At this year's  National Conference for Media Reform, our very own Cheryl Contee spoke at the closing plenary. The plenary explored the connection of media and technology issues to broader cultural shifts and the push for democratic change happening in the U.S. and around the globe. 

Cheryl told the Boston Pheonix how social media and mobile techology are beoming more and more imporant for advocacy groups. "All of the issues they are advocating are those that will ultimately benefit the greater good," she said. "It's what people want — there's something happening that's unstoppable, inevitable, and extremely powerful."

Deanna Zandt, author and technologist, was the moderator and featured panelists included a diverse set of leading new media innovators: 

• Ben Huh, founder of the Cheezburger Network, 
• Craig Newmark, founder of craigslist, 
• Ramya Raghavam of  YouTube, 
• and Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of reddit.com. 

Cheryl said of her panel, "It's one of the best, most eclectic and most inspiring panels I've been on, with some truly dynamic speakers who are icons of the culture change in America."

Watch Cheryl and her panel-mates as they discuss social media, social change and even how photos of adorable kittens deal with social change.

Follow @ch3ryl, @benhuh, @craignewmark, @kn0thing and @randomdeanna via Twitter.