Speaking for Our Selves: Media Democracy Day 2008
We all have a relationship with media, whether it be a strong,
traditional commitment or an exciting new dalliance as we delve into
unexplored domains. It provides us with a sense of community and
context. It allows us to form new perspectives and debates. It
provides us with necessary information. But how often do we question
whether this relationship is working?
Media Democracy Day is a way for us to ensure the media that educates
us is also honest and is happening in Vancouver on the 25th October
2008 at the Vancouver Public Library.
Steve Anderson, organizer of Media Democracy Day 2008 Vancouver, says
that “with media concentrating into fewer and fewer hands, and
Internet Service Providers quickly emerging as online gatekeepers, a
public forum on media issues like media democracy day, takes on a new
sense of urgency. I’m trilled to see such a full and diverse roster of
speakers, workshops and panels, it promises to be an exciting day.”
This year three panels will pay attention to the important issues
influencing our current media landscape. Panel 1, “Big Media” Clamp
Down – Taking stock and fighting back, will survey some of the main
battles currently being fought against Big Media. In Panel 2,
Journalism in a time of Big Media Domination, panelists will discuss
the current issues being faced by traditional media and describe what
they see as the possibilities of using new media and new models to do
in-depth investigative projects, find untold stories, and engage new
audiences. Could these projects counteract big media, and redefine
journalism? Panel 3,
The Battle for New Media and Open Communication, will examine the
growing role the internet has in “mass media” and if an open Internet
will succumb to the same companies that control traditional media.
Panelists will discuss the fight for an open Internet, prospects for
new social media, and future challenges at a time of intense
opposition from a powerful cartel of phone and cable companies.
Speakers for Media Democracy Day include: Rex Weyler (Author and
Co-founder of Greenpeace); Matt Thompson (Award winning online video
producer, Campaign Strategist for FreePress, Co-Founder of
SaveOurNet.ca); Deborah Campbell (Award Winning Independent
Journalist); Andrea Hayley (President of the Epoch Times Vancouver);
Michael Tippett (Co-founder of Nowpublic.com); Robert Hackett
(Professor at SFU and author of “Remaking Media”); Robert Scales (CEO
of RainCity Studios); Brian Campell (Seriously
Free Speech Committee) and Kate Milberry (Media and Technology
Commentator and Blogger).
The anticipated workshop in Media Democracy Day in 2008 is Community
Organizing and Media: Networking for Change which seeks to share
strategies that are effective at both shaping the corporate media, and
at building connections between respective community media networks
working on social justice issues, such as indigenous rights, migrant
rights, the environment, poverty and women’s rights. Two other
workshops will discuss Open Source Journalism – how to ensure that
journalism adheres to and benefits from open source principles and The
Media Revolution – A workshop on OpenSource Software.
Media Democracy Day Vancouver will be held at the Vancouver Public
Library, 350 West Georgia Street, on Saturday October 25th 2008 from
12 noon to 6 pm. Admission is free and open to everyone. The event
also includes the Media Democracy Fair which will showcase a variety
of organisations and information.
This year’s sponsors are: The Ruth and Henry Goodman Fund for Social
and Ecological Justice, Endswell Fund of Tides Canada; Federation of
Post-Secondary Educators of BC; CUPE BC; British Colombia Teachers’
Federation; BC Government and Services Employees’ Union; British
Colombia and Yukon Territory Building and Construction Trades Council;
NowPublic; The Tyee; Campaign for Democratic Media; SFU Faculty of
Applied Sciences; SFU School of Communication; SFU Institute for
Humanities; UBC School of Journalism; Free Geek; The Centre for Policy
Research on Science and Technology (CPROST); SFPRIG; Agentic; CMNSU;
The Republic and the Communications Energy and Paperworks Union
Western Region.
For additional media information or to discuss sponsorship
opportunities please contact:
Caroline Warwick
caroline.warwick@gmail.com
Faiza Zia Khan
faizak@interchange.ubc.ca
or Steve Anderson
steveinfos@gmail.com
The full programme and further information on Media Democracy Day is
available at
http://www.mediademocracyday.org
For information on setting up a FREE table as part of the Media
Democracy Fair, please
contact:
Rodger Levesque
rodgerlevesque@gmail.com
For more information on democratic media visit http://democraticmedia.ca
More information about this event is attached.
(Press Release. Speaker Bio’s. Media Democracy Day background information.)
Faiza Zia Khan
The Promenading Nomad 