Join the Online Communications Network
At IAOC's First International Conferences

Where Content and
Technology Meet

Sponsored by Vocus, IBM, Rowan University and PR Newswire

Supporting Organizations: The Belgian PR Centre, IABC Belgium, and B-R-ENT

Also supporting the IAOC Conference: ZN, a Belgian online communications consultancy who invite you to Hyperth!nk with eBay and Google on June 16, 16h00-19h00, in Brussels.

There is Still Time to Register for the 2006 IAOC European Conference
The European IAOC conference, "Where Content and Technology Meet," is sponsored by Vocus, IBM Rowan University and PR Newswire. It's the only forum where academics, practitioners and technology leaders can come together to explore the many facets of online  communication. The conference will comprise roundtable paper presentations on Thursday and Friday, plus a keynote luncheon speaker and an afternoon panel discussion on Friday. The Registration fee is 169€ and includes conference materials, lunch and an evening reception on Thursday, breakfast and lunch on Friday. 

The European conference will convene on June 15-16, 2006 at the IBM Conference Facility in Brussels. Register online now

Paper Presentations
Peer-reviewed papers will be presented in roundtable sessions on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. Those attending will have the opportunity to hear every presenter. Papers and supporting materials will be posted on IAOC's website following the conferences. A selection of the best papers will be published in a journal.

Paper topics include:

• An analysis of the Usability of Corporate Online Media Rooms by Dr. Lynn Zoch, Associate Professor, School of Communication, University of Miami
• Managing the Online Crisis: How Public Relations Practitioners Target Web Logs and Wikis by Ms. Marcia Watson, Ph.D. Student, University of Miami, School of Communication
• An Assessment of Factors Affecting Dropout of Students Enrolled in the Online New College Bachelor’s Degree Program by Dr. Jeff Hoyer, Associate Professor, Department of Communications, The University of Tennessee
• Opportunities and Limitations of Web Logs: Views of PR and Journalism by Dr. Serra Gorpe, Ebru Ulusoy, Istanbul University, School of Communication
• International Distance Courses with Videoconferencing: Designs, Benefits and Challenges by Dr. Kevin C. Lee, Western Carolina University
• World – class PR Measurement That Will Make Your CEO smile by By Andrew Muir, Managing Director, Vocus Europe Ltd
• The Changing Role of the Press Release by Rod Nicolson, VP of Online Services, PR Newswire 
• The Business Case for RSS – Online Content Syndication by Rok Hrastnik, International Internet Director at Studio Moderna
• EUROBLOG Study, Blogging in Europe - major findings by Philip Young, Senior Lecturer in Journalism and Public Relations at the University of Sunderland
  

Registration Deadline
Deadline for registration is June 12, 2006. Note: you must be pre-registered by the June 12 deadline to gain entry to the IBM Forum building. Journalists and bloggers who plan to cover the event must also be registered to gain entry. Register online here

Meeting Location and Hotel
European Conference: IBM Forum, Brussels Belgium
The IBM Forum is located in the IBM HQ building
Avenue du Bourget/Bourgetlaan, 42
B-1130 Bruxelles
Phone : +32 2 655 54 40
Web : http://www-5.ibm.com/be/ibm/en/access/location_brussels.html

NH Brussels Airport Hotel - 184€ weekdays, 99€ Friday or Saturday
Reservations: www.hotels-belgium.com/airport/nhbrusselsairport.htm.

Description: The NH BRUSSELS AIRPORT HOTEL is a four star hotel located 2 blocks from the IBM Forum. Just 4 km from Brussels International Airport, the hotel offers complimentary shuttle service to the airport every 30 minutes.  Public transportation is within walking distance of the hotel with a direct train to Brussels City Centre and Brussels airport, leaving from Diegem Station opposite to the hotel.  NATO Headquarters is less than 2 km away.

Conference Details
Peer-reviewed papers will be presented in roundtable fashion on Thursday and Friday. Attendees will have an opportunity to hear each presenter. Papers and supporting materials will be available on IAOC's website following the conferences, and a selection of the best papers will be published in a journal.

Keynote Speakers: Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz, co-hosts of For Immediate Release (http://forimmediaterelease.biz/index.php), the ground breaking PR and technology podcast, will be the featured speakers at IAOC's conferences in Valley Forge and Brussels. Holtz was the luncheon speaker in Valley Forge on March 24, 2006, while Hobson joined in from Europe via Skype. In Brussels, the roles are reversed with Hobson presenting in the flesh, and Holtz being the virtual presenter

Panel Discussion

IBM PR manager and IAOC founding member Philippe Borremans moderates a wide ranging discussion of “Public Relations, Bloggers and the Media” with Guillaume Du Gardier, Director Online Communications Europe from Edelman PR and a representative from Reporters Sans Frontieres.

European Conference Agenda

June 15 - Thursday

12:30-2:00 Buffet lunch upon arrival

2:15-3:30 Roundtable Paper Presentations

3:45-5:00 Roundtable Paper Presentations

5:30-7:30 Reception

2:30-2:45 Conclusion

Cost

169€ for registrations made by June 12, 2006

Conference Fee includes a one-year membership in IAOC. Register online now