[ecrea] International Conference "Bridging the Gap: Public Service Broadcasters, Diasporic Media and Audience Engagement".

Bridging the Gap: Public Service Broadcasters, Diasporic Media and
Audience Engagement.

University of Lincoln

Friday 2 November 2012

An International Symposium organised by the Media of Diaspora Research
Group (MDRG) at the Lincoln School of Journalism, University of Lincoln,
UK with support from the British Academy.

Confirmed participants from media industry:
Deputy Editor of Channel 4 News; Editor, African Voice Newspaper; CEO,
Bright Entertainment Television; Editor, Al-Jazeera Television, UK.

The MDRG invites scholars and practitioners of public service and
diasporic media to discuss whether public service remits should be
universally applied as we reach a critical junction in the global public
sphere.

While the diasporic media strives towards an ethno-specific cultural
production, the public service broadcasters strive towards a "social
compact that subsumes nation and ethnicity within the state"
(Cunningham, 2001) because of its commitment to public service remits.
However, both media types are limited in reaching diverse audiences due
to various reasons including imbalances in the workforce and in
representation. Moreover, the competitive imperative of audience
fragmentation and migration of advertising revenue online puts more
pressure on these media to develop confident, active audience and
fostering social solidarity.

These raise a few questions for discussion at this international
symposium:
*	What are the challenges and prospects of delivering public
service remits to diverse audiences in analogue and digital systems?
*	Should the diasporic media embrace public service remits in
order to broaden their reach beyond particularistic group?
*	What roles could the diasporic media play in fostering social
solidarity?
*	How could public service broadcasters remain commercially viable
without undermine public service content to minority and diasporic
audiences?
*	What are the challenges and prospects of redressing the
imbalances in the workforce at the mainstream and diasporic media?
*	What good practices are evident in projecting alternative
perspectives to diverse audiences in analogue and digital media systems?

Participants should submit a 300 word abstract to
(conferences /at/ lincoln.ac.uk) by 20 March 2012. Early submission is strongly
encouraged. Notification of acceptance is 16 April 2012. Further details
and symposium registration details can be found at
http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/campuslife/whatson/eventsconferences.

Members of the reviewing committee are Dr Ola Ogunyemi, Dr Daniel
Muller, Prof. Ralph Negrine, Ms Carmen Diop and Ms Lioba Suchenwirth.

The Media of Diaspora Research Group (MDRG): it is a network of
academics and professionals. It is based in the Lincoln School of
Journalism, University of Lincoln, with members from universities around
the world. MDRG researchers examine the organisational structure,
business models, journalism standards and professional values at the
media for, by and about the diasporic groups. To sign up to MDRG's
update, please visit http://mediaofdiaspora.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk/



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