[alt-media-res] FW: NGPA 'Common Interests' workshop

[Boehm, Steffen]

Hi all,
I've just sent the below message to the organisers of a workshop on
North-South relations, part of the NGPA programme (see attached). I'm
planning to participate in this, and thought I could connect to the
research I've done in South America and particularly connecting to the
discussions I've had with Zoe and Andre recently. It would be great, Zoe
and Andre, if we could develop our comparison paper by then and present
it there. Would you be happy to do that and participate at this
workshop? If you are engaged otherwise, I could also present our paper
myself, or I can also present another thing... Anyway, I thought this
might give us a target to develop our comparison paper.
I'm also sending this to the whole group to see whether Sian and Pennie
want to contribute to this to, as issues of North-South relations have
really been at the heart of most of our research on alt.media. 
I think there are still at a very early stage re their programme
development for this workshop, which means we could influence this a
bit. So, are there any other ideas of how we as a group can contribute
to this? I imagine you, Sian, for example, would have to say quite a bit
about 'common interests' between north and south. The Africa case would
be useful to connect to, and Palestine of course too.
Steffen


-----Original Message-----
From: Boehm, Steffen 
Sent: 16 May 2008 15:10
To: 'M.M.Mackintosh'
Cc: 'meri.koivusalo at stakes.fi'
Subject: RE: NGPA 'Common Interests' workshop


Dear Maureen,

Sorry for taking a while to get back. In principle, I'm still interested
in taking part. This looks like a very interesting programme you've come
up with so far. The date is possible for me, and I've pencilled this
into my diary. 

The draft title is: 
"North-South dynamics in the organisation of alternative media: A
comparison of three global networks"

If possible, I'd like to invite 1-3 representatives of the three global
alternative media networks that our research has been focused on. Would
this be possible please? 

I'm currently involved in setting up a new global journal called
Interface (http://www.interfacejournal.net/). The issues you would like
to talk about in the workshop are very much at the heart of what we are
trying to do with the journal as well. Perhaps one or two academics and
activists involved with the journal could take part in this workshop? 

I'm also taking part in this conference at Nottingham, which also seem
to be close to your concerns:
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/cssgj/CSSGJ_Conference_Social_Movements.php

Perhaps there are connections that can be made here as well? I guess
what I'm saying is that it would be good to connect what's already going
on, so that we can multiply and not reinvent wheels. 

As a more general comment on the programme, I would also say that it
would be good to maybe have a session or discussion about 'right to
speak' kind of issues. i.e. who/what gives us (from the
west/north/privileged world) the right to talk 'about' the south. I
guess this relates to methodological issues of how to conduct research
in north/south settings, and post-colonial and philosophical/political
questions of how knowledge is produced. I think we need to be very aware
of these issues in such a workshop setting. Part of this is the
activist/academic divide/relationship that also needs problematising.
Who produces knowledge here, and for whom is this knowledge
appropriated? 

So far my thoughts. 
All the best,
Steffen




-----Original Message-----
From: M.M.Mackintosh [mailto:M.M.Mackintosh at open.ac.uk] 
Sent: 28 April 2008 10:54
To: Boehm, Steffen; johnston.birchall at stir.ac.uk
Cc: meri.koivusalo at stakes.fi
Subject: NGPA 'Common Interests' workshop


Dear Steffen, Dear Johnston,
You both expressed interest in contributing to an NGPA programme
workshop on 'Common Interests beween North and South' in
non-governmental public action. I'm glad to say this workshop has now
been approved for support from the NGPA programme, and we have a
potential date, venue and draft programme. 
The proposed date is 4th November 2008, and we thought London is
probably the best location for seeking to attract participation - a lot
easier than Milton Keynes for people to get to. The Institute of
Commonwealth Studies is willing to host it, and Richard Crook is also
planning a contribution from their NGPA work. 
Is this date a possible one for you? We very much hope that it is.  I
attach a proposed programme with possible slots for each of your
contributions. This is a draft - please comment and amend? If you are
indeed able to contribute - and we very much hope that you can - please
could you give us a title for your presentation?  We are seeking lead
and closing speakers from outside of the programme, and other potential
NGPA contributors are listed. If you have suggestions for commentators -
particularly practitioners and campaigners - who might be invited, do
let us know? Any other comments on the programme are most welcome. Once
we have an initial agreed programme wth speakers we will circulate this
again to the NGPA programme participants. We very much hope to attract a
wide participatin both within and outside the programme. all good wishes
and thanks for your interest in this initiative Maureen
 

---------------------------------
The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), an
exempt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in Scotland
(SC 038302).
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: NGPA One Day workshop on Common Interests draft programme 4	08.doc
Type: application/msword
Size: 40448 bytes
Desc: NGPA One Day workshop on Common Interests draft programme
	4 08.doc
Url : https://lists.aktivix.org/pipermail/alt-media-res/attachments/20080516/10d2d1b5/attachment-0001.doc