Knoxville, Tenn. –

The event promises to bring together some of the brightest minds in social media in North America to teach business leaders how to get serious about digital media marketing.

“We support Social Slam 2011 because of the experience represented by the event’s speakers and panelists,” said Cathy Ackermann, CEO and owner of Ackermann PR. “This is not a conference about hypothetical business practices. The participants will be discussing their actual work in the field and sharing their experiences in creating measurable and effective digital media business opportunities.”

The event, organized by Social Media Club Knoxville, is bringing a collection of some of the nation’s best-known experts in digital and mobile marketing to the Knoxville Convention Center for a one-day business-oriented conference.

“This event is a valuable opportunity for Knoxville-area business leaders,” said Shane Rhyne, Digital Business Strategies Manager for Ackermann PR. “The speakers and panelists represent a who’s who of experts in our industry. Having them all together for a single conference is gaining a lot of attention. Business leaders from across the nation are making travel plans to attend this event.”

The event will feature nationally-acclaimed keynote speakers, including:

• Jay Baer, a global top 50 marketing blogger and author of The Now Revolution
• Christina “CK” Kerley, America’s foremost authority on mobile marketing
• Trey Pennington, author, professor and international marketing expert
• Brian Winter, successful executive, entrepreneur and digital marketing expert

Additional panel discussions will feature nationally-recognized authorities on:

• Social media’s reinvention of public relations
• Building a business case for social media
• Critical digital media mega-trends
• Social media and business-to-business (B2B) marketing

Seating is limited for the event. Tickets are available from the event website at www.SocSlam.com for $49 through February 28. In March, the price will increase to $59, and in April, any remaining available tickets will cost $69.

For additional information about the event, the speakers and panelists, registration and materials, visit the Social Slam website at www.SocSlam.com.

About Social Media Club Knoxville

Social Media Club Knoxville is a networking organization for Knoxvillians currently using social media personally and professionally, and those seeking to learn. SMC Knoxville is a chapter of the international SMC headquartered in San Francisco, California. SMC is a non-profit organization designed to promote media literacy, support sharing among practitioners, encourage adoption of industry standards, and promote ethical practices through discussion and actions. For more information about SMC, visit www.socialmediaclub.org

Knoxville

Children spend an excessive amount of time in front of televisions, computers and video games.  A recent Nielsen Company study showed that children aged 2 -11 are watching more television than they have in years, with children 2-5 years of age spending more than 32 hours per week in front of a screen.  With Moving Picture Books, that time can be entertaining as well as a learning experience.

“Digital media offers a new technique for engaging children to read at an earlier stage of life,” said Dr. Robert Rider, Dean and Professor at the University of Tennessee’s College of Education.  “Using digital media and animated picture books helps to attract the attention of kids and helps them focus on fluency, literacy and vocabulary in a way that advances them to a much higher level of literacy.”

With educators and parents focused on the benefits of digital learning, the University of Tennessee has initiated a research study to examine the way children process information learned in the digital age.  As part of the study, children will be using Moving Picture Books as their learning is evaluated by education experts.  

Each of the 44 stories offered by Moving Picture Books – including eight new Sesame Street titles – can be viewed with English or Spanish voiceover, and with or without the read-along English text displayed on the screen.  The pacing of the storytelling is, according to Dr. Rider, perfect for children to follow along with the text.  The available stories include classics that have been passed down from generation to generation, new favorites written specifically for Moving Picture Books, Bible stories and holiday classics. 

Meg Lonon, the Vice President and Development Director for Moving Picture Books and mother of two young children, said, “Parents can read along with their kids or download a story for them to enjoy while they navigate through their busy days. 

Accessing these stories is easy and moms can take them along on car trips, to waiting rooms, grocery stores, sports practices or anywhere else they need to go.  Moving Picture Books are perfect for those who are just learning to read, those who read well and those who are struggling.”

Moving Picture Books are designed to engage and inspire young readers.  The read-along text versions of the books have been hailed by education professionals and parents as a great early reading tool.  In addition, all of the books feature age-appropriate lessons that all parents can appreciate like caring, sharing, honesty and self-reliance.  Lonon says, “Because they can be viewed on iPods and cell phones, they are a hit with children and parents everywhere you go.”

Moving Picture Books are available at Wal-Mart stores throughout the country, online at www.MovingPictureBooks.com and at online retailers including iTunes.

Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com