I am a senior executive with an international communications consultancy and have spent more than 25 years providing counsel on corporate reputation, issues management and crisis communication. I was recently asked to lead the firm's national social media and digital communications practice given my belief that the social web is a communications game changer. (Having said that, the ideas and opinions expressed here are my own and can't be construed to represent the point of view of my firm.)

Before becoming a management consultant,  I was a magazine journalist and spent four years as a theater and dance critic for a variety of journals . . . experiences which inform my consulting and my writing. Besides a busy consulting practice, I teach courses in social media and in reputation management at a university in Eastern Canada.

By the way, I am delighted to receive comments and enjoy debate (although preferably in the spirit captured below). So, weigh in.