The Thoughtful Thud Revisited

Senior FT executive to speak at European Summit

Apple’s iPad finally launched outside the US at the end of last week. What was interesting was the way British newspapers themselves talked about the iPad, not as a threat, but as a device that the newspaper industry seems to think will make the future of journalism a different story.

What I do know is that there are some very smart people in newspaper publishing working hard to embrace previous mistakes in online journalism. Already in the UK two national newspapers, the Times and the Financial Times have launched a news app for the iPad.

All of which underlines the significance that Caspar de Bono, the Managing Director of B2B, Financial Times, is the latest top speaker to be announced for the 2^nd European Summit on Measurement organised by AMEC and the Institute for Public Relations to be held in Barcelona from 16-18 June.

He is joining a panel of speakers on Wednesday 16^th June who will talk about “News online – an uneasy birth”, a workshop examining the impact and developments of content licensing. Mr. de Bono is responsible for the business to business (B2B) activities of the Financial Times Ltd which includes the FT's syndication and corporate content sales.

Our break through moment?

We’re two weeks away from an event that has been six months in the planning and which I believe can result in one of those break-through moments communications professionals all seek.

AMEC and the IPR are jointly presenting the Second European Summit on Measurement in Barcelona from June 14-16. We have a major half day debate planned to create the Barcelona Declaration Principles. What makes it special is that for the first time leaders of five global PR organisations will share a platform to discuss standard metrics and measurement techniques.

All of which makes it frustrating that at this time I am talking to two leading country PR member organisations who are not planning to be at the Summit. Fair enough, except both are planning new initiatives to “revive” their approach to measurement.

I won’t embarrass either by naming them, believing there is still time to persuade them that the start point of their reappraisal to measurement sensibly starts by listening and taking part in the debate?

160 other people have already registered for the Summit!