What are the latest trends in social media in recent years and which are the dominant platforms worldwide and Bulgaria in particular? Also is the profession of journalists threatened by their invasion in our modern lives? How do we filter the huge ocean of information we come across in social networks and what are the most successful techniques broadcasters could employ in order to reach their audiences in the most immediate and friendly manner? And most importantly, how will the radio of the future look like?

On this and other topics we talk to social media expert Justin Kings who held a two-day training (March 10-11) at the Sofia headquarters of the BNR, targeted at radio journalists, hosts and producers working at its seven local radio stations based in Varna, Burgas, Plovdiv, Blagoevgrad, Shumen, Vidin and Stara Zagora.

Justin Kings is a former radio journalist and currently expert in social media and a EBU lecturer who was at the BNR earlier this week holding a two-day seminar on introducing the best practices in social networks, their interaction with broadcast media, the ways of building a successful social media strategy integrating social media in radio programs. Justin Kings has about 20 years of experience in broadcast journalism. He has acted as consultant for BBC radio, locally and nationally. Justin has run 6 successful Master Classes on News & Social media for the EBU TRAINING. Previously, he ran news and programmes at BBC London 94.9, achieving the radio station's highest ever audience and he was Group News Editor for GCap Media, the UK's largest commercial radio group.

Organized with the kind assistance of EBU Training, the seminar brought together journalists, editors, producers and experts from the regional radio stations of the BNR, as it aims at changing the overall perception of participants of social media not just as part of their personal social networks, but as a professional tool, giving huge opportunities for journalists to find great news stories and communicate them in new and more engaging ways to the audience.