Spring Conference 2012 - Hitting the Headlines

29 March 2012 - 9-5pm
Museum of London

Morning

• Hear from Caroline Vogt, Global Head of Insight, Aegis Media on current media consumption and how you can use this insight on audience demographics to tailor and target your communications
• Find out about how different charities have secured coverage and the impact it has had on their organisation. An opportunity to ask these charities directly about their experience as part of a panel discussion. With speakers from Joseph Rowntree Foundation, British Heart Foundation and National Federation of Women's Institutes.

Working group sessions on:

• Managing controversial comment. Is it better for your organisation to avoid potentially controversial debate or should you stand out and be an authority on difficult subjects? How to manage potentially risky comment and deal with the concerns of stakeholders, funders and trustees
• Good news. Positive stories that are ‘news’ and likely to be picked up by the media. Hear from Press Association journalists specialising in charity stories about the type of releases that get covered and good news angles beyond traditional fundraising feats and cheque presentations.
• Photos. Make the most of the Guardian’s Head of Photography - Roger Tooth - experience, looking at how images can tell a story and the type of images you need to provide as part of a news story
• Social Media. Hear from digital news experts on how you can use social media to maximise the impact and reach of news coverage as well as a listening tool for accessing reactive opportunities and understanding the media landscape
• Spokespeople. Learn from a PR expert Neil Bayley, Director, Porter Novelli who has experience with training countless spokespeople including lots of charities, about the essential qualities a spokesperson needs. Who should you be putting forward as a spokesperson and how can you prepare and brief them?

Afternoon
Panel debate - The future of news
sponsored by Carnegie UK Trust

Media commentators and experts including Janet Street-Porter, Adam Baker (Founder, Blottr) and Sue Llewellyn (Co-Founder, Ultra Social) will debate whether or not targeting the mainstream media is an outdated strategy for charities and communities looking to inspire change and raise awareness

An opportunity to ask questions and debate…
Has mainstream media had its day? Are newspapers fast becoming the media dinosaurs of the 21st century? What is the value of two paragraphs in a broadsheet as opposed to two million twitter followers? With the development of social media, blogs and citizen journalism is it actually more effective to use more targeted digital media?

News as part of the mix. Closing the day with a talk from Peter Gilheany, Board director, Forster Communications on how news can fit in and work with campaigns, marketing and your whole communications strategy. Planning ahead and working together to add value and make the most of opportunities.

With expert speakers from Press Association, The Guardian, Blottr, Ultra Social, Forster and Porter Novelli and many more, this conference is an excellent opportunity to gain knowledge from experts, be inspired, meet professionals working in the same area and go back to work with ideas and knowledge to share with your team and implement straight away.

Feedback from our last conference

“The conference was great – all speakers were excellent, and the content both enjoyable and though provoking” Age UK, Camden

“New ideas for all of the Communications team! Wished more of us had been able to go along!” MRDF

“Interesting mix of speakers if different stances, good networking opportunity, Media Trust highly reputable” MyBnk