The Society for New Communications Research, a nonprofit global think tank dedicated to the advanced study of new media and emerging modes of communication and their effect on media, business and society, will hold its inaugural Research Symposium & Awards Gala on November 1 – 2, 2006 at the Colonnade Hotel in Boston, Mass. The event will feature a keynote presentation by veteran journalist and new media expert Paul Gillin. The event will tackle topics on:

· “Corporate Blogging Policy Best Practices,” moderated by SNCR Research Fellow and Best Practices Chair, Mike Manuel of Voce Communications. Panelists will include executives from IBM, EDS and Novell.

· “The Emergence of Blogging in University Admissions and Recruiting,” moderated by SNCR Research Fellow Dan Karleen of Peterson’s, and Rob Pongsajapan of Georgetown University. Panelists will include representatives from The University of Vermont; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Ball State University.

· “The State of the Art in Social Media,” presented by SNCR Research Fellow and PR veteran Giovanni Rodriguez

· “What’s the Story with Online? How Storytelling is Still Critical to Marketing in Blogosphere 2.0,” presented by SNCR Research Fellow and board member Kathy Klotz-Guest, Powerfully Funny

· “Podcasts: Download or Broadcast – Legal Implications,” presented by SNCR Research Fellow and board member Elizabeth Fairbanks Fletcher, Esq., Law Offices of Elizabeth L. Fairbanks-Fletcher, PLLC

The full event agenda is available at http://www.sncr.org.