Social Media 1, 2, 3

Social media tools like Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook have rapidly moved beyond the province of tweens tracking Ashton Kutcher’s daily activities to a realm where millions of all ages are creating social change around the globe. Within days of the earthquake in Haiti a charity text message campaign raised more than $10 million for relief efforts. Social media can boost your organization’s ability to mobilize resources and people if you know how to use them.

For those of you who haven’t yet fully embraced the new technology to advance your cause and are bemoaning the demise of VHS tapes, this guide will help demystify the digital landscape. If you’ve already stuck your toe in the social media pond we offer advice on how to avoid blunders that may thwart your ability to effectively harness the energy of the web. Public relations expert Becky Fleischauer provides guidance on how to integrate social media outreach into a communications strategy. Media & speech coach Chris Jahnke helps spokespeople avoid message meltdowns with speaking tips for on-line appearances.

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President of Positive Communications, a Washington, D.C. based message and speech coaching firm, Chris Jahnke prepped First Lady Michelle Obama for her International Olympic Committee speech and Al Franken for his U.S. Senate debates. She works with progressive nonprofit leaders and recent clients include: The Annie E. Casey Foundation; Economic Policy Institute; League of Conservation Voters Education Fund; Union of Concerned Scientists; and United Nations Population Fund. Contact Chris at poscom@rcn.com and www.poscom.com.

Becky Fleischauer is the founder of Navigator Communications, a strategic communications firm with education, healthcare and energy clients. Her work for clients includes communications planning and media outreach for the College Board’s Rethinking Student Aid project, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s education division, the American Beverage Association’s campaign to reduce childhood obesity, the Pew Center on the States Government Performance Project, the National Governors Association and Civic Enterprises’ National Summit on America’s Silent Dropout Epidemic. Contact Becky at becky@navigatorcommunications.com and www.navigatorcommunications.com.