Kofi, Rupert and Bono on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook

Written by Casper Oppenhuis de Jong

The World Economic Forum (WEF) is like a tweet-up with the Scobles, Kawasakis and Calacanises of the real world. This annual get-together in the Swiss Alps brings together the sassiest elite of business, politics, journalism and intelligentsia to talk about the world’s most pressing issues.

Experienced journalist & blogger Thomas Crampton reported this week that the WEF (hosted in Davos, Switzerland: therefore often referred to as Davos) will use a refreshing new social media strategy to gain attention. He had the chance to interview Matthias Luefkens, the man behind the 2.0 activities of the WEF.

A glance at WEF’s wiki shows us this:

All plenary debates from Davos are also available on YouTube, pictures are available for free at Flickr and the key quotes are available on Twitter. In 2007 the Forum opened pages on social media platforms such as MySpace and Facebook. At the Annual Meeting 2009 the Forum invites the general public to participate in the Davos Debates on YouTube allowing one user to attend the Annual Meeting in person. In 2008 the Davos Question on YouTube allowed YouTube users to interact with the world leaders gathered in Davos who were encouraged to reply from a YouTube Video Corner at the congress centre. In 2008 press conferences are live streamed on Qik and Mogulus allowing anyone to put questions to the speakers. In 2006 and 2007 selected participants were interviewed in, and the closing session was streamed into, Reuters’ auditorium in Second Life.

These services in itself are nothing new in the tech community. But the fact that a conference like Davos – with the biggest players in the world – chooses to embrace these social media services seems like a major step. Plus, every soul with a camera and access to YouTube now has a shot at joining the lads and birds in the Alps!
Answer one of these questions and you’re in:

• Are you confident that global growth will be restored in 2009?
• Will the environment lose out to the economy in 2009?
• Will the Obama administration improve the state of the world in 2009?
• Should company executives have a code of ethics similar to doctors and lawyers?

Is this finally Politics & International Relations 2.0.1?