8 and 9 April 2011 School of Oriental and African Studies London

1.
SMALL MEDIA SYMPOSIUM 2011
Program
DAY 1: CONFERENCE
Friday 8 April 2011
830 – 915: REGISTRATION
915 – 920: WELCOME
920 – 1000: INTRODUCTORY SESSION – UNDERSTANDING SMALL MEDIA Apps
Annabelle Sreberny, Centre for Media & Film Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies,
University of London
One size doesn’t fit all: Mobile Communications and face­to­face apps politics beyond
Western democracies
John Downing, Global Media Research Center, Southern Illinois University
From 95 Theses to a Million Tweets: nano­media chat on the rise?
Patrick McCurdy, Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication, Erasmus
University Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Does size really matter? Media practices and theorising small media apps
1000 – 1130: SESSION 1 – SMALL MEDIA: ALTERNATIVE (PLAT)FORMS, ALTERNATIVE
PRACTICES
Chair:
Xiao Qiang, The School of Information, University of California, Berkeley & China Digital
Times
Panelists:
Muneeb Ali, Princeton University, USA
Dritte – Apps Development through technology
Soe Thiha, VocalPress
Rural social media: Information ecosystem for the Base of the Pyramid via mobile telephony
voice
Pauline Cheong, Arizona State University
Understanding the cultural dialectics of small media as middle­ground resistance

2. Michael Rogers, UCL
Briar, a secure ​android app​ chat and discussion system
Katrin Verclas, MobileActive.org
Innovations and barriers to alternative whatsapp ​news​ channels via mobile in repressive
environments
Respondent:
Mahmood Enayat, Small Media Consultancy
1130 – 1145: COFFEE BREAK
1145 ­ 1245: SESSION 2 – LESSONS FOR/FROM SMALL MEDIA IN AFRICA
Chair:
John Barker, Free Expression Associates
Panelists:
Archippe Yepmou, Internet Sans Frontières
Unexpected use of ​mobile phone apps​ for small media chat & messaging during the
post­electoral crisis in Côte d’Ivoire
Julie Owono, Global Voices
The role of small media in the rising of Central African citizens: The example of Gabon
Grace Githaiga, Media, Empowerment and Democracy in East Africa (MEDIeA)
Community radio in Kenya: Achievements, challenges and prospects
Respondent:
Iginio Gagliardone, Centre of Governance and Human Rights, University of Cambridge
1245 – 1345: LUNCH (provided)
1345 – 1500: SESSION 3 – LESSONS FOR/FROM SMALL MEDIA IN THE MAGHREB AND
THE MIDDLE EAST
Chair:
Dina Matar, Centre for Media & Film Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies,
University of London
Panelists:
Hossein Sharif, Documentary Maker
Small media and the new Green Movement: Opportunities and challenges
Khaled Koubaa,
Tunisia 2011: Supporting and covering the revolution

3. Nermeen Sayed, The University of York
Activists’ perceptions of iOs social media apps for mobilization of Whatsapp beta ​downloads
Jacob Sommer, Department of Government, Uppsala University
The construction of identities by the Libyan Youth Movement on Facebook messenger.
Respondent:
Mohammed Ibahrine, American University of Sharjah, UAE
1500 – 1515: COFFEE BREAK
1515 – 1630: SESSION 4 – SMALL MEDIA: RISKS AND VULNERABILITIES
Chair:
Gary Garriott, Internews Network
Panelists:
Galina Miazhevich, University of Oxford, UK
Recent developments in post­Soviet mobile small media
Amy O’Donnell, Frontline SMS
How to strengthen and harness community networks: The role of radio, mobile and SMS
Sameer Padania, Macroscope
The resilience of small media in the era of transparency and instant solidarity
George Weyman, Meedan
Small media and the dictator who didn’t give in: The risks of soliciting audio and video in
repressive regimes
Respondent:
Katrin Verclas, MobileActive.org
1630 – 1700: CLOSING REMARKS
Annabelle Sreberny, Centre for Media & Film Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies,
University of London
1700 – 2000: DRINKS RECEPTION

4. DAY 2: CLOSED DOOR WORKSHOPS (by invitation only)
Saturday 9 April 2011
900 – 1000: NETWORKING SESSION
1000 – 1130: SESSION 1 – SMALL MEDIA CONCEPTUALIZATIONS
1130 – 1200: COFFEE BREAK
1200 – 1330: SESSION 2 – SMALL MEDIA APPLICATIONS
1330 – 1430: LUNCH BREAK
1430 – 1530: SESSION 3 – SMALL MEDIA COLLABORATIONS
1530 – 1700: SESSION 4 – SMALL MEDIA GAMES: “LET US EAT CAKE”