University News Last updated 24 October 2012
From back bedrooms to the boardrooms of corporate powerhouses the quest is on to find the most influential media figures in the West Midlands. The search, launched on Thursday October 25 is being led by Birmingham City University, a recognised leader in media education.
The BCU Media 20 project will be showcased to delegates at the Re-thinking Regional Media summit, organised by Birmingham City University, and aims to get a snapshot of the key personalities that are helping to shape an ever-shifting media landscape.
Communications expert Marc Reeves - a keynote speaker at the conference - will chair the panel that will publish the powerlist. Lined-up for judging are media champion Tom Watson MP; digital development editor for the Guardian Joanna Geary; UK’s top digital journalist Paul Bradshaw; and Caroline Officer, a senior academic from Birmingham City University’s Media School.
Making the region's media tick
Marc Reeves said: “Birmingham and the region is developing a reputation for leading innovation across a range of media outputs from print, broadcasting, film-making, PR and advertising to the burgeoning digital media sector, including the ‘citizen journalism’ of blogging and the increasingly important computer games industry.
“The BCU Media 20 quest will help survey the newsrooms and studios of the region, the digital media labs, the sales houses, the back bedroom bloggers and the corporate boardrooms to find those people who make the region’s media tick.”
A suggested shortlist of “iconic individuals” will be unveiled on Thursday October 25 and conference delegates and visitors to the Rethinking Regional Media web site will be able to nominate their own choices.
“When making a choice there will be a number of factors to consider,” added Marc. “For example, will your powerlist nominee be about audiences and the influence an individual or a brand wields over them?
“Or perhaps the list should concentrate on those who are innovating and experimenting - who just might be the ones to show the rest of the media the way over the coming decades?
“This is a very exciting project and BCU Media 20 promises to be an excellent opportunity to showcase the talent that is based and working in this dynamic region.”
The judging panel will meet in late November to make a final selection of the region’s most influential leaders. An announcement will be made early December 2012.