PAAB Delivers on Social Media Training

Earlier this week, the PAAB gave a panel discussion and learning event around the use of social media in pharmaceutical marketing in Canada. It was excellent workshop and a fabulous example of collaboration. At the start of the day, participants were promised that by the end of it they'd be able to define social media and its applications, as well as to better identify what is acceptable under Canadian regulations. The session accomplished this through a combination of presentations and case studies.

For those new to social media, Nathalie Bourré, a pharmaceutical marketing and social media consultant, gave a quick introduction to the arena. This was followed by a presentations by Patrick Massad, the Chief Review Officer at the PAAB, and Henry Anderson, who manages interactive marketing in the Americas for Novartis Consumer Health. Afterward, participants put their knowledge to the test as an expert panel weighed in on the feasibility, legality, and review requirements of several case studies involving different aspects of social media. Members of the panel included Ray Chepesiuk from the PAAB, Ann Sztuke-Fournier from Health Canada, and three industry representatives: Nathalie Bourré, Henry Anderson, and Christian Roy (Pfizer Canada; Montreal session) or Pat Forsythe (Allergan Canada; Toronto session).

While their opinions didn't always agree 100%, a few bits of consensus were clear:

• The same rules that govern print media apply to social media and web. For example, branded promotion geared towards physicians must be gated to avoid consumer access.


• Just like print media, intent of dissemination and control of content are key. Are you providing unbiased information or promoting a product?


• If you create the discussion environment, you are responsible for monitoring it. Moderate discussions to remove off-label and promotional comments by participants. Be clear and pro-active about your posting and moderation policies.


• Don't use social media for the sake of using social media. Make sure it fits into your marketing strategy. Marketing principles have not changed with the rise of social media, only the medium.

A few participants, myself included, live-tweeted the event. To find out what we thought, simply seach #paab on Twitter.

Mediaville: A Freelance Extravaganza

It seems my recent blog posts are all about promoting local seminars and events. I'll have to remedy that soon. In the meantime, here is an announcement about an event co-sponsored by many different writers' and editors' professional associations in Montreal. The format combines PWAC's traditional 'boot camp' with a freelance-employer 'mixer' that has become an annual tradition in Montreal. It looks like a great event.

Mediaville Montreal
Saturday, October 24, 2009
11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Best Western Hotel Europa
1240 Drummond Street, Montreal

From the Mediaville website:
Mediaville Montreal is a professional development and networking event organized by and for freelance media professionals. If you are an independent writer, editor, publisher or translator, you won’t want to miss it! Over 100 freelancers are expected to attend.

There will be expert panel discussions on how to build a successful freelance media career and how to develop your freelance business, a workshop on how to sell your services to the federal government, a client-freelancer mixer, and an inter-association networking event (a list of potential clients attending the event will be provided as they’re confirmed).

Early-bird discount on tickets until October 9!

Paper to Pixel: Editing for the Web

If you're in Montreal and work in multimedia, especially websites, you won't want to miss this. The Editor's Association of Canada (EAC) is offering a full-day seminar on editing for the web.

The workshop will be held next Thursday at Hotel Ruby Foo's and costs $220 ($160 for EAC members). It's a hands-on workshop. The organizers are asking participants to submit case studies and come prepared to work on real-life problems.

I've attended several EAC seminars in the past. They've all been excellent.