Industry leaders exploring the ‘new world’ at the World PR Forum

Posted on by

Communication and connecting in digital and social spaces

The growth of social media as a core communication and PR platform is transforming traditional public relations and communication. With the explosion in online influencers, bloggers and social media and mobile platforms, are strategies and techniques developed for ‘old world’ PR going the way of dinosaurs?

IMPACT Communications Australia’s Director, Allison Lee, Bite Communications’ Roger Marshall and Young and Well CRC’s Chief Executive Officer, Associate Professor Jane Burns will explore the challenges of building brands and creating communities in this brave new world.

Facilitated by Joanne Painter from Icon PR, this session will discuss topics including:

  • Beyond Facebook and Twitter—what are the new and emerging social media platforms for PR and communications?
  • Mobile technology and apps—the new frontier • Making the global connection—why we should care about what people say about them in social media
  • Controlling the message v free engagement—getting the mix right
  • How social media is changing the rules of engagement—and how to use this to your advantage
  • How technology is being used to enhance and support communities—where are the opportunities?
  • What does the future look like for professional communicators re: skills and knowledge gaps?

“Navigating the brave new world of social media is one of the biggest challenges facing PR professionals today,” said Joanne Painter of the session. “While the early adopters have evolved their PR strategies to embrace new social platforms, others find Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other platforms risky and confusing. In this session some of Australia’s leading thinkers and digital PR practitioners discuss the opportunities, risks and rewards of social and digital PR,” Joanne said.

Allison Lee is the founder and director of IMPACT Communications Australia, an award-winning PR agency. With more than 15 years’ experience in public relations, Allison has worked in issues management, consumer promotion, and public affairs. She is a fellow of the Public Relations Institute of Australia and regular judge of its Golden Target Awards.

Roger Marshall is the Managing Director, Asia – South and Technology Lead, Asia Pacific for Bite Communications Australia. He drives overall strategy and direction, business development and growth, and resource management. Roger integrates digital and traditional communication tools around content and online/offline communities and grows regional business opportunities to take clients where they want to be.

Associate Professor Jane Burns is the Chief Executive Officer of the Young and Well CRC. The establishment of the Young and Well CRC is a culmination of Jane’s work in suicide and depression prevention over the last decade which has focused on international and national partnerships with academic, government, corporate, philanthropic, not-for-profit and community sectors.

Joanne Painter is the founder and Managing Director of icon.pr, an award-winning digital PR agency and recent PRIA Golden Target award winner in social media communications. A former Fairfax journalist and pioneer of digital PR, Joanne leads strategy development and campaign execution for icon’s rapidly growing client roster spanning Government, Corporate, B2B and NFP clients. She also works closely with icon’s sister agency Icon.Inc where she advises on social media and digital strategy, information architecture, user engagement and online communities.

More information can be found at www.worldprforum.com or the World Public Relations Forum can be followed on Twitter and Facebook.