The document discusses #journchat, a Twitter chat that brings together PR professionals, journalists, and bloggers. It takes place online every Monday night and aims to improve relationships between these groups and explore how social media is influencing their industries. The author promotes the first ever live #journchat event happening in seven North American cities including Pittsburgh. Suggestions are provided for promotion through social media, local media outreach, and post-event coverage. Lessons learned from the event are shared, such as giving more advance notice and having questions provided beforehand.

1. #journchat LIVE By Deanna Ferrari

2. About me 2006 graduate of Slippery Rock University Account executive at WordWrite Communications Board member of PRSA Pittsburgh

3. The PR / Journalist Relationship PR pros in the audience? Journalists in the audience? Some PR people have a bad rep Print media shrinking / new forms of media Good relationships build great stories Social media a new way to interact with each other (i.e. Twitter, HARO, etc.)

4. #journchat Monday nights 8-10 p.m. Moderated by @journchat Several questions followed by one “pitch” The mission of #journchat has always been to improve the relationships between public relations professionals, journalists and bloggers. Together we’ve created a safe environment to explore each industry and ultimately how social media is influencing all of us.

5. #journchat comes to “life” Seven cities in North America: Pittsburgh Philadelphia Chicago Minneapolis Detroit Phoenix Toronto

6. Promotion via social media Leverage existing relationships to find partners and location Point Park University Pittsburgh Business Times Utilize WordWrite’s e-mail database to get the word out via e-mail blast Reach out to current Pittsburgh “journchatters” SEO-optimized press release Facebook (WW fan page, pitched and secured Andrew Stockey) Twitter (the power of the RT, #journchat hashtag)

7. Key items to publicize Local media in attendance (WTAE, Post-Gazette, Business Times) First-ever #journchat LIVE Enhance PR / Journo / Blogger relationship Take the conversation online to one place -- face-to-face Discuss relevant / timely topics

21. Post-event SEO-optimized press release including who attended and how many Twitter (link to release, talk to people that were in attendance) Facebook (add photos, link to release) Continue discussion with those in attendance and on weekly #journchat sessions

24. Lessons learned Promote further in advance Encourage more journalists to attend including more outreach to bloggers and freelancers In promotional materials, give a better explanation of what event will entail Think of questions ahead of time and give to participants beforehand so they come prepared to discuss the topics Have the session earlier in the evening Possibly rename the event, but still tie Twitter in and live-stream it Possibly have small groups instead of one big group (depends on how many people register) Make the event Pittsburgh-focused but still timely trends

25. Questions? Additional comments? Twitter: @dferrari / @wordwritepr Online: deannaferrari.com / wordwritepr.com