We’re hard at work on the next edition of our popular Economics of Social Media conference, scheduled for April 29 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. Our first EconSM, held last year, sold out; this year, our change to a more creative venue also means tighter space—and an even hotter ticket—so sign up here to get an e-mail with registration details. The Early Bird window will open in a couple of weeks. We’ll also be posting details about our schedule, which will include a mix of discussions and Q&As, and the speaker list.  In the meantime, a couple of important announcements:

-- Fast Company partnership: We’re very pleased to announce a first for us—a partnership with Fast Company as co-presenter of EconSM. We are collaborating on programming and other aspects; in fact, each registration to EconSM will include a complimentary one-year subscription to Fast Company. Edward Sussman, president, Mansueto Digital: “We’re thrilled to be working with ContentNext Media to co-present the EconSM event.

The cover of the first issue of Fast Company, published in 1995, contained the mantra ‘Computing is Social.’ We were the first business publication to launch a social network, with the Company of Friends, in November of 1997. Through this conference, our continuing coverage of social media, and the next generation of FastCompany.com set to debut in February, we remain committed to social media.”

-- EconSM editorial program director: We’d also like to welcome Elizabeth Osder, who has agreed to serve as editorial program director for EconSM ‘08. Many of you know her through her varied experience in online journalism (she is a founder of the Online News Association); social media; education; search marketing; and her role as a consultant. She adds a lot of important qualities to this endeavor and we will all benefit from her involvement. If you have suggestions for panelists and/or topics, please email Elizabeth (elizabeth AT paidcontent.org). Please send other suggestions, sponsorship queries and other conference e-mail to: econsm AT contentnext.com

This year we’re advancing the conversation we began at EconSm ‘07 by investigating the evolving economics of social media, looking at the survivors and up-and-comers, and at how deals and business models are being affected by enabling technologies and the creative process. You can read more about our plans for EconSM ‘08 at EconSM.com. For sponsorship queries for EconSM, contact our business side at advertising AT contentnext.com.