Most established nonprofits came of age in the analog world of the 20th century, when information was carefully managed and pushed vertically to constituents and through the mainstream media. The Internet has flattened that world, scattering audiences, limiting the scope of news media, and democratizing information so that it can no longer be controlled. Twentieth-century communications practices grow increasingly obsolete, but how to keep up with – let alone take advantage of the opportunities presented by  – the rapidly evolving digital environment is a critical issue for institutions constrained by long-standing internal processes and by the sheer weight of organizational history. In this session, teams from three major nonprofits share what they’ve learned about such constraints and how to overcome them. Who are the key stakeholders and what kind of “institutional learning” is necessary? How can an organization transform itself into the kind of nimble, transparent and inclusive entity that succeeds in a digital world?

Moderator: Suzanne Turner, President, Turner Strategies

From AAUW:
Jill Birdwhistell, Chief of Strategic Advancement
Peggy Woods-Clark, Website Manager

From Environmental Defense Fund (EDF):
David Acup, Senior Director, Interactive Marketing
Kira Marchenese, Online Communications Director

From Service Employees International Union (SEIU):
Jessica Kutch, New Media Campaign Manager
TBD

About the Turner Strategies MediaMorphosis Discussion Series

The rise of the Internet has profoundly changed public behavior, complicating how the public receives, consumes and reacts to information. As media continues to evolve in unexpected and confounding ways, the greatest challenge for any organization dependent on information to advance its work is how to keep up. This program is part of Turner Strategies' MediaMorphosis discussion series for public policy and advocacy organizations to explore topics and issues that help illuminate the digital landscape, and learn communications and advocacy strategies to navigate and thrive in a digital world.

Twitter hashtag: #mediamorph