Preparing for the TEKGROUP Online Newsroom Summit
On September 21, 2011, I’ll be participating in the TEKGROUP Online Newsroom Summit to discuss how newsrooms have changed from static areas of a website to interactive and socialized newsrooms. The evolution also includes how companies are using their newsroom for web disclosure, meeting the updated requirements of Regulation FD in 2008. Today’s newsroom allow you to not only build stronger relationships with journalists and bloggers but also deliver meaningful information to the public. I hope you will join me on the 21st for this free and informative webinar!
September 2, 2011 @ 5:45 pm
Hi Deirdre –
Enjoyed the video. It was good to touch base today.
You and I go way back when you interviewed me for the online newsroom chapter in your book, so I wanted to provide you with some thoughts to mull over when discussing an online newsroom and Regulation FD.
First of all, I’ve seen firsthand the need for an online newsroom and an investor relations center to stay separate. Although both the online newsroom and investor relations site may receive a slight overlap of attention, they do cater to the needs of different audiences. The more targeted an online newsroom or investor relations center, the more clear the message and the better the audience experience.
Usually, the different departments (IR & PR) manage their individual micro sites. This gives that department control to deliver a targeted message to their audience. The corporate communicator will need functionality found specifically in an online newsroom, while the investor relations officer will need to provide concise and timely financial data for investors and analysts via the investor center.
Most often, each department manages its own budget and the timing of that budget. Neither department wants to allocate funds toward a solution that isn’t built to accomplish their needs. And both departments prefer to be responsible for factors that affect their traffic and their message.
With that being said, it’s also important to be aware of realities when it comes to Regulation FD. Below are a couple of posts on the Business Wire Blog that shed some light. I think you’ll enjoy them.
Microsoft Needs To Get its Head Out of the Cloud When it Comes to Disclosure
http://bit.ly/90KuMO
When is Disclosure not Disclosure?
http://bit.ly/cO0pFj
The communications world is complex and dynamic. Dig deep when researching, and think about what is best and fair for both the sender and the recipient.
See you at PRSA International.
Ibrey Woodall
VP Web Communications Services
Business Wire
Ibrey.Woodall@BusinessWire.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/ibreywoodall
September 2, 2011 @ 6:23 pm
Hi Ibrey! Yes we do go way back to the days of PR 2.0 and your interview in my book. Seems like just yesterday. Time really flies. I appreciate the information and agree that an investor relations site should be separate from the general newsroom, which has a different audience. I might not have been clear about that in my short video. In my research, companies can only use their websites for disclosure, if their websites are a “recognized channel” for investors. I’ll take a look at the articles you sent and will definitely keep all of this in mind when I present. Hope you have a great Holiday weekend and I look forward to seeing you in Orlando. Should be a wonderful conference!