Certainly 2009 will be remembered as the year that social media went mainstream. But where will this nascent practice go next and how can professional communicators ensure a role in its development?

In the coming year, we'll see a number of opportunities that will allow social media to become more aligned with the efforts of PR pros. Here are three areas to watch and focus on:

Integration. Some spent 2009 arguing over who "owns" social media. PR? Marketing? It doesn't ...