NEW YORK (AP) — The London Olympics may well be remembered as the event that drove home the power of social media — partly to the chagrin but mostly to the benefit of NBC, which controlled images of the games in the United States.

NEW YORK (AP) — In the age of social media, NBC now has millions of television critics who make their opinions known about every aspect of Olympics coverage instantly.

As Ahwatukee Foothills restaurant owners have come to learn, social media is the new frontier for marketing. If used correctly, popular sites such as Facebook and Twitter can be interactive and innovative tools for attracting customers.

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Q: I'm starting to use a lot of social media networks in my daily business activities and looking to find tools to help me manage them more efficiently. - Jenna

Q: I attended your small business Social Media 101 workshop and learned a lot; one of the things I learned is that I need to get some outside help. My question is how do I go about researching or evaluating the stockpile of consultants that seem to have popped up everywhere? - Jacob

Thanks to laptops, cell phones and other new technology, social networking could be the route the next transformative Olympian uses to get the word out.

Mesa is all a Twitter — and MySpace, as well as Facebook and other social media — about connecting city officials with residents.

Queen Creek is coming to a social media Web site near you.

State lawmakers are moving to ensure that your Facebook password is none of your boss's business.

New York - Alanis Morissette is feeling a little more appreciated as a woman these days, and her new album, “Havoc and Bright Lights,” is a reflection of that.

Police say two Phoenix teens have been shot following a fight that began on social media.

Head coaches never want to relinquish control.

You've tweeted or posted on Facebook something stupid. Now what?

Seems like everyone is on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube these days, so follows are 10 tips for college-bound teens using social media.

Stephanie Kahn wanted to bask in her engagement for a few hours before diving into the task of calling aunts, uncles and good friends with the big news. And even before she could call them, she had a surprise party to attend, one that her fiance had set up for their parents and her "closest group of girlfriends."

Is the (entire) news media corrupt? Listening to the news on any TV or radio station or reading almost any newspaper, leaves one with the impression that the entire media in this country is corrupt. The media continues to insist that retirees are receiving too much in the way of medical benefits, pensions etc. Where is the outrage about our tainted Washington politicians who receive free medical care, free pensions (they never contributed one dime, yet they receive a pension which gives them 100 percent salary without having to vote on the increase.) The free workout gymnasium, free haircuts and dye jobs, free transportation etc. When is the (so-called) free media going to expose the politician for what he/she really is, a criminal?

“Keeping Kids Safe,” an Internet and mobile technology safety workshop, is the topic of the free Faces of Diversity Brown Bag series at noon Friday, Aug. 17 at the Phoenix City Council Chambers, 200 W. Jefferson St.