Social business is the future of business—but where do communicators fit in? Though everybody is able to communicate across multiple boundaries, Shel Holtz, ABC, argues in his recent Tech Talk column that communication skills and expertise will assume even more importance in the social enterprise.

In this episode of CW Radio, Joe Strupek, assistant vice president of public affairs at State Farm Insurance Companies, talks about online brand and reputation management. He compares the rules of conduct on the Web to the American “Wild, Wild West,” and shares what individuals and businesses can do to protect their reputations despite this unforgiving online world. Learn more at the 2013 IABC World Conference, where Strupek will lead a session entitled “Gunfight at the social corral.”

Employees praise companies that keep them in the loop, and gripe and moan when they feel like they were the last to know an important piece of information. How can communicators make sure we consistently communicate with employees, particularly those who are not in a central location? Jonathan Erwin explains in this CW Bulletin article that mobile communication has the potential to break the cycle of misinformed and disengaged employees.

What’s the role of innovation in a successful organization, and how can leaders foster a creative culture? In a video produced by The CEO TV Show, Shelly Lazarus, former CEO and current chairman emeritus of Oglivy & Mather, shares her experience with building an innovative culture, which includes creating an environment where failure is OK and where great ideas are celebrated. Hear more from Lazarus at the “Conversation with transformative CEOs” panel at IABC’s World Conference in June.

After Grant MacEwan University received permission from the government to transition from a college to a university, the institution needed to rebrand its annual report. The newly developed publication, Figures: Profiles and Perspectives, January 2010, used a magazine-style format and engaging and inspiring stories to reiterate Grant MacEwan's learner-centered focus and wide range of programming, while positioning it as a new undergraduate university.