If you want understand social media and all the talk about it, you can enroll in “Using Social Media to Deliver Your Public Works Message,” a special audio/webcast program being offered by the American Public Works Association.

This two-hour program on Thursday, Dec. 2, will explore the many ways social media can be an important tool for communications about all manner of public projects. Social networking has exploded in recent years. Countless books, articles, and even a movie have been released that tell why social networking is not a passing phase but a paradigm shift for media and communication.

The days of simply placing a notice or an article in the local newspaper or on your web site have passed. Local governments can be severely handicapped by using only traditional channels to reach residents and community groups.

In this program, you’ll learn how social media can help you engage citizens and get them more involved in solving your community’s challenges. While there are many forms of social media, the program will focus on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. At the end, you will be better able to identify beneficial uses of social media for your agency and create and implement a social media strategy.

The five speakers bring broad expertise in public communications, consulting, and leadership in public works and municipal engineering. For more information or to register, visit http://www.apwa.net/Events/eventdetail.asp?ID=5254.