In 2003, the first MediaConnect Forum was launched as a response to a changing media environment, where online deadlines and constrained resources were conspiring to keep journalists tied to desks with little opportunity for face-to-face interaction with contacts and industry. Thanks largely to a very time-effective format and its multi-vendor nature, the event afforded journalists the rare opportunity to take time away from their usual, busy schedules to focus on developing their knowledge and understanding as well as developing all-important relationships and contacts.

Five years later, finding ways to interact on a person-to-person basis with the IT media is even more challenging. Almost all journalists have online responsibilities and deadlines, while an increasing proportion of the media now freelance. Today the press conference is a dying form, face-to-face communication is a rare blessing and there are almost no avenues available for keeping journalists, who are now more generalist than ever, up-to-date with evolving strategies and trends.

It has been in this environment that the MediaConnect Forums have continued to grow and prosper each year since their inception, to become twice-annual conferences which have established themselves as must-attend events for all in the IT media, vendor and public relations sectors. Indeed, Kickstart Forum 2008, which runs from March 2 to 4, notches up the milestone of being the 10th MediaConnect Forum held in Australia and in recognition of that achievement we're returning to where it all began - at Twin Waters Resort on the Queensland Sunshine Coast.

Kickstart Forum 2008 will once again bring together more than 50 journalists to meet and hear from leading technology industry spokespeople as to what important trends, products and technologies will emerge in 2008. Kickstart sessions will seed ideas and relationships that will germinate into hundreds of stories and articles over the course of the year. Companies who present at Kickstart have the opportunity to lay invaluable media foundations, establishing relationships, building mindshare and developing journalist understanding of key subjects and messages, all of which combine to ensure future journalist interactions are more effective and media results are significantly improved.