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Lowcountry August Luncheon: "Hyper-local news platforms: Taking news engagement to a new level" (11:30am - 1:00pm)

135 Cannon Street, 4th floor, Conference room 404

Hyper-local news platforms: Taking news engagement to a new level

The news media landscape continues to shift, and more online and local outlets are competing to bring the public its news. Enter AOL's The Patch here in the Lowcountry, a collection of community-based websites with local editors on the ground providing daily updates on news and events, typically for areas that rarely see this kind of focused attention. Currently there are more than 850 Patch sites across the country.

In 2011, AOL hired Greg Hambrick to serve as the first local editor in South Carolina, launching Goose Creek Patch — a community news and events website. There are now 11 Patch sites in the state, including Summerville, Mount Pleasant and West Ashley. By spring 2012, Hambrick was promoted to senior local editor. A reporter and editor covering local government and politics in the Lowcountry for the past decade, Hambrick spent four years working for the daily Beaufort Gazette. In 2006, Hambrick moved up the coast and served as reporter and later as news editor at the Charleston City Paper.

Join SCPRSA to hear a brief presentation on how you might utilize The Patch to reach your target audiences. User interaction is a key feature at Patch, including participation by businesses. Professionals blog at Patch sites across the country as a way to reach their local customers and they post announcements on hiring and promotions. Business owners can also take ownership of their directory page on the site, adding additional comments, events, photos and more to help attract consumers. We'll be covering all the ways that you can use the site, as well as tips on pitching stories on this new local platform.

Date:           Thursday, August 23rd

Time:          Networking/registration begins at 11:30 a.m.; Lunch served at noon.

Place:         135 Cannon Street, 4th floor, Conference room 404 

(signage will be posted for easy navigation once off the elevator)

Cost:           $15 for SCPRSA members, $20 for guests, $15 for college students.
Walk-ups and late RSVPs are an additional $5. No shows will be billed.

RSVP:         By noon, Tuesday, August 21, 2012*
For online registration and payment, click a "Buy Now" button below.
If not registering online, RSVP to Heather Woolwine at woolwinh@musc.edu.
* RSVP's from Facebook will not be counted.

SCPRSA Member	$15.00	Name of attendee(s):
Non-member	$20.00	Name of attendee(s):
Student	$15.00	Name of attendee(s):

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