This ground-breaking convergence of media activists, students, and community members features workshops and panelists from across North America - happening THIS WEEKEND in Guelph, Ontario.

Nov. 4-7: Community Media Convergence
by CMC 2004
PRESS RELEASE

BUILDING THE COMMONS

Filmmakers, radio producers, community organizers and academics from across North America are converging on Guelph from November 4th to 7th. You are invited!

CFRU 93.3 FM, Guelph's Community Radio Station, is proud to host the Community Media Convergence 2004 - Building the Commons!

In order to build strong independent media outlets that involve and serve our communities, CFRU 93.3 FM and its local partners, have coordinated 4 days of entertaining and informative presentations and orkshops to examine challenges and opportunities for independent media.

"Building the Commons" begins on November 4th at 6:45pm in the Guelph Youth Music Centre, with a film screening of "OUTFOXED: Rupert Murdoch's War of Journalism" by Producer/Director Robert Greenwald. Dr. Paul Boin, a founder of Media Democracy Day and the Real News Network and Assistant Professor at the University of Windsor, will host the film and follow at 8:15pm with a presentation entitled "The Canadian MediaScape?: Key Media Issue-Action Areas for a Democratic Future." A suggested donation of $5 is recommended.

Not to be outdone, Peter Murdoch, Vice President CEP-Media, and Pete Tridish, a founder of the Prometheus Radio Project, will participate in a Panel Discussion entitled "Take Back the Media" on November 5th at 7pm in the Guelph Youth Music Centre. The panel will discuss media ownership and governance in Canada and the US. This public event is free.

Both Saturday and Sunday of "Building the Commons", will provide a plethora of networking and learning opportunities. Participants will go beyond content to examining how to effectively and creatively organize, structure, and finance independent media projects. Join us each day at the Bullring located on Trent Lane across from Rosanski Hall at the University of Guelph. Registration begins daily at 8am. Proceedings run from 9-5pm (details attached).

Participants may participate for the whole weekend or for just one day! Register on-line at convergence.cfru.ca or call Jen at 824-4120, ext, 56920.

Full weekend : $25 student/unwaged - $40 waged; Saturday OR Sunday only : $10 student/unwaged - $20 waged - 30 -

To arrange interviews please contact

Jennifer Moore Spoken Word Coordinator CFRU 93.3 FM University of Guelph, U.C. Level 2 Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (519) 824-4120 ext. 56920 spok...@cfru.ca convergence.cfru.ca

WEEKEND PROGRAM

Saturday & Sunday - Sat 9-11:30am - features introductions to all participants and a presentation concerning: . Building stronger independent media regionally Presenters include Professor David Skinner, Communication Studies at York University, and Gretchen King, CKUT Community News Coordinator & Community News Network animator. Examples of current and future independent media projects will be discussed to determine the major elements needed to build capacity and sustainability of such initiatives.

Sat 1:30-5pm - a panel discussion and workshops: . Multiculture Monoculture - exploring the cultural context of media organizations . Creating an Enabling Multicultural Framework: Lessons from the South . Why Media Matter: Tilting Opinion towards War in Iraq . Getting the Goods - finding financial and physical resources for Community Media The panel and workshops will feature Dr. Randal Marlin, author of Propaganda and the Ethics of Persuasion and Professor at Carleton University; Dr. Helen Hambly Odame, Assistant Professor in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development at the University of Guelph; and Lydia Masemola, Station Manager of CiTR? at the University of British Columbia.

Sun 9-11:45am - a panel discussion and workshops: . Solidarity Journalism - Challenging the role of the journalist as objective bystander . Cell-Phone Solidarity and the Digital Revolution . Tackling City Hall: building a grassroots alternative media around municipal affairs This morning features Gemini-winning filmmaker Katerina Cizek; Sarah Zammit, independent filmmaker; Dan & Marylou Smoke, Smoke Signals aboriginal radio from London, ON; and Don McLean, environment and community guru from Citizens at City Hall, Hamilton.

Sun 1:45-5pm - a panel discussion and related workshops: . Creative Delivery - Capturing Community - How do we create alternative media that has the potential to truly transform communities? Rethinking the idea of media - building a movement creatively, invigorating democracy, media as an active-ity. Featuring Carly Stasko, Grassroots Artist, Activist & Educator; representatives of Citizenshift, an exciting new project of the National Film Board; and more TBA.