Integrate or detonate!

Elite Media have organised an advertising, marketing and media summit happening in Melbourne, Australia in mid May. The theme of the summit is about engaging consumers through integrating advertising, marketing and media strategies.

When: Monday 12 May & Tuesday 13 May 2008
Where: Peninsula at Central Pier, Melbourne Docklands
Full conference program: here

Sessions that caught our eye include:

PR versus Public Relations - Panel
-Today’s Public Relations role in the overall marketing communications mix
-Has the live and digital media channels changed the art of Public Relations?
-How has the rise of social media affected the PR business?
-The future of digital PR and communications
-Word of mouth marketing: How do you get your consumers to discuss your brand?
Andrea Kerekes, Managing Partner, Access PR
Trevor Young, Joint Managing Director, Spark
Robert Gibbs, Head of Marketing and Communications, Nokia Siemens Network

Consumer Generated Media– separating hype from reality
-Key findings from Nielsen Online’s comprehensive investigation of the ‘CGM’ online category
-Which online consumers are participating in CGM related activity and is it yet mainstream?
-What motivates local consumers to participate online through blogs, social networking, uploading content and distributing content?
-What impact can consumer generated media have on your brand?
-How are marketers taking advantage of this revolution in consumer behaviour and mindset?
Melanie Ingrey, Research Director, Nielsen Online

The Creative Revolution
-An insightful look at the evolving communications landscape
-The future of multimedia – how to leverage winning communication strategies
Leo Premutico, Joint Founder, Johannes Leonardo (New York)

Tracking the media, monitoring the message

Late on a Friday afternoon: Sllllloooowwww Down

It is has been a hectic week for Slice - how about you? It's about this time of the day we give thanks for the weekend. And this week we give extra thanks to Martin Hughes - he wants us all to slow down, live more and fret less. This man is speaking our language.

Just launched this week, The Slow Guides to Melbourne and Sydney "are for anybody who wants to slow down and live it up, seachange without shifting postcode. They celebrate all that’s local, natural, traditional, sensory and most of all gratifying about living in Sydney and Melbourne."

Martin has written for Lonely Planet and was editor of The Big Issue for three years. As a writer, his philosophy focuses on "influencing by delight rather than being earnest or right-on." Affirm Press who published the book, are a new outfit dedicated to publishing books that have a positive impact on the community. Sounds right-on (in a good away!) to us.

Just flicking through the book itself is a 'slow' experience - the textured stock, nifty size, and beautiful black & white photography, featuring the city perhaps as you've never seen it before - it all soothes the senses. We love it wholeheartedly (especially the section on slow for kids).

In the spirit of being better connected to our cities, ourselves and each other, the book is supported by a fantastic website where you can share your slow experiences with other slow coaches. And here's their cute little viral to help spread the word.

Ahhhh. Now log-off and head home. It's time for a slice of life in the slow lane. Happy weekend Slicers.

More about Slow:
www.slowmovement.com
Slow on Wikipedia
Slow Food Victoria

Track the media, monitor the message