UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Social media can serve as a powerful tool for government and community-based organizations to connect with the communities they serve, according to organizers of an upcoming Penn State Extension land-use webinar that will focus on planners’ use of social media.
Presenting the 75-minute webinar at noon Nov. 15 will be Sarah Cornelisse, senior extension associate in agricultural entrepreneurship, marketing and business management, and Elise Turner, manager of the Office of Communications and Engagement of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.
This webinar will highlight best practices for social media, what planners should consider when using a digital platform, how to make digital content more accessible to different audiences, and the various social media platforms available to the public.
The presenters will discuss issues that planners should consider before starting a social media strategy for their organization or for a specific plan or program. They noted that effectiveness is a byproduct of platform used, audience served, content shared and moderator action. To ensure equity, digital content must be accessible.
Organizers also will examine the importance of public records laws and what may need to be archived on social media channels. Social media offers two-way communication, so regular monitoring and responses are necessary. Planners should remember that social media is just one tool in the public outreach “toolbox,” and should supplement a communications and outreach plan.
Summer/Fall 2023 Land-Use Webinar Series
“Planner’s Use of Social Media” is the fifth and final webinar in Penn State Extension’s Summer/Fall 2023 Land-Use Webinar Series. The series is aimed at informing municipal elected and appointed officials, planners, landowners, farmers, and community organizations about land-use issues and decisions in their communities.
All webinars are recorded and available for future viewing. Other programs in the series include:
- July 19 (recorded): “Using Cargo Shipping Containers to Create Housing.”
- Aug. 16 (recorded): “Pennsylvania WalkWorks: Pennsylvania Department of Health Funding for Walking, Biking and Accessibility.”
- Sept. 21 (recorded): “Adaption-Innovation Theory and Community Planning.”
- Oct. 18 (recorded): “Accessory Dwelling Units: Removing Barriers and Encouraging Construction From the Ground Up.”
The cost of the webinar series is $50 for all five sessions, or $95 for all five sessions for those who want to receive AICP certification-maintenance credits from the American Planning Association. The cost also is $95 for all five sessions for professional engineers needing PDH credits. In addition, registered landscape architects can receive continuing-education credits for a fee of $65.
For anyone interested in a particular topic from the series, individual session registration is available for a fee of $15 per session.
For more information, contact Peter Wulfhorst at 570-296-3400 or by email at ptw3@psu.edu. To register for the webinars, visit the Penn State Extension website.