Program

Wednesday 6 October
4pm -  5pm

(Choose from Session 1 or 2)

SESSION 1

CLIMATE CHANGE COMMUNICATION ABOVE 1.5: HOPE, FEAR AND JUSTICE IN A HOTTER, SCARIER WORLD

The reality of global heating confronts humanity with existential questions. It is difficult to hold on to hope in the face of the looming reality of climate change. Students and citizens must chart uncertain futures in a hotter, scarier world. Our changing world also asks urgent moral questions and poses imperatives for those of us communicating about our shared future.

Panel Members:

  • Dr John Cook (Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub)
  • Dr Lucy Richardson (Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub)
  • Ketan Joshi  (Writer, analyst, communications consultant and author)
  • Dr Deb Anderson (Lecturer in Journalism, Monash University)

Moderator: Dr Ben Eltham (Lecturer in Cultural and Creative Industries, Monash University)

SESSION 2

STUDENT SHOWCASE: FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE - INDUSTRY PROJECT PRESENTATIONS

Students from two of our Masters programs - Communications and Media Studies as well as Strategic Communications Management - present their work-in-progress for the capstone unit, APG5742 Industry Project. Our student teams are applying their knowledge, skills and expertise on communications projects for our client organisations: the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria and One Girl.

Moderator: Dr Mugdha Rai (Lecturer, Master of Strategic Communications Management, Monash University)

Wednesday 6 October
6pm - 7pm

OPENING NIGHT SESSION
Including official opening & 'Welcome' from the Acting Dean of Arts Prof. Rita Wilson

SETTLER MEDIA vs BLACK SOVEREIGNTY

From moral panics to “tough on crime” beats, settler media is regularly implicated in the repression of Indigenous peoples. Even when black voices finally reach white ears, the narrative framing can be selective. What do debates like #ChangeTheDate look like to those arguing for more radical positions of sovereignty and self-determination?

Panel Members:

Moderator: Daniel James (Broadcaster, Triple R)

Thursday 7 October
11am - 12pm

(Choose from Session 1 or 2)

SESSION 1

COMMUNICATING FOR JUSTICE: CREATING CHANGE WITH COMMS AND MEDIA

Communication can change the world. The push for justice, or for any social change, relies in part on convincing fellow citizens. Minor policy tweaks or inspiring campaigns all depend on explaining a cause, and crafting a vision of a better world. These experts in comms and media will discuss the pitfalls and successes of campaigning and communicating with the public to effect change.

Panel Members:

Moderator: Aliya Ahmad (Associate Director, Economic Media Centre)

SESSION 2

NON-FUNGIBLE TOKENS: TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY AN NFT?

NFT’s or Non Fungible Tokens are digital assets that represent real-world objects like art, music, in-game items and videos. They are bought and sold online, frequently with cryptocurrency, and they are generally encoded with the same underlying software as many cryptos. NFT’s have suddenly exploded in popularity since the beginning of 2021, but is it worth the hype? This panel will examine this latest phenomenon, deep diving into how NFT’s work, and whether it is a trend that will boom or bust.

Panel Members:

Moderator: Dr Anubha Sarkar (Lecturer in Cultural and Creative Industries, Monash University)

Thursday 7 October, 2021
12pm - 1pm

WHY SOCIAL MEDIA MATTERS TO CONVERSATIONS AND CAREERS

Social media is where we connect to news, information, entertainment, and each other. In this noisy environment, how do social media professionals grab attention, contribute to important conversations, and build a career from their communication skills? Hear from a social media strategist, content creator, and communications officer who are working to make their mark on a variety of social platforms.

Panel Members:

Moderator: Emily van der Nagel (Lecturer in Social Media, Monash University)

Thursday 7 October
1pm - 3pm

CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP STUDENTS PITCHING SESSION

RECORDING AVAILABLE SOON.

The growth of the creative economy has led to a heightened interest in entrepreneurship skills. Graduates from disciplines of creative arts, design and media are more entrepreneurial than their peers according to research conducted by the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE). And it is clear that the traditional business approach to entrepreneurship education is not working for those in the creative economy. Newer approaches, which introduce entrepreneurship skills as a form of social activism will have a longer impact on building a more equitable, sustainable and inclusive economy. The creative entrepreneurship unit is modeled on such thinking. This session designed as part of the teaching program will give students in the Master of Cultural and Creative Industries the platform to demonstrate their knowledge of the sector. It asks students to pitch their creative ideas to a room of fellow students, media and cultural industries professionals and our expert panel of judges from Australia and internationally.

Panel Members:

Moderator: Dr Xin Gu (Senior Lecturer in Communications and Media Studies, Monash University. Coordinator of the unit ‘Creative Entrepreneurship in the Cultural Industries’)

Thursday 7 October
4pm - 5pm

CREATIVE PRECINCTS - POLICY AND POSSIBILITY

RECORDING AVAILABLE SOON.

Victoria’s new strategy for the creative industries, Creative State 2025, includes a commitment to support and strengthen Victoria's creative neighbourhoods with secure and accessible workspaces and facilities for creatives and to foster vibrant creative hubs. At Monash, a team of academics and professional staff is working on the possibility of developing a “creative hub” at the University’s Caulfield campus, with the aspiration to co-locate artists, practitioners and businesses from across a range of creative industries to inspire innovative research collaborations and enterprising educational opportunities for students.
- What are the intersections between the government’s strategy and vision for a creative hub at Monash?
- What is the role of a university as the anchor institution of a creative hub?
- And how might a creative hub at Monash Caulfield contribute to Victoria’s cultural life and creative economy?

Panel Members:

  • Dr Xin Gu (Senior Lecturer in Communications and Media Studies, Monash University)
  • Professor Mel Dodd (Head of Architecture, Monash University)
  • Anna Huggins (Manager, Infrastructure Strategy & Development, Creative Victoria)

Moderator:  Associate Professor (Practice) Rebecca Forgasz (Project Fellow - Monash Creative Precinct, School of Media, Film and Journalism, Monash University)

Thursday 7 October
6pm - 7:15pm

CLOSING NIGHT SESSION
Including closing address from the Head of the School of Media, Film and Journalism (Prof. Brett Hutchins)

PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE DIGITAL TOWN SQUARE

RECORDING AVAILABLE SOON.

Early in 2021, the platforms Google and Facebook came under intense scrutiny due to ACCC’s new directives. The ACCC's platform regulations threw up debates around what is a platform, what their purpose should be, and what role they play in our democracy. This panel will examine the evolving and influential role of platforms in the public sphere. It also asks what role governments, public institutions and ordinary citizens can play to safeguard and enrich democratic debate.

Panel Members:

Moderator: Peter Lewis (Director, Center for Responsible Technology)