Cisco Systems launched The Network about a year ago. At that time, we interviewed John Earnhardt, the communicator responsible for the site, about the goals and aspirations for the content portal that folded in the company’s former media center.

A year later, FIR co-host Shel Holtz chats with John about the experience and results to date, including the use of The Network’s content by third parties.

Of particular interest are two video series launched on the site, My Networked Life and Songo, a video series for the Korean market. John also talks about the use of freelance journalists to achieve the company’s brand journalism objectives.

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About our Conversation Partner

John Earnhardt manages the social media team responsible for the “The Network: Cisco’s Technology News Site” and other corporate communications channels such as The Platform blog and Facebook page, Twitter @CiscoSystems (2010 B2B Twitterer of the Year), LinkedIn, Ustream and Flickr site. He also manages the corporate PR team, including CEO and CFO media strategy, legal, M&A, finance, op-eds, broadcast media strategy and executive media training. John was a finalist for PRWeek’s “PR Professional of the Year” Award for 2010.

Previously, he managed policy communications in Cisco’s Global Policy and Government Affairs department where he was responsible for using communications to advance Cisco’s state, federal and global public policy objectives. This is where he started the first blog for Cisco in 2005. He also handled media relations on public policy issues in addition to starting and managing Cisco’s political action committee. He joined Cisco in 1999 as Corporate Public Relations Manager in the Office of the President.

Prior to Cisco he was the Director of Media Relations for the National Association of Broadcasters in Washington, DC. Earnhardt previously worked for Senator Joseph R. Biden, the Senate Judiciary Committee and for the Presidential Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission. In 1996, he worked for Vice President Al Gore doing press advance on the Clinton/Gore Presidential campaign.

John is married, has a young son and lives in Menlo Park, CA. He graduated from Wake Forest University with a BA in English and Philosophy.

Connect with John on Twitter: @urnhart.

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This FIR Interview is brought to you with Lawrence Ragan Communications, serving communicators worldwide for 35 years. Information: www.ragan.com.

Podsafe music – On A Podcast Instrumental Mix (MP3, 5Mb) by Cruisebox.

(Cross-posted from For Immediate Release, Shel’s and my podcast blog.)