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Organizers

We Media Miami is organized and produced by iFOCOS, a media think tank and futures lab and home of the We Media Community, a global network of individuals and organizations from across industries who believe the power of media, communication and human ingenuity should be applied to innovate in business and to create better-informed global citizens.

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Host Sponsor and Partner

The University of Miami School of Communication is dedicated to a global educational perspective and is committed to providing a socially responsible and ethically grounded learning environment guided by a diverse faculty of scholars, artists and professionals. The School is committed to quality undergraduate and graduate programs in communication that emphasize the relationship between theory and practice. We believe in freedom of expression and creativity, and encourage both collaboration and independent thinking as we prepare future scholars, professionals and leaders for a lifetime of service and learning.

The University of Miami School of Business encompasses several programs. The mission of the University of Miami School of Business Administration is to provide an environment recognized for educational excellence through our academic programs, intellectual contributions, and service to the academic and professional communities. In developing this environment we draw on our comparative advantages of cultural diversity, geographical location, and dedicated faculty.

In the Graduate Business Programs MBA and Executive MBA candidates benefit from an internationally recognized faculty, a multinational student body, and first-class facilities are joined together in one of the most diverse cities on the planet.

The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Serving more than five million people as the only academic medical center in South Florida, The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, has earned international acclaim for clinical care, research and biomedical innovations.
Each year the medical school’s 800 faculty physicians have more than a million patient encounters in primary care and more than 30 specialties. In 2007, U.S. News & World Report listed Bascom Palmer Eye Institute as the number one hospital in the country for ophthalmology for the fourth year in a row. Three other Miller School specialties were also listed among the nation’s best: ear, nose and throat; digestive disorders; and kidney disease.

Platinum Sponsor

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS is a global news network, delivering news from every corner of the world to all media platforms and formats. Founded in 1846, AP today is the world’s largest source of independent news and information. On any given day, more than half the world’s population sees news from AP.

Gold Sponsor

HUMANA is a champion for consumers and their health. Humana believes that we can improve the health of all Americans through understand them and developing engaging and entertaining products, services and experiences. As the health industry, media and technology converge, our opportunities will mushroom.

Silver Sponsor

WASHINGTONPOST NEWSWEEK INTERACTIVE is the online publishing subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE:WPO). Its mission is to develop the company’s editorial products and businesses on the internet and across all electronic content delivery platforms. WPNI’s flagship products include Slate, washingtonpost.com, Newsweek.com, and BudgetTravelOnline.com. The company is headquartered in Arlington, Va.

Supporter

GANNETT is a leading international news and information company that publishes 85 daily newspapers in the USA, including USA TODAY, the nation’s largest-selling daily newspaper. The company also owns nearly 1,000 non-daily publications in the USA and USA WEEKEND, a weekly newspaper magazine. Gannett subsidiary Newsquest is the United Kingdom’s second largest regional newspaper company. Newsquest publishes nearly 300 titles, including 18 daily newspapers, and a network of prize-winning Web sites. Gannett also operates 23 television stations in the United States and is an Internet leader with sites sponsored by its TV stations and newspapers including USATODAY.com, one of the most popular news sites on the Web.

MARKETWIRE, INC. The only fully integrated North America-based global newswire, Marketwire, Inc. is a full-service partner to PR, IR, and MarCom professionals seeking top-tier news distribution, media management, multimedia and monitoring solutions. Marketwire’s customer-centric corporate philosophy focuses on being the best by infusing every aspect of its business with the following core attributes: precision, adaptability, innovation and simplicity.

REUTERS is a global information company providing indispensable information tailored for professionals in the financial services, media and corporate markets. Its information is trusted and drives decision making across the globe. Its core strengths lie in providing the content, analytics, trading and messaging capabilities needed by financial professionals. Reuters’ open technology, based on industry standards, enables its customers to search, store and integrate its information with content from other sources, facilitating the way they work. Reuters provides financial institutions with specially designed tools to help them reduce risk and distribute and manage the ever-increasing volumes of market data. Its electronic trading services connect financial communities, helping them to gain access to the best prices and to trade efficiently and effectively.

TOPIX.NET: A Top 20 online news destination (comScore, November 2007), Topix is the leading news community on the Web, connecting people to information and discussions that matter to them in every U.S. town and city. Topix links news from 50,000 sources to 360,000 lively user-generated forums and user-edited news pages. Topix also helps companies to grow and engage their online audiences through syndicated forums, hyper-local platforms, classifieds, RSS feeds, and more.

UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL Since 1907, United Press International (UPI) has been a leading provider of critical information to media outlets, businesses, governments and researchers worldwide. UPI is a global operation headquartered in Washington, DC with offices in Beirut, Hong Kong, London, Santiago, Seoul and Tokyo. UPI licenses content directly to print outlets, online media and institutions of all types. In addition, UPI’s distribution partners provide our content to thousands of businesses, policy groups and academic institutions worldwide. Our audience consists of millions of decision-makers who depend on UPI’s insightful and analytical stories to make better business or policy decisions. In the year of our 100th anniversary, our company strives to continue to be a leading and trusted source for news, analysis and insight for readers around the world.

Panel Sponsor

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. AARP produces AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, its monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, its bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, its quarterly newsletter for 50+ educators; and the website AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

FLEISHMAN-HILLARD is the gold standard in full-service strategic communications with a record of 62 years of results and superior client service.. Our philosophy is “To make ourselves as valuable to our clients as they are to us…”® That’s more than a mission statement; it is the essence of Fleishman-Hillard. It’s what sets us apart from our competition: a relentless focus on our clients, and an insistence on delivering top-quality, results-oriented work.

MICROSOFT® HEALTHVAULT (TM) Microsoft® HealthVaultTM is a free Web-based platform that enables patients to collect, store, and share health information with hospitals and physicians using enhanced security and privacy measures which healthcare providers can use to help increase efficiency and improve care.

To learn how hospitals and physicians can better connect with patients, click here:

KAISER PERMANENTE is America’s leading integrated health plan. Headquartered in Oakland, CA Kaiser Permanente serves 8.7 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Nationwide, Kaiser Permanente includes approximately 156,000 technical, administrative and clerical employees and caregivers, and 13,000 physicians representing all specialties.

NEWSGATOR TECHNOLOGIES is a pioneer in delivering social computing products and services for businesses. The company’s enterprise RSS, social networking and widget platforms are used by more than 100 of the world’s largest companies and most recognized brands including Bank of America, Procter & Gamble, CBS, CNN, USA Today, Discovery, National Geographic and Biogen Idec. The company also offers an award-winning line of RSS aggregators for the Web, desktops, mobile devices and e-mail clients. More than a million people rely on NewsGator to deliver timely, relevant content every day.

PROTEUS is a veteran provider of mobile marketing products and solutions with deep carrier connectivity around the globe. From SMS messaging campaigns to mobile Internet sites to entertainment content storefronts, Proteus develops products to help companies connect with consumers, create innovative marketing programs, drive additional revenue and build their brands.

Media Sponsors

BLOGHER Founded in February 2005 as a labor of love by three bloggers, BlogHer’s mission is to create opportunities for women who blog to pursue exposure, education, community and economic empowerment. Today BlogHer provides the number-one community for and guide to blogs by women, via annual conferences, a Web network (http://blogher.com), and an advertising network of more than 1,100 qualified, contextually targeted blog affiliates (http://blogherads.com). BlogHer Inc. is majority-owned by three co-founders and has backing from Venrock (http://venrock.com).

THE ASSOCIATION FOR ALTERNATIVE NEWSWEEKLIES (AAN) is a diverse group of 130 alt-weekly news organizations that cover every major metropolitan area in North America. Members of AAN reach a print and online audience of more than 25 million young, educated, active and influential adults in the U.S. and Canada. AAN was founded in Seattle, Wash., in 1978. It began with 30 newspapers, including San Francisco Bay Guardian, Creative Loafing, Phoenix New Times, Willamette Week and The Chicago Reader. To meet the association’s rigorous membership standards, weekly newspapers must demonstrate that they produce high-quality journalism that offers a valuable alternative to the mainstream media in their area. As a result, only 30 percent of the papers that apply for membership are admitted to the organization. The 130 papers that now make up the association publish in 41 states and the District of Columbia in the United States, and in four Canadian provinces.

LAUNCHBOX DIGITAL, a new early stage investment firm located in Washington, D.C., is focused on helping entrepreneurs get through the challenging early days of starting a business by bringing capital, advice, and practical guidance to help early stage businesses succeed. LaunchBox Digital is accepting applications for LaunchBox08, its summer accelerator program for entreprenuers who are starting a technology business. 6-10 successful applicants to LaunchBox08 will receive funding and guidance to take their big ideas from concept to market. The program will include $15,000 to $30,000 in seed funding and a 12 week business building program in D.C. where participants will refine their ideas with the help of world-class mentors and advisors. The program culminates with pitch days, where each new business will present to angel investors, venture capital firms, strategic partners, bloggers and media on the East and West Coasts. Interested applicants can apply online at www.launchboxdigital.com/apply-online.html.

Changents is an emerging social media company that turns the “rock stars” of social and environmental change — Change Agents — into Internet celebrities and equips them with an army of super fans. The company uses storytelling tied to action opportunities to get members behind these Change Agents, and applies a new technology called The Ripple to show the impact of each individual’s good deeds. Changents was founded in 2007 by Alex Hofmann and Deron Triff, social entrepreneurs with backgrounds in entertainment and new media, who set out to engage a digitally-connected, socially-conscious generation on its own terms.

DAILY ME, INC. Based in Hollywood, Florida, DailyMe (www.dailyme.com) is a news provider, content platform and social community that allows users to personalize, aggregate, share and interact with the news, blogs, columns and stories of interest to them. Covering everything from world news to wedding planning, DailyMe draws its stories from thousands of sources, including licensed content, syndicated content and user-generated content. DailyMe users can choose the types of stories they want and also choose between online, email and print delivery. By combining the best practices of online newspapers, news portals and traditional print media, DailyMe is changing the way news and information is read and delivered.

FUTURE OF WEB APPS MIAMI – Feb 28 – Mar 1 2008 Aimed at developers and web entrepreneurs, FOWA brings together web 2.0 visionaries to discuss the technologies, platforms and business models you should be using to launch the next generation of successful web apps. It’s one of the hottest events in the web industry, and a great place to learn how successful web applications and sites are being built by the biggest names in the industry! This is the first time that FOWA has hit the East Coast. As well as a day of conference and workshops, there’s a barcamp Miami and a big party on the beach sponsored by ScrapBlog.com.

THE INSTITUTE FOR POLITICS, DEMOCRACY & THE INTERNET (IPDI) is part of the Graduate School of Political Management of The George Washington University. Its mission is to promote the use of the Internet and new communication technologies in politics to enhance democratic values, encourage citizen participation and improve governance, at home and abroad; in short, to “democratize democracy.” IPDI conducts research that anticipates and interprets trends; publishes studies and guidelines that that show candidates, public officials and activists how to make the best use of the new communication tools; and holds seminars and conferences that advocate best practices, teach new skills and allow for the national and international exchange of ideas on the democratizing uses of the Internet and other new technologies.

LATINVISION MEDIA, INC. is a New York-based company that operates a business portal targeting U.S. Hispanic and Latin American executives, entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals in small and medium-sized companies which includes:
www.latinvision.com/finance | www.latinvision/events | www.latinvision.com/portada | www.hispanicdigital.us | hispanicentrepreneur.blogspot.com

THE MIAMI HERALD MEDIA COMPANY (MHMC) publishes The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald and a diversified portfolio of print and electronic media products reaching more than 1.4 million South Florida readers and viewers every week. Our websites, MiamiHerald.com and ElNuevoHerald.com are the area’s #1 local news and information websites, drawing more than 3.7 million unique visitors per month. Print products include niche, community and other publications in both English and Spanish.

Our newest addition on the web is www.miami.com , South Florida’s premier entertainment and destination website. We invite you to experience it and discover all the area has to offer.

PAIDCONTENT.ORG, flagship of the ContentNext Media network, provides global coverage of the business of digital content. ContentNext is an independent media and information company based in Santa Monica, California, covering the business of digital media. The company operates three award winning sites: paidContent.org, mocoNews.net and contentSutra.com. Founded by journalist Rafat Ali in 2002, the company’s news sites chronicle the economic evolution of digital content that is shaping the future of the media, information and entertainment industries.

POLITICS ONLINE, INC. is the premier global company providing Internet news, tools and strategies for using the Internet in civic sector – politics, media, government and public affairs. Founded in 1996, it is now the oldest political Internet company and is credited with literally dozens of innovations and industry firsts. PoliticsOnline’s products and services are used by over 900 customers and 40,000 subscribers in over 60 countries. The company has developed dozens of large, complex interactive projects for such clients as, AOL Time Warner, BBC, World Bank, Amnesty International, Bertelsmann, European Union, United Nations, International Crisis Group, governments of Australia, Holland, Stockholm, Barcelona, and many others.

SEE3 is a communications firm that works exclusively with nonprofit organizations. We create compelling visual media and internet marketing initiatives that enable nonprofits to maximize exposure, deepen connections, and produce results. In addition to video production and web development, See3 is a leading provider of social media marketing planning and implementation. Our background in nonprofit fundraising and business marketing are combined to create campaigns that have emotional appeal and impact on target audiences. Our current clients are as diverse as Amnesty International, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs, the Maryland State Teachers Association, Chicago Foundation for Women, the Center for Global Development, and Columbia College.

SOURCEFORGE’S web sites connect millions of influential technology professionals and enthusiasts each day. Combining user-developed content, online marketing and e-commerce, SourceForge is the global technology community’s nexus for information exchange, goods for geeks, and open source software distribution and services. SourceForge’s unique combination of information makes it the most trusted, credible venue for dialogue and exchange with the global technology community.

THE INNOVATORS NETWORK is a global community of IT entrepreneurs and the companies and individuals that support them. Bringing together IT executives with venture capitalists, lawyers, and business consultants, the Innovators Network provides you with online and offline opportunities to network, share best practices, find partners, and move your businesses forward.

THE INTERNET ADVOCACY CENTER (IAC) is a strategic resource for citizens,organizations, and coalitions seeking to integrate the Internet and other technologies into their advocacy and political campaigns. The resulting goal: to build a powerful organic community that supports the organizational objectives of our clients. Tools Do NOT Equal Strategy: IAC is at the leading edge of Internet politics. To achieve this, IAC has established a convergence of the practice and analysis of Internet advocacy strategies. IAC brings together the insights gained from more than 15 years of strategic consulting, education, and research experience in the field of digitally networked politics.