The New Jersey League of Municipalities Education Foundation, Inc. (NJLM) will hold a statewide conference on Social Media and its effects, and utilization by local governments. The conference will take place on Tuesday, March 30, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Prudential Center “The Rock,” located at 165 Mulberry Street in Newark. The general public is invited.
The purpose of the conference is to help New Jersey’s policymakers better understand and utilize new social media technologies. The NJLM Education Foundation presents this half-day conference with New Jersey and national expert practitioners. Verizon is a prime sponsor of the event. Dennis Bone, chairman, Verizon New Jersey, and president of the NJ State Chamber of Commerce, will offer welcoming remarks. Newark Mayor Cory A. Booker and recent winner of the Government “Shorty” Award for his use of social media to connect with constituents, will be the Keynote Speaker; Michael DuHaime, Chief Strategist to Governor Chris Christie, Andrew Rasiej, Publisher of Personal Democracy Forum, are panelists; Chris Rosica, CEO, Rosica Public Relations (www.rosica.com) will give an Introduction to Social Media: Getting Started; and Robert Sommer, president, Rock Entertainment Management; and Desiree Peterkin Bell, Director of Communications for Mayor Cory A. Booker, will discuss Best Practices for Experienced Users.
Social media has created opportunities and pitfalls as more public agencies grapple with this new communication phenomenon. Presenters will cover launching a web-based advocacy campaign with case studies, social media tools, including blogs, Twitter, FaceBook, etc., social media’s longer term impact on communications and policy, and protecting a person’s reputation online. For more information visit www.NJLMEF.org.