European spotlight on learning about new media

Three great learning, professional development and personal/business networking events coming up in continental Europe in April:

1. New Communications Forum 2005: 5-6 April, Eurodisney Resort, Paris.

An interactive, international forum - comprising an extended, meaningful conversation and the sharing of ideas and theories about the future of communications - this event is the European follow-up to the Forum held in Napa, California, in January (some highlights).

The Forum is designed to bring journalists and marketing and PR professionals together to learn how to use new media tools such as blogs, wikis, RSS feeds and podcasting for media communications, corporate branding, marketing communications, public relations and employee communications initiatives.

As I did at Napa, I will be delivering a workshop at this event on Using Weblogs, Wikis and RSS to Enhance Employee Engagement.

All sessions in English.

2. Blognomics.nl: 21 April, RAI Conference Centre, Amsterdam.

Straplined "The Economics & Mechanics of Blogging," this half-day meeting is the first event in The Netherlands about blogging.

The event is aimed at anyone in business, government and non-profits who wants to learn more about how new media channels like blogs can play a significant role in marketing, communication, PR, business and product development, and - especially from a public sector viewpoint - research, policy and advice.

Presentations include how to introduce blogging successfully within the organization, understanding how blogs will influence the organization and discovering the commercial possibilities of and for blogging.

Blognomics.nl will be presented in Dutch.

3. Internet 2.0: 25 April, Paris.

With speakers from France, the UK, Italy, Spain, Germany, the US, Japan and China (so far), this event intends to help better define what's coming next in blogs and social software.

Very much an informal gathering of movers and shakers than a structured conference, Internet 2.0 is still in the early planning stages of a programme that will be drawn up with the help of everyone who signs up to participate.

The event is in English.