Once again, we will be offering pre-conference workshops for anyone interested in getting started early and taking advantage of all the excellent learning opportunities available at ComNet15.
As always, pre-conference workshops come at an additional cost and are not included in general registration for the conference. Please check out the details below on the six workshops offered this year.
To register for a pre-conference workshop, you may use the Add to Cart button listed next to each workshop description or visit the Registration page and add your selected workshops to your cart. Please note that you can register for a maximum of two pre-conference workshops per person, one from the Early Session (1pm - 3pm PT) and one from the Late Session (3:05pm - 5:05pm PT).
Early Session: 1pm - 3pm PT
Hatch For Good: Using the Power of Digital Storytelling to Drive Social Impact
Led by: RJ Bee, Senior Vice President, Hattaway Communications & Kimaya Dixit, Senior Associate, Hattaway Communications
Description: Since its preview at ComNet ‘14, Hatch for Good—a digital platform that helps organizations become effective storytelling organizations—launched, and has already helped change-makers around the globe harness the power of storytelling to drive social change.
This interactive workshop will introduce participants to Hatch for Good’s full range of storytelling tools—including developing a storytelling strategy, building a storytelling culture, captivating audiences with compelling content and determining the best platforms for sharing their stories and evaluating success. Participants will also share their storytelling challenges and brainstorm possible solutions as a group.
What You'll Learn:
- Actionable ideas for storytelling strategy and capacity
- A tool for creating compelling, motivating stories—the Social Impact Story Map
- Best practices and tips for using digital platforms for storytelling—like Twitter, Facebook, Medium, Storify and Instagram
Price: $125 for members/ $199 for nonmembers
Time/Date: Wednesday September 30, 1pm - 3pm PT
Building a Sustainable Content Strategy
Led by: Nitya Chambers, Director of Content Strategy, Threespot; Ashley Lusk, Content and Social Media Strategist, Threespot; Jamie Perez, Creative Director, Threespot
Description: Your organization has amazing stories to tell -- about the people you work with and for, your broader mission, your strategy. Content is an essential cornerstone of engagement with audiences and stakeholders. But how do you create a content strategy that connects to your mission and is sustainable within available resources?
This workshop will uses a mixture of presentation, exercises, and discussion to help you get your arms around your organization’s content strategy and make it work. Whether you’re new to the subject or a practiced hand looking for new perspectives and discussion with the like-minded, this session intends to engage and inspire with tips, shared experience, and pragmatic tools that can make a difference.
What You'll Learn:
- Content strategy is a team sport -- identify who you have and who you need.
- Tools and tips to help you create and maintain your content strategy -- from editorial calendaring and decision-driving metrics.
- Learn the defined stages of a sustainable content practice, and we’ll discuss common bottlenecks and how to overcome them.
Price: This workshop is sold out.
Time/Date: Wednesday September 30, 1pm - 3pm PT
Communication Apocalypse– How will you respond when Zombies attack?
Led by: Beth Kanter, Spitfire Strategies
Description: When disaster strikes, do you know how to react? Hiding under the covers won’t make it go away. Whether the opposition is relentlessly attacking you, your executive director is arrested for embezzlement or a grantee is under fire for unethical behavior, having an adaptable crisis communication plan can help you respond to both anticipated and unexpected crises, prevent your organization from serious reputation damage and minimize political repercussions.
What You’ll Learn:
All organizations need to know how to identify issues that can become a crisis and have the tools on hand to minimize these vulnerabilities. During this session, Beth Kanter of Spitfire will share lessons learned from the recent Planned Parenthood controversy and help participants refine their own crisis communications plan. Beth will also discuss:
- The basic elements and questions to consider when developing a crisis communication plan;
- How to map out the crisis response protocol and outline what steps to take when crisis hits; and
- How to gear your messages to your most important audience rather than engaging in a heated debate with the opposition.
Price: $125 for members/ $199 for nonmembers
Time/Date: Wednesday September 30, 1pm - 3pm PT
Late Session: 3:05pm - 5:05pm PT
Telling Stories with Data
Led by: Taj Carson, CEO, Carson Research Consulting
Description: Telling stories with data is not the same as lying with statistics. Every good communicators knows that storytelling is a compelling way to make your case, change hearts and minds, and create change.
At the same time, we are all being encouraged to bring data to our conversations, to show evidence that backs up the stories we are telling about our causes, organizations, and clients.
How you bring data to the art of storytelling? It's hard work, making your left and right brain play nice together, but when you measure what matters, create compelling stories, and then tell those stories using powerful visuals, you engage the whole person, heart and mind.
This workshop will help participants to identify what's important all along the path to creating compelling visual stories. We will identify ways to choose and measure outcomes, how to create powerful stories with the data you have, and what the best practices are for visualizing that data.
Attendees will be asked to bring specific questions and problems they are struggling with. Throughout the workshop, the presenter will ask participants to use their own real life challenges to work through issues related to measurement, data collection, story construction and visualization so that participants can see what the process is like first-hand, and also walk away with some concrete ideas about how to apply these practices to their organization.
What You'll Learn:
- Everything can be measured. Everything. You just have to choose the method and indicators that are most appropriate for what you do.
- Storytelling and data analysis are friends. You don't have to stick to anecdotes and imagination to tell a powerful story. And when you combine the two, you reach audiences of all types.
- Visual storytelling combines many different skill sets and tools. Know which ones you have and which ones you should get help with.
Price: This workshop is sold out.
Time/Date: Wednesday September 30, 3:05pm - 5:05pm PT
Demystifying Design: Tips and Tricks to create better work
Led by: Elke Dochtermann, Chief Creative Officer at Fenton
Description: It’s hard for communications professionals to get the best creative work for their organizations and grantees. Sometimes it seems like you need to speak a different language to articulate what you need and to communicate properly to creative types who might not always seem like they ‘get it’. In this workshop, you will gain insight into the not-so-mysterious language of design, learn how to cut through the clutter and confusion and enable your creative resources to produce beautiful and meaningful work.
What You'll Learn:
- Design is not a scary, impenetrable discipline. It’s based in science and humans are predisposed to accept it.
- Understanding the basics of design can help your organization deliver on your mission.
- Gain insight on how to work better with your creative resources to yield better results
Price: $125 for members/ $199 for nonmembers
Time/Date: Wednesday September 30, 3:05pm - 5:05pm PT
Questions about pre-conference workshops? Contact us at .
The Art of the Social Blockbuster: Building Audience on Today’s Web
Led by: Jean Ellen Cowgill, President, Atlantic Media Strategies
Description: The explosive growth of mobile and social platforms has transformed how we find, read, and share. Today, we expect content to meet us where, when, and how we want it.
For brands, it’s not enough to put stories or research “out there” and expect an audience to assemble. To build audience in this environment, organizations must align their content and distribution efforts with the habits and fascinations of the modern reader.
Applying lessons from Atlantic Media’s award-winning properties (The Atlantic, Quartz, CityLab, National Journal, Government Executive) and the wider web, Jean Ellen Cowgill will discuss the art of planning, crafting and promoting stories to capture and keep the attention of modern audiences. Attendees will walk away with a clear understanding of modern reader mindsets, effective content strategies, and proven tactics for growing audience and engagement.
What You'll Learn:
- Implications of modern reader habits
- Strategies for crafting content with social runway and promise
- Indications and opportunities for rapidly building audience
Price: This workshop is sold out.
Time/Date: Wednesday September 30, 3:05pm - 5:05pm PT
FAQ
Are pre-conference workshops included in my registration fee?
No. Pre-conference workshops are not included in your registration fee. The cost of each pre-conference workshop is listed above and can also be found on the Registration page.
How do I sign up for a pre-conference workshop?
You can sign up for a pre-conference workshop by using the Add to Cart buttons above or by visiting the Registration page and choosing a pre-conference workshop (or two) to add to your cart.
Can I sign up for more than one pre-conference workshop?
We'd love for you to enjoy each and every one of our pre-conference workshops. Unfortunately, the schedule only allows for a maximum of two pre-conference workshops per registrant, one in the Early Session and one in the Late Session. Please check workshop times to ensure you don't register for workshops that take place simultaneously.
How much do pre-conference workshops cost?
The cost of pre-conference workshops led by Carson Research Group, Hattaway Communications, Atlantic Media, Fenton and Threespot are each $125 for Communications Network members and $199 for non-members.
How long do they last?
Each workshop will last for a maximum of two hours.
How long do I have to sign up?
You can sign up for pre-conference workshops beginning June 1 until workshops have reached maximum capacity.
Can I get a refund if I change my mind after purchase?
You can get a full refund up to two weeks (fourteen days) in advance of the start of the conference. If you request a refund less than 14 days before the start of ComNet15 we will be unable to refund your registration.
Am I required to register for a pre-conference workshop if I register for the conference?
No. Our pre-conference workshops are offered as an additional opportunity for conference-goers to learn a new skill with real hands-on workshop experience. Participation is not required. Pre-conference workshops come at an additional cost to conference registration.
Additional questions?
Send us an email at [email protected].