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FM@dia Forum '04 (en)
Connecting Free Media. Exchange within and beyond Central and Eastern Europe.
what
Meeting and workshops of Free Media initiatives on framing diverse strategies for sustainable cultural cooperation and exchange.
when
10th - 11th June 2004 (Part 1)
12th - 13th June 2004 (Part 2)
where
Prague (Cz) NoD Experimental space
Freistadt (A) Salzhof
who
People from a variety of community-, free-, independent-, sovereign-, civic-, NGO media and social organisations will gather together in Prague and Freistadt to meet, discuss and develop strategies for the liberalisation of the information and communication situation in Europe - with special focus on Central Europe. It is set up for active members and representatives of a number civic, cultural and media initiatives from Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Poland, Germany, Austria, including guests from both western northern, southern and eastern regions.
why
The rapid social, political, economical and technological shift of terms of the expanded "United Europe" pose a challenge to discuss, reframe and compare such topics as "free speech", "public access", "independence - media ownership", "creative commons", "digital gap" or "content exchange". All this and more requires a cross- referencing for establishing a common base and functioning platform for better collaboration among media activists, artists, free radios , 'zine publishers, internet publishers etc.
While the region is characterised by a relatively high potential of growth of media and civic activities, the inter-connectivity reaching beyond the borders remains by comparison rare. This meeting seeks to offer the opportunity for improving coordination and sharing experiences and know-how among the participants.
The issues of civic media and rights of communication shall be discussed within a broader public debate. Special internet "web-streaming" will take place during the meeting, in order to broadcast and archive the event.
goals
Easier access to new digital technologies open new chances as well as threats for civic and community media as opposed to mass media and corporate structures. Activating and intensifying mutual communication and collaboration between different regions, languages and cultures is the aim of the "FM@dia" forum.
FM@dia 04 is divided in several block and working groups according to special interests: (each working group has supervisor)
1. Media Landscapes
How have the Media-Landscapes developed since the fall of Berlin Wall (in Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Poland, Germany and Austria)?
How to define a role for European Free and community Media networks, what is their relation to corporate and governmental mass media? Different circumstances result in a multitude of approaches to the term of "Free Media", still are there corresponding aims/ideals? What impact do the free and community media and initiatives have on the public debate and civic rights? What extent and impact of statutes related to community media and civic free media initiatives are and will be included in the European Union media policy (Community Media Fund)?
2. Survival Kit For Independent Media
Conditions, experiences, and possibilities for community-media in the extended European Union: a survey from different countries. Used practices and strategies, issues of legality and laws. Solidarity, interactivity, broader awareness and understanding of diversity of local dilemma, transcending the conforming and "national" attitudes. What changes do the electronic networks bring forth and how are they currently (dis)functioning? How are they rooted in the local social patterns and specific conditions of different national and political entities?
3. Content Exchange � Free Flow Of Information
Content-exchange within Free Media in the new European Union. What are the advantages and interests of potentially cooperating parallel cross-national oriented broadcasting and information initiatives? Their accessibility, openness and will for strategy implementation, multi-lingual media channels, broadcasts, media jamming, etc. Can media solidarity and media education empower the sustainable models and democracy? (http://www.tol.cz , http://www.indymedia.org , http://www.infoservis.net/ , Europe from down below, etc)
4. Cross Border Media & Local Development
Community media as an intercultural communication tool - the emerging field of mobile media transmitters explores the convergence of data and location in environments, which are aside the main communication highways. Nowadays it is possible to use cheap, portable, networked, location aware computing devices for user-led mapping and interventions in which geographical and cultural minority expression can be voiced and integrated in the media landscape.
Can these tools of locative media contribute to the social and cultural, political and ecological multi-layer projects? How can local community media benefit from them and in which way can this technology stimulate the interconnectivity, alternative channels for cultural exchange
and collaboration across "the borders"? (eg. issues of migration, immigration, "recovering" of the dialogues between the recently disconnected regions such as of Upper Austria, Bavaria and South Bohemia, Hungary and Slovakia or former Yugoslavia)?
Several speakers from national and international political structures will be invited to formulate and present their visions on the problem of media and communication in the region.
Proposed number of participants: 50-100
The formats of the conference will be panel discussions (plenary discussions), presentations (examples for best practice, marketing, networking) and workshops (split up into working-groups with practical questions as funding, how to start etc.).
The event will be accompanied by evening programs.
Alliance of Organizations:
Bundesverband Freier Radios Deutschland (BFR), www.freie-radios.de
European Civic Forum, www.civic-forum.org
Freier Rundfunk Freistadt, Freistadt (A)
Radio FRO, Linz (A), www.fro.at
Radio Akropolis, Prague http://www.radioakropolis.cz
Transition Online http://www.tol.cz
Verband Freier Radios Osterreich, http://www.freie-radios.at
Centre for Contemporary Art Prague/Radio Jeleni http://www.radiojeleni.cz
Econnect, http://www.ecn.cz
NoD./Roxy, http://www.roxy.cz/nod
Linhart Foundation,
http://www.linhartovanadace.cz/
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