NYC Seeks Social Media Mayor

By Kyle Austin

Following in the footsteps of Google and perhaps Hugo Chavez, New York City is looking to hire a “mayor” for social media to activate digital initiatives that push the city’s policies into the digital sphere. The position, Chief Digital Officer, is being offered by the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications.

The job pay will pay between $57,000-$125,000, and according to the opening listing it will entail:

“Managing and presenting a consistent and comprehensive new media face for the City of New York; coordinating with City agencies in the promotion of initiatives via new media tools; working with the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) to improve the design and content of NYC.gov to increase usability and make relevant information more accessible.”

It is believed to be the first city or city administration to seek a CDO and should be a sign of things to come. As community and consumer relations evolve in the digital age, the need for CDO’s (a position now popular in the private sector) becomes as important as having a press secretary.

Got any good candidates for Mr. Bloomberg? Maybe someone at Bloomberg?

3 comments June 4th, 2010