YOUTH, NEW MEDIA & SOCIAL CHANGE - International Conference Organised by the School of Social Sciences (Uni. of Northampton)

 

Saturday 8th May 2010

 

Venue: Lecture Theatre Cottesbrooke 101, University of Northampton, Park Campus, Northampton NN2 7AL, UK

 

This conference gathers academics, journalists, researchers, policy makers and civil society organisations to discuss youth use of new media and the implication this has on identity construction, on public opinion and social change. Although their development is a recent phenomenon, new media have not only opened up new opportunities for journalism but also empowered audiences and civil society organisations with unprecedented platforms for 'free' expression and social activism around the world. New technologies are said to have reinvigorated a sense of a 'transnational public sphere' and strengthened marginalized communities and provided a platform for the voiceless. The possible consequences of such rapid developments on social and political change are not hard to imagine. The sweeping victory of US president elect Barak Obama characterised by the unprecedented outreach to marginalised communities including the youth through YouTube, Facebook, and other internet platforms is a case in point.

Aims:

This conference aims to map out the role of new media in the perceived social changes. It looks at how audiences, users, civil society organisations, political/social groups and subcultures have understood and found in these technologies the right tools and strategies to power their work sustainably.

Conference themes:

This conference covers the following areas of enquiry:

- Blogging and bloggers as citizen journalists; are bloggers making a social difference? - Satellite TV and the internet as cites of resistance/alternative media or sets of 'censored national enclosures' -E-campaigning and political/social groups - How are  activists/the youth interacting with platforms like 'YouTube', 'MySpace', 'Flicker', 'Faithtube', 'Facebook' and 'Blogging' to pursue their objectives? - Challenges of the Internet in war zones - The new media and women empowerment amongst ethnic minorities. - Youth subcultures and new media, what is going on? - In the absence of real democracy in some parts of the Arab and Muslim world is new media creating a new form of social/political capital: e-democracy? - What functions are the internet and satellite TV playing in mobilising public opinion? - What expectations and perceptions are there regarding changes in cultural and political values?

Attendance:

Participation in this conference will be open to academics, researchers, policy makers, government agencies, youth workers, students, parents and other members of the public.

Fees: £35 waged; £10 non-waged and students

To register or for any other information please contact: Ms Karin Ferngren Marketing Officer School of Social Sciences 01604 892067 Email: [e-mail] Or: Dr Noureddine Miladi (Conference Coordinator) Senior Lecturer in Media & Sociology Tel: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]