Media Convergence Forum to be held in New York

The research arm of the British publication, The Econmist, The Economist Intelligence Unit,  is hosting the "Media Convergence Forum: Marketing strategies for the digital age" on Tuesday, 28 October 2008 at The Pierre, New York City.

The rapid expansion of media combined with the simultaneous converging of media channels has had an immense impact on the delivery of messages and audiences.

With the addition of some 50,000 new blogs a day and satellite and cable systems carrying hundreds of channels, the idea of "mass media" seems as outdated as the afternoon newspaper.

Consumers and businesses today interact with media in radically different ways than just a year ago. Driven by new technology, these trends are changing the role that marketers play in their organisations and the way they reach audiences.

Topic areas to be covered include:

• The CMO's new role and the new marketing skills required in the era of media convergence.
• Successfully engaging customers: using various techniques including community based platforms that inform and entertain simultaneously
• The future of media: how can marketers utilise a combined digital and traditional media strategy to produce blockbuster results?
• The economics of social media: how rapidly changing media consumption habits are altering business models for content providers and marketers
• The Business of B2B: how should B2B marketers integrate offline and online marketing for maximum ROI?

The speakers include:
Larry Promisel, vice-president, e-commerce, Barney's New York

Russ Klein, president, global marketing, strategy and innovation,
Burger King

Gian Fulgoni, chairman, comScore

Julia Hood, editorial director, DMNews

Jeffrey Hayzlett, chief business development officer and corporate vice-president, Eastman Kodak

Nicholas Utton, chief marketing officer, E*Trade Financial

Mark Colombo, senior vice-president, Digital Access Marketing
Fedex Services

Joe Celia, global chairman and CEO, G2

Liz Cahill, vice-president, marketing and communications, Lee Jeans

Jeff Berman, president of sales and marketing, MySpace

Paul Gerbino, publisher, industrial newsroom, ThomasNet

John Stratton, executive vice-president and chief marketing officer,
Verizon Communications

For further details contact: americas customerservice@economist.com