Conference attendees and the public gathered in this closing roundtable discussion with a brain trust of experts about the promise and peril of the new media, its impact on nonprofits and the work that nonprofit communicators do.

Attendees broke out into small group discussions and came back into the theatre to share what they learned to a larger group followed by a roundtable discussion that included dialogue with Terry Mazany, Chicago Community Trust; Clark Bell, McCormick Foundation; Charles Benton, Benton Foundation; and John S. Bracken, MacArthur Foundation. They shared, from a funder’s perspective, their point of view on the opportunities and challenges nonprofits will face with the changing media landscape in the age of social media.

Panel facilitators: Leslie Ramyk; Jean Russell, Nurture; Mike Burke, Buffett Early Childhood Fund; Steve Franklin, Community Media Workshop

Reporters: Bernie Ryan, Harborquest; Ernie Sanders, Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corp., Kara Carrell, Interfaith Youth Core; Justin Massa, MoveSmart.org/TechSoup Global

New News resource people: Toure Muhammad, Bean Soup Times; Elizabeth Vassolo, Triblocal; Steve Edwards, WBEZ-Chicago Public Radio; Josh Karp, The Printed Blo

Social media resource people: Gabi Fitz, Issuelab.org; Adam Thurman, Court Theater; Demetrio Maguigad, Community Media Workshop; Christine Cupaiuolo

Photo left-to-right: Charles Benton (Benton Foundation), John Bracken (John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation), Clark Bell (McCormick Foundation), Ernest Sanders (Community Media Workshop Board Member) Jean Russell (Facilitator)

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.

Recorded Thursday, June 11, 2009 at Columbia College Film Row Cinema.