The Local and Community Media Network of MeCCSA is calling for contributions to a one-day symposium looking at the future of local and community media archives. The event will be held at Coventry University, United Kingdom on Friday, June 7, 2024.
While digitisation might be perceived to be making some aspects of local media more readily available, the consolidation of outlets has led to the disposal and destruction of many of the records relating to the outputs, production and significance of local media – including, for instance in the case of newspapers, physical publications and additionally photographs, business records and other associated documentation. This process is amplified by the comparative lack of attention given to local media.
In some places, alternative organisations are stepping in to preserve collections; this includes community groups who seek to salvage what they consider to be the collective memory of a place. All collectors find themselves faced with the myriad challenges which are associated with preservation.
This symposium seeks to bring together academics, publishers, archival practitioners and community representatives to explore the issues and possible solutions in relation to preserving local media archives across the range of formats, including newspapers, radio, local television and film archives, and alternative publications.
Themes for exploration might include:
Locating local media archives
The physicality of archives – including preservation and accessibility
The good and the bad of digitisation
The place of local media archives in the memory of localities
Community usage and involvement with local media archives
Archives and well-being
Oral history and local archives
Practical approaches to dealing with local media archive
Creative responses to local media archives
The event will be held at the university library (Frederick Lanchester building). It will include the chance to visit the Lanchester Innovation Archive based in the library which documents the life and work of legendary motor designer and inventor Frederick Lanchester.
The symposium organisers welcome submissions for academic papers, panels, workshops and posters. Abstracts outlining your proposed contribution should be limited to 350 words and should be sent to r.matthews@coventry.ac.uk by Monday, March 11. Please include a brief biography. Outcomes will be communicated in early April. It is also expected that a publication will result from the event.
A fee of £40 will be charged to cover conference costs. A limited number of bursaries will be available to help support attendance by post-graduate students. Please indicate if you would like to be considered for an award.