Making Media Connections is an annual conference where hundreds of community leaders, nonprofit executives, journalists, independent publishers and media relations experts gather to promote news that matters.  Listen in as media experts and the general public gather together to discuss getting communities’ important stories told.

As the final event of the day, conference attenders and the public gathered to “get updated on what’s changed, what’s coming down the road at us, and why” at the Community Media Update.

Not long ago many at nonprofits felt the Internet was a frill they could skip, either because constituents were not on-line or because their work was here in the “real world.” Many more now see value in the tools and excitement around new media and sense its potential to help advance missions and build organizations.

Panelists include: Charles Benton of the Benton Foundation, Britt Bravo of Tech Soup, Pierre Clark of the Chicago Digital Access Alliance, Beth Kanter, and Heather Mansfield of Diosa Communications.  The panel was moderated by Thom Clark, and the discussion aimed to look at how trends have changed the ways that nonprofits look at new media, and what changes we should look for in the coming year.

Local presenters also participated by demonstrating some best practices: Antonio Garcia of Firebelly Foundation, shows off the Reason to Give campaign, Tania Unzueta discusses RadioArte‘s New Routes for Immigrant Health collaboration, and Dan Weissmann shows off Vocalo.org‘s integration of radio and new media.

Recorded Thursday, June 12, 2008 at Columbia College Film Row Cinema.