Society for New Communications Research Blog

Today’s announcement of the merger between SNCR and The Conference Board is incredibly exciting news! For the past 10 years, the SNCR Fellows have become a cohesive cohort of academics, thought leaders and practitioners working together to advance the conversations about emerging digital technologies, the rise of social business, and new media. Our collective body of work has served and led the social media and new communications revolution with forward-thinking research, best practices and guidance.

It is worth noting that we have consistently been ahead of the curve. SNCR was among the first to encourage and support organizations in their development of social media policies and to consider the legal implications of digital sharing and collaboration. Through our research, we have examined the role the social economy can play in advancing peer communities, bringing social networking to the forefront of awareness. We have deconstructed the social mind, documented the unbanked, and help advance patient advocacy and access to healthcare through digital connections. Most recently, we have been carrying the flag to develop industry-wide social media measurement standards. We have traveled far and wide, pioneered tough discussions, and guided countless organizations on methods to act upon insights shared online.

In addition to the meaningful work we were doing, we also became a tribe. As we represent early leadership in exploring the significant impact of digital and social media tools and technologies on everything from business and media, to health, law, culture and society, being a part of SNCR has enabled us to shift from being isolated practitioners to finding camaraderie with like-minded professionals. As a Senior Fellow, board member and SNCR’s research co-chair, I have learned so much from you all and have appreciated the opportunity to work with you with your studies. We have done great things as an organization, and I have never been more excited about the future of our organization than I am right now.

Now the time has come for us to achieve even greater scale and impact! In partnership with The Conference Board, our potential is multiplied to engage with a broader set of organizations, to have greater visibility of our research and best practices, and to make an even bigger difference than ever before. There is a great Swahili saying “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others.” The issues are even more complex, the number of organizations grappling with the implications of new digital and social technologies is heightened, and the need for a deep exploration of the issues and the development of best practices, policies and standards is more pressing than ever. Digital and social technologies are changing every aspect of our lives. Social business is here to stay, and our work, in many ways, has just begun. I look forward to the next chapter of SNCR, and to participating as a member of the new SNCR of The Conference Board Advisory Board, and the opportunity to collaborate with you all!