Working the web

This hands-on practical course will give you the skills and understanding of Web 2.0 and its relevance to your communications strategy.

Web 2.0 is in full swing and access to the latest social media tools and communication platforms means that consumers are now exercising their right to voice their opinion. The most innovative communications professionals are finding powerful ways of working with the web to build brands and positively influence reputations.

Candidates: Corporate communications professionals from both public and private sectors whose enterprises would be enhanced by a strategic utilisation of the web.

In a nutshell: Web 2.0 is in full swing and access to the latest social media tools and communication platforms means that consumers are now exercising their right to voice their opinion. The most innovative communications professionals are finding powerful ways of working with the web to build brands and positively influence reputations.

Web 2.0, Blogs, Wikis, Social Media, WebPR, user-generated content, online reputation management, folksonomies, RSS, Podcasts, social bookmarking, what do these concepts mean and how can they enhance my communications strategy?

Course outcomes: By course end you will be able to:
• Understand the difference between the “old web” and web 2.0 and how it has changed communication methods.
• Have knowledge of current web trends, statistics and future predictions.
• Understand the concept of online social networking.
• Be familiar with the blogging phenomenon (specifically the relevance of blogging for business as well as how to find relevant blogs, how to create a blog and how to tag/list so your blog is discoverable.)
• Understand Wiki development and its applications.
• Utilise RSS and newsreaders (configuration and management for ease of information delivery and use)
• Practice effective research on the web.
• Use social bookmarking tools to organise and share information.
• Track online mentions or follow a conversation.

* In most cases the above will be discovered in a hands-on practical manner. Local and International case studies will be used to bring concepts to life.

Venue

Date: 20 May 2008 to 21 May 2008
Location: IAJ - Parktown, Johannesburg
More info: 9 Jubilee Road
Parktown
Johannesburg

Contact: Gugu Ndaba
Company name: Institute for the Advancement of Journalism
Telephone number: 27 11 4841765
Email address cmtu@iaj.org.za