*OURMedia *

*INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE*

*Sydney**, Australia** – April 9-13, 2007*

*Sustainable Futures:*

*Roles & Challenges for Community, Alternative and Citizens' Media in the
21st Century*

*CALL FOR PROPOSALS*

*AND EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST*

*Deadline for Submissions: October 31, 2006*

* *

*OUR MEDIA NETWORK*

*OURMedia / NUESTROS Medios is an international network and forum founded in
2001 by a group of academics interested in advancing the democratic
potential of community, alternative and 'citizens' media.*

*Recognising that the intellectual and policy frameworks for citizens' media
are often out of touch with the on-theground reality, the purpose of
OURMedia is to connect scholars, practitioners and policy-makers towards
defined outcomes. OURMedia is now a network of over 500 people from 50
countries and has generated an extensive body of practical and theoretical
knowledge primarily in English and Spanish.*

*Past OURMedia conferences have been organized in the United States (2001),
Spain (2002), Colombia (2003),*

*Brazil** (2004) and India (2005). These conferences have consisted of
scholarly and academic presentations, engagements by media activists and
community cultural development officers, policy workshops, community
roundtable debates, media labs, research-led forums and field trips to local
media initiatives.*

* *

*THE CONFERENCE*

*In line with previous meetings, OURMedia / NUESTROSMedios 6th Conference
(OM6) will be aimed at building strategies and collaborations among
researchers, non-governmental organizations, practitioners, artists and
advocates for the promotion of communication rights, effective access to
ICT, community and citizen participation in the media and community
engagements that foster social change and cultural revitalization.*

*This conference theme aims to explore the cultural and social significance
of independent community and alternative media and the major challenges in
the decades that lie ahead.*



*OURMedia 6 IN AUSTRALIA*

*The OM6 Conference will bring together international and national experts,
researchers, policy makers, activist and community development practitioners
to discuss ways to ensure a sustainable future for community, alternative
and citizen's media.*

* *

*Alternative media in Australia has a long tradition of citizen engagement
and community participation, providing different outlets for news, art and
cultural practice. The Australian community broadcasting sector is over*

*30 years old. It is founded on the principles of access, diversity,
localism and independence. Community media in Australia has traditionally
been a highly resilient sector of the media, managing to exist in spite of
regulatory and technological barriers. The sector is now the largest sector
of the Australian media: in 2005 there were 341 community radio stations, 54
additional stations holding or seeking temporary licenses, 76 remote
Indigenous community television licensees and 6 generalist community
television stations.*

*Alongside this, innovative online networks and new media environments are
developing enabling new kinds and increasing levels of participation. The
community and alternative media sector in Australia is made up of groups
from a diverse spectrum of society, including: community associations and
advocacy groups; culturally and linguistically diverse communities;
Indigenous broadcasters; Gay and Lesbian groups; religious groups;
independent producers; social activists, artists, educational institutions;
seniors; and youth-run organizations. An OURMedia conference in
Australiawill have a special focus on community and participatory
media in
Australia and the Pacific with a highlight on community media in the Western
Sydney region.*

* *

*COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN WESTERN SYDNEY*

*With a population of over 1.8 million, Western Sydney is a region made up
of people from over 160 different nationalities and is home to 60 percent of
Australia's urban Indigenous population. It is the most culturally and
linguistically diverse region in Australia.*

*The region has over 200 community arts/media/cultural registered
organizations and may be considered one of the key areas of economic,
information and communication growth within Australia. In recent years it
has also become a multicultural hub for community arts development, ethnic
community broadcasting associations, community-based education and applied
cultural research that links researchers with community partners.*

* *

*UNIVERSITY** OF WESTERN SYDNEY***

*The conference will be hosted by the School of Communication Arts,
University of Western Sydney (UWS) in association with the Centre for
Cultural Research at UWS, a member of the Consortium of Humanities Centres
and Institutes. The University of Western Sydney is ember of AUCEA, an
alliance of Australian universities committed to supporting university
community engagement to promote the social, environmental and economic and
cultural development of communities.*

*A central aim of the University of Western Sydney (UWS) is to link arms
with community, public services, industry and business across Greater Western
Sydney to exchange knowledge, harness community expertise, and contribute to
the region's development, prosperity and social capital. The School of
Communication
Arts also houses the studios of Channel 31 Television Sydney (TVS), a
free-to-air community TV station.*

* *

*CONFERENCE SUPPORT*

*Other Australian universities providing funding and support are:*

• *RMIT** School** of Applied Communication*

• *QUT Institute for Creative Industries and Innovation (iCi)*

• *UTS Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences*

• *UTS Research Initiative on International Activism *

* *

*Other institutions and community organizations supporting the hosting of
OURMedia 6 in Sydney are.*

• *AMARC (Asia-Pacific)*

• *Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA)*

• *ETC - Education Television Consortium*

• *3RRR Community Media Services*

• *C31 Melbourne*

• *MetroScreen*

• *Community Spectrum Taskforce*



*CONFERENCE THEME*

*Sustainable Futures: Roles and Challenges for Community,*

*Alternative and Citizens ' Media in the 21st century*

*While the 1980s saw many communication academics entranced by the antics of
the mass media, the new millennium began with a newfound interest in
researching and theorizing alternative media forms, also known as citizens'
media, radical media, medias libres, participatory media, community media,
or grassroots media. The scope*

*of alternative media has now broadened with the advent of digital media
technologies.*

*Media participation is becoming an everyday occurrence for a growing number
of the world's population, expanding community networks and growing new
networks based on interest rather than geographic locality.*

*These networks are using and producing new content forms that are
specifically designed for citizens' **participatory use (discussion lists,
blogs, vlogs, open publishing forums, webzines etc). *

*At the same time, the open source and creative commons copyright movements
have reinvigorated alternative media debates, advocating and pursuing
accessible, collaborative communication spaces.*

*Changes are also occurring across broadcast, cable and satellite delivered
media. Community radio and television policy, once confined to a small
number of countries, is making headway into government agendas across the
globe. At the same time, existing community broadcasters are being
confronted by the challenges of digital transmission – they must restate
their claim to broadcast spectrum and, if successful, grapple with the costs
of digital transmission technology. *

*In bringing together international and national experts, researchers,
policy makers, activists, alternative media practitioners and community
development workers we will aim to debate the roles and challenges for
community media.*

*Important questions we aim to address during the 4-day long conference:*

• *How is the future perceived by scholars, activists, policymakers and
practitioners who are building knowledge of and developing media for, with
and by the people?*

• *How do we understand 'community' and community media in national &
transnational contexts?*

• *Do we need formal structures to harness and progress broader
participation in the media at the community level?*

• *What community and citizen engagement models and strategies work; which
do not? *

• *How do new media technologies replace or enhance community media?*

• *What needs to be done – in terms of content and policy development – to
make the most of digital broadcasting technology (including emerging
wireless media)?*

• *How can practitioners ensure that policies work for and not against the
sector?*

• *What are the impacts of New Technologies on community organization,
mobilization?*

• *What does the future hold in technological and policy terms, e.g. in
terms of intellectual property rights, civil society participation in
policy, or opening digital spectrums to community media broadcasters?*

* *

*CONFERENCE STRUCTURE*

*The conference will be structured around several types of sessions. The
session conveyors are looking for*

*papers, panels, presentations and workshops that demonstrate innovative
cultural research, practices, models for effective community building,
experiences and processes of social change and community empowerment, and/or
artistic practices in community media.*

*Keynote speakers will include the leading thinkers, practitioners and
experts in these fields.*



*Panels: **Sessions involving a group of registered participants who
conceive and design a session around the same theme, project, or research.
These presentations will be 60 minutes with 15 minutes for discussion. These
panels may offer specific insights into global/local projects and
initiatives discussing modes of practice, strategies and tactics for
enhancing, promoting or fostering the development of community, alternative
and citizens' media.*

* *

*Academic and Research Papers **will enrich the intellectual and critical
resources to understand community media and push forward theories and models
that engage with social and political work at the community level.*

*These are 15-minute speaker presentations followed by 10 minute questions
and answers. We encourage dynamic presentations with use of audiovisual
materials.*

* *

*Workshops: **crafted panels for staged conversation, dialogue or debate.*

* *

*FEATURED EVENTS INCLUDE*

*OURMedia 6 Public Forum: A Vision for the Community Use of Digital
Television Spectrum*

*Public forum with Australian and International speakers followed by open
debate sessions among community media practitioners, advocates, scholars,
artists, policy makers and the general public addressing the critical issue
of digital media for community use, access and ownership.*

* *

*Community Cultural Development Forum*

*A forum opened to community cultural/arts officers from local government
areas, community organizations and associations, cultural planners, policy
makers and the general public to address the critical issue of community
media for capacity building.  *

* *

*OURMedia 6 Video/Multimedia Festival*

*An international video & multimedia festival for activists, designers,
social change advocates, filmmakers.*

* *

*To send a film, video or multimedia file please contact Juan Salazar on
[log in to unmask]*

* *

*REGISTRATION*

*Full Rate: A$300 (US$230)*

*Discount Rate: A$150 (US$115)*

*Daily Rate: A$100*

*Exchange Rate August 2006:*

*US$ 1 = A$1.3*

* *

*Registration covers:*

• *Attendance to all conference sessions*

• *morning and afternoon tea ( 4 days)*

• *Lunch (4 days)*

• *Welcome Reception (Monday 9 April)*

• *Conference Dinner (Thursday 12 April)*

• *Conference Satchel and Program*

* *

*Please visit the OM website and after September 1, 2006 for more
information on how to register options.*

* *

*VENUE AND ACCOMMODATION*

*The organizing committee is currently looking at a range of different
options. We will provide information for budget, standard and premium
accommodation as soon as possible. Rates vary from A$25 (US$20) per night
for good budget shared accommodation to A$130-$150 (US$100 plus) per night
for premium 4- star accommodation.*

*Please visit the OM website after September 1, 2006 for more information or
go to*

*www.sydneyhotelsaccommodation.com/** *

* *

*SUBSIDIES AND EQUITY FUNDING*

*The organizing committee is looking at different options to support the
travel and accommodation of participants from developing countries and
community organizations. A limited subsidy scheme is expected to be in place
later in 2006.*

*Discount rates are only available to community organizations and
individuals from developing countries, local students and non-salary earners
and specific local community run organizations.*

*Please visit the OM website for more information.*

* *

*CONFERENCE TOPICS AND STREAMS*

*STREAM 1: Community Media Research*

*Clemencia Rodriguez (University of Oklahoma) – [log in to unmask]*

*Michael Meadows (Griffi th University) – *

*m.meadows@gri ffith.edu.au*

*The role for research in community building (applied & action research) -
Community media and innovation in the creative industries - Participatory
Communication in Research - Community cultural research: theories, models,
and strategies - Conceptualizing a 'community' media sector in transnational
contexts - Cultural identities and community research networks.*

* *

*STREAM 2: Participation and Social Change*

*Alfonso Gumucio-Dagrón (Communication for Social Change Consortium) -*

*[log in to unmask]*

*Jethro Petti t (Institute of Development Studies, Sussex University) -
[log in to unmask]*

*Participatory Communication for Social Change: International Initiatives –
Participatory design and sustainable community media initiatives -
Development communication - Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation - ICT
and community cultural development.*

* *

*STREAM 3: Community Media and Policy*

*Ellie Rennie (Swinburne University of Technology)- ERennie@groupwis
e.swin.edu.au*

*Media reform; Communication rights: NGOs and Community Media –
International conventions and national media policies - Funding and
governance models for community media enterprise - Local media ecologies and
the impact of global media markets - Spectrum use and management - Linking
Policy to Community Outcomes.*

* *

*STREAM 4: Media Activism /Civil Society /Social Movements*

*Stefania Milan (European Universi ty Institute, Italy) - [log in to unmask]*

*Gabi Hadl (Ritsumeikan University, Japan) – mediactiv [log in to unmask]*

*Transnational participatory communication networks - Media Activism:
Tactical Media, Indymedia - Social movements, community counter-public
building and 'our media'. - Intellectual commons vs. intellectual property
rights - Women Networks and empowerment. Social movement research.*

* *

*STREAM 5: Local Culture /Media Diversity*

*Tanja Dreher (University of Technology, Sydney) – [log in to unmask]*

*Antonio Castillo (University of Western Sydney) – a.cast i [log in to unmask]*

*Ethnic community media & multicultural policies - Everyday cultural
diversity & local media production - Media diversity and community
journalism - Peace Journalism - Local Access and Free Press - Community
media in western Sydney.*

* *

*STREAM 6: New Technologies / Media Convergence*

*Leo Berkeley (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) - [log in to unmask]
rmit .edu.au*

*Digital Community TV - Interactive Television Research - Podcasting and
Interactive media - Digital Games for change - ICT: strategic uses &
capacity building - Free software, Creative Commons & Open Information
Systems - OURMedia in the information society.*

* *

*STREAM 7: Community Radio*

*Elvira Truglia (Social Justice Committee, Mont real) –
[log in to unmask]*

*Histories of community radio - Organizational structures and Models of
sustainability - Radio in Peace-building and social change; poverty
reduction - Distribution: Digital radio and new media challenges -
Program-making and content analysis - Community radio and cultural/gender
diversity and politics.*

* *

*STREAM 8: Indigenous Media, Aboriginal Media*

*Juan F. Salazar (University of Western Sydney) – j [log in to unmask]*

*Elvira Truglia (Social Justice Committee, Mont real) – e_t
[log in to unmask]*

*Indigenous broadcasting, policies and politics - Indigenous media:
distribution, festivals & networks - Indigenous Knowledge and digitalization
- Strategic Use of ICT's for Indigenous Communities - Indigenous cinemas and
collaborative politics of resistance and self-affirmation.*

* *

*STREAM 9: Young people and grass -roots communication*

*Tanya Notley (Queensland University of Technology) – [log in to unmask]*

*Penny O'Donnel l (University of Technology, Sydney) –
[log in to unmask]*

*Representation of young people in community media - Young people, the
blogosphere and creative online networks - Cyberspace, religion and youth
culture - Media literacy, training and community knowledge - Case studies of
innovative or experimental community media by/for young people.*

* *

*ABOUT SYDNEY*

*Sydney** is a cosmopolitan city of 4 million people located in the
south-east coast of Australia. It is Australia's oldest city, the economic
powerhouse of the nation and today home to people from over 160 different
nationalities and languages.*

*Average temperature in Sydney during April is 15°- 23°C (60°-75°F) with an
average rainfall of 100mm. and 12 days of rain in the month.*

* *

*LINKS ON SYDNEY*

*www.visitnsw.com.au*

*www.australia.com*

*www.sydneyhotelsaccommodation.com/*

*www.sydneyguide.net.au*

*http://sydneywebcam.blogspot.com*

* *

*VISAS*

*People seeking to attend a conference or event in Australia should, in most
cases, apply for a short stay Business Visitor Visa (subclass 456). These
Visas cost around US$ 60 (depending on the country of application).*

*Depending on your current country of passport, you may be able to apply for
an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) (see countries at www.eta.immi.gov.au.)
to obtain either a short-stay business ETA. *

*OM** Local Steering Committee will assist you in obtaining the visa. We are
working with IECN and the Australian Department of Immigration (DIMIA). In
any case, you are encouraged to apply for the appropriate visa at least 6-8
weeks before departure for Australia. *

*Your passport must be valid for travel and the period of your intended
stay. For more information on the*

*Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs' Electronic Travel
Authority system, see Fact Sheet 55 -*

*The Electronic Travel Authority or visit www.eta.immi.gov.au. *

*For delegates from Latin America see **
http://australia.comolograrlavisadeusa.com/*

*Information in Spanish for Mexico and Central America  available at **
http://www.mexico.embassy.gov.au/mctyca*

*stellano/Visas%5fand%5fMigration.html*

*Information in Spanish for Chile, Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador available at **
www.chile.embassy.gov.au/sclecastellano/*

*busvisas.html*

*Information in Spanish for Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay available at **
www.argentina.embassy.gov.au/baircastellano/home.html*

*Please visit the OM website after September 1, 2006 for updates and more
information.*

* *

*COVERAGE*

*The local steering committee is organizing different options of media
coverage of the confere**nce, including*

*video podcasts and video conferencing of some sessions, local press and
radio interviews and a special program on local community TV.*

* *

*ACTIVITIES*

*A series of activities with partner community organizations and side
cultural events are being planned.*

*Please visit the OM website after September 1, 2006 for updates and more
information.*

* *

*CONTACT INFORMATION*

*FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT OM6*

*CONTACT:*

*JUAN F. SALAZAR*

*[log in to unmask]*

*ELLIE RENNIE*

*[log in to unmask]*

*TANYA NOTLEY*

*[log in to unmask]*

*FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUR OUR*

*MEDIA NETWORK:*

*CLEMENCIA RODRIGUEZ*
*[log in to unmask]*
**
*For more information regarding the content of this email please contact its
author Juan F. Salazar ([log in to unmask])*