo, stated: “Publishers have long been folding events into their content plans, as events are one of the best opportunities for them to form relationships with readers, sponsors, media partners and advertisers.”

Quartz, for example, is hosting a new series of live digital workshops about working remotely, called "Quartz at Work (from home)." Led by Quartz executive editor and Quartz at Work editor Heather Landy, it is attracting thousands of interested readers, according to the online business news publisher.

The first workshop, “Remote Control,” was held March 19 and focused on how to be productive while working from home. It drew more than 1,400 people from 62 countries.  The conversation included advice on how to adapt to a new communication style, how to stay focused and manage your time, and how to be kind to yourself, colleagues and clients in the process. 

“Quartz at Work (from home)” workshops will convene on Thursdays. 

The next workshop, “The Lives of Working Parents Now,” will be held on March 26, and address the specific needs and concerns of working parents, many now working full-time from home, with their children.

It will feature guest presenters, such as Megan Gunnar, child psychologist and head of the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota; Brenna Loury, head of marketing at Doist; Iain Sachdev, the principal of International School of Monza in Italy; parents and their kids, as well as Quartz staff, among others.

Each event will begin with a group stretch. 

The live workshop series is free to attend. Access to a recording of each session is free for Quartz members.

Condé Nast's LGBTQ+ brand them is debuting an ongoing virtual music and arts festival today for and by the LGBTQ+ community, called "themfest." It will feature queer performers and creators, with drag performances, stand-up sets, concerts, fiction readings, guided meditations and cooking shows.

"themfest" will be hosted daily on Instagram Live. Today’s performance at 5 p.m. ET will have a stand-up set from writer and comedian Dewayne Perkins.  The Instagram Live events will serve as a “digital space to support, amplify, and uplift the LGBTQ+ community,” according to a release.

Upcoming editions of "themfest" will feature Cameron Esposito, who will share an excerpt from her new memoir "Save Yourself," as well as artist-chef-Yardy cofounder DeVonn Francis, who will lead an at-home cooking class.