Social media and the riots in Manchester: what's the real story?

This month we have an unmissable headline debate. Following the riots/lootings that shook Manchester and beyond, we’ll be discussing the role that online communication played before, during and after the events.

Greater Manchester Police got international attention for the way it used Twitter with the GMP24 Police tweets campaign and Amanda Coleman – Corporate Communications Director will be joining us alongside Paul Gallagher – Head of Online for Manchester Evening News, Rebecca Rae – Social Media Architect from PushON Ltd and John Popham - Social Media Facilitator. The debate will be chaired by our very own Martin Bryant – European Editor for The Next Web.

Our panel debate will explore issues like:

• was it right for GMP to ‘name and shame’ offenders from the riots on Twitter?
• How do the police, media and the rest of us sort credible reports of crime from the jokes and outright lies?
• Should social media services be ‘switched off’ during times of crisis, as some politicians have suggested? Is that even possible?

Schedule:
18:00 Doors
18:30 Welcome to SMC_MCR
18:45 Debate: Social Media and the Riots...
19:45 Break
20:00 Announcements
20:15 Where next for the SMC_MCR
20:30 Informal socialising