Event: Public Relations Conference, Brisbane Australia

Frocomm's 4th Annual PR & New Media Conference 2009 will open it doors in Brisbane in early June. The two major streams are themed around "Welcome to the New World Of Communications" and "How the new media revolution is changing communications".

Here's a taste of some of the speakers presenting:

Sandi Logan, National Communications, Manager, Department of Immigration
The opportunities for public relations practitioners to deliver their messages are so much broader than ever before: reality TV series, internal IPTV broadcasts, web and social media platforms are just a few of the new world of communications options available: how should PR professionals approach these opportunities, prove their value to their organisation and prove a measurable return on investment?

Brian Giesen, Digital Specialist, Ogilvy 360 Digital Influence
Brian was recently head of digital at Ogilvys Washington USA office. He's relocating to Australia. Brian will discuss the Lessons from the US and Queensland digital elections.

Ross McSwain, Director Media and Communications, Queensland Corrective Services
Ross will be on the panel discussing issues management and crisis communications

Josh Deckard, former Press Office staff to George W Bush, Managing a hostile media environment
Lessons from the front line: Josh Deckard has served as President of Forward Thinking Strategies since March of 2008. Prior to founding Forward Thinking strategies, Deckard was the Assistant Press Secretary to President George W. Bush at The White House. He was the longest serving member of the Press Office staff, spanning from 2002-2007. During his time at The White House, Deckard oversaw White House media operations, including major international summits, addresses to the nation, as well as nationally televised press conferences at The White House, Camp David, and abroad.

Luke Worth, Director of Change, Capital & Coast District Health Board, Wellington, New Zealand
Healthy Communication: why are the media and Opposition political parties so keen to label communicators as Spin Doctors? What can we as communicators do to prove our value.

When: Tuesday 2nd and Wednesday 3rd JUNE 2009
When: The Stamford Plaza, Brisbane, Queensland
Price: $995 (+gst)
More info: www.frocomm.com.au

Media monitoring

Event: 2009 IABC World Conference

The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) are now promoting their world conference happening 7 - 10 June 2009 in San Francisco.

This year's conference program was built around the themes of renewal, energy and sustainability, supporting IABC’s pledge to minimize our effect on the environment and leave a positive legacy for future generations. Topics include:

- How to evolve as a professional by revitalizing the communication function in an era of complex financial challenges and risks.

- Embracing social media tools that are emerging as the most effective means to influence constituents and markets.

- Making sense of the research, trends and startling shifts in demographics that will affect your organization and your communication strategy.

- Stepping up as a responsible leader in inspiring integrity, passion and performance.

For more information, and the full conference brochure visit: http://www.iabc.com/wc

Media monitoring

Digital Marketing World (Free Virtual Conference)

MarketingProfs have put together Digital Marketing World 2009, a free virtual conference on Wednesday 1 April 2009, for both B2B and B2C marketers.



Keynote speaker is David Plouffe, Campaign Manager for Barack Obama’s 2008 Presidential Campaign. Plouffe will enlighten audiences on:

-How to harness the power of social networking to connect a dispersed group of people and engage them to perform outstanding feats

-Innovative ways the campaign built brand loyalty and how these same tactics can be used by your organization

-Why consistent leadership sets a tone that can inspire creativity and passion to achieve surprising results


Other topics covered include:

- How to use Facebook to build a community and meet marketing objectives

- What you need to build a successful corporate blog

-How to maximize website ROI and drive real results

-How to create online branded content to accelerate sales

-How to start “The Rave” and get your biggest fans to tell your story

For full details, and to register for free, click here.

We've never been to a 'virtual' conference. MarketingProfs claim that in addition to the speakers, there's still all the 'other' conference type of stuff available too: breakout sessions, exhibit hall and networking. Looking forward to how it all works out!

Media monitoring

2009 Australian Masters of Marketing

Australian Masters of Marketing 2009
17 & 18 March 2009
Sheraton Hotel, Perth

Early bird discount if you book before 19 December 2008.

AMMS09 is aiming to deliver an exciting speaker roster, inviting industry leading thinkers from the USA, UK and Asia to complement a host of well respected Australian speakers. The agenda focuses on branding, sponsorship and promotional marketing techniques perfect for implementation and activation in the new financial year.

Speakers include:

Rebekah Horne, Managing Director
MySpace.com, Europe
Vice President Australia & New Zealand
Fox Interactive Media

Andrew Caie, Head of Marketing
Lexus Australia

Dr. Larry DeGaris, President
Sponsorship Research & Strategy USA

Mike Wilson, Director
Naked Communications

Ben Wicks, Sponsorship Director
Fosters Group Australia

Michelle Pilot, VP Marketing
MasterCard Worldwide Australasia

Gina Unwin, Manager, Brand and Sponsorship
HSBC Bank Australia Limited

For more information, click here.

Tracking the media, monitoring the message

Melbourne: Digital marketing and media summit

Digital Marketing and Media Summit 2008
Unlocking the power of digital communication
21 November 2008 – Hilton on the Park, Melbourne

The folks at elitemedia have pulled together some of Australia's brightest 'digital' sparks for this year's digital marketing and media summit.

Sessions include:
• Google – Tools in the marketers’ sandpit
• Online channel: from information to revenue generation
• Mt Franklin case study: Building a meaningful relationship with your consumer in a digital world
• The out of home digital revolution

Speakers include:
• Joel Thomson, Digital Creative Director, Publicis Mojo
• Rena Chatterjee, Marketing Manager, Water, Coca-Cola Amatil
• Katie Chatfield, Strategy Director, the white agency
• Sam Plowman, Head of Online, ANZ
• Basil Hyman, Marketing & Internet Director, STA Travel
• David Green, General Manager of Mobile Marketing, Vodafone
• Julian Cole, Social Media Strategist, The Population
• Peter Williams, Chief Executive Officer, Deloitte Digital
• Mark Armstrong, Head of Auto, Local & Classifieds, Google

For more info, click here.

Tracking the media, monitoring the message

Evolve 08: Brisbane marcomms conference

At last an event in Brisbane for marketing and communication professionals! Evolve 08 is a one day, jammed packed conference designed to help modern marketers come to grips with constantly evolving marketing tools and communication trends.

This is an event for marketing and communication professionals, and business owners. It focuses on the real issues and trends practioners face every day in areas such as online, email, advertising, media, social trends, database building, PR and word of mouth marketing, branding, website design and idea generation.

Sessions include:
Digital Revolution: From hype to high-powered
Customer Genome: Is data the future?
Extinction Proof Brands: Creative brand survival

Speakers include:
Peter Williams, CEO, Deloitte Digital
Brett Hogarth, Co-founder & Executive Director, Impact Data
Jack Perlinski, Brand Strategist, DAIS
Llew Jury, Managing Director, Reload Consulting
Adam Penberthy, Director, Fresh
Michael Burke, Managing Director and Executive Producer, Liquid Interactive
Genevieve Mahony, Queensland State Marketing Manager, Coca-Cola
Kelly Baker, Founder and Managing Director, Edible Blooms Pty Ltd
Victoria Brown, Director, Inspiro Communications

For more information, click here.

Tracking the media, monitoring the message

2008 PRSA International Conference: The Point of Connection

The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) is hosting their international conference in Detroit in a few weeks. You might want to pack your bags and polish off your passport - this one looks huge, with over 100 professional development sessions on offer.

Topics covered range from social media, emerging technologies, green marketing, branding, to integrated communications and more. Keynote session speakers include Craiglist’s Craig Newmark, GM’s Bob Lutz, “Brazen Careerist” author and blogger Penelope Trunk, and best-selling author of “Tuesdays With Morrie” and “For One More Day” Mitch Albom.

Sessions are designed for learning at all career levels:
Track 1: Innovative Strategies - Sessions will address the latest strategies in leadership, management, planning, research, relationship, reputation, sustainability, communications and integrated communications.

Track 2: Effective Tactics and Techniques - Sessions will address proven tactics and techniques in core communications, media relations, green marketing, measurement and emerging technologies and social media.

Track 3: Specialization and Practice Areas - Targeted sessions, including Professional Interest Section sponsored programming, will focus on expertise specific to audiences, industries, emerging trends and multicultural communities.

Track 4: The Connected Profession - Sessions will address the vital components that connect public relations professionals and help them engage together as a community on ethics, diversity, education, current issues, advocacy and accreditation.

For more information visit: www.prsa.org/conf2008

Tracking the media, monitoring the message

Free webinar: Delivering Inspiring Presentations

How to Deliver Inspiring Presentations
Wednesday, 7 May 2008 at 11:00am AEST

The industrious bunch over at smartcompany are offering a free webinar on how to deliver insipiring presentations. The webinar presenter Carmine Gallo is a US communications coach and author of the new book, Fire Them Up!: 7 Simple Secrets to: Inspire Colleagues, Customers, and Clients; Sell Yourself, Your Vision, and Your Values; Communicate with Charisma and Confidence. Carmine has interviewed dozens of extraordinary business leaders and entrepreneurs who speak the language of motivation.

On 7 May you can learn the powerful persuasion techniques Carmine has gleaned from these masters of influence, including visionaries from Apple and Google.

At this webinar you will learn how to:
• Prepare and deliver inspiring and electrifying presentations
• Develop methods that keep an audience motivated and interested
• Apply the techniques of motivational masters in virtual presentations

Register for the webinar here.

Tracking the media, monitoring the message

Future Trends Vision

In the vein of 'WhiteSpace' by ESP Inc, New York, the enterprising crew at Fashion Forecast Services have created a 'Forward Vision' event, bringing together some of the top trend forecasters from around the globe. If you need to advise your clients if they should go aubergine or tangerine, boho or uber chic, vintage or high shine for next season, then this event is for you!

Melbourne
Tuesday April 15 2008
Docklands, Pier 14

Sydney
Thursday April 17 2008
Jones Bay Wharf, Pyrmont Point

The aim is to regularly bring a group of global trend visionaries who have the talent and vision to look at the horizon and spot the signs that drive trends and creativity. Some of the presenters include:

Jo-an Jenkins / Founder + Editor-in-Chief / Jenkins
Jo-an Jenkins has spent her entire professional life tracking trends in the fashion and interior design worlds. Over the past twelve years she has directed a team of professional designers and forecasters who provide trend information to an international client base ranging from major retailers and key cosmetic brands to prominent names in leisure, ready to wear and interior design.

Tony Bannister / Founder + Creative Director / SCOUT
SCOUT is a thriving, cutting-edge trend interpretation agency that works both online and through publications across 7 key forecasting areas: Fashion, Casualwear, Retail, Color, Merchandising, Accessories, and Consumer Trends. SCOUT also consults with clients one-on-one, thanks to a non-stop stream of intelligence via a network of international SCOUTS. It reports on emergent trends as they are happening in New York, Tokyo, Milan, London, Paris and other hot spots around the world, from which it produces a unique range of seasonal trend reports and an electronic, themed monthly newsletter.

For more information click here (scroll down once you've reached the page)

Tracking the media, monitoring the message

Starbucks closed?

Last Tuesday Starbucks closed nearly 7,100 company-operated stores in the U.S. to conduct a nationwide 3 hour education event with it's 135,000 employees. The event was designed to 'energize' staff in an effort to 'transform the customer experience'. Read their press release here.

Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and ceo said “Our unprecedented level of commitment to and investment in our people will provide them with the tools and resources they need to exceed the expectations of our customers. We believe that this is a bold demonstration of our commitment to our core and a reaffirmation of our coffee leadership.”

The logistics of providing such training and co-ordinating an instore effort for such a large number of stores and employees is mind boggling. We wonder how they made sure the right message was delivered to it's employees, and how it will translate into better coffee and better service - quite a task!

If nothing else, the gesture has received a considerable amount of media coverage. As noted by Catching Flack, this 'event' has translated into a pretty darn good publicity tactic.

Tracking the media, monitoring the message