The 2006 US and European conferences of the International Association of Online Communicators (IAOC) are set for Valley Forge, PA, near Philadelphia, and Brussels, Belgium. The conferences, titled "Where Content and Technology Meet," are sponsored by IBM and Rowan University and will provide academics, practitioners and technology leaders a forum where they can explore the many facets of online communication.
Both US and European conferences will comprise roundtable paper presentations, a keynote luncheon speaker and an afternoon panel discussion. The US Conference will convene in the Radisson Hotel in Valley Forge, PA (near Philadelphia) on March 23-24, 2006. The European conference follows on June 15-16, 2006 at the IBM Conference Facility in Brussels.
Call for Papers
There is still time to submit papers for presentation at either of the conferences. A one-page abstract must be submitted via e-mail to
Papers may focus on any aspect of online communication, such as online newsrooms, the emerging use of Wikis, teaching online communication, the impact of Blogs, RSS, and news syndication, e-mail media relations, corporate websites/blogs, online investor relations, global PR in a 24/7 online world, online channels for internal communication, podcasts, v-logs, and communications in an online world.
Conference Details
Peer-reviewed papers will be presented in roundtable fashion in three sessions. Attendees will have an opportunity to hear each presenter. Papers and supporting materials will be available on IAOC's website following the conferences, and a selection of the best papers will be published in a journal.
Keynote Speakers: Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz, co-hosts of For Immediate Release (http://forimmediaterelease.biz/index.php), the ground breaking PR and technology podcast, will be the featured speakers at IAOC's conferences in Valley Forge and Brussels. Holtz will be the luncheon speaker in Valley Forge on March 24, 2006, while Hobson joins in from Europe via Skype. In Brussels, the roles are reversed with Hobson presenting in the flesh, and Holtz being the virtual presenter.
Panel Discussions: An afternoon panel discussion in the US will be headed by Steve O'Keefe, author of the "Complete Guide to Publicity on the Internet" and IAOC vice president. The topic will be "Crisis Communication on the Internet" and include examples taken from his personal experience with the recent Hurricane Katrina. Panelists include Dee Rambeau, Managing Partner, DCVO Technology and a founding member of IAOC.
In Belgium, IBM PR manager and IAOC founding member Philippe Borremans moderates a wide ranging discussion of online communication issues with some of Europe's leading online practitioners. Topics will include "The Perils/Opportunities of Transparency," concerning the online communicator's challenge of decision making conducted in public. Also on the agenda for discussion, "Translation and the WWW: When, why, where to use English or choose to translate."
Registration, Dates and Cost Register at http://www.onlinecommunicators.org/forms/seminar06.cfm Valley Forge PA USA - March 23-24 2006 $199 for registrations made by Feb. 22, 2006 $299 for late registrations Brussels Belgium - June 15-16 2006 US$199 (169 euro) for registrations made by April 14, 2006 US$299 (253 euro) for late registrations Conference Fee includes a one year membership in IAOC. Meeting Locations and Hotels US Conference: Radisson Hotel Valley Forge -- US$109.00 per night. Reservations: Phone +1-610-337-2000 Be sure to mention IAOC to get conference price Web: http://www.radisson.com/kingofprussiapa
Description: The RADISSON VALLEY FORGE HOTEL is located in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania and is connected to the Valley Forge Convention Center. It is directly across from the historic Valley Forge National Park. The King of Prussia Mall with eight major department stores and over 365 retail and boutique shops is only minutes away. Philadelphia City Center is 19 miles and the Philadelphia International Airport is a 30-minute drive from the hotel. The hotel is easily accessible from the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I-76, I-476 and I-95.
European Conference: IBM Forum, Brussels Belgium The IBM Forum is located in the IBM HQ building Avenue du Bourget/Bourgetlaan, 42 B-1130 Bruxelles Phone : +32 2 655 54 40 Web: http://www-5.ibm.com/be/ibm/en/access/location_brussels.html
NH Brussels Airport Hotel -- 184 euro weekdays, 99 euro Friday or Saturday Reservations: http://www.hotels-belgium.com/airport/nhbrusselsairport.htm.
Description: The NH BRUSSELS AIRPORT HOTEL is a four star hotel located 2 blocks from the IBM Forum. Just 4 km from Brussels International Airport, the hotel offers complimentary shuttle service to the airport every 30 minutes. Public transportation is within walking distance of the hotel with a direct train to Brussels City Centre and Brussels airport, leaving from Diegem Station opposite to the hotel. NATO Headquarters is less than 2 km away.
SOURCE: International Association of Online Communicators
CONTACT: Dr. Suzanne Sparks FitzGerald, office: +1-856-256-4265,
Web site: http://www.onlinecommunicators.org/