NEW DELHI, August 26: The fifth OURMedia conference will be held from December 5 to 9, 2005 in Bangalore. The conference will cover a range of topics related to fostering more democracy and participation though the media.
The OURMedia 5 Conference "Democracy and the Media" is aimed at building strategies and collaborations among researchers, non-governmental organisations, practitioners, artists and advocates for the promotion of communication rights, effective access to information/communication technologies (ICTs), and community and citizen participation in the media.
This year’s special focus is on community and grassroots communications for social change in India and Southeast Asia where the organisation expects to learn about and showcase current models and experiences in community participation and advocacy on media and ICTs in the region.
OURMedia/NuestrosMedios is a transnational network with over 400 academics, activists, researchers, practitioners and advocates working across every continent and in more than 40 countries. Its aim is to work towards the strengthening of media and ICTs that support social justice, human rights, community autonomy and grassroots empowerment.
The conference will include 10 to 12 panel discussions, several screenings of various media projects, and cooperative presentations and discussions on different topics. Most presentations will be in English with Spanish translations.
For presentations and participatory sessions, the conference planning committee is seeking proposals that address one or more of the following topics:
- ICT and communication for social change local, regional, international
- ICT for development
- Communication rights advocacy, campaigns, strategies - global overview
- Community media / citizens media theory and practice
- Connecting research and advocacy for citizens' media case studies
- Media policy, transnational governance and copyright regimes
- Media education / communication and learning
- First nations / indigenous communications and media
- Interactive media in collaborative and participatory research and practice.
- New media arts activism and tactical media
- Politics of media production and distribution processes
- Technology and knowledge
- Health communications
- Comparative media studies
- Media diversity and democratisation of media and IT
- Peace and community building through media
- Grassroots networking
The deadline to submit proposals for papers, presentations or panel discussions is August 31, 2005. The event will include people who work with the media, technology, related NGOs, or others who are interested in the theme of "Democracy and the Media."
Details: www.ourmedianet.org/general/resources.html
Contact:
Dr Joshva Raja
Associate Professor and Chairperson
Department of Communication
United Theological College
63, Miller's Road, Bangalore - 560 046, India
Phone 0091 80 2333-3438/2333-0502 (Office)
Fax is 0091 80 2333-0015
joshvajohn@hotmail.com
joshvajohn@yahoo.co.uk
