B2B editors invited to tweet with TABPI

CLEVELAND. OHIO: Trade, Association and Business Publications International (TABPI) is holding its first TABPI Twitterfest today, Tuesday, 20 October 2009 and Wednesday 21 October. The inaugural Twitterfest will focus on two areas: ideas to help B2B publications through the current economic downturn and how to best serve B2B readers with a mix of online and print content.

The main goal of the TABPI Twitterfest, which will be similar to an open chatroom, is for editors in far-flung geographic areas to start dialoguing and exchanging ideas. But a very important secondary goal is to give B2B editors an opportunity to try out Twitter in a friendly, non-threatening environment-to see how it works and to determine if there is anything that might translate to their publication's industry. As journalists, we should be willing to step outside our comfort zones and see what the readers of tomorrow are doing.

There are several ways to participate:

Join Twitter (http://twitter.com) and post Tweets 20 - 21 October. These 140-character messages must contain the hashtag #tabpi in order to be a part of Tweetfest, and other editors around the world will see your tweets.
Point your browser to http://search.twitter.com/search?q=tabpi and watch what other editors worldwide are talking about.
After watching online what others are saying, join in on the conversation at any time. While TABPI is encouraging editors to talk about the two main topics, you're free to discuss anything of interest to the profession.

The two-day window is because of time zone differences across the globe. All editors are encouraged to start tweeting with #tabpi in the Tweet starting this morning when they arrive at work.

Based in Cleveland, TABPI (www.tabpi.org) is a worldwide organisation dedicated to bringing together editors working for English-language publications worldwide, and encourage a common dedication to editorial ethics and excellence.

TABPI's editorial and design awards programme, the Tabbies, is open to English language B2B publications in more than 40 countries. Its Young Leaders Scholarship program makes editorial training possible for selected B2B editors each year. TABPI also conducts industry research, sponsors an annual Magazine Critique Service and provides a free B2B forum at www.tabpi.evecommunity.com/eve.

In early 2008, TABPI funded the creation of a new B2B editorial group based in Johannesburg, called TABPI South Africa (www.bizcommunity.com/PressOffice/News.aspx?i=117002).