PAB2012 is taking place June 15-17, 2012 at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Register now.

PAB is an annual three-day conference about digital content creation, audience engagement and online relationship building. The conference has flourished on a reputation of strong content and a welcoming community, attracting participants from as far away as the U.K. and South America for speaking sessions, popular five-minute JOLTs, workshops, panel discussions, and social activities. Video playlists are available for each of PAB2010 and PAB2011.

What will it mean for politics as usual? For traditional media? For individual citizens? For the expectations of our institutions in society? Will it empower people or just lead to more ‘noise’ in the environment. Barry will tackle these issues with real-world examples of the good, the bad and the ugly of communications, laced with a dose of humour.

Barry’s career has included stops as a stand-up comedian, television writer and trainer of media techniques. He’s a media junkie and loves golf. One day, golf may love him back.

We asked Barry five very important questions.

What is your best memory of creating media for other people to enjoy?

My very first experience was certainly the most memorable. Along with my writing partner at the time, Ken Shaw, we created a concept for a television comedy series and I left Carleton University to write the series for Global TV. It was called “Sshh…it’s the News!”

Which media creator has been most inspiring to you and why?

My late brother Stephen was my first collaborator in creating comedic content. His mind was so quick, his punch lines were incredible, and we inspired each other to take chances with our material.

What do you think is the most important consideration to media relevance?

A fresh voice with something to say – about what’s really going on in our lives.

If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?

I tend to think that the three most useless words in our language are: ‘woulda’, ‘shoulda’ and ‘coulda’. Having said that….perhaps I woulda, shoulda and coulda done much of the same with about 25 fewer pounds!

How do you hope your PAB2010 session will change the way people think and/or act?

As content creators, to appreciate their potential to achieve something profound.

He was a newspaper reporter at 14. At 17 he was a regular columnist with Toronto’s Sunday Star. At 22 he was creating award-winning radio ads. And now, at an undisclosed age, Mike will become a PABster, delivering the keynote Beyond Words: What Makes Great Media Resonate at 1pm on Saturday, June 19. His session will examine the role of creative in the modern age of media and how content creators can use creative to build audiences.

Prior to The Age of Persuasion, Tennant was known to thousands of CBC Radio listeners as Ad Columnist on Definitely Not the Opera, and the voice of syndicated “explainer” pieces on topical events.

He gives talks and workshops throughout Canada on creative communication, media and branding.

Sadly, Mike recently announced he’s leaving The Age of Persuasion when its fourth season concludes in June.

We asked Mike to answer five questions for the PAB community.

What is your best memory of creating media for other people to enjoy?

The whole Age of Persuasion experience has been a delight and surprise. We have a broadcast listenership of more than 600,000 in Canada alone, and many more online; our book is in its fourth printing, and we have thousands of Facebook fans in 20 countries. It’s humbling- and hilarious. We designed our first show (O’Reilly on Advertising) as a 10-part summer series, and never dreamed it would extend beyond that. Resonance like this is the greatest prize in media creation.

Which media creator has been most inspiring to you and why?

I am a huge admirer of the late Donald Brittain, of the NFB. His gift for storytelling and narrative rival that of Rod Serling and Ed Murrow. On TV, Ernie Kovacs was forty years ahead of his time. Both are long gone, and their work still gets my heart racing.

What do you think is the most important consideration to media relevance?

A simple, powerful idea. It is the fertile soil from which all great communication grows.

If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?

I’d put much greater faith in my instincts. And take many more (calculated) risks. I’ve been making mistakes for 30 years; only now am I coming to appreciate what a gift they are.

How do you hope your PAB2010 session will change the way people think and/or act?

I’d like to instill a sense of servitude- to make everyone ask “how am I serving my audience?”

Adele McAlear will deliver a unique, made-for-PAB2010 version of her Death and Digital Legacy presentation. Adele will raise issues surrounding the lack of global infrastructure to manage online identities and digital assets.

Mike Tennant, co-creator of CBC’s Age of Persuasion (and co-author of the book of the same name), will deliver our Saturday keynote on the role of creative in the new age of media (traditional and digital) and how journalists, producers and community leaders can explore creative to build audiences.

We will be announcing workshops in the next few days.

Click here to register for PAB2010

“I spend a lot of time helping communicators say the right thing in the right way at the right time,” said McLoughlin. “I’m really looking forward to being a part of this conference and talking about how communicators can remain relevant in the world of democratized media.”

During his keynote, Mr. McLoughlin will explore the elements of style and how they impact media credibility and relevance.

Click here to register for PAB2010