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 Australia will 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) -
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 .salazar@ uws.edu.au
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.sydneyhotelsaccommodation.com/
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
ELLIE RENNIE
TANYA NOTLEY
FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUR OUR
MEDIA NETWORK:
CLEMENCIA RODRIGUEZ