Cory Booker courtesy @corybooker

Few politicians use social media as openly, or prolifically, as Cory Booker. As the mayor of Newark, New Jersey, he has used his personal Twitter feed to interact with constituents on an hourly basis; to follow @CoryBooker is to understand the daily challenge of leading one of America’s largest cities. The mayor is routinely responding to questions and complaints – about issues ranging from potholes to snowdrifts and neighborhood violence. When not personally investigating an issue, he forwards phone numbers and e-mail addresses to his followers, directing residents to various city agencies. He endorses city businesses, shares inspirational quotes, responds directly to tweets of joy or frustration from his followers – and just last night shared his unabashed love for all things “Star Trek.”

(L-R) Gianfranco Chicco, Noah Kuttler and C.C. Chapman
Gianfranco photo by Beatrice Arenella, Noah photo by @annielenore,
C.C. photo courtesy C.C.

The SXSW Interactive Festival Advisory Board consists of industry experts, as well as veteran members of the community that come together in Austin each spring. Advisory Board members are very involved in helping select the best of the best proposals, which SXSW receives each year through the SXSW PanelPicker. We asked Advisory Board members Gianfranco Chicco of Conference Basics, Noah Kuttler of IBM and C.C. Chapman the following question...

"What are you most excited about for SXSW Interactive 2013?"