Digital Family Reunion Tomorrow & New December Calendar

by Nicole Jordan on December 11, 2008

Digital Family Reunion starts at 5pm tomorrow with a line-up of some of LA’s old guard. The VIC folks are coming back to town y’all! Finally.

Inviting early adopters and legacy participants of the Internet 1.0 and today’s digitally apt Internet 2.0 tube dwellers, the DFR will create the optimum conditions for these generations to synergize with one another and inspire opportunities that will serve our industries, our region, and our society at large. Attendees will include leaders from all the major industry sectors such as media, entertainment, finance, publishing, venture funding, software, commerce, education, and many more.

Hours: 4:30-11:00 PM
Skirball Cultural Center: 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA

Here’s the schedule:

5:15pm - 6:45pm/ Theater/Lobby - Town Hall Meeting
+ Interview with Nolan Bushnell by Tony Winders, ValueClick Media
+ Town Hall: Forecasting 2009 - Moderated by Ken Rutkowski, KenRadio.com. Participants: Jason Calacanis, Ted Cohen, Nolan Bushnell, Shawn Gold, Ryan Scott, Joey Tamer, Eric Pulier, and Nelson Gayton

6:45pm - 10:00pm/ Ahmanson Auditorium - Holiday Party
+ Doors open for Party
+ Video Interviews in Lobby
+ Business Card Art Installations - Jungle [8]
+ DJ music on stage - DJ Loomer
+ Jazz music outside - Pasadena Jazz Institute
+ Food, cash bar
+ Social networking

8:00pm - 8:20pm/ Ahmanson Auditorium - Program
+ Carbon Nation - Film trailer presentation
+ Charity Presentations - Causecast.org. Promotion of philanthropic initiatives (Witness, Carbon Nation)
+ Welcome/Thank you - Brad Nye and Kurt Daradics
+ Honor Presentation - Tony Winders. Nolan Bushnell acceptance speech
+ Social Graph Initiation - Business Card installation ritual
+ Past/Present photography montage

Get Tickets Here: http://www.digitalfamilyreunion.net/program.php (DFR30 for $20 off)

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DECEMBER CALENDAR

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Will Social Media Kill PR?

by Nicole Jordan on December 11, 2008

Last week I had the pleasure of once again joining Al Krueger, Jennifer Leggio and almost Brian Solis (something came up) for Comet Branding Radio to talk about potential threats to the PR industry-at-large if not able to grasp social media or how it incorporates into business strategies. The topic spawned an engaging discussion that took a step back, looking at social media’s place within the larger map of communications, marketing, the sales cycle and branding.

All participants are fans of social media and have a solid grasp on how to make the PR/social media integration a smooth one but many PR people don’t have that grasp, as Jennifer pointed out. Part of what’s holding PR back from evolving away from current prejudices is reluctance by the old school to give way to the new school. There is still a total lack of understanding by the majority of PR people regarding WHAT their role is when it comes to contributing to the organization, which goes back to education, which is a much larger topic for another time.

Social media has clearly emerged as a powerful communication tool on multiple levels.. The amount of information collectively generated has unearthed a treasure trove of insight that helps companies with lead generation, customer service, market research, and product development. It’s become such the shiny toy of the marketing world that it’s birthed an entire industry, but should it stay a separate practice or become absorbed into an existing one, if not several? Is Social media, in the long run, going to claim a new distinct discipline to join advertising, marketing and PR?

Here’s some highlights of what was discussed.

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