April 30 - Southwest Airlines: Nuts About Online Communication

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Thursday, April 30, 2009
Peoria, Illinois
Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) - Central Illinois Chapter

 

Southwest Airlines: Nuts About Online Communication

 

A blogger once wrote that Southwest Airlines was riding the blogosphere "like a wild horse." Ask all on the Southwest Communication Team, and they’ll agree that it has been a wild ride. For more than three years, Southwest Airlines has navigated the uncharted territory of Social Media – first, with its award-winning corporate blog, Nuts About Southwest, later with tools such as Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Along the way, Southwest has experienced both highs and lows, but its leadership members keep saddling up for more. From virtual riots to an industry crisis, Southwest has learned how to leverage today’s social media tools to successfully support Company initiatives. Through real-life case studies from the past three years, Southwest will show you how its staff members have effectively made, managed, and maintained successful online communities and share every lesson they’ve learned along the way.

 

Paula Berg is the Manager of Emerging Media for Southwest Airlines, the nation’s leading low-fare air carrier and the largest domestic airline in terms of customers carried. Over the last two years, Paula has managed and developed the Company’s corporate blog, “Nuts About Southwest.” Since its launch in April 2006, “Nuts” has experienced tremendous success – building a community for its loyal customer base, serving as a virtual focus group, and influencing several business decisions. In 2007, “Nuts” was named Best Blog by PR News and has been recognized in major publications ranging from Wired Magazine to The Wall Street Journal. In addition to managing the Company blog, Paula leads Southwest’s online communication and social media efforts. Prior to her work in social media, Paula was a spokesperson for the airline with emphasis on strategic communication, media relations, and reputation management. Paula also supervised on-location production for three seasons of Airline!, Southwest’s reality series for the A&E Television Network, which filmed Southwest’s daily operations in four cities. After brief stints selling beer on Phish tour and working for the Colorado and United States Senates, Paula woke up and smelled the jet fuel and began her career at Southwest Airlines in 2001. Paula is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder where she earned a bachelor's degree in communication and a minor in political science.

 

When: Thursday, April 30, 2009, 6 p.m.

 

Where: Embassy Suites East Peoria Hotel & Conference Center, 100 Conference Center Drive East Peoria, IL 61611, 309-694-0200 Office

 

Dinner selection: Taste of Italy Buffet includes: CAESAR SALAD, CHEF'S CHOICE OF VEGETABLE IN SEASON, BOWTIE PASTA or LINGUINE, MARINARA--PESTO--and PARMESAN CREAM SAUCES, MEATBALLS, GARLIC BREADSTICKS, SHREDDED PARMESAN CHEESE, COOKIES, TEA---COFFEE---WATER.

• Social hour: 6:00 p.m.
• Dinner: 7:00 p.m.
• Meeting: 8:00 p.m. Over by 9 p.m.

• Nonmembers $30
• Members $25
• Students $24

RSVP: Terri Johnson, tljohnson@eiu.edu, by April 23. Cancellations after close of business on April 23 will be subject to the full dinner charge. Please pay at the door with cash or check. (We apologize that credit cards cannot be accepted). If an invoice is requested prior to the event for business purposes, please advise of such with your RSVP.

 

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