DCU School of Communications Spring Series 2024
How should media literacy education be delivered and who should be responsible for it? As more revelations confirm serious lapses in governance at RTE, has trust in public service media been irreparably damaged? Is the Government’s proposed ‘Incitement to Violence or Hatred’ Bill a necessary measure to protect victims of hate crimes or an over-reach which threatens free speech?
DCU School of Communications is pleased to announce a new series of weekly seminars and discussions, over four consecutive Thursdays in March, from 5pm to 7pm. Each seminar will feature contributions from researchers, experts and key informants who will share thoughts, provocations and new research on topics which are currently dominating headlines.
Venue: Seamus Heaney Theatre, DCU St. Patrick’s Campus, Drumcondra Road Upper, Dublin 9
Please register to confirm attendance.
Thurs 7 March Fostering Media Literacy in the Age of AI and Disinformation
Amid concerns about disinformation and AI, there are growing calls to expand media literacy education. Media literacy aims to equip people with the knowledge and skills necessary for 21st Century life. But how should media literacy education be delivered, who should be responsible for it, and how can it adapt to an ever-changing media world? Panelists will include representatives from Coimisiún na Meán, WebWise, School Libraries and DCU Institute for Education.
Thurs 14 March The Future of Public Service Media in Ireland
In our digital age, the purpose and value of public service media is under increased scrutiny. Arguments about the benefits of public service media for democracy and society need to be remade anew. In this context, a panel of media experts asks what should public service media do, how should it be structured and funded, and why should people trust it? Panelists will include Prof Des Freedman (Goldsmiths, University of London), Dr Roddy Flynn (DCU), Prof Colleen Murrell (DCU) and Prof Jane Suiter (DCU). The panel will be chaired by Dr Eileen Culloty (DCU).
Thurs 21 March The Government's so-called ‘Hate Speech’ Bill
A necessary measure to tackle hate crime or the Irish State impinging on its citizens’ freedoms?
Is the Government’s proposed ‘Incitement to Violence or Hatred’ Bill an overdue and necessary measure to protect victims of hate crimes or an over-reach which threatens free speech and the successful functioning of a liberal democracy? Chaired by Irish Times journalist, Hugh Linehan, this seminar brings together speakers from the worlds of academia, journalism, politics and public life, to tease out the thorny and contested issue of enacting legislation on hate crimes.
Thurs 28 March The Mary Raftery Memorial Lecture and Prize Ceremony
The inaugural Mary Raftery Memorial Lecture will be delivered by Justine McCarthy, Irish Times columnist and author of ‘An Eye on Ireland: A Journey Through Social Change’. The Mary Raftery Prize is awarded annually to an individual or small team responsible for social affairs journalism produced on the island of Ireland in the calendar year preceding the award which, in the view of the judges, combined the rigorous analysis and commitment to social justice that characterised Mary Raftery’s journalism, and resulted in a significant impact on society.