New Communication Forum 2007
from the Society for New Communication Research

Our president, Albert Maruggi, was part of a great group of new-media pros who presented at the NewComm Forum 2007 in Las Vegas, March 7-9. He spoke as part of the "New Media and Journalism" track with a session entitled "Interaction and engagement: New media as the key to buyers' hearts."

Albert's presentation abstract:

Interaction and engagement: New media as the key to buyers' hearts

Building trust among peer groups is the next big thing. Oddly enough, it was also yesterday's big thing, but it didn't involve an iPod or a blog. Now new media like blogs and podcasts make it easier than ever to turn marketing monologues into meaningful dialogues. When companies engage and connect with people, those people know someone's listening. Those connections create evangelists for your brand, whose words mean more to other buyers than any marketer's words ever could. This session will help you:

• Think of your organization like a media outlet—with an audience that needs information
• Expand your idea of who is a journalist in the new media landscape—and how that definition will change your communications
• Fit new media into your communications plans—through sponsorships, producing content or pitching existing outlets
• Reinforce the need for personal voice—you’re talking with people, after all, so banish "corporate speak"
• Look at business communications as conversations, not lectures
• Put messages in formats and places convenient for your audience

Also, in early April, Albert spoke at the Social Media 2007 conference in Chicago, talking about podcasting as part of a company's marketing strategy. We'll update this page with more info from Albert's presentation soon.