VIRAL MARKETING GURU BEN MCCONNELL OFFERS INSIGHT ON THE CHANGING MEDIA PARADIGM WITH KENT STATE UNIVERSITY SPEECH

Tuesday March 27, 2007

For immediate release
Contact: Robert J. Burford, WKSU
(330) 672-3114
burford@wksu.org

In the past 20 years, the lifespan of many of today's college students, the planet's media landscape has changed dramatically. What was the domain of the rich and powerful has become accessible to anyone with a computer, a modem and imagination. The buzzword today is "buzz" as the blogisphere continues to expand and social networking sites like MySpace, Facebook and YouTube change forever the way the next generation communicates by offering everyone who wants one their own website and the power to connect to people around the world with similar interests. Individual voices are coming together in attention grabbing screams as people gather together online to create once-unimaginable strength for the thoughts, opinions and desires of the Everyman.

On April 5 at 2:30 p.m., the Kent State University School of Journalism and Mass Communication presents author and viral marketing expert Ben McConnell at the Kiva in the Kent State Student Center. His new book, "Citizen Marketers: When People are the Message," is the inspiration for a lively look at social media and the many ways that everyday people now directly influence commerce-driven decision making in America. Among other things, McConnell will illustrate the various types of citizen marketers, detail their motivations, describe how to work with them and show how they have prompted companies to change direction and mindset. McConnell and partner Jackie Huba are also authors of "Creating Customer Evangelists: How Loyal Customers Become a Volunteer Sales Force."

The event at the Kent State Kiva is free. McConnell will be speaking on the same topic at 11:45 a.m. on April 5 to the Akron Press Club at The University of Akron's Martin Center. Both engagements are presented with support from 89.7 WKSU.

WKSU broadcasts NPR & Classical Music at 89.7 FM, and is a service of Kent State University. WKSU programming is also heard on WKRW 89.3 FM in Wooster, WKRJ 91.5 FM in Dover/New Philadelphia, WKSV 89.1 FM in Thompson, WNRK 90.7 in Norwalk, and W298BA 107.5 in Boardman. The WKSU web site is www.wksu.org.

PR02.07 ### 3/27/07
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