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Calls for Papers / Day Conference Announcement

Bournemouth Media School, Broadcasting History Group 
Second Annual Charles Parker Day
April 8th 2005 
Hosted by the University of Central England

In conjunction with Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger, Charles Parker (1919-1980) produced the innovative BBC series known as the Radio Ballads. Beginning with The Ballad of John Axon in 1958 the series offered insights into the lives of ordinary people presented in their own words and through their own voices merged with the sounds of folk, jazz and other traditional musical idioms. The series, and Parker's work outside of radio, met with and influenced the development of media and cultural studies, oral history, radical theatre as well as wider debates in post-war Britain.

5 April 2004 saw the launch of the first annual 'Charles Parker Day' organized and hosted by The Bournemouth Media School (Bournemouth University) Broadcasting History Group (SEE http://www.media.bournemouth.ac.uk/charlesparker.html). This highly successful event involved media practitioners, critics and researchers celebrating and discussing the work and influence of this pioneering BBC Radio producer. This year the day will take place in Birmingham where Parker lived and worked and where his archive is held (SEE http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=2126&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=12446.)

While Parker was very much the focus on that first day the aim was to launch an annual event that would consider broadcasting in much wider terms, past, present and future, bringing together practitioners, researchers and media teachers. The event also saw the launch of a prize for student work in radio and the shortlist will be featured throughout the day and the winner announced.

Hosted by the Department of Media and Communication at the University of Central England, this year's event will feature invited speakers from the international academic and broadcasting community. There will also be a presentation from the Radio Studies Network (see: http://www.radiostudiesnetwork.org.uk/). 

There will be a nominal charge on the day to cover costs.

Proposals of no more than 250 words are invited for papers on any subject in broadcasting history. We are particularly interested in the development of radio or TV features subsequent to Parker's time that maintain the spirit of his work. It is also hoped that an international perspective on programme-making can be explored and developed.

Parker was also a founder member of the radical Banner Theatre group that continues to explore the possibilities of multi-media performance in the spirit of his work. A second day will see a celebration of the 30th anniversary of Banner Theatre who will be performing work from their repertoire. 

This second day will feature invited speakers such as Tony Benn, a performance by Banner and a panel discussion around cultural activity, actuality and the representation of ordinary people. There will also be a discussion of the work of Phillip Donnellan, documentary filmmaker and Parker's contemporary as well as a screening of some of his TV work.

All enquiries, proposals and submissions (by December 17th please) to:

Sean Street and Paul Long
c/o
Department of Media & Communication
University of Central England in Birmingham
Perry Barr
B42 2SU

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Tel: 0121-331-5468
Fax: 0121-331-6501