The New social Media and Councils #smc

Please click here for full programme information and booking form that can be faxed back

Book a Place and bring a colleague for free!

 Keynote speech: Iain Dale, Political Blogger

Other speakers:

• Kerry McCarthy MP
• Ingrid Koehler, Improvement Strategist, IDeA
• Dominic Campbell, Director, FutureGov
• Anthony Zacharzewski, President, The Democratic Society (invited)
• Councillor Fiona Colley, LB Southwark
• Councillor James Cousins, LB Wandsworth
• Councillor Jon Ball, LB Ealing
• Janet Sillett, Policy Analyst, LGiU
• Jasmine Ali, Head of Children’s Services
  Network, LGiU
• Jonathan Carr-West, Head of Centre for Local Democracy, LGiU
• Andy Sawford, Chief Executive, LGiU

How are councils and the rest of the public sector engaged in the web 2.0 revolution? This conference is about exploring the issues, whilst drawing on experience on the ground to show what is possible, and maybe what isn’t. What are the obstacles, prospects and challenges? The event builds on the LGiU’s recent discussion paper Local government 3.0: How councils can respond to the new web agenda.

Who should attend?

• leaders and chief executives
• councillors who use or want to use social media
• councillors and officers responsible for engagement, consultation and information
• communications, press, marketing and PR people
• policy staff
• partners and community groups
• everyone who wants to be involved in developing social media in the authority

To use social media effectively, we need to be as creative as the technology — are we anywhere near realising the potential?

Engagement is a key local government mantra. Social media can be an incredible tool, but it presents major challenges as well: what is sustainable; how can privacy be protected; what about preventing abuse online?

Opening up debate can be threatening to institutions: how far are councils prepared to let go and what are the risks? How does social media fit with the politics of local government? And how can we make sure we are really opening up democracy to everyone and not closing it down for a minority?

The conference presents leaders in the field and considers how web 2.0 could transform democratic institutions and service delivery. Councillors at the cutting edge of new media will discuss why and how they use it and what social media contributes to community life and politics.

Social media will be increasingly integrated into how councils communicate, debate, inform and engage. Councils need to develop robust strategies to capture the power of social media. This event will be an exciting opportunity to think creatively about the political and practical challenges and opportunities we will increasingly face dealing with fluid and contentious new medium.

A live twitter feed will open up the conference to the world outside.

Thursday, November 05, 2009 from 9:30 AM - 3:45 PM (GMT)

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Illuminate@Prospero House
241 Borough High Street
SE1 1GA London
United Kingdom

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