I wanted to take a moment to introduce you (for those who aren't familiar) to the Society for New Communications Research (SNCR) or \snik-ers\ as its more commonly referred to. The SNCR is a global think tank dedicated to the advanced study of new communications tools, technologies and emerging modes of communication, and their effects on traditional media, professional communications, business, culture and society.

Its Fellows include more than 40 futurists, scholars, business leaders, communicators, members of the media and technologists from around the globe, all of whom collaborate to explore issues surrounding the evolution of communications and media.

They are dedicated to creating a bridge between the academic theory and the pragmatic implementation of new media and communications tools & technologies and social media methodologies.

They also have a Vendor Council with representatives from more than a dozen leading technology companies. At this time SAP is not a member - perhaps I can change that next week when I will have the opportunity to meet Jen McClure, the executive director of the society while I'm in Palo Alto. SAP is hosting the Social Media Club's Silicon Valley Workshop: Starting the Conversation on June 11th. The SNCR is a co-sponsor of that event.

To provide you a sense for some of the work SNCR's has conducted:

• Research Committee: The State of the Art in Social Media
• Research & Best Practices Committee: Corporate Blogging Policies - Best Practices
• Research & Best Practices Committee: The Emergence of Blogging in University Admissions and Recruiting (in conjunction with Georgetown University)
• New Communications Law Committee: Podcasts: Download or Broadcast - Legal Implications

And some of the research that is currently underway:

• Working with Marketwire, one of its Vendor Council members on a research project exploring how bloggers' source and use news items.
• Corporate Blogging Best Practices
• The Customer as Co-author & Co-creator of a Brand.

They also publish a blog and monthly enewsletter called the New Communications Review and the bi-annual Journal of New Communications Research. The Spring / Summer 2007 issue will be available in a couple of weeks, and will include a broad range of topics:

• The effects of social media on the profession of public relations.
• The impact of the Internet on social capital in America.
• An examination of the healthcare blogosphere.
• and more...

Oh, and one of the more interesting elements of the journal is that it is accompanied by a wiki that provides for ongoing collaboration and updates between the society and it's members.

If you are interested in further developing your communications knowledge/experience or your looking embark on the social media path (personally or professionally) you should really have a closer look at the Society for New Communications Research. You too may find that "SNiCkeRs" really does satisfy!

Technorati tags: Society for New Communications Research, Communications, PR, Social Media, Social Media Club