Tweets, Likes and Favorites, Oh My!--Summer 2010 Edition

A lot of people get their news online these days. Many no longer read a printed newspaper. A home phone is almost obsolete, and you can see pictures of family events almost instantly. With today's social media our company can be discussed in real time across the globe. Last year we decided to join that conversation. We now use YouTube, Twitter and Flickr to talk about our company and our sustainability goals.

Although we were hesitant at first to get involved in these sites, we realized that whether or not we decide to actively and directly engage with them, we already have a presence on these sites because of what others are saying about us. Therefore, we need to be involved so that we can ensure what is being said about our company is accurate. Our social media efforts currently focus on the following three websites:

• YouTube: On our channel you can take a virtual tour of a Murphy-Brown hog farm and a processing facility, watch our weekly "Fast Fact" videos that highlight a specific fact about our company, listen to Dennis Treacy (our new Chief Sustainability Officer) talk about our commitment to sustainability, learn about our Learners to Leaders® and Helping Hungry Homes® programs, and many other subjects. So far, our videos have over 16,000 views. We add content regularly, so keep checking back to see what's new! www.youtube.com/smithfieldfoods.

• Twitter: Here you can "follow" us to receive short, timely updates about what's happening at Smithfield Foods and in our IOC communities, get links to interesting food-related articles, find out about our new YouTube uploads and read other material to keep you up-to-date on our industry as a whole. We already have nearly 1,000 followers in just one year's time. Click here to learn more.

• Flickr: Here you can view pictures from many of our corporate events, such as World Water Monitoring Day, Helping Hungry Homes and other initiatives. Click here to take a look.

If you have photos, video or information on any programs you are involved with please feel free to send them to Kathleen Pope for consideration.  *Please note that release forms are needed from everyone pictured. Forms can be supplied by Kathleen.