If you are entering a panel idea to the 2012 PanelPicker, you will be asked to supply a list of "other speakers" for your session. Providing this list at the time of entry is a big change as compared to previous years. Not different, however, is our strong encouragement that this list of other speakers includes lots of diversity.

Why do we care so much about diversity? Because the most interesting sessions are the ones in which speakers from different genders, different perspectives, and different parts of the world bring very different opinions to the topic at hand. By contrast, panels with three or four people with similar backgrounds and opinions tend to be repetitive and boring—a real-life echo chamber. For more information about the importance of diversity in this process, be sure to read the PanelPicker FAQ. Some tips from the FAQ below...

Variety

More than 3,000 proposals were considered for the 2011 SXSW Interactive, Music, and Film Festival and Conferences. In other words, we have lots of very qualified people who want to speak at the event and each speaker at SXSW can only participate on one session. Only aiming for big names on your panel is not a guarantee of success.

Opinion

If all the other speakers on your panel proposal have the same opinion on the given topic, then the resulting conversation will probably be boring. Whatever topic you are addressing at SXSW, you should include at least one person whose opinion differs sharply from yours.

Women

There are many extremely qualified women in the technology and new media industry. If you are organizing a session with at least three total speakers, then at least one of these speakers should be female.

Ethnicity

Different ethnic backgrounds and cultures take a different approach to different topics. And, different perspectives make SXSW more interesting.

Location

Lots of amazingly talented professionals call New York, L.A. and the Bay Area home. But, there are scores of very qualified new media experts located at various other locations in the U.S. and around the world. Their voices also help contribute to this ongoing goal of diversity.

Contributed by Hugh Forrest. Photos (top to bottom) Kara Mosher, Manny Jimenez, Kara Mosher, Arnold Wells, Regina E. Visconti and Nina Harwick