Editors can make better use of Facebook, social media: WEFPARIS, FRANCE / DARMSTADT, GERMANY: From Twitter and Facebook, to crowdsourcing and gathering readers' photos, to community events: newspapers now have abundant ways to interact with their readers online. The World Editors Forum, to be held in Vienna from 12 to 15 October next, will focus on the new tools of social media to help editors build communities around their newspapers. The annual conference, which runs concurrently to the World Newspaper Congress, will also offer a "Facebook for Journalists" workshop in which Facebook representatives will provide tips and advice on how Facebook can be better used by newsrooms, both to find sources and reach a larger audience. The WEF session on building communities will feature Jim Brady, head of project Thunderdome, the Journal Register Company's initiative to engage audience and creating content across all platforms and geographies, Matthew Eltringham, editor of the BBC College of Journalism website, Anette Novak, editor-in-chief of Norran in Sweden, and other speakers to be announced. Brady, who the Washington Business Journal calls "an online news visionary," has formerly worked at AOL, washingtonpost.com and the local news site TBD.com. As head of Project Thunderdome, he is responsible for generating and organising common content for the Journal Register's 18 daily papers and related online publications. Eltringham is an expert in social media and digital engagement with 16 years inside the BBC's news operations. He has overseen BBC News' use of social platforms as a source of content and as a channel to share its own material and engage audiences. Novak has been working to turn the 100-year-old Norran into a modern media house with a focus on co-creation, moving the trademark position from "news leader" to "motor in shaping the community's future." More than 1200 chief editors, publishers, managing directors, CEOs and other senior newspaper executives are expected at the Editors Forum, Congress and Info Services Expo 2011, the annual global summit meetings of the world's press. For the evolving programme, registration and other information, go to http://tinyurl.com/6apyyff (early bird discount available until 31 July). Other WEF sessions include:
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