Channels
Create Slack-style discussion channels scoped to your conference — conference-wide channels are visible to everyone, private channels are invite-only, and members are auto-added by role.
Purpose
The Channels sub-tab is your entry point for creating persistent, Slack-style discussion spaces for the conference. Channels are ongoing collaboration spaces — scoped to a conference, program, or event — with built-in canvas, threads, and pinning. Members are added automatically by role. Conference-wide channels are visible to everyone in the conference, while private channels are invite-only.
When you use it
Use Channels when you need an ongoing, two-way conversation rather than a one-way broadcast: coordinating your organizing committee, running a back-and- forth with program chairs, or giving attendees a shared space to talk. Reach for Announcements instead when the message should land in inboxes.
Walkthrough
- 1
Open the Communications tab and select the Channels sub-tab.
- 2
Click Create channel to start. If the button is disabled, you don't currently hold a chair role that can create channels here (see the tip below).
- 3
On the Choose a template step, pick a starting template, or choose Custom to start blank.
- 4
On the Review and create step, set the channel's name and details, then create it. Members are auto-added by role; conference-wide channels are visible to everyone, private channels are invite-only.
- 5
Use Browse channels to jump to the full Channels workspace and open existing channels for this and your other conferences.
Tips
Creating channels is limited to General Chairs, PC Chairs, Web Chairs, and Session Chairs. If the Create channel button is greyed out, you don't currently hold one of those roles on this conference — ask a General Chair to create it or grant you the role.
Make a channel conference-wide when everyone should see and join it (e.g. a general announcements-and-questions space). Use a private, invite-only channel for committee-only or sensitive coordination.