Full Media Democracy Day Program Details Released

Global media makers, leading scholars, policy reformers, local publishers, film festivals, and media artists lead the charge for diversity at this year’s event

VANCOUVER, B.C., September 13, 2010 - Following the exciting confirmation of Tony Burman of Al Jazeera English as opening keynote speaker, the School of Communication at Simon Fraser University, OpenMedia.ca, and the Vancouver Public Library are thrilled to announce full program details for Media Democracy Day Vancouver 2010.

Tyler Morgenstern, head coordinator of Media Democracy Day says, “while sticking to our policy reform roots, this year we also want to draw attention to people who are making change at street level; the indie, alternative, community-based media artists and activists that are telling diverse, interesting stories.”

As previously announced, Tony Burman, 35-year veteran of the CBC and current senior executive of Al Jazeera English will open the day with a keynote address. Panel discussions for the day include assessing the role of alternative media in environmental communication in an age of corporate greenwash; the rise of “Fox News North” and what it means for Canadian broadcasting; the portrayal of protest and negotiation at global marquee events like the G20 summit; representations of sexual and gendered violence in media; and a close look at the shifting landscape of Canadian copyright. The Pacific Cinémathèque is also hosting a small production workshop that will teach attendants how to utilize documentary and journalistic techniques to activate the resistant spirit of our culture.

These discussions will be led by top media scholars such as David Skinner, Donald Gutstein, and Mary Lynn Young; progressive publishers and managers such as Tony Burman of Al Jazeera English and David Beers of The Tyee; representatives of the activist community such as Gwen Barlee of the Western Canadian Wilderness Committee and Marsha Newbury from Women in View; and local media influencers and artists such as Amber Dawn of Out on Screen, and filmmaker Hart Snider.

Throughout the day, the public is also welcome to explore our Media Democracy Fair, a trade show-style exhibition of the local media landscape. Exhibitors at this year’s fair include Out on Screen, Access to Media Education Society, Rabble.ca, Amnesty International, The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the BC Civil Liberties Association, the Vancouver Observer, Hello Cool World, Pull Focus Non-Profit Film School, and many more.

Media Democracy Day takes place November 6th from 12 PM-5 PM, at the Vancouver Public Library, Central Library. The event is free and open to the public, but seating for panel, keynote, and workshop sessions is limited. To pre-register your attendance, visit http://mddvancouver.eventbrite.com. Pre-registration helps the MDD team estimate attendance and print the proper number of program booklets and other on-site materials.

About Media Democracy Day:
Launched simultaneously in Vancouver and Toronto in 2001, MDD responded to a growing global media democratization movement. This movement seeks to create a more participatory media system by supporting independent and public service media production, celebrating innovation, and creating dialogue around the politics and biases linked to our increasingly corporate and concentrated media. To learn more, visit http://www.mediademocracyday.org.

About the School of Communication:
For more than 35 years, the School of Communication at Simon Fraser University has fostered the development of critical, interdisciplinary approaches to the study of media and technology with a commitment to social theory and political economy. Led by an award-winning team of educators, the School of Communication is at the leading edge of media policy research, technological innovation, and cultural transformation on a global scale. For more information, visit http://cmns.sfu.ca

About OpenMedia.ca:
OpenMedia.ca is a national, non-partisan, non-profit public engagement organization working to advance and support an open and innovative communications system in Canada. Our primary goal is to increase public awareness and informed participation in Canadian media, cultural, information, and telecommunication policy formation. More at: http://openmedia.ca

About Vancouver Public Library:
Founded in 1887, Vancouver Public Library is one of Canada's largest library systems dedicated to meeting the lifelong learning, reading, recreation and information needs of the people of Vancouver. Each year, the Library’s 22 branches serve over six million visitors and offer over 2.5 million items, including books, CDs, DVDs, magazines and countless online resources. For more information, visit http://www.vpl.vancouver.bc.ca/

Contact: Tyler Morgenstern
Coordinator, Media Democracy Day
Cell: (778) 385-8448
Office: (778) 782-7353
[email protected]

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Tyler Morgenstern
Co-coordinator, Media Democracy Day 2010
[email protected]
P: 778.782.7353 | C: 778.385.8448

Gala Milne,
Co-coordinator, Media Democracy Day 2010
[email protected]
C: 778.847.4252

Twitter: @MediaDemocDay, #MDDVan
Facebook: "Media Democracy Day Vancouver"