If you attend one comms event this summer, make it #FutureComms14

A really good conference for communicators takes place in London next month, and plans are well advanced for a day of valuable professional development, strongly focused on the question “What’s the future of communications?”and how to address it:

The disciplines of PR, marketing, social media and digital are converging and evolving at a breathless pace. Modern marketing communications is real-time, multimedia and multichannel. The challenge we face is to learn new skills, master new technologies, while maintaining focus on the key business goals of reputation and performance.

FutureComms14, organized by MyNewsDesk UK, takes place on Wednesday June 18 at The Crystal in London’s Docklands. The themes for the day that underpin the agenda are pretty compelling:

• Where is PR, communications and social media heading?
• What does your brand need to do to adapt?
• Content marketing versus the Big Idea
• Do brands need to think like media companies?
• How can brands tell more compelling stories?
• Which skills, technologies and platforms are critical for success?
• How can we measure more smartly?

And the speakers who include three stand-outs for me:

• Deirdre Breakenridge, who delivers the opening keynote on the future of communications (she expands her thinking on this topic in a post yesterday on the MyNewsDesk blog). The author of five business books, Deirdre is an influential voice in US communication circles, and a frequent speaker on PR, marketing, and social media communications. I’m really looking forward to meeting her next month.
• Robert Phillips, ex-EMEA CEO of Edelman, and the author of “Trust Me, PR Is Dead,” a forthcoming book that’s already prompted some debate. Can’t wait to see Robert in action at this PR event!
• Tom Foremski, ex-FT journalist and founder of Silicon Valley Watcher,  who famously (or infamously, depending on your point of view) proclaimed “Die, press release, die! Die! Die!” back in 2006 – could this futuristic call finally be answered eight years on? – and advocated in 2009 that every company is (or should be) a media company. Is that a viable call today?

Just three in an eclectic speaker roster that also features Daniel Dodd, Director of Communications and Content at the National Trust; Betony Kelly, Head of Digital Outreach for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills; Danny Whatmough, Associate Digital and Social Media Director at Ketchum; Paul Sutton, Head of Social Communications at PR and content agency BOTTLE; Vikki Morgan, Head of Social at TMW agency; and many more. I’m also speaking (and working with MyNewsDesk on event development).

If I look at the conference and event landscape for communicators during the summer and into early autumn, FutureComms14 is the attention grabber. So if you’re looking for a good investment for your time and your money, this is the one.

Book your ticket early to be sure of a place. And if you book before May 18, there’s a discounted early bird rate.

Check the hashtag #FutureComms14 for the latest conversation. And connect with those on the FutureComms14 Twitter list created by Paul Sutton.

See you in London on June 18!