First Nations Media Australia, has partnered with Australia’s only independent Indigenous newspaper, the Koori Mail to bring CONVERGE to Lismore, NSW on the 4th-7th of May, 2021.
CONVERGE is the annual national conference for the First Nations media industry.
The event will bring together media expertise from radio, television, print and online specialities to gather on Bundjalung country under the banner ‘Meeting Together, Moving in One Direction’ – bulaan gee-la buraabanggawaarii waala ngun ma leeny yabuur waala.
Rhoda Roberts, a Widjabul woman of the Bundjalung nation, has been invited to share her vast experience across media and arts with a keynote presentation to launch the conference program.
Over three days, sessions and presentations will focus on journalism and digital storytelling, discussions on emerging broadcast technologies, industry best practice and setting the policy direction for the First Nations media sector.
While the daytime conference will focus on business, the event will provide a much needed opportunity for sector networking, catching up in person with individuals and organisations which has been missed during COVID, at a welcome dinner on Tuesday 4th May.
In 2021, CONVERGE coincides with the Koori Mail’s 30th anniversary and the media industry is looking forward to sharing the celebrations with the Lismore community and visiting guests.
Evening events will be open to the public, including a cinema screening showcasing First Nations produced screen content, a Black Night Market event for local Bundjalung creatives to showcase their work, and a closing night concert on Friday 7th May.
Manager of the Koori Mail, Naomi Moran, says, “We’re extremely thrilled to be bringing some of the leaders in the media industry to Bundjalung country. The Koori Mail acknowledges our responsibility first, to champion and elevate our First Nations media sector by supporting CONVERGE.
“Having this event associated with our 30-year milestone is a special bonus to the role CONVERGE plays in celebrating our industry as a whole. We are looking forward to having our black media organisations visit the home of the Koori Mail and are excited to plan a week of celebrations for our media community from around the nation, and our local mob throughout this region. It has been a tough year for our tourism industry too, so it’s nice to be bringing a lot of people into the Lismore community to support our local economy.”
CONVERGE Lismore is a key event for media networking and industry development, drawing delegates from across the country to the northern rivers region.
Further details on the conference program and scheduled events will be announced over the coming weeks, and registration opens today.
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