CIPR supports London Social Media Week 2012

One of the world’s most unique global platforms, Social Media Week, returns to London later this month, offering a look at the newest trends in social media and mobile technologies. The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) will host four free events across the week discussing everything from social media and politics, to the use of social media at the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, and the relationship between public relations and Wikipedia.

This year’s theme is Empowering Change through Collaboration, reflecting on the global impact of social media and its role as a catalyst in driving cultural, political, economic and social change.

The CIPR’s events kick off on Monday 24 September with a panel of experts from the worlds of politics and communications coming together to discuss the impact social media has on public affairs and public policy in How social media is changing politics and public affairs at The HUB Westminster, from 4pm to 6pm. The panel debate, chaired by CIPR Social Media Panel member Stuart Bruce, features Paul Staines aka Guido Fawkes, Matt Freckleton, Managing Director of Yatterbox, Ruth Barnett, Head of Communications at SwiftKey and Antony Carpen, former Policy Advisor for the Department of Communities and Local Government.

On Wednesday 26 September CIPR will host ‘Share This' – public relations now and in the future at Facebook, from 2pm to 4pm. This event will feature a panel of expert authors from ‘Share This’, the CIPR’s best-selling social media handbook, discussing topics including strategic planning, social networks, online media relations, monitoring and measurement, skills, industry change and future trends.

The week continues at CIPR’s Social Summer on Social media and its involvement with the Olympics and Paralympics at CIPR Public Relations Centre, Russell Square, on Thursday 27 September from 5pm, featuring the International Paralympic Committee’s Director of Communications, Craig Spence.

The CIPR’s final event of the week will be on Friday 28 September at ExSoHo House, from 11.30am to 1.30pm on The Future of Wikipedia and public relations. This panel discussion will debate Wikipedia and its well documented relationship with the PR community, and features Neville Hobson, David Gerard, Philip Sheldrake and Gemma Griffiths, lead author of the CIPR’s Wikipedia Best Practice Guidance, released in June this year. 

To view the full Social Media Week schedule, and to register attendance at any of CIPR’s events, visit the Social Media Week London website.