The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to NYC Tech

Posted on October 6, 2016October 6, 2016 by SMW Staff

NextView Ventures, a seed-stage VC firm with offices in Boston and New York, just launched the “Hitchhiker’s Guide to New York City Tech” intended to equip anyone interested in the New York City startup ecosystem with an information arsenal to help plot his or her own journey.

This guide makes New York’s technology ecosystem transparent and accessible – to newcomers and transplants as much as to local tech experts. The guide is broken down into sections, including: Arrive, Learn, Meet, Explore, Work, and Raise.

Within the “Explore” section, Social Media Week NYC is one of the featured events and conferences in the guide! We’re proud to be a part of such an impressive list of NYC industry groups, companies, individuals, and organizations. Thanks to the Nextview team for the shout-out.

Rome Fortune To Perform at the Official #SMWNYC Closing Party

Posted on February 25, 2016February 25, 2016 by SMW Staff

On Friday night, February 26th, the Official VIP Closing Party will take place at the iconic Diamond Horseshoe venue at The Paramount Hotel. If you’re an Insider Passholder, join us to wrap up the 2016 edition of Social Media Week along with LDV Hospitality.

We’re bringing together New York’s digital elite with a complete open bar featuring Heineken’s portfolio of beers, specialty cocktails from Jose Cuervo, wine and bubbly. There will be plenty of dancing, food, we’re excited to announce that Rome Fortune will perform!

In the most cosmic sense of the word, Rome Fortune is Atlanta’s newest star. Green-bearded and crop-topped, 6’5” in cowboy boots, he takes the stage like an eclipse and flips straighforward bars into lunar poetry. But even with such otherworldly swagger, Rome’s music connects with fans because of how powerfully (and sometimes painfully) human it really is.

His new album, Jerome Raheem Fortune (out Friday 2/26 on Fool’s Gold) is the true story of this man who fell to earth. Rome’s Beautiful Pimp mixtapes (“rap as motivational speaking, generous and all-inclusive” – Pitchfork) and collaborations with everyone from turn-up trailblazers OG Maco and ILoveMakonnen to Four Tet and Toro Y Moi were merely the prelude to JRF’s nakedly honest storytelling.

Over loose, dreamlike tracks from longtime collaborator Cubby, Rome gets extra real about his struggles: his parents, his children, and their mothers… his dreams, his demons, and the drugs that may be fueling both. Even Kaytranada produced single “Dance” is an outlier, an uptempo song about escape rather than elation. Yet nothing on Jerome Raheem Fortune is a drag; over the course of 11 potent tracks, Rome Fortune presents hip hop catharsis at its most compelling. Head towards the outer limits of rap with a guide who is intimately familiar.

Comedy Central CMO, Walter Levitt to Keynote #SMWNYC

Posted on January 25, 2016February 23, 2016 by Tyler Becker

With a roster including Broad City, Inside Amy Schumer, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Drunk History, and other cultural and comedic powerhouses, you might think the marketing team at Comedy Central can sit back, relax, and spend their days with their feet up on their desks, sipping margaritas all day. But that couldn’t be further from the truth, since they all have standing desks.

But, once in a while they do take a break and focus on creating buzz-worthy campaigns for their brand and franchises. At SMW New York, Comedy Central’s CMO, Walter Levitt, will deliver an entertaining and informational keynote to organize and rationalize all of Comedy Central’s social media and on-the-ground tactics into a fully thought–out strategy.

Click here to get your pass and attend Walter’s session, presented in partnership with WOMMA. “Funny & Buzzy – How Comedy Central Gets Fans Talking” will take place on Wednesday, February 23rd at 1:30pm ET on the FWD Stage at The TimesCenter.

About Walter Levitt

Walter Levitt is CMO for Comedy Central and is based in the company’s New York City office. Since joining Comedy Central in 2011, Levitt has led numerous successful new initiatives including a strategic repositioning of the brand, the introduction of many multiplatform hits including “Key & Peele” and “Inside Amy Schumer,” and the launch of the Comedy Central App.

He also oversaw the marketing of Comedy’s Central’s highest-rated specials of all time, “The Roast of Charlie Sheen” and “The Roast of Justin Bieber.” To learn more about Walter, click here for his full bio.

Want to attend SMW New York this February 22-26, and join thousands of industry leaders across marketing, media and technology?

How New York’s Tech Growth is Outpacing Silicon Valley

Posted on December 17, 2015December 17, 2015 by SMW Staff

While New York City may not be the number one tech hub in the U.S. right now, it could be soon. New York is uniquely positioned at the center of “hyphen tech,” having leveraged its place as a multi-dimensional world capital for business. Fin-tech, ad-tech, fashion-tech, retail-tech, art-tech and food-tech are all thriving in New York City, and as such, it is becoming an extremely desirable city to launch a startup.

And while New York is not catching up to Silicon Valley anytime soon, the city’s tech community is experiencing an unprecedented period of growth.

Money is pouring into the NYC tech sector, proven even yesterday when New York startups announced a total of $257.93 million in new funding in one day. Between 2009 and 2013, the amount of venture, angel and private equity money invested in New York startups increased by 200 percent, rising from $799 million to $3 billion. In comparison, Silicon Valley took in $11.4 billion in 2013, but only increased its funds raised by 110 percent.

In the first quarter of 2015, New York edged out California (for the first time) for the total number of startup funding applications. New York had a 22 percent increase in funding applications, advancing the city past its West Coast rival by 0.1 percent.

New York tech exits have also picked up in recent years, with the highest exit total of the past six years occurring last year. 2014 reached a six-year high with five IPOs. There has also been at least one VC-backed tech exit at a $1 billion valuation in each of the past three years. In 2013, Tumblr was acquired by Yahoo. In 2014, OnDeck Capital went public. In 2015, Etsy went public at a valuation of $1.7 billion, which was the largest IPO ever for a VC-backed New York tech company.

From 2009 to 2013, New York tech jobs increased by 33 percent, which was four times the job growth rate in the city’s other industries. This is indicative of New York’s relatively young presence in the tech world—more than 85 percent of the city’s tech companies and tech jobs were created over the past decade. In congruence with New York’s rising “hyphen tech” scene, there are about 150,000 technology jobs available in New York’s finance, healthcare and retail industries.

The average annual salary for high-tech workers was about $118,600 in 2012, whereas all other jobs in New York averaged out to about $79,500 yearly.

Data provided by the city of New York, CB Insights, and Forbes.

Robot Barista Comes to New York — Can Brew 5 Pour-Overs at a Time

Posted on December 16, 2015December 17, 2015 by SMW Staff

The pour-over, whereby your barista spiral-drizzles steaming water into a punctiliously weighed dose of ground coffee, makes an iconographically superior brew. It is also fussy, time-consuming, and ill suited to a line of waiting, undercaffeinated New York café customers. In most places, the way to resolve this dilemma is to buy a Bunn coffeepot and deal with it.

In Brooklyn, the solution is to build a robot that can brew five pour-overs at a time. Its CEO, Stephan von Muehlen, spent some years at a company that built parts for NASA’s Mars rover, and says that the company’s goal is not to put young bearded men out of work but simply to quintuple their efforts — “repeatedly, quietly, smoothly” — and keep the pour-overs pouring at espresso speed.

Five cones of coffee sit in its base; above them, a little nozzle zips back and forth, twirling out measured amounts of water in a computer-controlled spiral, resulting in coffee that is clinically, empirically, gastronomically Just Right.

The Poursteady made its retail debut in July at the Café Grumpy location in Chelsea. This was supposed to be a test drive, intended to work out bugs in the system, but Café Grumpy’s baristas were impressed enough that the shop bought the machine a month later.

A few dozen more have since been built or are in production, and you will not be one bit surprised to learn that they are made not in China but in a machine shop in Gowanus. Nor will you be surprised to find that the Poursteady is controllable by its barista, to an uncanny extent: Water temperature is adjustable within a degree, water volume to within a gram, timing to the second, the drizzle pattern by its size. And, least surprising of all, those controls are managed via app.

Yes, this is all so new-Brooklyn it hurts. It’s also mesmerizing fun to watch in action — almost enough to distract you from your cranky, undercaffeinated state.

And after you sip on your brew, just remember to be calm with a peaceful mind as you meditate after having that cup of joe.

New York’s YOTEL Unites Tech Community With Hospitality Groove

Posted on February 16, 2015February 16, 2015 by Tyler Becker

Yotel is not your typical hotel. It takes inspiration from luxury, airline travel with a touch of Japanese influence, and mixes that all up to create a small yet sophisticated cabin west of Times Square. We sat down with Jo Berrington, YOTEL’s Marketing Director, to learn what Yotel is doing in social, technology, entertainment, and guest services. Here’s what we discussed:

1. ARE GUESTS REQUESTING A CERTAIN TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY THAT THE INDUSTRY IS EXPLORING

Of course guests are looking forward to upgrades in technology, but only those that make sense to save them time or money. They don’t want to be experimented on – particularly in our airport hotels, guests have traveled for miles on planes or are in transit and they just want simple technology that works. We are in the process of developing a new mobile app that will give guests the option to check-in and receive their key by simply showing the self-service check-in kiosk a barcode. Our check-in will be down to less than 30 seconds – a huge plus for busy, time poor, exhausted travelers!

2. HOW IS YOTEL IMPLEMENTING TECHNOLOGY INTO THE GUEST EXPERIENCE?

The goal for YOTEL was to revolutionize the hotel industry by providing a new kind of hotel experience. We’ve incorporated technology into the experience, from the minute guests arrive with the ability to check in through self-serve airline-style kiosks to storing their luggage with YOBOT – our robot luggage storage system. YOTEL’s rooms called ‘cabins’ are uncompromisingly designed and include motorized, moving beds to save space; heated towel racks; air conditioning and lighting activated by motion sensors as well as techno wall with flat screen TV, multi power points and iPod connectivity. Whether our guests are visiting NYC on business or leisure, they appreciate our complimentary super strength Wi-Fi that’s available throughout all the cabins and public spaces.

3. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE FUTURE OF THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY?

Our new app gives guests the option to socially chat – if they are staying at the hotel as part of a group, they will be given the option to opt into chatting with other group members to arrange meetings, drinks, social events, etc. Our app will also be the hub for guests finding out about the local area – i.e. where they can find a 24/7 juice bar. Eventually later this year, or early next, guests will be able to ask our Mission Control crew questions directly from the app – the same time they will be able to ask for an extra towel or a linen change.

4. HOTELS ARE KNOWN FOR “SURPRISING AND DELIGHTING” GUESTS. HAVE ANY GREAT STORIES TO SHARE AROUND THIS TREND?

We certainly had a big one in 2014. Due to renovations on ‘FOUR’ (our artful, expansive fourth-floor space that includes four bars, a restaurant, lounge areas, and the largest hotel terrace in New York City), a temporary 30-foot wall was installed across from our front desk (“Mission Control”) to block out construction noise and prevent guest dissatisfaction. To transform the wall from a potential annoyance to something fun, we turned the wall into a wall built of LEGO® bricks, allowing our guests to let out their inner child during their stay. Between January and March 2014, guests were encouraged to “play for a future stay” (our campaign tagline) at YOTEL New York by entering their LEGO® wall creations into a social media photo contest. Photos tagged with #MyLegoMasterpiece on Twitter & Instagram would be entered to win free stays, including a three-night stay in our First King Cabin (which comes with an outdoor terrace and hot tub).

The winners were determined after the deconstruction of the wall, and opening of our new restaurant, East & West, mid-March. Guest participation was exceptionally strong. The wall served as on-property entertainment, and generated campaign media coverage in more than 25 online publications that collectively receive 26.8 million unique monthly visitors. Online publications included The New York Times, CNN, Condé Nast Traveler, HotelsMag.com, Art Nerd New York, Examiner.com, NewYork.com, News.com.au, and more. Our on-property FourSquare check-ins increased 2.6% during the campaign period, our microsite received over 8.5k unique visitors, and the hashtag generated just under 300 submissions.

5. DOES YOTEL USE SOCIAL AND DATA ANALYTICS?

YOTEL is an Enterprise client with the social media platform HootSuite. We utilize HootSuite custom reports for each of our platforms, giving us insights as to how each channel is performing as a whole, and also on a more detailed post-level. One great feature that we utilize within HootSuite is the stream for keyword & search queries on Twitter. This allows us to monitor conversations in real-time (and jump into them!), and to see what people are saying about the brand, our competition, and trending topics. The data we collect from HootSuite is analyzed internally and used to assist in our content strategy, posting habits, and targeting methods. We also heavily rely on Google Analytics to track direct & assisted bookings produced from social media.

Thanks to YOTEL for joining SMW NYC this year as our hotel partner. They have offered conference attendees a special rate to stay at YOTEL during Social Media Week!

Jo Berrington. Marketing Director, YOTEL, spent the first part of her career with British Airways in sales support, event management and corporate account management roles. Jo originally trained in design, photography and printing in Leeds and then whilst with BA studied Marketing with the Chartered Institute and the London Business school before taking up regional marketing role with them. In 2000 Jo then joined the iconic London Eye for its opening and launch as Head of Marketing and PR managing brand strategy, communications, design, product development, pricing and distribution strategy, digital, website and sponsorship. In 2006 Jo left BA to join the founding team of YOTEL and is responsible for brand strategy and identity, culture and innovation, external and internal communication and content through digital and social.

5 Questions With Dream Hotels’ Rachel Feit

Posted on February 13, 2015February 15, 2015 by Tyler Becker

The Dream Hotels brand is growing – physically, culturally, and technologically. From in-room entertainment to guest services, Dream Hotels’ Digital Marketing Manager, Rachel Feit, sat down with us to share some of the exciting developments and stories of Dream Hotels in New York.

1. HOW HAS TECHNOLOGY’S ROLE IN DREAM HOTELS EVOLVED OVER TIME?

“The Dream Hotels brand is rapidly evolving, and so is our digital presence. Technology has enabled us to build our digital reputation and has changed the way we market to our guests. We recently revealed a new website, which is video-optimized; now, we have the capability to stream exclusive hotel footage and provide guests with the “Dream” experience even before they arrive. Social media has also played an especially big part of our plans to grow the Dream Hotels brand. As we prepare to enter new markets like Dallas and Los Angeles, we are using social media to introduce the brand to the surrounding communities and establish our brand presence.”

2. HOW DOES DREAM INTERACT WITH GUESTS VIA SOCIAL MEDIA?

“Through social media, we give our fans and followers access both on and off property. To celebrate Dream Midtown’s recent renovation, we offered our social media fans exclusive discounts on brand-new rooms and amenities. Social media serves as an extension of Dream Hotels’ incredible guest service as my team and I are in constant communication with people online. We are adding value by interacting not only with hotel guests on Twitter but the larger community of anyone looking to come to NYC, people who just booked their travel, people looking for a hotel/things to do, etc. The appreciation and positive feedback that we’ve received from fans recently about our social media customer service has been incredible.”

3. WHAT ARE SOME NEW PLATFORMS DREAM HAS UTILIZED?

“We recently launched a Snapchat profile to share exclusive, realtime, behind-the-scenes content with guests. Ultimately, we are on the lookout for which platforms and technologies are going to help us create the best guest experience, from online booking to check-out. We also started a blog called “Dream Confidential” to bring guests and travelers an exclusive taste of the Dream Hotels brand and NYC culture, from restaurant openings and museum exhibits to theater showings and nightlife parties. The blog and our social media presence combine to digitally amplify all of our creative efforts, including music partnerships, event activations and on-site art installations.”

4. MOST HOTEL GUESTS ARE TECH SAVVY, SO WHAT CAN THEY EXPECT IN THEIR ROOM?

“We believe that technology adds value to the guest experience, so we’re constantly integrating new apps and partners wherever we can. The Dream Downtown has exclusive in-room VEVO streaming channels and media connectivity hubs so guests can easily hook up all of their devices. At our newly renovated Dream Midtown property, all rooms come equipped with Smart TVs. We believe that technology adds value to the guest experience, so we’re constantly integrating new apps and partners wherever we can.

Dream Downtown recently unveiled the “GuestHouse,” it’s state-of-the-art two-story luxury penthouse. The suite features everything from a spacious garden terrace and a glass-bottom Jacuzzi to a Savant climate and entertainment home automation system. Guests can control the entire room from their smartphones.
Dream Midtown also just underwent a huge structural renovation and with that has come a ton of technological (and cultural) enhancements. All rooms are now equipped with Smart TVs, free downloads of the New York Times app and we’re launching a “Dream TV” series that will feature exclusive content curated by the hotel.”

5. WHAT ROLE DOES COLLABORATION PLAY IN DREAM HOTELS AND THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY?

“For Dream Hotels and the entire hospitality industry, collaboration is creating a more dynamic opportunity for event marketing. We recently partnered with Alex+Ani jewelry and Bliss spa on a Valentine’s Day sweepstakes where fans could win a weekend for two in New York City. For Dream Hotels and the entire hospitality industry, collaboration is creating a more dynamic opportunity for event marketing. Over the past few years we’ve activated at SXSW, Art Basel and Sundance with big music and media partners including AM Only and The Kills. We’re utilizing all of our channels to promote these partnerships, get the word out about the events – and ultimately get influencers to attend. Collaborating with brands allows us to interject the Dream Hotels brand into relevant cultural happenings.”

Thank you to Rachel and Dream Hotels for joining Social Media Week NYC as the Official Hotel Sponsor. Attendees traveling to New York for the conference can take advantage of a special Social Media Week offer for booking rooms.

16 Sessions At SMW New York That Marketers Will Love

Posted on February 10, 2015March 4, 2015 by Tyler Becker

Marketers attending Social Media Week New York this month will hear from industry leaders and brands spanning the marketing, advertising, and media world. You’ll hear from organizations such as General Electric, Shutterstock, The New York Times, BuzzFeed, Vimeo, Hootsuite, Medium, Barbarian Group, and more. Whether you’re attending each day with a few breaks at the co-working tables, or stopping by for a morning or afternoon, here are 16 sessions you should bookmark right now.

1. MEASURING ATTENTION AND INTENTION, WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES

Tue, Feb 24 – 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM
With the rise of video and native advertising, combined with social distribution, digital advertising has blossomed into a method to capture attention.

2. FROM FANS TO ADVOCATES: HOW TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND GROW #BRANDLOVE

Tue, Feb 24 – 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Join Hootsuite for an interactive session discussing the best practices and real-world examples of how a strong community of fans and followers can become a powerful tool in activating others to get involved and fall in love with your brand.

3. CREATING VIDEO CONTENT FOR HOW IT’S CONSUMED

Tue, Feb 24 – 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM
Jonathan Perelman, BuzzFeed Motion Picture’s Vice President examines the evolution of media and how new innovations in distribution technologies have changed how it’s consumed, we’ll dive into the science behind creating shareable content for the social web.

4. SWIPE RIGHT: WHAT CAN TINDER TEACH BRANDS

Tue, Feb 24 – 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Peer through the window into the microcosm of human behavior that exists behind the walls of online and mobile dating services, and ultimately reveal how marketers can connect with their audiences in a more meaningful way.

5. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOCIAL MARKETING AND SOCIAL PR?

Wed, Feb 25 – 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM
There’s a clear-cut difference between social marketing and social PR. Unfortunately, the majority of brands are overlooking the business value of the former and focusing too much on the latter.

6. THE 10 RULES OF AN OPEN BRAND: EVOLVING WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS AND INDUSTRY

Wed, Feb 25 – 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
This presentation provides guidelines for companies to use in establishing themselves as an open business; one that can build meaningful relationships with peers and consumers, and adapt and thrive when faced with change.

7. IS SOCIAL MEDIA JUST MEDIA? THE FUTURE OF PAID, EARNED AND CONTENT

Wed, Feb 25 – 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM
For brands, is there such a thing as earned media now, or has paid media taken over social media? Will content marketing continue to thrive even as social platforms demand more paid budgets? In 2015 and beyond, how social can media be?

8. NETWORKS OF INFLUENCE: HOSTED BY TRANSLATION, ELITE DAILY, AND CRIMSON HEXAGON

Wed, Feb 25 – 4:30 PM – 5:45 PM
This event will target advertisers and marketers who seek to spread messages, ideas, and products to the upwardly mobile, millennial consumer. In this session we will uncover how brands can tap into the dynamic of this coveted audience and benefit from the network of influence.

9. FOSTERING SELF-DISRUPTION, COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION AT LARGE COMPANIES

Thu, Feb 26 – 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Executives are realizing they need new methods for approaching innovation, internal collaboration, and creating opportunities for disruption. This discussion will feature a roundtable of leaders looking to affect change within their large organization, along with entrepreneurs that are seeking insight and direction post-acquisition.

10. TAKE COMMAND OF YOUR DATA: HOW TO STRATEGICALLY USE SOCIAL LISTENING IN BUSINESS

Thu, Feb 26 – 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Advanced analytics and insights have now equipped brands with a ‘sixth sense’ of the online landscape, driving businesses toward a new level of social intelligence. Listeners will walk away with an in depth understanding of not only how social listening and intelligence can reinvent business, but also how the landscape is quickly evolving.

11. A FIRESIDE CHAT WITH B. BONIN BOUGH OF MONDELÉZ

Thu, Feb 26 – 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Join B. Bonin Bough, Vice President of Global Media and Consumer Engagement at Mondelez International, for a discussion on the evolving relationship between artists and brands.

12. USER GENERATED CONTENT: THE ULTIMATE HUMAN CONTENT CONNECTIVITY

Thu, Feb 26 – 2:45 PM – 4:00 PM
From crowd-sourced contests and event social media walls, to compensated word of mouth endorsements and use of user reviews and comment sections for UGC campaigns, you’ll walk away with new ideas, best practice advice and also some legal “watch-outs” that anyone considering a UGC campaign should keep in mind.

13. RETURN OF THE PODCAST WITH ALEX BLUMBERG, FOUNDER AND CEO OF GIMLET MEDIA, AND ANDREW McLAUGHLIN, PARTNER AT BETAWORKS AND CEO OF DIGG

Thu, Feb 26 – 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Join Alex Blumberg, award-winning reporter and producer for This American Life; co-host of NPR’s Planet Money; and founder and CEO of Gimlet Media, for a discussion on the rising popularity of podcasts, technology’s influence on the future of audio content distribution, and also what he has learned on the journey of a startup from idea to execution.

14. STORYTELLING WITH VINE: HOW TO CREATE SHORT VIDEOS THAT PEOPLE REMEMBER

Fri, Feb 27 – 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Today, storytellers are finding increasingly imaginative ways to share their ideas with interactive and visual elements, bringing their messages to life. This masterclass will explore storytelling techniques using Vine, specifically how to create short form videos that people remember.

15. SOCIAL STORYTELLING AND THE HUMAN CONNECTION: PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLERS ILLUSTRATE WHAT’S AT THE HEART OF CONNECTING TO YOUR AUDIENCE

Fri, Feb 27 – 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
With the introduction of technology and social networks, the mediums may have changed, but the power of stories and their ability to draw people in remains the same. In this fun, interactive session, you will help dissect these stories, the elements that made them so engaging and how brands can apply these principles to make consumers a part of their story in a very real way.

16. SMW NYC OFFICIAL VIP CLOSING PARTY

Fri, Feb 27 – 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
To wrap up the 2014 edition Social Media Week organizers Crowdcentric and are hosting the Official Closing VIP Party in New York City. The Closing Party is by invitation only, however, if you wish to attend there are a limited number of Insider Passes still available, which grant you access to both the official Opening and Closing events.

10 Noteworthy Community Events To Attend During SMW NYC

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Tyler Becker

We like to think of Social Media Week as an “open-sourced” conference, where individuals, groups, and corporations can join us by organizing events in and around SMW cities during the week of the conference. These independent events are integrated into the SMW schedule for attendees to discover, attend, and enjoy. From happy hours and exclusive film screenings, to Q&A sessions and even game shows. Community events throughout SMW history is the special sauce that adds a unique flavor to each city, every year.

Take a look at some of the Independent Community Events we are most excited for. You can find the full list of Independent Events on the SMW NYC schedule, and just click through to the “Register” button on each page, which will take you to the respective organizer’s registration page.

The Digital-First Broadcast Mindset: How Facebook and Digital Agencies Are Changing the Game
Tue, Feb 24 – 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
“How can marketers create impactful video content with broadcast quality, but in a digital-first environment? Learn how reshaping your team’s mindset to think more like digital-first agencies and less like traditional broadcasters can improve performance and engagements”;
Content Marketing Revolution – Successful Strategies for Avoiding Costly Mistakes
Tue, Feb 24 – 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
“Transparency is key to building trust in the social and mobile advertising space. Hear about regulatory and self-regulatory guidance that can help you avoid pitfalls and build trust with your customers”;
The Connected Generation: Engaging Millennials in a Social World
Tue, Feb 24 – 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
“For brands targeting 18-34 year-olds, they have to be even faster and more authentic to stay relevant with this tech-savvy generation. Participate in the conversation on how brands should evolve content and messaging to creatively meet the needs and desires of the world’s most powerful generation”;
Being Ready To Be Rapid: Lessons From the Marriage Equality Fight
Tue, Feb 24 – 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
“In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down a key section of the Defense of Marriage Act. One year later, momentum for marriage continues to grow, as same sex couples have the freedom to marry in 35 states and Washington D.C. Every organization — whether a brand, advocacy, tech, media company, or political — has its big moment when major breaking news hits, a critical piece of legislation is up for a vote, or unprecedented traffic hits your site”;
Get Big Things Done: How to Connect Intelligently to Catapult Your Career
Tue, Feb 24 – 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
“Your successful future depends on your connections – meaningful connections in your job, community, and with companies. But how can you connect intelligently – better, faster, more efficiently – while at the same time influencing the greatest number of people in your life? Until now no one has cracked the code of how we can all go big with our passions, career interests, initiatives, and innovations”;
The Evolution of Social TV: How Emerging Tech is Pushing the Boundaries
Wed, Feb 25 – 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
“Social TV is changing the way entertainment marketers understand television audiences across screens, portals, and platforms. A panel of social TV’s greatest champions and innovators will discuss how social TV insights are changing the way we create and prove value in the television business”;
Thought Leadership: Social Change in 140 Characters or Less
Wed, Feb 25 – 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
“Many people try to capture public consciousness for a purpose, but few become true thought leaders. As agents of change, most leaders of small nonprofits or social enterprises understand the importance of building support for those ideas and issues that impact the community-at-large. This workshop will explore ways to harness big ideas, interject your opinion and create dialogues and connection that lead to change”;
2015 and Beyond: The Future of Going Social
Wed, Feb 25 – 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
“The tools and techniques have changed, but according to recent studies, the consumer conversation holds more power than ever before. In this session, you’ll learn about the new research, new technology, and new strategies to make your brand or product the most talked about in its category”;
Political Connection: Does the Internet Really Change Power Politics?
Wed, Feb 25 – 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
“At the end of the day, no discussion about the power of connection is complete with how it alters the interaction between the upwardly mobile, their governments and their leaders. In the United States in particular, there is a sense of an increasing gulf between elected representatives – responsive to money and special interests – and an increasingly connected, vocal, but marginalized citizenry”;
Using Social and Mobile Technology to Stay Connected in Africa #SMWLagos
Thu, Feb 26 – 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
“In Africa, according to the 2014 “Emerging Nations Embrace Internet, Mobile Technology” report by the Pew Research Global Attitudes Project, approximately 78 percent of internet usage in Africa is for social media. This lays the foundation for Africa’s estimated $14-billion social media industry. With the internet expected to contribute a minimum of $300 billion to Africa’s GDP by 2025, social media could contribute almost $230 billion to Africa’s remarkable growth by that time”;

Stay Class-y! Industry Experts Lead Over 30 Masterclasses At #SMWNYC

Posted on February 2, 2015February 2, 2015 by Nicole Brown

A huge part of SMW NYC is letting you get your hands dirty learning the latest tips, tricks and industry secrets to social media success. We’ve recruited some of the world’s top talent to do that and today we’re announcing the full list of SMW NYC Master Classes that you’ll be able to sink your teeth into!

The master classes offer lots to learn about – whether you’re a beginner or experienced social media pro. Each class will have approximately an hour of presentation and demonstration from a long list of industry figures, as well as Q&A time – so make sure you’re prepared to follow along with the host and ask as many questions as you can!

Below is a little about what you can expect from each of the classes. For the full SMW NYC schedule click here.

The platforms you know and love

Each of the major global social media platforms will be hosting their own individual master class to teach you how to get more out of the content, communities and conversations you’re starting through their platforms.

Mashable’s Jeff Petriello will give you tips for Storytelling With Vine, and for creating short form video that people remember. ICED Media’s Greg Littley will demonstrate the essentials for Maximizing Your Snapchat, and help you get the most out of the most popular in-the-moment social sharing platform among millennials. Vimeo’s Mike Weissman and Andrea Allen will also teach you how to Make Your Videos Better and reach global audiences using their creator toolsets.

Top social talent

As well as tips and tricks from the companies that make social media possible, SMW NYC includes a variety of sessions from the people who are using them best and often making their living doing it.

Hootsuite’s VP Community & Customer Experience, Jeanette Gibson, and Dr. William Ward, Director, Education Strategy will share best practices and real-world examples of how a strong community of fans and followers can become a powerful tool in activating others to get involved and Fall In Love With Your Brand. From tapping into “FOMO,” to understanding teen etiquette on platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, Code & Theory will give a Crash Course On The New Millennial Consumer and show you how to integrate millennial insights into their marketing plans.

Industry greats

SMW NYC also has some of be best digital minds, working at top agencies and organizations, that are creating best in class social media experiences for companies and consumers. The line up of industry greats hosting master classes combines decades of insights and experiences to give you powerful and practical takeaways from the events.

Mattan Giffel, Founder and CEO of One Month, will share best practices on Growth Hacking Quick Wins, presenting tactical, practical skills and strategies to significantly increase your customer base. Trina Albus, Founder of Magenta Agency, will help you Learn How To Pay Like A Pro. In this class, you’ll earn how to select the best platform for your brand and how to optimize campaign performance across the top social platforms including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ advertising.

We could rave on for ages about all the great classes and speakers happening at SMW NYC, but we’ll let you browse the rest yourself. All the ones that haven’t been mentioned here are just as amazing, and you can find the full line-up here.

Meet Our 2015 #SMWNYC Advisory Board!

Posted on December 11, 2014December 11, 2014 by Nicole Brown

Social Media Week NYC would not be possible without the support and guidance of our esteemed team of advisors. The #SMWNYC Advisory Board is a handpicked group of industry experts and thought leaders that help to make Social Media Week a truly one of a kind experience.

Meet the 2015 SMW NYC Advisory Board below!

SMWNYC 2015 Advisory Board

By Social Media Week

Meet our 2015 Advisory Board!

Deanna Zandt

By Social Media Week

Partner/Co-founder – Lux Digital
Katherine Von Jan

By Social Media Week

Innovation Lead – SalesForce
Ian Schafer

By Social Media Week

CEO – Deep Focus
Andrew Rasiej

By Social Media Week

Founder – Personal Democracy Forum
Reagan Nunally

By Social Media Week

Head of Agency Development, Digital Sales, Brand & Programmatic Partnerships – Google
Stacy Martinet

By Social Media Week

CMO – Mashable
Jessica Lawrence

By Social Media Week

Executive Director – NY Tech Meetup
Ari Kuschnir

By Social Media Week

CEO, Co-Founder & Executive Producer – m ss ng p eces
Tarikh Korula

By Social Media Week

Founder – Seen
Jesse Kirshbaum

By Social Media Week

CEO – NUE Agency & SoundCtrl
Josh Karpf

By Social Media Week

Global VP, Social Marketing – Spotify
Clay Herbert

By Social Media Week

CEO – Spindows
Cindy Gallop

By Social Media Week

Founder – MakeLoveNotPorn
Jamyn Edis

By Social Media Week

CEO – Dash
James Cooper

By Social Media Week

Head of Creative – Betaworks
Judith Clegg

By Social Media Week

Founder – Takeout
Sarah Chang

By Social Media Week

Founder – Yoxi
Bonin Bough

By Social Media Week

VP of Global Media and Consumer Engagement – Mondelēz International
David Berkowitz

By Social Media Week

CMO – MRY
Jonathan Basker

By Social Media Week

Chief Belly Scratcher – Barkbox
Katherine Barna

By Social Media Week

Head of Communications, Tumblr
Sarah Aitkin

By Social Media Week

CMO, Americas, Iris

Your First Look At #SMWNYC

Posted on December 10, 2014December 10, 2014 by Nicole Brown

SMW NYC is just around the corner, and we want to give you the first look at what’s to come! Today we unveil our initial Official Schedule. We told you BuzzFeed, The New York Times and Mondelez would be sharing their insights with you. In addition, SMW15 includes events like:

Measuring Attention and Intention, with The New York Times
Social Movements: Reigniting Human Connectivity with Shiza Shahid, founder of the Malala Fund
Decoding Wearables: Leveraging Wearable Tech Platforms In Campaigns with Decoded
The Myth of Venture Capital, A Chat with Jon Oringer, Founder and CEO, Shutterstock
Storytelling With Vine: How To Create Short Form Videos That People Remember with Mashable

See the full preview of Campus at Highline Stages here, then get excited to join us for a week you won’t forget. Grab your pass to get full access to SMW15!

And don’t forget, you have just 2 days left to add your event for SMWNYC. Go here to learn more, and share your idea with us today!

Butler On-Demand Service Alfred Launches In NYC

Posted on December 5, 2014December 4, 2014 by Nicole Brown

Remember the last time you came home from work, plopped down on the couch, put your feet up, and relaxed for the rest of the night?

As reported on Uncubed, Boston-based Alfred aims to make the luxury of having a butler accessible to the average working man or woman; the service launched in Manhattan in November. For $99 per month, users can pawn off chores on an Alfred-employed – and as Alfred CEO Marcela Sapone stresses, highly vetted – assistant.

Alfred, of course, is not the first tech service to offer New Yorkers a break from arduous errands. What sets Alfred apart, however, is its automation. Assigned Alfred assistants will pick up on living habits and replace that carton of 2% before you can even say “spoiled milk”.

The company also differs from many other sharing economy startups in that it favors full-time employment over contract work for service assistants.

“We see that happier employees lead to happier customers. The investment in people makes sense in our business,” Sapone told us.

You can sign up for Alfred here.

The 8 Best Ideas From @SMW14 #NYCRewind

Posted on October 29, 2014October 28, 2014 by Nicole Brown

Social Media Week New York featured so many amazing moments from Eli Pariser taking to the stage to talk all things Upworthy, for the first time since the site has become viewed by over 60 billion people a month, to Vice’s discussions on long form video to JWT stressing our need to change as images take over the web.

Below, we pulled together the best ideas that came out of last year’s sessions. Are you ready for more? With the all-inclusive Insider Pass to the standard Campus Passes to just scoping out the HQ, we want to give you the opportunity to see it all. Starting Wednesday, November 5th, SMW NYC Passes will be available at a Super Early Bird discount, saving you 50% off the standard price. This flash sale won’t last long — just 48 hours — don’t miss it!

What’s trending isn’t always important

Good news organizations (and brands) bring together aspirational and behavioral signals to balance their content. Both need to be treated equally and both need to be fed. This includes looking at what people do (share, click, create community action) and what they say.
Is the content both compelling and substantive? The answer should be yes. And importantly, companies like Upworthy are looking at a new engagement metric they’re calling attention minutes and are going to the community to get their feedback on what they want the future of content to be.

By reading behavior in the context of aspirations, we should now look at content in terms of “Am I doing it right?” and not “Are they interested?”

Data will rule – but we won’t care

Data is becoming more relevant and accessible and more tailored to our personal interests. By 2020, we might see Google Now-like technology permeate our lives, making data available before we ask for it, and helping us keep track of our habits and routines. Our main function will be to optimize the feed, or adjust it in the moment.

Any app that’s relevant to you will be able to provide alerts or info, relevant to you, at a key time, possibly before you ask for it. For example: Your fitness-activity monitor, which knows you go running every Tuesday and Thursday, will let you know one of the streets on your route is closed due to construction and will know how to adjust your route, while keeping your distance, elevation, and other metrics generally the same.

The leaders of the next digital revolution will be unexpected

Steve Case, CEO of Revolution, a Washington, D.C.-based investment firm he co-founded in 2005, is best known as one of the founders of America Online, launched when only when only 3% of personal-computer users were online. AOL was the first Internet company to go public, in 1992, when it had only 200,000 users. “You just gotta persevere,” he said.

To find innovation, it pays to look beyond Silicon Valley and New York City. “Good ideas can be anywhere,” Case said, citing hidden gems like Austin and parts of North Carolina. Young entrepreneurs live in a world of greater diversity and opportunity where the people behind the company matter less than the quality of the idea.

To fully access troves of talent, America needs immigration reform to compete with countries with more lax laws, Case said.

The death of CPM ad units is near

Storytelling is exactly the same as it was 50 years ago. That’s how we like to consume information. The “way” we tell stories is what has changed. Can’t just put an ad on the internet because it doesn’t make sense.

Native advertising has a great role to play in the solution, but makes up a very small amount of ads. We have developed banner blindness – so we can develop social sponsored blindness too.

Advertisers should be scared by the prospect of Pandora One, Netflix – places where consumers pay to not see ads. Just because attention is there, doesn’t automatically mean advertising will follow. But if we do have the attention, the frequency model goes away. Everything changes.

Great content will come from anywhere

We need to be more creative with multimedia in an age of social and mobile. At one time, text was the main tool of reporting news. But with more people creating rich media content, mainstream reporting has discovered new ways to use multi-media.Anything that doesn’t entertain, engage and inform will not break through the noise. Ironically enough, the most accessed and engaged content on the NYTimes.com website isn’t even a feature or news story. It was a quiz that identified your regional dialect though a clever quiz…written by an intern!

This is proof that great content can come from anywhere, not just professional sources.

Things designed to be shared will have higher value

Trust is the most profound part of this collaborative economy. In a sharing economy, buyers and the sellers are peers, and entrepreneurs are designing things that are more easily shared because we want them to go through many hands. Thus, things designed to be shared will have higher value. For example, people drive 80% less when they use Zipcar than if they owned their own vehicle—and 40% of users have never owned one, which has led to our streets being filled with 40,000 fewer cars.As Robin Chase, founder of Zipcar and Buzzcar noted: “You have to be building community in everything you’re doing.”

Longform video works…if you do it right

The whole notion that people don’t want to watch long stuff on the internet is not true. People are watching longer videos than ever before and not just the 2 minute plug & play. Of course this only works if they are packaged effectively. It’s more about how you package and showcase a story than having a well-known celebrity in your video.Where do publishers like Vice and Motherboard get their stories for videos? By reading everything and being early to report. It’s about working with what you’ve got. If you have a good story, go out and make it.

“When we look for a great character, we look for someone is going to be open and has a great personality,” said Motherboard’s editor-in-chief, Derek Mead.

A cleverly staged moment in a long form piece, can result in a genuine emotional reaction from your viewers but if the story drags on, it won’t work no matter the length of the video. Always leave them wanting more.

Content lasts longer on Pinterest

Each day there is 60+ million users, 100s million pins, 1B+ connections on Pinterest. It’s a very aspirational platform and allows you to show who you want to be. On the other hand, Twitter is about what you are doing and Facebook is about who you are.It makes sense that the half life of a tweet is 5-25 mins, the half life of a Facebook post is 80 mins, and the half life of Pinterest content is >1 week. This means you MUST think about quality rather than quantity when you pin, and determine what the best content is around the topic that you can curate? It’s especially important as pins are more than images. Rich pins provide context, commercial foundation, and addresses stale links.

As content lives longer, if you want to get people for the Christmas rush, posting in November is too late. The optimal time to pin for Christmas is August or September due to the long half-life.

New York Says Majority Of Airbnb Listings Are Illegal, Will Crack Down On Worst Offenders

Posted on October 21, 2014October 20, 2014 by Nicole Brown

As reported on Re/code, the New York attorney general issued an analysis of the four-and-a-half years of Airbnb user activity data it finally dragged out of the online accommodation marketplace this spring after a long fight.

Up to 72 percent of Airbnb listings in New York over that time were illegal, was Eric Schneiderman’s office’s takeaway.

The real question is how sanctions will be enforced. Schneiderman said he would be working with the city to investigate and shut down illegal hotels, which are the worst offenders. The units that are most specifically called out within the report are a dozen buildings in prime tourist neighborhoods that were at least 60 percent rented on Airbnb for half the year or more, “suggesting that the buildings were operating as de facto hotels.”

The details are somewhat more complicated than the headlines. Airbnb says it proactively removed 2,000 bad actor listings this year, which may well have included many of those hotel-type hosts. So they were included in the data even though they’re no longer on the platform. But okay, Airbnb should have probably kicked those members out much sooner.

Meanwhile, the AG is only including “private” listings, meaning it doesn’t include rentals where guests stay in a home with their hosts there as well. This might be a small minority of arrangements, but it’s still an overstatement to say 72 percent of all listings were illegal.

Of that subset of listings that the AG is considering, here’s what the data showed: 25,532 listings appear to violate New York State’s Multiple Dwelling Law or zoning laws, and they brought in $304 million in revenue altogether, $40 million of it for Airbnb. Six percent of hosts generated 37 percent of the revenue, with one user making $6.8 million from 272 unique listings over the four years. And Airbnb shows signs of cutting into the housing supply, with nearly 2,000 units booked more than half the year.

The AG suggests Airbnb should have paid $33.5 million in taxes over the past four years based on standard hotel occupancy rates. Airbnb says it’s offering to pay New York taxes, as it’s now doing in Portland and San Francisco, but claims that it’s being impeded by opposition from the hotel industry.

But this looks to be part of a broader negotiation. Even while calling Airbnb out, Schneiderman’s statement paid lip service to how “online marketplaces revolutionize the way we live,” and he said his target was cracking down on illegal hotels, not all of Airbnb. This still seems to be a push to go after the worst actors, not small-time hosts.

Airbnb is hoping for a compromise. “We need to work together on some sensible rules that stop bad actors and protect regular people who simply want to share the homes in which they live. We look forward to working with everyone in New York in the weeks ahead,” said Papas.

For full coverage of the story, read the full article on Re/code here.

Building an East Coast Tech Center: What’s in Store for NYC’s Future?

Posted on March 10, 2013March 11, 2013 by Victoria Harman

Last week’s panel, “New York City’s Tech Future“, got everyone thinking about how far New York City has come and how much farther we need to go. There was a lot of discussion about how New York City differs from Silicon Valley. In New York the innovation is at smaller venues and companies, we haven’t quite gotten our big Google or Facebook yet. However, Jonathan Bowles, Executive Director of the Center for an Urban Future, noted, “we’re seeing that a lot of corporations are reaching out to these smaller companies for acquisition and services”. Alan Patricof, Managing Director of Greycroft Partners, also noted that the model of fundraising is different in NYC. He noted that few firms do B-Round ($5-$15MM) here and there is a lot of seed capital around, a lot of VCs have cashed out and become angels. Additionally, Patricof noted, “A-Round requires going to an organized firm like Greycroft and there aren’t a lot of firms like these in NYC.” Nevertheless, Bowles noted that 486 start-ups got VC or angel funding last year and of those, 15 had raised $50MM+.

There are also several issues related to the recruitment of talent in NYC. Bowles pointed out – liveability and quality of life are key issues. He suggested that, in order to attract more talent in engineering and entrepreneurship, the next mayor will have to focus on creating more middle-income affordable housing, as most tech/start-up employees aren’t making six figures.

Students are another big issue. A few of the panelists suggested that there is a tendency for recent grads to start their companies near where they went to school, especially because of the focus on intellectual property on campuses, how students can and will take risks, and the advantageous recruiting opportunities that proximity presents. This focused the conversation on the new Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island. Anne Li, the Managing Director, EVP at NYCEDC, argued the case for NYC to focus on tech. Li said, “NYC is underweight in the number of engineers we produce…there are not that many industries we can diversify ourselves into but tech is one”. She also noted that similar projects in other countries have been funded by the government. However, our city’s government doesn’t have those kinds of funds to give. So, the focus has really been on the universities. That’s where the partnership with Israel’s Technion came to play on this campus proposal. Israel has demonstrated itself as a country that has a strong grasp on how to commercialize research. Additionally, several other city universities have started to further develop their tech programs. NYU has started a Center for Urban Science & Progress in Brooklyn and Columbia University is expanding its engineering school. Li estimates that the three projects combined will double the number of engineers (PhDs) in 20 years. She also suggested that work is being done at the high school level as well. Li says, “great coders learn how to code in high school not college”, so there’s a computer science high school in the works.

The discussion of what students want to do after they graduate also came into play. Patricof suggested that most students in NYC want to start their own company when perhaps instead they should be “looking to join a big company to bring entrepreneurial spirit or join an existing start-up”. He noted that there are a lot of companies that are imitating one another these days: “You should start a company if you have a passion and you’ve learned a lot about it and you have a plan, not hunt for ideas or copy what someone else has done and say ‘I’m gonna do it better'”. Scott Anderson, Partner & Chief Strategy Officer at Control Group, backed him up by saying that his company looks for more skilled workers and sees great value in new recruits who have failed before. Patricof furthered the argument of the value of having worked at a failed start-up: “They don’t assign people different roles so you learn everything…you watch and learn from an unsophisticated leader and then you’re ready to do a start-up because you’ve seen the pitfalls and not spent your own money.”

So, the overall feeling was that New York City can become a more attractive destination for engineers and entrepreneurs by building more academic resources for students and by making the city a better and more affordable place to live for experienced talent. Recent graduates will need to start shifting the attention toward joining existing start-ups rather than creating imitative start-ups of their own. There will also need to be the economic support and incentive to allow them to do this – through improved fundraising avenues for start-ups, affordable housing options, etc.

Victoria Harman (@vc1harman) is a social media content & strategy specialist and entrepreneur based in New York City.

Monday Funday: SocialVibe Engagement & Opening Party!

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Sara Haile-Mariam

It’s hard to believe it’s almost Friday and the end of #SMW12.

Before we bring this year’s festivities to a close, we wanted to post a little throw back to a Monday night and Tuesday morning not too long ago. We began #SMW12 with two epic SocialVibe collaborations; the first being our #SMW12 opening party which took place at Greenwich Village Country club and was hosted by Nokia and sponsored by Social Vibe.

The evening was centered around engaging activities, like miniature golf and pictures with animal statues, epitomizing the social nature of SMW12- and SocialVibe. Surprises littered the evening from Nokia’s special room to the SocialPix photobooth immediate upload to Facebook.

Then on Tuesday at our Advertising & Marketing Hub JWT, SocialVibe hosted a panel entitled Why Engagement Should Be Spelled A-T-T-E-N-T-I-O-N that featured Digital Editor Michael Learmonth, SocialVibe SVP of Sales Mike Barbeau, Head of Planning at SocialVibe Adrian Barrow, VP of Integrated Marketing at Fuse Vanessa Montes, and CEO of Deep Focus Ian Schafer

The panel focused on consumer engagement in digital advertising and consumer “exchanges.” Looking at services, R&D, and creativity as critical aspects to earn value and enhance engagement. By creating opportunities to do social good, giving your community attention or creating unique experiences will increase the likelihood that consumers will do things for you.

Citing case studies from companies like HP’s use of consumer forums to DuoLingo for translation services, SocialVibe really highlighted what you can do and the type of thinking that truly resonates with consumers. “If you have to ask your consumers to pay attention, you’re not doing it right,” just may characterize the views of the event. And with over 600 views on their Livestream and more than 15 comments, we think they get the hang of engagement and meeting people where they are, making this one event you’ll want to see if you missed it in action.

Many thanks to SocialVibe for partnering up with us at this years #SMW12! Partners like them are what make Social Media Week everything that it is.

You can check out more photos from the opening party by clicking here or here!

Keynote Spotlight: Douglas Rushkoff, Author & Media Theorist Program or Be Programmed

Posted on February 15, 2012February 15, 2012 by Sara Haile-Mariam

Douglas Rushkoff, Author & Media Theorist Program or Be Programmed

This post is a part of a continuing series of Keynote Spotlights– check back here throughout the week for more information on the phenomenal individuals who will be gracing #SMW12 events next week!

You can hear from Doug on Thursday February 16th from 9-11:30am, followed by Panel: Just like The 60’s: How Social Media Has (Or Hasn’t Changed Civic Movements) at the Social & Environmental Change Hub.

Winner of the Media Ecology Association’s first Neil Postman award for Career Achievement in Public Intellectual Activity, Douglas Rushkoff is an author, teacher, and documentarian who focuses on the ways people, cultures, and institutions create, share, and influence each other’s values. He is technology and media commentator for CNN, and has taught and lectured around the world about media, technology, culture and economics.

His new book, Program or Be Programmed: Ten Commands for a Digital Age, a followup to his Frontline documentary, Digital Nation. His last book, an analysis of the corporate spectacle called Life Inc., was also made into a short, award-winning film.

His ten best-selling books on new media and popular culture have been translated to over thirty languages. They include Cyberia, Media Virus, Playing the Future, Nothing Sacred: The Truth about Judaism, Get Back in the Box: Innovation from the Inside Out and Coercion, winner of the Marshall Mcluhan Award for best media book. Rushkoff also wrote the acclaimed novels Ecstasy Club and Exit Strategy and graphic novel, Club Zero-G. He wrote a series of graphic novels called Testament, and his new graphic novel, A.D.D., was just released by Vertigo.

He has written and hosted three award-winning Frontline documentaries – The Merchants of Cool looked at the influence of corporations on youth culture, The Persuaders, about the cluttered landscape of marketing, and new efforts to overcome consumer resistance, and most recently, Digital Nation, about life on the virtual frontier.

His commentaries have aired on CBS Sunday Morning and NPR’s All Things Considered, and have appeared in publications from The New York Times to Timemagazine. He wrote the first syndicated column on cyberculture for The New York Times and Guardian of London, as well as regular columns for Arthur, Discover Magazine and The Feature. He also hosted is own radio program on WFMU, The Media-Squat.

Rushkoff is finishing his PhD at Utrecht University’s New Media Program. He has taught regularly for the MaybeLogic Academy, NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program, The New School University, and the Esalen Institute. He also lectures about media, art, society, and change at conferences and universities around the world.

Click here to register to hear him speak!

See you Tuesday! A guide for Day Two

Posted on February 14, 2012February 14, 2012 by Sara Haile-Mariam

We hope you enjoyed your first day of #SMW12– now on to day two!

Below you’ll find a list of solid events that, as of publication, still have some slots left!

9-11am at JWT Panel: Why Engagement Should Be Spelled A-T-T-E-N-T-I-O-N hosted by SocialVibe

9-10am at Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness Keynote: Frank Moss on The 2012 MIT Health and Wellness Innovation Hackathon

9-11:30am at Thomas Reuters Interview: John Katzman and Jeremy Johnson on The Future of Higher Education: Will Colleges Survive? followed by Panel: The Classroom of The Future: How Social Media Can Better Our Education System

10-10:45am at Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness Keynote: J.C. Herz on Unpacking the Quantified Self followed by Panel: The Sensor Continuum

10-11am at Hearst Digital Voyeurism: How Sharing Real Homes in Real Time is Changing the Way We Decorate

12-12:30am at Big Fuel Jon’s Fireside Chat: Joseph Jaffe and Social Media 2.0

12-2pm at Thomas Reuters Keynote: Rachel Lloyd, Executive Director & Founder of Girls Educational & Mentoring Services

12-2pm at JWT Beyond the Like: Using Real People’s Real Stories to Drive Brand Awareness

1-2pm at Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness Fireside Chat: The Rise of the Patient Platform

2:30-3:30pm at Big Fuel Connecting disruptive business models with innovation in business

3-4pm at Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness This game will make you healthier

3-5pm at Hearst The New Ghostwriter

3-5pm at JWT Social Media for Social Good

4:30-5:30pm at Hearst Social Syndication in 2012: Experiences First, Networks Second

5:30-6:30pm at Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness Women, Money & Social Power: What Made The Komen Debacle A Win For Women

6-8pm at JWT Deep Focus Presents: An Evening of “Connectedness”

#SMW12 This Time Next Week: Friday Feb 17th

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Sara Haile-Mariam

Throughout this week, we’ll be giving you a heads up on everything that’s going on at our content hubs this time next week. Events are filling up fast so check out what’s going on this time next week and click on the corresponding event link to register!

Note that events are listed in chronological order based on the time of day they occur.

Business & Innovation: 8:30-9:30am: Keynote: Reid Hoffman, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of LinkedIn on The StartUp of You: A revolutionary new guide to thriving in today’s fractured world of work.

Global Society: 9-9:30am: The Guardian Interviews, hosted on the Nokia Global Stage at Big Fuel: Alec Ross

Art & Culture: 9-10am: Where is social media taking the travel industry in 2012?

Advertising & Marketing: 9-11am: What Real Time Marketing Really Takes

Social & Environmental Change: 9-11am: Keynote: Jeremy Heimans, CEO of Purpose, followed by Panel: Building A Transnational Human Rights Movement

Global Society: 10-11am: RAPP presents RAPPATHON – Hacking for Change: A New Way of Collaboration

Health & Wellness: 10-11am: Biomarkers, Technology, and Age-Reversal

Art & Culture: 10:30-11:30am: Untapped Drive: How innovation and entrepreneurship is revolutionizing daily life through social media & tech platforms.

Business & Innovation: 10:30am-12:30pm: Social Media, Sports, and Gaming

Health & Wellness: 11-12pm: How Socially-Enabled Feedback Loops Are Strengthening Your Wellness

Global Society: 12-12:30pm: Jon’s Fireside Chat: David Hirsch on Venture Funding