ANNOUNCING: "Democracy and Independence: Sharing News and Politics in a Connected World," June 29-July 1, 2006

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ANNOUNCING: "Democracy and Independence: Sharing News and Politics in a Connected World," June 29-July 1, 2006
By MGP Staff
Jan 29, 2006, 14:25

Helen Thomas, Chellie Pingree . . . Christopher Lydon, Rob Williams and 100 other visionaries in media, politics, education and technology . . .
. . . convening June 29-July 1 at UMass Amherst to help shape the future of journalism and democracy
Want to help?

http://www.mediagiraffe.org/conference/
HOW TO REGISTER NOW

Traditional and citizen journalists, political strategists, educators, bloggers, developers, technology and media researchers will convene June 29-July 1, 2006 at University of Massachusetts Amherst for the first Media Giraffe Project conference. The Media Giraffe Project, a non-partisan, interdisplinary research effort of the UMass journalism program, is hosting the roundtable summit and how-to sessions designed to:

Consider and recommend answers to changes to the financing and practice of journalism
Bridge the gap between new and traditional media
Show and consider the impact of new media technologies on journalism and the "public sphere"
Spotlight emerging business models
Create new networks of media innovators which bridge traditional carriers among journalism, education, politics and technology
Watch and share innovations in media-literacy education.

Summit sponsors besides UMass include The Boston Globe, Omidyar Network, MassLive/The Republican newspaper, the New England Press Association.

Constituencies from mainstream and alternative media rarely meet together. Yet new technologies are currently upending and interweaving the practice of journalism, politics and teaching. Journalists see an erosion of traditional revenue sources which supported -- and were supported by -- their work. It's not clear what will sustain traditional "watchdog" journalism, or how it will co-exist, or merge, with so-called "citizen journalism." There's an atmosphere of anticipation and intense experimentation.

"Democracy and Independence" -- the first Media Giraffe Project Conference -- is the crossover meeting place for leading thinkers on the impact of Internet technology on journalism, media, education and politics -- and the place to celebrate "above-the-crowd" innovation.

To accommodate attendees from citizen journalism, media, politics, education and technology, a five-track event is scheduled, starting with a limited-enrollment roundtable summit, followed by a four-track conference.

Click HERE for program, lodging and travel details.
Click HERE for online registration.
Download a printable program schedule: (PDF) / (MSWORD)

Individuals working in politics, at large media, cutting-edge information technology organizations, citizen-powered local-news web services, or in teaching and academia share a goal of fostering participatory democracy and community. "Democracy and Independence: Sharing of News in a Connected World" will bring them together to share what's working now and what's coming soon.

This first gathering of The Media Giraffe Project will observe changes in the structure of the U.S. media industry, the impact of the Internet on its financing, including copyright, the new relationships among creators and consumers of news, and how democracy is affected.

The event is a chance to meet and learn from profiled Media Giraffe pioneers. "The Media Giraffe Citizen Journalism Bootcamp" will present case-studies of emerging local web-based news and community efforts in a "how-to" format designed to teach citizens and mainstream journalists field-tested approaches for two-way, participatory journalism.

There will be panels, discussions, demonstrations and workshops on specific projects underway nationwide (many profiled at: http://www.mediagiraffe.org/profiles/) which use media in innovative, sustainable ways to foster participatory democracy and community.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

The conference is designed for:

traditional media strategists, editors and practitioners
Elected officials, political and public-policy strategists
info-tech pioneers and entrepreneurs
operators of local-news websites and blogs
podcasters and vloggers dealing with news, political and public-policy issues.
academic researchers and students
citizens who want "how-to" knowledge about participatory media
anyone interested in new innovations in web, print, film and audio news creation, delivery and financing.

EARLY-REGISTRATION DISCOUNT

To qualify for an early-registration discount, to propose a conference presentation, panel or paper, or to inquire about exhibit or literature distribution, send email now with your contact information to:

conference (at) mediagiraffe.org

You will receive updates as specific registration and program information becomes available.

POST-CONFERENCE OPPORTUNITIES:

The event kicks off the Independence Day weekend, and we plan to package a variety of opportunities for post-conference touring of New England for attendees who wish to linger through July 4. The Five Colleges area of Massachusetts offers a remarkable combination of sophisticated, urban amenities amid rural beauty and is less than two hours from Boston. Access is via the Bradley International Airport (BDL), Providence or Boston.

Media Giraffe Project

108 Bartlett Hall

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst MA 01003

413-577-4370

mediagiraffe (at) journ.umass.edu

This page is available at: www.mediagiraffe.org/conference.html

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