Social media is having a dramatic impact on traditional media company operations. This fact is very true here in Southwest Florida as well as around the U.S. and the world. Social media is turning the traditional one-to-many media conversation into a many-to-many conversation. Social media has turned readers and viewers who used to simply be consumers of content into creators of content. Furthermore, the speed at which news and information is pushed out to the traditional media companies audience has increased exponentially.

Southwest Florida’s traditional media companies are extremely important to the region for many reasons. If you’re interested in learning about how our local media properties are adjusting to this rapidly changing landscape please consider joining us for the Social Media Club of Southwest Florida’s traditional media panel discussion to be held on August 25th from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The meeting will be held at the new Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport at Town Center.

Thanks to the generosity of our event sponsors, The ELLIS TEAM RE/MAX Realty Group and The Naples Daily News, this event is free to the public. To attend, you simply need to register for the event at the registration link shown above.

This panel will be moderated by Mike Kiniry (@mikekiniry), a producer and morning show host from WGCU, Southwest Florida’s local national public broadcasting affiliate. The discussion will center around how local media properties are adapting to the public’s increased usage of social networking and social media related tools. Topics to be explored include:

• How social media is impacting the traditional media business model
• How social media changes the traditional media companies’ conversations with their viewers and readers
• Changes in how local reporters identify story ideas and develop sources
• The convergence of media platforms – the written word, audio and video

We currently have the following media companies and representatives confirmed for this event:

• The Fort Myers New Press, Michelle Hudson, Social Media Editor and the Data Diva, @npdatadiva
• The Naples Daily News, Ken Lane, Sports Editor, Collier Citizen, @NDN_KLane
• FOX 4 WFTX-TV, Cory O’Donnell, Web Manager and Producer, @coryodonnell
• NBC-2, Matt Bernaldo, Assistant News Director – Interactive, @NBC2
• WINK-FM 96.9 and Fox Sports Radio 1200/1460 AM, Chad Rufer, Program Director, @chadrufer
• Renda Broadcasting Corp. – Gator Country 101.9, BOB FM 102.9, WGUF 98.9 FM, Mix 104.7, Julio Gonzalez, Webmaster

Immediately following the conclusion of a panel discussion we will be continuing our conversation during a social gathering to be held right at the Holiday Inn property. If you have time, please consider joining us for some additional socialization.

Location

Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport at Town Center
9931 Interstate Commerce Dr.
Fort Myers, FL 33913
Phone: 239-561-1550
Directions and map to the Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport at Town Center

ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO COST AND THIS EVENT IS FREE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, SEATING IS LIMITED AND YOU MUST BE REGISTERED TO ATTEND

The Social Media Club of Southwest Florida would like to thank The ELLIS TEAM RE/MAX Realty Group and The Naples Daily News for underwriting this event. You can find more information on The ELLIS TEAM at http://www.topagent.com/. You can read The Naples Daily News online at http://www.naplesnews.com.