Cultural eXchanges - fusing media practioners and artisans' social academic networks

It was designed as a one off , but its fusion of key Artisans, and Media practitioners has made it a popular cultural event and ideas factory in the UK.

This year I was one of the speakers at DeMontford University's Cultural eXchange and here reflect on the experience.

***
The man in the front seat looked resigned, while nodding his head.

And then 10 minutes later it happened again, this time accompanied by a mild chuckle.

"Sorry", I asked politely, "er is it something I have said".

Truthfully could it be anything else, but you have to love British sensibilities for broaching what might be a sticky wicket.

"No", he replied, "it's funny, you're saying exactly what I have said in my thesis I'm about to hand in, and now no one is going to believe that it was my original thought".

Bummer! I mused and kept going.

You wait for one bus, then three come along at the same time. Transmediation, a colleague of mine would say. I still don't get it, but apparently we're all, at some point criss crossing each other in taking in the same thoughts.

You could almost argue, original thoughts are few and far between.

***
In a sizeable lecture room housing around fifty people, a hundred and twenty miles north of London, I'm delivering a lecture tailored to an eclectic gathering.

A quick observation indicates differential interests: students, lecturers, TV personnel, the public and one Dean I would later discover.

Read More about Cultural eXchanges

Culture talk - Future TV

From Politicans, to Musicians, Poets, and Senoir BBC executives, each year the good people of Demontford University stage a week of open lectures where figures are invited to talk and anyone can just drop in - it's free.

In the past they've had the following

Louis De Bernieres who wrote ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’ adapted to film and stage as well as translated in over 30 languages.

The BBC’s creative director, Alan Yentob.

Germaine Greer, currently Professor of English and Comparative Studies at the University of Warwick. A well known TV critic and famed for many things including The Female Eunuch in 1970.

And high profile journalist, currently writing for The Guardian, Gary Younge who delivered a personal perspective on how race and culture need to change for the 21st century.

This year I have been invited to talk and will be looking into the future of news and programme making via the web, something that I have been passionate about for a while.

This will be jargon free and walk through the landscape of news, videojournalism and a new short film I should finish by then, which has multiple video-hyperlinks - some part of my PhD studies.

If you're turning up do come and say hello. See you there and thanks to Tony Graves, his students who put this event together and digital connoisseur Chris Jones who provides this write up of the event and my talk.