Tag: fwd

That’s a Wrap on #SMWNYC, Thank You To Everyone for Participating!

Posted on by SMW Staff

That’s a wrap on February’s edition of Social Media Week in New York!

Thank you to our attendees for joining the conversation throughout the week at The TimesCenter and SVA Theatre. Every February, we’re thrilled to bring together some of the leading minds and organizations in New York, and your feedback has been incredible already.

Please take just a few seconds to complete our 5-question survey! If you complete the survey, you’ll be automatically eligible to win a free pass for Social Media Week New York in 2017!

Also, thank you to our sponsors that help us produce Social Media Week in New York every year, and a special thank you to Brandwatch, our City Supporting Sponsor, for their participation in #SMWNYC this February.

You can learn more about how Social Media Week is working with Brandwatch throughout 2016, and also read “What’s Coming Next In Visual-based Social?” to see what Brandwatch’s Chief Marketing Officer, Will McInnes, expects for the future of visual communications and social media.

Speakers at Conference
Panelists at Conference

 

Thank you to our Official Event Partners that helped put together one of the best programs we’ve ever had at Social Media Week, our New York Advisory Board, volunteers, Independent Event Organizers around the city, and the 250+ speakers that led sessions throughout the week!

You can head over to SMW News, where we recapped each of the official sessions that took place during #SMWNYC. Our talented team of writers covered the sessions in case you missed a quote, want to re-live the event, or share a specific talk with a colleague.

Individuals that couldn’t attend in-person can purchase a Digital Pass to SMW Live, our on-demand video library with full videos from the 60+ official events in New York.

Lastly, check out photos from the entire week on our Facebook page!

Join Us In 2016 for Social Media Week

20+ cities around the globe. Join us for Social Media Week in 2016.

Posted by Social Media Week on Friday, February 12, 2016

Meet Storyful, The Trending News and UGC Video Verifier, and Official Event Sponsor of #SMWNYC

Posted on by Tyler Becker

Everyone knows the stars of YouTube, Vine, Instagram and Snapchat. They have big audiences and big price tags, and working with them isn’t always a possibility.

To better understand this complex yet increasingly crucial video ecosystem, we’re thrilled to have Storyful join SMW New York as an Official Event Partner. They’ll break down these video platforms, and share how they’ve has established itself as the leader in verifying viral videos, trending news, ad user-generated content (UGC) online.

Their session, “The New Generation of Social Influencers” on Wednesday the 24th at 12:30pm at The TimesCenter will explore how you create a strategy for identifying and engaging with social influencers to help you achieve you tell you story and reach the right audience.

Storyful’s CEO, Rahul Chopra will dive into what makes a social influencer today, how they reach and engage audiences, and what marketers and advertisers need to do to be effective in 2016.

At #SMWNYC, Mashable Will Outline The Future of Publishers Using Messaging Platforms

Posted on by Tyler Becker

Across the globe, messaging apps are amassing huge audiences. Though initially made popular as an alternative to SMS, chat apps such as Snapchat, WhatsApp, Viber and LINE are increasingly gaining traction as hubs for multimedia content.

As organizations start to catch on, several publishers have already begun to pave the way for how to best deliver news and content, and engage with the growing user bases on these apps.

In this session, “The New World of Social: How Publishers Are Using Messaging Platforms to Engage with Audiences“, we’ll hear directly from the strategists influencing the way these publishers approach emerging digital platforms – from the opportunities they see in messaging apps to the challenges they’ve encountered in developing strategies.

Register your pass to attend SMW New York, and join us on Tuesday, February 23rd at 5:30pm at The TimesCenter to hear from Ryan Lytle (Director, Social Media and Platform Partnerships, Mashable), Samantha Barry (Sr. Director of Social News, CNN Worldwide), and Eytan Oren (CEO of messaging app agency, Block Party).

From Virtual Reality to Millennial Ideologies: The 8 Keynotes to Attend at #SMWNYC

Posted on by Kristopher Collado

We’re bringing some of the most influential leaders together for our 2016 edition of Social Media Week NYC, which takes place this February 22-26.

From the Mark Thompson (CEO, The New York Times) to Claudia Malley (Chief Marketing and Brand Officer, National Geographic), these keynotes will bring their insights and expertise to the SMW New York stage on a range of topics, including virtual reality, Millennial ideology, emerging trends in digital storytelling, and social media’s impact on pop-culture and traditional media.

Purchase your pass for Social Media Week to be among the 2,000+ industry leaders coming to New York for a week of forward-thinking and educational events, and bookmark these keynotes to your schedule!

1. Learn how The New York Times shifted from print to digital

Hosted by The New York Times • Tuesday 2/23 at 10:30AM • TimesCenter
CEO of The New York Times, Mark Thompson, will discuss how the company pivoted and prepared itself to succeed in the digital age, and how others can learn from their shift. Interviewing Mark, will be Toby Daniels, Founder and Executive Director of Social Media Week.

2. Hear how comedy and digital entertainment will evolve in the next few years

Hosted by NBCUniversal • Tuesday 2/23 at 1:30PM • TimesCenter
The world is at an inflection point, similar to where broadcast TV was in 70s and 80s with a massive boom in content production and this time on various platforms. Join Evan Shapiro (EVP, Digital Enterprises, NBCUniversal) as he reveals their strategic approach to the current media landscape with Seeso, the new steaming comedy channel, with other key creators of the channel.

3. Explore the incredible virtual reality collaboration with Google, GE, and The New York Times

Hosted by The New York Times • Wednesday 2/24 at 9:30AM • TimesCenter
Learn how brands, publishers, and networks are using virtual reality to enhance their user experience, and tell amazing stories in an entirely new way. This session features Meredith Kopit Levien (Chief Revenue Officer, The New York Times), Katrina Craigwell (Director, Global Content & Programming, General Electric) and Aaron Luber (CardBoard Partnerships, Google).

4. Laugh and learn with Comedy Central’s Chief Marketing Officer

Hosted by WOMMA • Wednesday 2/24 at 1:30PM • TimesCenter
Some may think Comedy Central’s ratings and online conversations come easy due to their hilarious roster of talent, but nothing is further from the truth. In this entertaining session, Comedy Central’s CMO, Walter Levitt, will attempt to organize and rationalize all their social media and on-the-ground tactics into a fully thought–out strategy.

5. National Geographic’s lessons to staying relevant and powerful in our fragmented media ecosystem

Hosted by Social Media Week • Thursday 2/25 at 9:30AM • TimesCenter
National Geographic is known around the globe for it’s leadership in visually compelling factual and entertaining storytelling, and in this keynote session, Claudia Malley (Chief Marketing and Brand Officer, National Geographic) will share insights and learnings on how this 128 year-old brand has pioneered the new media and fragmented landscape while maintaining it’s leadership position among consumers.

6. The story of how Grammy-nominated artist Ryan Leslie started a tech business after personally thanking his fans

Hosted by Nue Agency • Thursday 2/25 at 9:30AM • TimesCenter
In this talk with music tech’s premiere agency CEO, Jesse Kirshbaum of NUE Agency, and Grammy-nominated artist Ryan Leslie, they’ll touch on the best practices and learnings driving $2M in gross revenue from a $2,500 inbound text message campaign, rewriting the blueprint for how social media can be leveraged in today’s marketplace.

7. Step inside the Millennial consumer mindset with Refinery29’s CEO

Hosted by Social Media Week • Friday 2/26 at 9:30AM • TimesCenter
Through the rise of social networks and smartphones, the Millennial ideology has transformed communication, making instantaneous, raw, and constant contact the norm. Join Philippe Von Borries, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of lifestyle media company Refinery29, as he discusses the advantages and challenges that this new landscape presents with concrete examples from Refinery29’s work and learnings over the past few years.

8. Watch never-before seen footage of HBO’s The Jinx with Director, Andrew Jarecki

Hosted by Social Media Week • Friday 2/26 at 1:30PM • TimesCenter
Andrew Jarecki (Director, HBO’s The Jinx) will discuss social media’s role in how fans experience the show before, during and after the now-infamous hot mic scene, as well as unveil never-before-seen footage from the show. Learn how much the chorus of Tweets, blog posts, and Facebook updates played a role in that collective gasp.

We hope to see you in New York for Social Media Week! Join over 2,000 leaders who register each year, and in 2016, #SMWNYC features two official venues: The TimesCenter (FWD Stage) and SVA Theatre (EDU Stage).

Attend the 100+ events with 200+ speakers for an incredible week you won’t want to miss. Get your pass here!

Storytelling in a Fragmented Media Environment: Keynote with National Geographic’s Chief Marketing Officer

Posted on by Tyler Becker

National Geographic is known around the globe for it’s leadership in visually compelling factual and entertaining storytelling, and in this keynote session at SMW New York, Claudia Malley (Chief Marketing and Brand Officer, National Geographic) will share insights and learnings on how this 128 year-old brand has pioneered the new media and fragmented landscape and to maintain it’s leadership position among consumers.

Claudia Malley heads up brand marketing, membership and market research for National Geographic, and previously served as EVP, Global Corporate Partnerships for National Geographic Society where se oversaw all global corporate partnerships and sponsorships.

Her keynote, “The Power of Storytelling in a Fragmented Media Environment” takes place on Thursday the 25th at 9:30am at The TimesCenter.

Claudia became Vice President and U.S. Publisher of National Geographic magazine in 2004 and Executive Vice President and Worldwide Publisher in 2010. Malley has more than 25 years of experience in media brand management, sales and marketing, working across media disciplines including print, television and digital.

How Data Can Make Content Smarter And More Social: Spotify’s #SMWNYC Event

Posted on by Tyler Becker

As audiences and users are exposed to an ever-widening array of content choices, publishers are thinking more about the context in which that content is consumed.

In this talk, “How Data Can Make Content Smarter And More Social” on Thursday the 25th at 3:30pm at The TimesCenter, Rich Frankel (Entertainment Industry Creative Director, Spotify) will explain to attendees how data analytics and music intelligence help Spotify better understand how to develop product features, consumer advertising, and innovative programs with brand and tech partners.

Prior to Spotify, Rich co-founded Indigenous, a firm that specialized in helping media companies and brands develop original marketing platforms to help brands more effectively connect with their target audiences. And before that, he worked as an Executive Producer at Ogilvy & Mather in New York in the Ogilvy Entertainment division.

If you want to hear from other Spotify executives at Social Media Week New York, make sure you register your pass, and check out Spotify’s Maureen Traynor (Sr. Director of Partner Solutions) who will discuss Millennials, music, and social sharing alongside executives from StubHub, AEG, Atlantic Records, Forbes, and Momentum Worldwide.

Say Hello to Zignal Labs, Our Event Sponsor Providing Work Space for the Week

Posted on by Tyler Becker

With the 150+ events taking place throughout Social Media Week NYC, there are plenty of sessions to choose from every day of the week. But, there are moments during #SMWNYC where attendees need to take a break to check email, dial into a client call, or catch up on all the Slack messages missed during the day.

Thanks to our Official Event Sponsor, Zignal Labs, SMW New York attendees will have ample space to connect to open their laptops and get their regular work done. Zignal Labs, a realtime, cross media analytics platform that enables clients to quickly spot trends, see relevant stories unfold, and take action, will host attendees at The TimesCenter all week with comfortable seating and tables to spread out.

The Zignal Labs lounges at The TimesCenter will serve as much-needed spots for the thousands of busy professionals attending SMW New York to get their work done without leaving the event. From casual networking and deal-making interactions, to making calls and checking emails, the co-working lounge is where the real conversations happen, and we couldn’t have done it without Zignal Labs!

Crowdtap, The People-Powered Marketing Platform, Joins #SMWNYC as an Official Event Sponsor

Posted on by Tyler Becker

We’re thrilled to announce Crowdtap as an Official Event Sponsor of Social Media Week New York. Crowdtap is the “People-Powered Marketing Platform” designed to deepen relationships between brands and the people who love them by putting brands back where they belong, inside the hearts and minds of their consumers.

At SMW New York, Crowdtap’s SVP of Research & Analytics, Peter Storck, will kick things off in a session hosted by IAB (Interactive Advertising Bureau). “Social Media Measurement: How Everyone Wins” takes place Tuesday the 23rd at 9:00am at the SVA Theatre.

Peter will join industry leaders in social media to provide clear definitions of commonly used terms, as well as help attendees on both the buy and sell side know what questions to ask when selecting vendors understanding social measurement best practices.

Then, on Wednesday the 24th at 9:00am at the SVA Theatre, Crowdtap will host a session exploring the new and emerging behaviors of Millennials, Gen-Z, and Gen-Alpha consumers. From skipping ads and DVR-ing television shows, to installing ad-blockers and bypassing branded messaging, these behaviors have all become a common part of the Millennial experience, and Crowdtap is at the forefront of understanding where everything is heading.

This session, “Bracing For The Ad-Blocked Future: How Brands Are Moving Beyond The Impression” will bring together industry leaders including Afdhel Aziz (Brand Director, ABSOLUT Labs, Pernod-Ricard), Tracy Echikson (Marketing Consultant, Ricola Brand Team), Joanne McKinney (Chief Strategy Officer, The Burns Group), and Sean Foster (CEO, Crowdtap) for a first-look at winning marketing programs that have invited consumers to help shape and tell a brand’s story.

Why Content Is Your Brand’s Most Essential Resource Featuring Accenture Digital at #SMWNYC

Posted on by Tyler Becker

As the digital marketing landscape matures, content will emerge as the primary differentiator among brands in the space. Brands are beginning to understand content marketing’s power to connect with consumers and form authentic relationships. Digital content is just as important to a company’s brand today as water is to sustain human life.

At SMW New York, Accenture Digital’s Robert Harles (Managing Director & Global Lead, Social Media and Collaboration), will lead a talk alongside Lindsay Nelson (Global Head of Brand Strategy, Vox Media) and Brian Becker (Executive Director, Head of Newsroom, JPMorgan Chase).

They will help marketers who feel like the amount of digital content that you have to produce and push out to myriad channels is like a rising tide that’s about to cause a flood. Luckily, you’re not along if this is you.

Join Accenture Digital for their session, “Content: A Brand’s Most Essential Resource” on Thursday the 25th at 12:30pm at The TimesCenter.

Learn How To Effectively Monitor Your Audience On Social With Digimind at #SMWNYC

Posted on by Tyler Becker

Are you listening to powerful online conversations that could change your business? Are you following the conversations happening on social networks revolving around your brand and doing something about it?

Social media monitoring is one of few ways brands can use listening to leverage technology and data to increase brand engagement, determine the impact of your marketing communications campaigns, identify key customer influencers, opinion leaders and developing trends, pick up on customer relationship management opportunities, and even benchmark your brand and products against your competitors.

In a world where social media has taken over everything we do, it’s more important to understand consumer behavior around it and use social intelligence to gain powerful insights for your business and marketing strategies.

Join Digimind at SMW New York for their session, “Are You Listening? Learn How To Effectively Monitor Your Audience On Social” on Wednesday the 24th at 2:00pm at the SVA Theatre.

Attendees will explore a case study on using social intelligence for the non-profit industry, how to monitor influencers and use social data to reach them, and examine the best practices to analyze clients on social media and provide them with valuable insights.

Speakers include Michael Hayworth (VP North America, Woody Media), Alexander McLaughlin (Business Intelligence Analyst, Who What Wear), Eric Schwamberger (Chief Marketing & Content Officer, Tenthwave Digital) and Neta Yoffe (Social Media Magician, Digimind).

Facebook’s Head of Marketing, North America Will Deliver “Future of Communications” Talk at #SMWNYC

Posted on by Tyler Becker

The shift to mobile has already happened, and it’s radically changing the way businesses and people connect. We’re spending more time with our phones than ever before, and every interaction, click, swipe, tap, message, and pinch is a new data point and experience that impacts the world around us.

Facebook’s Head of Marketing for North America Marketing, Michelle Klein, will join us for Social Media Ween NYC to explore the new kinds of tools and groundbreaking innovations completely transforming the way we communicate.

You can click here to see the schedule of events for the rest of the week, and be sure to register your pass to hear Michelle’s talk, The Future of Communications with Michelle Klein, Facebook’s Head of Marketing for North America on Tuesday, February 23rd at 9:30am at The TimesCenter

Michelle Klein is Head of Marketing for North America at Facebook, where she oversees the vision and strategy for marketing as it relates to advertisers and the advertising industry, agencies, small business and Facebook Marketing Partners.

Prior to Facebook, she was Vice President of Global Marketing for Smirnoff, and in that capacity, spent eight years guiding the world’s original vodka brand through a complete brand reinvention. From the creation of a global experiential and social campaign spanning 50 countries to overhauling the entire packaging design for Smirnoff’s product range, Michelle played a key role in driving the 150-year-old brand into the future.

Image Credit: The Internationalist

9 Sessions at #SMWNYC That Will Help Your Paid Media Strategy

Posted on by Tyler Becker

Paid media seems to become a more important conversation and investment everyday for digital marketers. Facebook generates billions of dollars from advertisers spending money to reach their target audiences, and for many of us, it’s working!

But, sometimes going from 0 to 60 can be overwhelming, and marketers are still figuring out which tactical and brand-building initiatives are most successful on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social platforms

At Social Media Week New York, paid media is a huge topic of discussion. Leading brands in this space, such as Forbes, VaynerMedia, BuzzFeed, and Code and Theory, will lead sessions that will teach, inspire, and explore the wide world of paid media, and why it can be your organization’s key to success.

Purchase your pass for SMW New York to be among the 1,000+ industry leaders who learn and connect with each other through sessions like these:

1. How Data And Analytics Can Transform And Enhance Native Advertising Opportunities

Hosted by Forbes Media • Tuesday 2/23 at 11:00AM • SVA Theatre
Mark Howard (Chief Revenue Officer, Forbes Media) and Edward Kim (Co-founder and CEO, SimpleReach) will help attendees learn more about how brands can leverage native advertising over time via the web, mobile and social to reach target audiences.

2. The Best Brands On Snapchat

Hosted by Nasdaq • Tuesday 2/23 at 12:30PM • TimesCenter
Snapchat is the new battleground for the most innovative brands. Meet the marketers behind the ghost that are already crushing it on this emerging platform. Join Jeremy Skule (Chief Marketing Officer, Nasdaq), for an exciting chat with these Snapchat trailblazers.

3. Extending Lifetime Value – The Future Of Customer Engagement

Hosted by Simon Data • Tuesday 2/23 at 1:00PM • SVA Theatre
Learn how world’s savviest companies think about – and increase – customer lifetime value. Get an expert overview of the latest crop of marketing technologies, and learn more about the secret channel that’s been delivering huge value for some of NYC’s best e-commerce companies.

4. Bracing For The Ad-Blocked Future: How Brands Are Moving Beyond The Impression

Hosted by Crowdtap • Wednesday 2/24 at 9:00AM • SVA Theatre
Skipping ads. DVR-ing television shows. Installing ad-blockers. These behaviors have all become a common part of the Millennial experience. Led by Crowdtap’s CEO, Sean Foster, hear first-hand accounts of winning marketing programs that have invited consumers to help shape and tell a brand’s story, thereby building more emotional connections and driving long-term brand health.

5. Snapchat: How Brands Can Effectively Market on the Platform

Hosted by VaynerMedia • Wednesday 2/24 at 12:00PM • SVA Theatre
This masterclass led by Dan Grossman (Vice President of Platform Partnerships, VaynerMedia) together with Farrah Bezner (Head of New Business Ventures, Mondelēz International) and Talya Minsberg (Social Media Editor, New York Times) will detail best practices for how brands can market on Snapchat, such as the differentiation of Snapchat’s ROI vs. “more established” platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

6. The High Stakes Of Content Marketing As Seen By A Brand, Agency And Publisher

Hosted by Digiday • Wednesday 2/24 at 2:30PM • TimesCenter
When it comes to brands creating engaging content, the stakes have never been higher. The growth in programmatic and in ad blockers means that content needs to be at Hollywood-scale and cost half the price. This leadership series features in-depth presentations from Shareen Pathak (Digiday), Brian Becker (JPMorgan Chase), Stephanie Losee (POLITICO), and Jinal Shah (JWT New York).

7. Reach New Viewers! Develop Superfans! Impact Ratings! Launching A TV Show Via Social Media!

Hosted by VaynerMedia • Wednesday 2/24 at 3:00PM • SVA Theatre
Social media offers more ways than ever to build awareness around TV programs, but did you know it can drive and impact the new markers of success in today’s ever-changing television industry? This masterclass details how efficient, strategic media spend, time-shifting strategies and always-on content with a consistent voice can combine to increase buzz, awareness, and viewership (both linear and elsewhere like video-on-demand), with concrete, indisputable results.

8. Breaking Down the Silos: Unleashing Creativity in a World Where Social is Everything

Hosted by Droga5 • Wednesday 2/24 at 5:30PM • TimesCenter
In this session you’ll learn from Droga5’s experience working with brands and platforms on how to transition social media from a detached discipline to a shared mindset, leading to more influential and effective integrated creative work. Moderated by David Griner of Adweek, speakers include Colleen Leddy (Head of Communications Strategy, Droga5), Hope Cowan (Creative Agency Partner, Facebook), and Jim Mollica (Global Digital Marketing Strategy, Under Armour).

9. Create by Numbers: How Insights, Data, and Paid Media Shape the Creative Approach

Hosted by VaynerMedia • Friday 2/26 at 1:00PM • SVA Theatre
The volume of data and insights available for social media is changing how agencies and platforms strategize, spend, and steer clients. This session features speakers from VaynerMedia, Pinterest, and Fast Company who will explore the new ways of working together by bringing creative, strategy, account and paid media teams closer together than ever before.

We hope to see you in New York for Social Media Week! Join over 1,000 leaders who register each year, and in 2016, #SMWNYC features two official venues: The TimesCenter (FWD Stage) and SVA Theatre (EDU Stage). Attend the 70+ events with 200+ speakers for an incredible week you won’t want to miss. Get your pass here!

Brand POV on Content Marketing: Brian Becker of JPMorgan Chase Joins #SMWNYC

Posted on by Tyler Becker

When it comes to brands creating engaging content, the stakes have never been higher. The growth in programmatic and in ad blockers means that content needs to be at Hollywood-scale and cost half the price. That means that brands, agencies and publishers need to prove that the level of investment in content is worth it.

Brian Becker, Executive Director and Head of Newsroom at JPMorgan Chase will provide insights into his team’s strategic thinking during this session, and discuss how they make well-informed decisions in the current content marketing landscape.

Register for your SMW New York Pass to hear this session!

Brian coordinates company-wide content strategy and operations, including managing customer engagement projects and underlying business objectives. In his time at Chase, he has cultivated new opportunities around social media and evolved existing strategies on large properties like Chase.com.

He also creates and manages governance models and works internally to advocate for the research, production and distribution of digital content to modernize the organization’s approach to marketing.

Brian’s session, “The High Stakes Of Content Marketing As Seen By A Brand, Agency And Publisher” takes place Wednesday, February 24 at 2:30PM at The TimesCenter (FWD Stage).

Jane Gould, SVP of Consumer Insights and Research at MTV, Will Explore The Post-Millennial Generation at #SMWNYC

Posted on by Tyler Becker

Jane Gould is responsible for connecting MTV’s internal and external clients to the heartbeat of its constantly evolving young audience.

She’s in charge of all consumer studies and trend forecasts – including quantitative and innovative qualitative analyses – conducted to guide MTV’s creative and business operations, including programming, development, marketing, digital and more.

A one-of-a-kind generational expert, she has studied the Millennial Generation for the past 15 years, having served most recently as Senior Vice President of Consumer Insights for Nickelodeon.

Register to attend SMW New York, and explore MTV’s findings and research of the post-Millennial generation. The MTV Insights team went to work with a group of 13-14-year-olds in-person and via virtual focus groups who identified more than 500 potential generation names that were ultimately tested in a nationwide, quantitative survey. The top choice… “The Founders”. Yes, seriously. The Founders

Along with a new name, Jane and her team discovered some fascinating insights into what drives this generation on-the-rise, and the responsibility they feel to build upon the societal blocks that Millennials are famous for disrupting. This session, “‘Hello “Founders’ – Meet The Generation After Millennials” takes place Friday, February 26 at The TimesCenter (FWD Stage).

6 Events at #SMWNYC Hosted by Industry Experts in Online Video

Posted on by Erica Perry

You’ve likely realized how often you see visual content in your News Feed, timeline, and social feeds. Facebook’s video offerings expanded (now with livestreaming), and platforms like Snapchat and Periscope show no signs of slowing down in terms of popularity, cultural influence, and personal interactions.

At SMW New York, several sessions are lined up to help those looking to learn more about today’s video content ecosystem, and hear from industry’s leaders on how they approach video strategy, budget, goals, and measurement of the content.

Additionally, attendees will gain a detailed understanding of technology’s impact on the entertainment world, and how to use video tools and services to their full capacity in order to successfully engage with key audiences.

Click here to sign up for SMW New York, and join our community this February 22-26

1. Keynote Comedy: A Love Story With Evan Shapiro, Featuring Dan Harmon, Jonah Ray and Kulap Vilaysack

(Hosted by NBCUniversal)
This session, led by NBCUniversal’s EVP, Digital Enterprises, Evan Shapiro will discuss topics of comedy, technology, and social media’s impact on entertainment.

2. Building a Great Social Presence the Resourceful Way

(Hosted by BuzzFeed)
This presentation will focus on offering participants a new way at looking to hire social candidates, the best ways to manage a social editor’s workflow, and how to create sharable content without a sizable budget through a discussion of how two BuzzFeed social gurus rethought the industry.

3. Funny & Buzzy: How Comedy Central Gets Fans Talking With CMO, Walter Levitt

(Hosted by WOMMA)
In this entertaining session, Comedy Central’s CMO Walter Levitt will attempt to organize and rationalize the social media and on-the-ground tactics of Comedy Central’s marketing team into a fully thought–out strategy.

4. Reach New Viewers! Develop Superfans! Impact Ratings! Launch A TV Show Via Social Media!

(Hosted by VaynerMedia)
This masterclass will detail how efficient, strategic media spend, time-shifting strategies and always-on content with a consistent voice can combine to increase buzz, awareness, and viewership (both linear and elsewhere like video-on-demand), with concrete, indisputable results.

5. Building A Startup Under The Infrastructure And Data Of A Legacy Media Company: A Great Big Story

(Hosted by Great Big Story)
In this session, you’ll learn how to build a content strategy that’s informed by data taken straight from your social media properties. Find out the secrets that can harness your data for audience targeting, distribution and much more. Great Big Story, a socially-distributed video network that covers stories, will lead this talk.

6. How 360° Video is Changing the Content Game

(Hosted by BOLD Worldwide)
Brian Cristiano, CEO of BOLD Worldwide will explain the value, excitement and execution of 360° video through an in-depth discussion and real-life examples. Attendees will walk away with a deep understanding of the technology, why brands need to use it and how to leverage social media to drive interaction.

Register to attend today, and join us in New York this February 22-26 to hear from visionary speakers, industry leading brands, and thousands of New York’s media and technology professionals.

EVENT SPOTLIGHT: The Evolution of Data, Trust and Transparency in Advertising

Posted on by Tyler Becker

Transparency is a highly placed value at The Economist Group and it is something that readers are demanding more of. But are they really having a transparent experience, or do they merely think they are?

Register to attend SMW New York to learn the good and the bad of marketers and publishers using more and more innovative methods to create, deliver and disguise digital advertising. Native advertising is the latest under scrutiny from the FTC, which released new guidelines last month, but it won’t be the last as more examples come to light where advertising is indistinguishable by consumers from content.

From hidden sponsorships to privacy, Mina Seetharaman (Global Director, Content Strategy at The Economist Group) will lead a panel with Tonia Ries (SVP and Executive Director, Edelman Square), Barbara Basney (VP of Global Advertising and Media, Xerox) and Amanda Rubin (Global Co-Head, Brand and Content Strategy, Goldman Sachs).

“Making The Invisible Visible: The Evolving Roles Of Data, Trust And Transparency In Advertising And Publishing” takes place Tuesday, February 23 at 4:30PM at The TimesCenter (FWD Stage).

Spotify’s Maureen Traynor Will Discuss Millennials, Music, and Social Sharing at #SMWNYC

Posted on by Tyler Becker

You’ve all seen someone recording an entire concert on their phone instead of watching it. Sure, the video looks great and received likes from friends, but is it worth the distraction?

Social media has an overarching role in almost every experience Millennials have, and according to a recent study, 70% of Millennials feel that social media enhances the live music experience. In fact, most Gen-Y and Gen-Z individuals prefer music content in their Facebook newsfeed to show their knowledge and interests to friends.

Make sure you register for SMW New York, and hear from Spotify’s Sr. Director of Partner Solutions, Maureen Traynor, who will discuss the role of social media in the music industry. She’ll explore what the Spotify team has learned from billions of songs shared on Facebook and across social media, as well as why Millennials and younger generations view music as an integral part of their online activity.

Maureen’s session, “How Social Has Rocked The Live Music Experience” will take place on Wednesday, February 24 at 4:30PM at The TimesCenter (FWD Stage).

EVENT SPOTLIGHT: Don’t Call Them Gen-Z, They Call Themselves “The Founders”

Posted on by Tyler Becker

When MTV first began researching post-Millennials, none of the generational names currently in play seemed to sum up the essence of the kids themselves. So MTV asked, why not go straight to the source?

The MTV Insights team went to work with a group of 13-14-year-olds in-person and via virtual focus groups who identified more than 500 potential generation names that were ultimately tested in a nationwide, quantitative survey. The top choice? “The Founders”. Yes, seriously… The Founders.

If you’re eager to hear more about what MTV learned and discovered after their conversations with these 13 and 14-year-olds, register for SMW New York, and attend their session on Friday, February 26 at 2:30PM at The TimesCenter (FWD Stage).

Along with this new name comes instructive insights into what drives this generation on-the-horizon, and the responsibility they feel is required to build upon the societal blocks that Millennials are famous for disrupting.

Jonah Ray (Actor, Musician, Comedian, and Podcaster) Will Speak at SMW New York

Posted on by Tyler Becker

The world is at an inflection point, similar to where broadcast TV was in the 70s and 80s with a massive boom in content production. Today, though, it’s on various digital platforms, and when reality is dark, comedy flourishes.

We’re thrilled to welcome an incredibly talented and funny group of individuals to SMW New York, where we’ll hear their perspectives on comedy, technology and social media’s impact on entertainment.

One of the speakers participating in this session is Jonah Ray, co-host of The Nerdist Podcast and co-host of Comedy Central’s The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail. Just a few months ago, Jonah Ray was announced to be the new host of the revival of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

On Tuesday, February 23 at 1:30PM at The TimesCenter (FWD Stage), Jonah will join Dan Harmon (Community, Rick and Morty, and HarmonQuest), Kulap Vilaysack (Creator of Seeso’s Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ and co-host of Who Charted?) and Evan Shapiro (EVP of Digital Enterprises, NBCUniversal) to discuss on comedy, technology, the current media landscape, and Seeso, the new steaming comedy channel from NBCUniversal

Click here to register for SMW New York, which takes place February 22-26. We’re bringing together thousands of industry leaders across marketing, media and technology.

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8 Speakers Leading Discussions on Publishing and Content Creation at #SMWNYC

Posted on by Tyler Becker

Everything we read, watch, and listen to online starts as an idea, and ends up as content. Some content performs better than others, but it seems like anyone and everyone is trying to throw their hat into the content and publishing ring.

At SMW New York, some of the leading publishers and content creators will join us to share their knowledge, learning, and experience with attendees. Click here to register your pass for SMW New York, and gain access to events and speakers that will dive deep into the current and future state of online content and digital publishing.

1. Stephanie Losee (Executive Director, Brand Content, Politico)

Tuesday, Feb. 23 • 2:30PM • TimesCenter (FWD Stage)
When it comes to brands creating engaging content, the stakes have never been higher. The growth in programmatic and in ad blockers means that content needs to be at Hollywood-scale and cost half the price, which forces brands, agencies and publishers to prove that the level of investment in content is worth it. Along with Stephanie, hear from Brian Becker (Executive Director, Head of Newsroom, JPMorgan Chase), Shareen Pathak (Brands Editor, Digiday), and Jinal Shah (Digital Strategy Director, JWT New York).

2. Joyann King (Editor, HarpersBazaar.com)

Tuesday, Feb. 23 • 3:30PM • TimesCenter (FWD Stage)
Joyann will speak on this panel to explore how large scale increases in social followings are achieved, and compare the effectiveness of two differing social strategies: the use of performance metrics and audience data to inform social content, and following gut instinct to create posts that resonate with audiences. Kate Lewis (VP, Content Operations & Editorial Director, Hearst Digital), will moderate this session.

3. Summer Anne Burton (Editorial Director, Distributed, BuzzFeed)

Wednesday, Feb. 24 • 11:00AM • SVA Theatre (EDU Stage)
In this interactive presentation, BuzzFeed social experts Rachel Christensen and Summer Anne Burton will discuss how they helped successfully build the largest social networks in media by rethinking the way the industry sees social media editors, content, and distribution. They’ll cover how BuzzFeed stuck to scrappy and unconventional ways of thinking, and how they used data to inform their strategies.

4. Chris Berend (Vice President for Video Development, CNN)

Thursday, Feb. 25 • 9:00AM • SVA Theatre (EDU Stage)
Learn how to build a content strategy that’s informed by data from your social media properties. Plus, find out secrets to harness that data for audience targeting, distribution and more. Berend brings a wealth of experience to Great Big Story, a socially-distributed video network that covers real stories, where he oversees strategy and day-to-day operations from editorial to product and audience development.

More at SMW New York: 5 Events At #SMWNYC On How To Engage Gen-Y And Gen-Z On Social Media

5. Emily Bazelon (Staff Writer, The New York Times Magazine)

Thursday, Feb. 25 • 11:30AM • TimesCenter (FWD Stage)
In 2008, the political news cycle moved to the blogs, and in 2012 it spilled into social media but remained mostly intact as an insular conversation among journalists and opinion-shapers. In 2016, it’s being disrupted by candidates, trolls, and everyone in between. Hear from Emily Bazelon as she joins this session hosted by Blue State Digital. Also on this session is Garance Franke-Ruta (Editor in Chief, Yahoo Politics, Yahoo News).

6. Neal Mann (Editor, The Wall Street Journal)

Thursday, Feb. 25 • 4:30PM • TimesCenter (FWD Stage)
Will data be the new Editor-in-Chief? With the rise of machine learning and the availability of data, both publishers and platforms rely on algorithms, analytics and data modeling to personalize content to no end. A reader’s interaction with content becomes part of an optimization equation, based on preferences, actions taken online and the communities they belong to. Is this a good thing? Does journalism suffer without a human touch? Neal Mann will answer these questions and more during this session.

7. Philippe von Borries (Co-Founder and Co-CEO , Refinery29)

Friday, Feb. 26 • 9:30AM • TimesCenter (FWD Stage)
Through the rise of social networks and smartphones, the millennial ideology has transformed communication, making instantaneous, raw, and constant contact the norm. Philippe von Borries, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of lifestyle media company Refinery29, will discuss the advantages and challenges that this new landscape presents using concrete examples of how Refinery29 is capitalizing on this moment through its recent global expansion.

8. Eric Alt (Editor of CoCreate, Fast Company)

Friday, Feb. 26 • 1:00PM • SVA Theatre (EDU Stage)
Eric Alt will participate in a session to discuss why designers, writers, photographers and video producers need to think about execution and ideas informed by data on how to better speak to our audiences. Content creators are reducing subjectivity in favor of new ways of working by bringing creative, strategy, account and paid media teams closer than ever, all through insights and numbers.