Rethink 2017
#Rethink2017, Birmingham City University’s one-day conference for digital media professionals, taking place on Tuesday 13 June 2017. At Parkside, the UK’s largest media production centre, attendees will hear valuable talks by industry leaders, insightful panel discussions and have fantastic networking opportunities.
#Rethink2017 is part of Digital Cities Birmingham, running 12 - 18 June for a series of inspiring free events and roadshows across the city.
The conference programme will make attendees rethink how you gather, generate and publish truly engaging content to meet the rapidly-changing expectations of today’s audience. Issues of representation and diversity, both on and off-screen, will be debated throughout the day.
The full line up of speakers is shown below.
The host - Ayo Akinwolere
Ayo is a broadcaster, world record holder and BAFTA nominee. He became Blue Peter’s first black male presenter, hosting the show for five years. In 2015, he became the winner of an RTS (Royal Television Society Award) for his documentary on Extremism for the BBC's Inside Out.
Keynote speaker - Tim Plyming
Tim has been creative leader and partner since June 2016 for Green Rock,with board-level responsibility for creative development and Executive Production on every project.
Chair - Marverine Cole
Marverine is an Award-winning TV News Journalist & Broadcaster with over 30 years experience. She has worked for many of Britain’s most watched TV channels and listened to radio stations. Marverine’s a multi-award-winning Journalist, who’s presented over 3,000 hours of live television & radio programmes for BBC News, ITV News and Sky News.
Chair - Robert Sharl
Robert Sharl is a Senior Lecturer in Visual Communications in the School of Visual Communications at Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Art, Media and Design.Robert is changing the way that industry and the School of Visual Communications collaborate, he wants the University to be at the centre of creative activities in the city.
The speakers
Adam Biddle
Adam is currently CEO of GH05T and was previously the MD of Edition, a digital and creative agency owned by Vice media Group. Adam has hands on experience with devising and executing internet publishing strategies on behalf of global celebrities, key opinion influencers and best-in-class brands.
Linda Davidson
Linda was a writer for a BBC science programme, she then went onto be apart of BBC Online overseeing Drama Entertainment and Children's, launching the award winning Writer's Room. Linda was headhunted to launch E4.com, from there Linda went to work at Discovery as Global Production Director (digital) and then Director of IT, business strategy and operations.
Faraz Osman
Faraz is the MD of Lemonade Money, a collection of award winning, expert video producers and creatives, crafting films in music, fashion, art and youth culture, for broadcasters, brands and online channels in a confident, celebratory and inclusive way.
Lyra McKee
Lyra McKee is a freelance journalist based in Belfast. She has been published in The Atlantic, BuzzFeed News, Private Eye, and many more. She works mostly on longer-term projects, while editing media news site Mediagazer.
Dr Yemisi Akinbobola
Yemisi is an Award leader, Global Media Management/ Publisher & Editor in Chief IQ4News, she is also a Distance Learning Programme Coordinator and Visiting Lecturer at the Birmingham School of Media.
Dr Robert Lawson
Robert Lawson is Senior Lecturer in Sociolinguistics at Birmingham City University and former Fulbright Scottish Studies Scholar (University of Pittsburgh, 2012-2013).
Maya Goodfellow
Maya is a freelance writer and researcher. She has written for The Guardian, Media Diversified, The New Statesman and The Independent. Her work mostly focuses on UK politics, race and gender. She is currently doing a PhD at SOAS.
Dr Jane O’Connor
Jane is a Reader in Childhood Studies at Birmingham City University where she leads the Rethinking Childhood research cluster. Jane has written extensively in the areas of representations of childhood and children and the media and is currently leading an international project exploring young children’s use of touchscreen technology.
Conference Agenda
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 9am |
Registration/Refreshments |
| 9.45am |
Welcome |
| 10am |
Keynote Speech and Q&A |
| 10.45am | Pecha Kucha [students/ researchers] |
| 11am | Break |
| 11.15am | Panel 1 - Multiplatform Futures first session: multi-voice – five minute panellist presentations, panel debate and audience Q&A. |
| 12.30pm | Lunch |
| 1.30pm |
Panel 2 - Multiplatform Futures second session: technology/digital platforms – five minute panellist presentations, panel debate and audience Q&A. |
| 2.45pm | Pecha Kucha [students/ researchers] |
| 2.45pm | Break |
| 3pm | Café Conversations |
| 4.15pm | Round up of the day /closing statements/Q&A and final address from Pecha Kucha. |
| 5pm | Networking/drinks |