Wayne MacPhail

Many companies leave the creation of online content in the hands of people who have no professional experience with writing or creating other forms of communication. The result? Content that doesn't consider the user, is hard to understand, difficult to navigate and burdened with an overly rich layer of interface that confuses and shows off.

In this talk Wayne MacPhail, a journalist, educator and online content creator for 25 years, will show you how to create compelling content that makes the best use of the Web, which is a willful medium that rejects bad content like a foreign kidney. He'll introduce you to the lessons we can learn from history, from the real world and from other media.

He'll also share stories of the success projects he's created for AOL Canada, canoe.ca and Sympatico Lycos.

About Wayne MacPhail;
Wayne began his media career as a magazine photographer, writer and editor. He's also been a newspaper writer and editor. In
1991 he founded and directed Southam InfoLab, the national R&D unit for Southam Inc.

InfoLab explored and developed future information products for the newspaper giant including the CD-ROM titles True North Arrivals, Understanding McLuhan and Kate's Story. It also developed a robust polypublishing database for the company. He went on to create online content for AOL, Bell Emergis, @Home Canada, MSN, Canoe, Mocha Sofa and Sympatico-Lycos, where he was director of content.

Wayne has also been the chief knowledge office for Cyberplex and has taught online writing skills at Sheridan, Centennial College, the Canadian Screen Training Centre, Ryerson and McMaster Universities. As well, he's a published playwright and recently co-authored a book called "Spin Doctors" about the Canadian Chiropractic industry. He is currently the Web Development Coordinator for Centennial College.

When: Tuesday March 18th, 7 p.m.

Where: Metro Hall, Room 308. Metro Hall is located at 55 John Street in downtown TO. John Street runs north and south between King and Wellington, west of University Avenue.

RSVP @ rsvp@torontotalks.org or call (416)-595-7484 ext. 305