OURMedia VI International Conference
Sydney, Australia, April 9-13 2007
'Sustainable Futures: Roles and Challenges for Community, Alternative and Citizens' Media in the 21st century'
Until recently, media participation occurred almost exclusively within the sphere of community and alternative media. Now it is a widespread phenomenon. Online mainstream news sites encourage readers to participate through blogs while others, like OhmyNews in South Korea, are substantially written by readers. Rupert Murdoch purchased MySpace with the intention of turning 'a free social network into a colossal marketing machine' (Wired, Jul 2006). What is the future of community and alternative media within this landscape?
For over five decades community media advocates have campaigned for access to media platforms and promoted media literacy as part of a strategy to give voice to underrepresented groups. With the rise of broadband Internet, the core community media philosophies of access and participation have been realised on a greater scale than ever before. Media participation has now spread beyond the community-based, not-for-profit realm and into the commercial and government sectors. The cultural transformation taking place has profound implications for audiences, practitioners and policy-makers alike. Is there a social benefit in the rise of user-led media? What becomes of alternative, or citizens' media when media participation is a 'mainstream' activity? Do we need community governance or will commercial models prevail?
Research into 'citizens' media' (radical media, médias libres, participatory media, tactical media, community media, and grassroots media) can assist us to understand the cultural changes taking place and the implications for the public sphere. This conference will draw together expertise from theorists, policy-makers and develop viable pathways that ensure the sustainability of citizens' media.
For a full CfP and other information visit the OURMediaVI webpage: www.ourmedia07.net
or contact Juan Salazar: j.salazar@uws.edu.au Ellie Rennie: erennie@swin.edu.au Tanya Notley: t.notley@qut.edu.au
Abstracts due October 31, 2006
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