Dear UK colleagues: on behalf of my Australian colleagues I really urge you
to come to the Sydney Forum.  It shouldn't be judged on the Paris event as
it will be more sharply focused (and better organised!). I am confident
that there will be room for all kinds of academic excursions and I
certainly intend to push the cause of media education.

The Aust B'casting Authority has taken a leading role in coordinating and
encouraging international networks over the past 4-5 years and have also
done significant research of their own on children, young people and media.
This is their big event.

Sydney is a wonderful city and Australians are great socialisers (he says
this, despite a year of defeats in rugby, soccer, netball etc etc at the
hands of the Aussies!). It is a long trip (but not as far as New Zealand!)
but it will be worth it. After all, I flew to London for a one day seminar
last month! It will be a great opportunity to hear of what other people are
doing, and to talk about collaboration.

If you need convincing of the leading role Australians take in research,
take a look at the just-out November 1999 issue of Media International
Australia (incorporating Culture & Policy)--a special issue "Children's
Television Policy: International Perspectives"

....an entirely unsolicited message from.....


Geoff Lealand
Screen and Media Studies
University of Waikato
Hamilton
New Zealand




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