The president and CEO of Edelman, the world’s largest independent public relations agency, will present the results of the 2008 survey on trust and credibility and address how b-to-b marketers need to rethink how they view marketing, spokespeople, the media and the new social order of communications.

Edelman will be introduced at the luncheon by Rance Crain, editor-in-chief of Advertising Age, which named Edelman its 2008 Agency Executive of the Year. He was also named “The Most Powerful PR Professional” by PR Week last October.

In his talk, Edelman will discuss how communicators are being challenged to think and act differently in a new age of communications where the audience “is on the field and ready to play in the game.” No longer can brands just focus on talking to their stakeholders; now they must engage in a participatory dialogue with them.

For the first time, the 2008 Trust Barometer included young people (ages 25 to 34). Historically cynical toward business, the young “info-entials” who participated in the survey indicated they trusted business more than their older counterparts. Edelman said that finding revealed a great opportunity for business to communicate its story to this demographic, for whom sharing information is an everyday activity.* A full refund will be issued to registrants who provide 48-hour notice. No refunds or credits will be issued for last-minute cancellations.