Why This Conference Matters

More Content Is Not the Answer.
Better Communication Is.

Audiences are overloaded. Approval processes flatten good writing. AI makes generic content easier than ever to produce. What stands out now is communication that is clear, human, useful, and memorable.

One focused afternoon devoted to skills you use every day.

Brian Malone welcomes attendees and previews an afternoon focused on clearer writing, stronger storytelling, persuasive communications, AI-era PR, media relations, and more human corporate writing.

Brian Malone Founder, The Event Nexus View Biography →

Strong writing begins with knowing exactly what you are trying to say. Joel Schwartzberg shows communicators how to identify the real point and express it with greater clarity, brevity, and impact.

You'll learn how to:

• Distinguish between a topic and a true point
• Identify what the audience actually needs to know
• Simplify complex ideas and eliminate unnecessary language
• Create stronger openings and clearer calls to action

Joel Schwartzberg Workplace Communications & Presentation Coach, Author and Keynote Speaker View Biography →

12:50–1:00 ET  •  Session Transition / Break

Most communicators are handed assignments, not stories. Learn how to think like a journalist, ask better questions, uncover the people and stakes behind routine information, and turn ordinary corporate assignments into stories audiences actually want to read.

• Stop treating the assignment itself as the story
• Ask the questions a journalist would ask
• Find people, tension, stakes, and consequence
• Turn routine organizational information into stronger stories

Jim Ylisela Co-Founder and Brand Journalism Consultant, Ragan Consulting Group View Biography →

The press release is not dead—but the way it is written and distributed matters more than ever. Learn how clear, authoritative releases can serve journalists while improving how organizations and their information are discovered, understood, and surfaced by search and AI-powered answer engines.

• Structure releases around clear, factual answers
• Write stronger headlines and leads for journalists and machine discovery
• Use facts, statistics, attribution, and quotable language effectively
• Avoid promotional language that weakens credibility
• Understand how press releases support search and AI visibility

Speaker announcement coming soon.

2:00–2:05 ET  •  Session Transition / Break

PR and marketing writers constantly need people to believe, support, approve, respond, or act. Learn how persuasive writing works when credibility and trust matter more than hype.

• Lead with audience motivation rather than organizational priorities
• Use framing, evidence, specificity, and credibility to influence
• Build persuasive arguments without sounding promotional
• Write stronger calls to action
• Create messaging that moves people while still feeling authentic

Speaker announcement coming soon.

AI can research, organize, analyze and accelerate the work surrounding the writing process. But should it actually do the writing? Drawing on more than two decades as an executive speechwriter, Brent Kerrigan explores where AI belongs in the writing process—and where human judgment, originality and authorship still matter most.

Attendees will learn how to:

• Recognize generic, formulaic and AI-generated language
• Protect organizational, executive and individual voice
• Use AI as a powerful writing assistant without surrendering authorship
• Apply human judgment to determine when—and when not—to use AI
• Use AI to identify information that requires verification without relying on AI as the final authority

Brent Kerrigan Executive Speechwriter & AI Communications Trainer View Biography →

3:05–3:10 ET  •  Session Transition / Break

Earned attention no longer comes from journalists alone. Today’s PR professionals must understand how to reach reporters, creators, influencers, and other trusted voices without relying on generic outreach or mass pitching.

• Identify the right journalists, creators, and influencers for the story
• Lead with relevance, audience value, and a clear reason to care
• Write outreach that feels personal rather than mass-produced
• Understand how credibility, reputation, and relationships affect response
• Use AI for research and personalization without making outreach generic

Brandi Boatner Global Influencer Marketing, Corporate Affairs at IBM View Biography →

3:40–3:50 ET  •  Session Transition / Break

Steve Crescenzo closes the conference with a practical look at eliminating jargon, committee writing, and lifeless corporate language while bringing clarity, personality, and humanity back into organizational communications.

You'll learn how to:

• Eliminate corporate jargon and clichés
• Write conversationally without becoming unprofessional
• Write for audiences rather than approval processes
• Bring personality and humanity back into organizational content

Steve Crescenzo Communications Consultant, Speaker, Trainer and Author View Biography →

Final takeaways, replay information, survey and certificate details, and closing remarks from Brian Malone and The Event Nexus.

Brian Malone — The Event Nexus