judy rebick media release_final
TRANSCRIPT
-
8/4/2019 Judy Rebick Media Release_FINAL
1/2
!Media Release
School of Communication, Simon Fraser University8888 University Drive
Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6
For Immediate Release September 6, 2011
Judy Rebick Confirmed as Keynote for
Media Democracy Days 2011
Vancouver, BC Media Democracy Days (MDD) is pleased to announce Judy Rebick has been
confirmed as one of two opening keynote speakers for Media Democracy Days 2011, November 11 13
in Vancouver.
Rebick is founder of the online alternative news source rabble.ca, author ofTransforming Power: From
the Personal to the Politicaland current holder of the CAW Sam Gindin Chair for Social Justice and
Democracy at Ryerson University.
The School of Communication at SFU, OpenMedia.ca and the Vancouver Public Library are excited tohost Rebicks opening keynote address on Saturday, November 12th at 12pm at the Vancouver Public
Library Central Library. Admission to all Media Democracy Days events is free.
The Saturday program is the focus of a weekend of screenings, panel discussions and hands-on workshops
held every year and designed to facilitate dialogue and community engagement on democratizing the
media system in Canada through a three part strategy know the media; be the media; change the media.
Rebicks work as a journalist, long-time social justice activist, writer, educator and speaker for global
solidarity and online activism make her an excellent fit for MDD and we are extremely excited to have her
join us this year. said Kathleen Cross, Chair of Media Democracy Day.
Rebick has a long history of being a voice for change and inspiration within Canada. Rebick rose toprominence in the 1990s as the President of theNational Action Committee on the Status of Women and
as co-host and commentator on a number of CBC radio and television programs. It was in 2001, that
Rebick helped found rabble.ca, Canadas preeminent online independent news and discussion site, which
also saw her as acting publisher of it from 2001 2005. In the past ten years, Rebick has focused her
attention on global solidarity and online activism, and has written a number of books on the subject.
Rebicks work has helped to highlight social issues, challenge norms and further the movement for mediademocracy and transparency across this country, says Cross. As such, we are extremely enthusiastic to
be able to have Rebick speak at MDD this fall.
This year MDD has expanded its program to three-days from November 11 13th, 2011. The weekend
activities include:
A Friday, November 11th film screening of War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Spin us toDeath, a film by the Media Education Foundation (MEF) and Norman Solomon and narrated by Sean
Penn. The film will be introduced by world-renowned media scholar and MEF founder Dr. Sut Jhally,
-
8/4/2019 Judy Rebick Media Release_FINAL
2/2
!
!
and will be followed by a question and answer session and a reception. This free event takes place at
the Pacific Cinematheque and registration is encouraged. The particular focus of the kick off event is
to explore the role the mass media play in promoting war and militarism.
On Saturday, November 12th after the opening keynote address by Judy Rebick, a series of paneldiscussions will take place in the meeting rooms of the VPL from noon to 5pm.
The new Sunday program, to be held at SFU Woodwards, will provide participants with anopportunity to learn skills to enhance their involvement in creating and changing the media.More programming details will be released as they are confirmed.
About Media Democracy Day
Launched in 2001, MDD responded to a growing global media democratization movement. This
movement seeks to create a more participatory media system by supporting independent and public
service media production, celebrating innovation and creating dialogue around the politics and biases
linked to our increasingly corporate and concentrated media. This year, MDD events will be taking place
over three-days at the Pacific Cinemateque, the Vancouver Public Library Central Branch and
Woodwards Goldcorp Centre for the Arts. To learn more, visit http://www.mediademocracyday.org.
About the School of Communication at SFU
For more than 35 years, the School of Communication at Simon Fraser University has fostered the
development of critical, interdisciplinary approaches to the study of media and technology with a
commitment to social theory and political economy. Led by an award-winning team of educators, the
School of Communication is at the leading edge of media policy research, technological innovation and
cultural transformation on a global scale. For more information, visit http://cmns.sfu.ca.
About OpenMedia.ca
OpenMedia.ca is a national, non-partisan, non-profit public engagement organization working to advance
and support an open and innovative communications system in Canada. Our primary goal is to increase
public awareness and informed participation in Canadian media, cultural, information and
telecommunication policy formation. For more information, visit http://openmedia.ca.
About Vancouver Public Library
Founded in 1887, Vancouver Public Library is one of Canada's largest library systems dedicated to
meeting the lifelong learning, reading, recreation and information needs of the people of Vancouver. Each
year, the Librarys 22 branches serve over six million visitors and offer over 2.5 million items, including
books, CDs, DVDs, magazines and countless online resources. For more information, visit
http://www.vpl.vancouver.bc.ca/.
###
Contact:
Jasmine Politeski, Co-Coordinator, MDD Vancouver 2011
Office: [email protected]
Kathleen Cross, Chair, MDD Vancouver 2011
Office: 778-782-3861