Join me on a live broadcast Spreecast on the Spotlight on Social Media Channel Thursday morning March 22nd at 10am PST.  We are going to discuss the new KIRO7 prime time television show debuting tomorrow night at 10:30pm on Channel 7 locally and at 10pm via Livestream.  The show is called “Connect with Jenni” and will feature the social media star Jenni Hogan and a great group of guests who live and breathe social media.

I’m hoping that Jenni and some of her guests will be joining us for the Live Spreecast, but I have not heard back yet.  It would be great to get an inside view of what they are trying to accomplish with the show, if it is going to be a regular show and how it might fit in with the national CBS Network.

I’m predicting right here that the show is going to be a smashing success that that Jenni will soon be lured to NY, LA or possibly San Francisco to host and star in a national social media show.  I’m not sure that it will be on Network Television though – even though I think Jenni would be able to get her own show on any major network, I strongly believe that many more of her  true fans and viewers all over the world can be reached via the Internet.  I could see Jenni having her own highly popular show on Hulu or even (my personal favorite) Spreecast.  Jenni Hogan has the personality to easily create a show that could buoy a complete platform, much like Howard Stern did for Sirius …

Please tune into Spreecast Thursday morning at 10am to participate in the conversation and let us know your thoughts on the future evolution of network television and social media.  We will try to get as many people on camera as possible, so if you would like to share your thoughts, please make sure to do a prior test on your webcam and microphone.

BONUS:  All participants to this Spreecast will be eligible to win a pair of tickets to see the King of Sales, Mr. Jeffrey Gitomer at events right here in Bellevue Thursday afternoon ($398 value) or Friday morning ($199 value).  Make sure to show up and tune in tomorrow morning for details.

KIRO7′s own Paul Bacarek, who runs their Facebook and Twitter accounts, wrote a great post about the experience of putting their groundbreaking show on the air.  He’s also been invited to the Spreecast tomorrow morning and I hope he can join in.

Throughout the 22^nd of March, viewers will be able to log onto www.kirotv.com at 10:00 p.m. to capture raw moments and extensive interviews with guests as they prepare to go on live TV at 10:30 p.m. on KIRO 7 Eyewitness News.

“We decided to bring this opportunity to our viewers because we are excited about being on the forefront of new ways to interact with the community and provide them with accurate and impactful information and resources delivered to them in the best way possible,” said Todd Mokhtari, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News Web Manager.  “Viewers now have the opportunity to engage with newscasts in real time, and can truly impact the direction the show goes by sharing what they’re most interested in, asking questions, or making comments.”

KIRO 7’s Traffic Anchor, Jenni Hogan, was recently recognized as the ‘most followed local female TV anchor in the nation’ on Twitter, and currently has more than 120,000 Twitter and Facebook followers.  Hogan is passionate about sharing with viewers the opportunities and resources that social media can provide.  She will focus on topics aimed to inspire viewers to improve their lives and those around them through the power of connecting online.

The show will begin online with a livestream conversation, and then move to primetime TV.  The audience will be encouraged to interact online throughout the primetime segment by following hash tag #KIROConnect on Twitter, helping to create what the next generation of combined television and social media will provide.  The show will also highlight:

• Top Apps that can help save time and money;
• Ways to use technology to improve your life;
• Local celebrities and how they interact with their online communities; and
• The faces behind the online voices of your favorite brands.

Featured guests:

Josie Bissett, starred on Melrose Place

Ben Huh, CEO of Cheezburger

Blake Cahill, President of Banyan Branch

Porter Gale, Chief Evangelist of Kred

James Sun CEO of Pirq and former contestant on The Apprentice

Jean-Sun Hannah Ahn, Miss Seattle 2012.

“This is a show that can’t be done without the viewers and I’m excited to have them join us,” said Jenni Hogan. “They will be as much of a host as I am, adding their comments and helping to shape the direction as we explore the best ways to connect with each other during live broadcasts, using tools such as our mobile devices and laptops.”

Publisher’s Note:  I’m so happy for Jenni Hogan and hope that this turns out to be a very successful and weekly show.  You can join our Future of Network TV in Social Media Spreecast on Thursday morning at 10am PDT to hear more about the show and to contribute your opinion about the future interaction of television and social media – and potentially be invited to be part of the Live Spreecast.

Meet and get tips from representatives from:

This program is tailored for non profits, agencies, community organizations and small businesses, and anyone else who wants to understand this new form of media. One important goal of the program is to provide valuable information on how to work with these interactive media sources to increase visibility, publicize events and more effectively reach target audiences. Topics covered will include how to write an effective press release, how to submit content, elements of a good news story and how to be a community journalist.

Confirmed panelists include Travis Mayfield – Executive Producer, Fisher Interactive Network , KOMO Communities, http://www.KOMOCommunities.com; Venice Buhain, Editor of Bellevue Patch,http://www.BellevuePatch.com; a representative from 425 Magazine, http://www.425magazine.com;  and Joe Kennedy, Publisher, Bellevue Business Journal,  http://www.BellevueBusinessJournal.com. Event moderator will be Maya, radio host at WARM 106.9 FM- http://www.warm1069.com.

To RSVP, please contact volunteer@bellevuewa.gov. If you have questions about the event, contactKhenry@bellevuewa.gov. This program is sponsored by the City of Bellevue Volunteer and Cultural Diversity Programs of the City of Bellevue.

Community-Based Media Panel Discussion, June 9, 1-3:30 pm, North Bellevue Community Center, 4063 148th Ave. NE, Bellevue, WA 98009, Phone: 425-452-7681.http://www.bellevuewa.gov/north_bellevue_community_center_programs.htm

I have helped both the PR company and the marketing association many times over the past 5 years, but am unable to recall one time that either of them did anything nice for me – or even invited me to an event without a price tag.

Still the same, I kept an open mind and asked if they would be willing to give me a media pass to the event so that I could report on it.  The person said she’d have to check with her boss and then the next day said that would not be giving media passes, but that they could offer me their ‘special’ student rate of $99.

Evidently, they don’t place much value on the work they continue ask me to do to help them – and don’t realize that most of media types do not make much money – especially considering the huge number of hours committed each week.  I usually alternate between the emotions of anger and amusement when someone asks to pay so I can help them out.

What was my reaction to this situation?  I asked to be immediately removed from all their media lists and stated that I would never be helping them or their client ever again.  What would you have done?

I love to help people, businesses and organizations, but eventually, as in every successful long term relationship, it eventually has to come back around.  All parties must be willing to help each other.  My suggestions for engaging the media:

1) Invite them to the events you ask them to promote.  They might even give you post event publicity too.

2) Don’t attach a price tag (you probably don’t like to pay to work and the media doesn’t either).

3) If the event includes a meal or food for attendees, don’t withhold it from your media guests – we are people too.  If your budget does not allow for cost of having media attend, simply don’t ask them to – or to promote it.

4) You might want to consider ‘the media” as your partner – and treating them as you’d treat a partner.

5) Go out of your way to connect and develop relationships with media. Do something nice for them – introduce them to someone who can help them, invite them to special events.  Don’t just use them – nobody likes to be used.

Feedback?  I’d love to hear it.