Government Social Media 101

Monday, May 4, 2026
9:30 - 11:30am CT

Welcome to the field of government social media!

This newly updated workshop is the essential starting point for communicators stepping into government social media, or for experienced socialgovs looking to strengthen their foundational building blocks. For 2026, this session has been fully refreshed for the latest best practices. You’ll build a clear, confident understanding of how to run a government social media program the right way — strategically, compliantly, and with your community at the center.

What you'll learn:

1. The core elements of a strong government social media program

2. How to navigate modern challenges unique to government

3. A platform-by-platform understanding of what actually matters

4. How to create accessible, community-centered content

5. Best practices for comment management and community interactions

6. Practical workflows and time-saving techniques

7. How to connect with your socialgov network
   
   

Join this workshop led by experts from the Government Social Media Association Training Committee and gain the confidence, clarity, and community you need to succeed. By the end of this session, you’ll walk away with practical skills, updated knowledge for today’s landscape, and a strong foundation to support your agency’s social media efforts in 2026 and beyond.

The Busy Workday AI Playbook for SocialGov

Monday, May 4, 2026
12:30 - 2:30pm CT

If AI feels like either a magic trick or a minefield, this workshop is for you. Because we’re all too familiar with those busy Tuesdays when everything explodes at once and you need all the help you can get.

In this practical, 2-hour AI Workflow Lab, Brock Damjanovich breaks down how government social media teams can use a handful of free or low-cost tools to get real work done faster, without gambling on accuracy or trust.

Expect live demos using tools like ChatGPT style large language models, NotebookLM, Perplexity, and Canva’s AI powered features, all aimed at the stuff that lands on your desk on a busy workday.

Think: turning long updates into platform ready posts, simplifying complex programs (or legislative bills 🤢) into plain language, drafting captions and short scripts, building FAQs and talking points, and creating quick variations for different audiences and channels.

We will finish with a mini “bring your own content” lab, so you can test a workflow on something real and leave with drafts you can actually use, plus a lightweight ethics checklist to keep your team out of trouble and out of the weeds.

What you’ll walk away with

• A repeatable workflow for repurposing long content into scroll friendly posts

• Simple QA checks for accuracy, tone, accessibility, and red flags

• Prompt and review techniques that reduce rewrites and second guessing

• Guardrails that fit government realities, including privacy and approvals

• At least one polished draft you can take back to your team

Who should attend
PIOs, social media managers, content creators, and comms leads who want practical AI help, not a buzzword parade.

What to bring
A laptop and one short piece of content you can work with (press release, agenda, project update, FAQ, web page copy, or a policy summary).

Workshop 301: Reels That Serve - Editing Short Videos That Stick

Monday, May 4, 2026
3:30 - 5:30pm CT

You already know how to edit, now it’s time to turn that skill into storytelling that sticks. In this advanced, hands-on workshop, we’ll dig into the techniques, strategy, and creative mindset behind editing short-form videos that connect with your audience — especially when your topic is complex, serious, or (since we’re all in government here) a little dry.

Learn how to:

1. Tell a compelling story in seconds

2. Turn b-roll footage into social media magic

3. Make fast, engaging edits that fit your message 
   
   

We’ll also participate in a live editing session where you’ll get access to real b-roll clips (or bring your own!) to put your new skills to the test. You’ll have the chance to ask questions, problem-solve in real time, and apply what you’ve learned right away.

Whether you’re joining in-person or remotely, you’ll leave with sharper storytelling instincts and the confidence to turn any idea into a post worth watching.