Media Conference

Park Place Hotel -- April 27
Northwestern Michigan College -- April 28 & 29
Traverse City, Michigan

This conference is sponsored by the Neahtawanta Research and Education Center and the Communications Division of Northwestern Michigan College. This is a follow-up to the Conference, Communication Technology and Democracy, held in the Fall of 1993, at Northwestern Michigan College.

This conference will be an opportunity for educators, media activists, local government policy makers and citizens to learn about Media Literacy and it's relationship to the rapidly changing telecommunication industry.
Thursday, 8:00 pm, Park Place Hotel -- The Lakes Room
The Media Landscape: How is it being cultivated?
The US Congress and Michigan Legislature are working to change the laws that govern telecommunications, cable TV and radio broadcast services and the way information services are brought to the consumer. Communications technology and services are rapidly developing. Policy makers are changing the way the services are going to be provided to the consumer. Trends in technology and market providers only mean that consumers and local governments will have more involvement in the telecommunications services and facilities. This session will cover what the seven trends in technology and services appear to be and who are some of the providers of the new services technology media. The most important part of the session will be the top ten policy issues that face consumers and policy makers to deal with the changing landscape of communications providers. Anyone who uses the telephone, communicates by electronic mail or watches cable television should attend this session to find out how the communications medias will be effected by events that are in motion today. All consumers will find this session of interest.
--Ron Choura, Director of Policy, Michigan Public Service Commission

Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Locations to be announced
Mobile Media Events
Grand Rapids TV (GRTV) will be bringing their fully equipped, state of the art, mobile media lab to Traverse City for the weekend. Michael will be planning various media productions with local media access advocates, students and other interested people. In addition, portions of the conference will be covered using the GRTV Mobile Media lab.

--Michael Kroes, Media Producer, Traverse City

Friday 7:30 pm Northwestern Michigan College, Oleson Center
Media Literacy
The presentation will discuss media literacy as a tool of empowerment in the emerging global information economy. The talk will outline the relationships and linkages between media aesthetics, the social and cultural role of media, and critical analysis of media. Key concepts of media literacy will be used to explore and expand our understanding of the definitions and underlying assumptions of alternative media.

--Fred Johnson, Directory of Media Education, Tualatin Valley Community Access
Saturday 8:00 AM to 9:30 PM
Northwestern Michigan College, Oleson Center

Morning Sessions
8:00-9:15 AM Registration
9:15-10:30 AM

1. Media Literacy in Schools -Bronwyn Jones
2. Communication Technologies -The Basics -Dirk Koning & -Bob Russell
3. Media Literacy for Public Access Cable -Fred Johnson
10:45 AM-12:00 (repeat of 1, 2, 3)

12:00-1:15 Lunch

Afternoon
1:15-2:00 PM Public Policy for Cable Access -Lauren-Glenn Davitian
2:15-3:30 PM

4. Talk Radio -Marguerite Cotto & Kit Pfeiffer
5. Public Access Studio & Equipment -Sharon Himmele
6. Communication, Information & The Internet -George Powell & Bob Russell
3:45-5:00 PM (repeat 4, 5, 6)

5:15-6:30 PM Social Gathering (dinner on your own)

Evening
7:45-8:00 PM The Best of the Mobile Media Video from Friday
8:00-9:30 PM Talking Circle Wrap-up, Moderated by Bronwyn Jones

Workshop Discriptions

1. Media Literacy in Schools -- This workshop will involve a discussion of what it means to be media literate, as well as a discussion of ways to infuse media literacy across the curriculum. Materials and bibliographies will be available and every effort will be made to tailor the session to the particular interests of the attendees.

2. Communication Technologies: The Basics -- This workshop will look at the basic technology underlaying telecommunication. Topics like electromagnetism, photon generation, lasers, fiber optics and signal flow will be covered. There will also be a general discussion of the merging of media mediums, as technology moves from analog to digital.

3. Media Literacy in Public Access Centers -- This workshop will look at the importance of media literacy to the future of public access centers and community-based media work. Both media literacy and community media will be examined in terms of their historical and social contexts. Specific applications and strategies for using media literacy to empower people will be presented. Basic concepts and curriculum approaches will be outlined, along with examples of how they can be applied to the educational and production goals of public access and community media. The session will include video screenings, outline handouts, demonstrations and discussion.

4. Whos Talking, Whos Listening: Issues on the Contemporary Radio Scene -- This will be a panel discussion revolving around public policy and programming/audience issues in the different areas of public radio, AM talk radio, and community based radio.

5. Public Access Tools for Cable TV -- This session will involve a tour of the Public Access studio at NMC, as well as descriptions and demonstrations of the available equipment and types of programming.

6. Communication, Information & The Internet -- This workshop will look at what makes the Internet different from other media. How the Internet is a means of communication as well as a source of data and information. An on-line demonstration of the Internet will help illustrate how the Internet is being used as an interactive medium for communication.

COSTS
Thursday & Friday evening no charge -- FREE!
Saturday (includes vegetarian lunch)

$40.00 regular
$20.00 students
$10.00 limited income