Stronger Voices Day

18 Sep

The Guardian, N1 9GU

Monday 18 September 2017 09:30 - 17:30

Across the UK, migrant communities and marginalised groups continue to be largely misrepresented in the media. Unbalanced reporting doesn't fairly represent the vibrant and varied individuals that are making valuable contributions to their communities. We want to change this.

Our Stronger Voices Day will celebrate the work we have been doing, enabling underrepresented communities to get their stories into the media. But more importantly, it will explore what still needs to be done to diversify voices in the media.

What can you expect?

The day will bring together charity and community leaders with editors and journalists from across the media to discuss the challenges faced by underrepresented communities and explore how we can ensure their voices are heard and more accurately represented.

The day will include keynote talks, practical workshops and panel discussions to build the capacity, insight and networks of migrant and underrepresented community organisations. Delegates will leave with a clearer understanding of how they can get their stories into the media and reach the right audiences.

This event is ideal for individuals working with migrant and underrepresented community groups and charities.

You will discover:

How to effectively pitch stories and secure media coverage
How Facebook can build a community around your work and grow support for your organisation
How to tailor your messages that resonate and engage your target audience
How to respond and challenge negative media coverage

Media Trust is hosting the Stronger Voices Day in partnership with Open Society Foundations and the Guardian Foundation.

Agenda

Time	Session
09:30	Registration – tea and coffee
10:00-10:15	Chair’s welcome & introduction
10:15- 11:15	Panel Discussion: Engaging the media Speakers: David Higgerson,Digital Publishing Director , Trinity Mirror Dave Terris, Editor, Sky News Radio Amelia Gentlemen, Social Affairs Editor, The Guardian Aisha Gani, Senior Reporter, BuzzFeed News
11:15-11:30	My media journey – from local media to Channel 4 News Speakers: Nura Aabe, Director, and Founder of Autism Independence
11:30-12:00	Coffee break
12:00-13:00	Streamed workshops The workshop sessions will give you the skills to overcome negative media attention, refine your key messaging; and teach you how to pitch perfectly
	Workshop 1 How to challenge and respond to negative media attention Session host: Patrick Harrison, Director of Reputation Management, Weber Shandwick
	Workshop 2 Communications for Change – compelling messages that work Session host: Tamsyn Hyatt, Digital Communications Manager, Equality and Diversity Forum
	Workshop 3 Pitching to a Journalist Session host: Christopher Michael,Editor of Guardian Cities, The Guardian
13:00-14:00	Lunch and networking
14.00- 15.00	Panel discussion: Can one person represent a whole community? Speakers: Owen Jones, Author & Guardian Columnist, The Guardian Dominic Casciani, Home Affairs Correspondent, BBC News Miqdaad Versi, Assistant Secretary General, Muslim Council of Britain Sunny Hundal, Journalist, Commentator,The Independent & Hindustan Times Zrinka Balo, Chief Executive Officer, Migrant Organise
15:00-15.30	En-lightening talks Hear from some of our inspirational participants from across our community voices projects that will be sharing their experiences of working with Media Trust. Responding to Brexit – what we gain from media activity Speakers: Barbara Drozdowicz, Chief Executive Officer of East European Resource Centre Sharing my story with the world Speakers: Kolbassia Haoussou, Co-Founder of Survivors Speak OUT Network, Freedom from Torture
15.30-15.45	Coffee break
15.45-16.15	Plenary keynote: Digital is here to stay -using social to raise your profile and have a voice Facebook
16:15-16:30	Closing comments Media Trust
16:30-17:30	Networking and close

Stronger Voices Guide

Stronger Voices Media Guide front cover

Media Trust was funded by Open Society Foundations to produce the Stronger Voices Media Guide to help raise the profile of groups struggling to engage the media and help raise their profile. We will be launching this guide on the day and all attendees will receive a free copy to take home with them.