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We live in a world that is increasingly being branded. No longer just the label on a manufactured product, branding is visible in the form of the corporate logo stamped on a range of public spaces, activities, institutions and living beings. This marking of territory, whether tangible or symbolic, has important implications for democracy. The theme of this conference, "Democratic Communications in a Branded World", is intended to address the social, political, economic, and cultural implications of branding in terms of its relationship to democratic communications. The aim of the conference is critical discussion of this relationship in order to facilitate public participation in communication and in decisions that affect our lives.
The Union for Democratic Communications invites your participation at this international conference to be held in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 17-19 May, 2001. The conference will be of particular interest to anyone engaged in or concerned with democratic communications in theory and in practice, including media activists, policy analysts, media practitioners, journalists, and communication scholars.
Conference Schedule
Our keynote speaker is Naomi Klein, activist, journalist, and author of
the book No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies. In addition
to Klein, the conference features plenary presentations by prominent scholars
of communication including Eileen Meehan, Vincent Mosco, Manjunath Pendakur,
Dan Schiller, Michel Sénécal, Gerald Sussman, and Janet
Wasko. Sid Shniad, of the Telecommunication Workers Union of British Columbia,
will bring a labour union perspective to the conference with his plenary
talk.
Our featured speakers will be complemented by a host of presenters with backgrounds in media production, academia, journalism, criticism, activism, and analysis. The roundtables, workshops, and panels at the conference will address a range of topics, from branded space to branded imaginations; from education to the corporation; from locker rooms to sweatshops.
That isn't all the conference will offer. There will be a number of video presentations and tables with information about local organizations involved in activism and democratic communication. For those of you who just can't get enough, we have arranged for a local radical bookseller, Octopus Books, to have on hand many books we think you'll want to own. And, of course, there will be opportunity to dine, to discuss, and to dance (not necessarily in that order). Take a look at the preliminary conference schedule for more details.
Conference Registration
Registration covers conference materials and attendance at all conference
events, all coffee breaks (2 per day), lunches (Friday and Saturday),
Thursday night reception (tapas and beverages), Friday night BBQ (vegetarian
included), and Saturday night dinner and dance (featuring a vegetarian
buffet dinner and a live band). If you register on or before 15 April,
fees are $200 Canadian/$150 U.S. for regular members ($100 Canadian/$75
U.S. for student or low-income members) plus UDC membership fee. The registration
and membership process can be completed by filling out our online form,
printing and mailing it, along with a check for the appropriate amount,
to the address indicated on the form.
Limited conference travel funding assistance for student and low-income presenters is available by application through the UDC Steering Committee. Please send your request by 30 March to Kate Kane at: kkane2@triton.cc.il.us
Nominations are being accepted for the Dallas Smythe Award until 15 April. Email nominations to Christine List at: chris_list@hotmail.com
Accommodations
Conference accommodations are set up at the Carleton University Travel
and Tour Centre. Dormitory-style rooms are available in singles and
doubles
at a cost of approximately $40 Canadian/$30 U.S. per person per night.
Reservations can be made through our accommodations link. This is the
only overnight housing within walking distance of the conference site.
However, if you'd like to explore other options, you might try starting
with our Ottawa information links. Be sure to reserve your accommodations
early to avoid the Tulip Festival rush. Accommodations will only be
held
for us until 1 May.
Conference Location
The conference site, Carleton University, is located in Ottawa, the national
capital of Canada. Situated between Montreal and Toronto, Ottawa has all
the advantages of a mid-sized capital city; it is a center of government
and commerce, and offers many cultural opportunities for a locale of its
size. For links to find more information about the city and the National
Capital Region, see our Ottawa Information page.
We look forward to seeing you at the conference!
UDC 2001 Conference Organizers
Pat Mazepa
Frederick Emrich
UDC 2001 Conference Organizing Committee
| Vincent Mosco | Leslie Reagan Shade | Richard McGrath | Pat Mazepa |
| Catherine McKercher | Dwayne Winseck | Chris Bodnar | Frederick Emrich |