Go ‘Under the Desk’ with V Spehar during Ragan’s Social Media Conference at Disney World
Find out how short-form video platforms are changing journalism — and the world.
The Ragan and PR Daily teams are gearing up for our annual Social Media Conference at Disney World, this year held March 27-29, 2024, with a powerhouse lineup including social media leaders from Bloomberg, Eos, Intel, Hallmark, USPS, Activision Blizzard and many more.
Also gracing the mainstage on the morning of March 29 is social media legend V Spehar, who has become a media empire of one via their social media persona “Under the Desk News.”
They report on the latest news, social media updates and cultural trends while literally under their desk — hence the account name — but with journalistic standards that echo those across the most respected media outlets in the world (and are respected by those outlets).
They will deliver a thought-provoking keynote address that examines their journey to more than 3 million followers on TikTok, and how their application of top-notch journalistic principles led them to consult with U.S. presidents, report from the Senate floor and even speak before UNESCO.
Spehar has a storied history of understanding the evolution of short-form video platforms , and how they have redefined the way audiences consume information, news and media.
In this video, for instance, they examine a major development on TikTok: Universal Music Group pulled its music catalog from TikTok, which means millions of videos using those sounds are now muted.
@underthedesknews It also seems any video you used a UMG song in are now muted #music #tiktok #umg #trendingsound #technews #taylorswift #greenscreen
They have spoken on the “Today” show, guest-hosted the Los Angeles Times TikTok account and earned a New York Commendation Award for their journalistic work on TikTok and their podcast as well as a Webby award.
Join Ragan and PR Daily at our 2024 Social Media Conference at Disney World, March 27-29, 2024, to learn how social media’s future, scope and impact will continue to change the way information reaches billions of people around the world.
Jess Zafarris is an author, content director, editor, journalist, social media engagement strategist and creator. Her 13 years of experience in this space have included such roles as the Director of Content at Ragan Communications, Audience Engagement Director at Adweek, and Content Strategist and Digital Content Director for Writer’s Digest and Script Mag. She moderated and emceed at events including Social Media Week and Brandweek, and presented at the Writer’s Digest Conference and State of Social. She is also the author of the etymology books “Words from Hell” and “Once Upon a Word” and an educational social media creator who speaks and creates entertaining content about word origins.
