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'Broadcasting Britishness? Identity, Diversity and the Role of the National Media' Saïd Business School, University of Oxford: 10.00 am – 5.00 pm, Tuesday 17 June 2008 This is a one day conference convened by Dr David Levy, Associate Fellow in Media & Communications, Saïd Business School and Cathy Baldwin, St Antony's College, Oxford. The keynote speaker will be Professor Linda Colley, University of Princeton. Speakers include Rt Hon Margaret Hodge, Minister for Culture. Britishness has become the key issue of the moment among politicians, journalists and ordinary people alike. So far there has been little focused debate on the role of the broadcast media and the press in promoting a sense of national identity - if they do and if they should. The goal of this conference is to bring together perspectives from practitioners and executives working in the media industry, as well as academia and government, to focus on the main conference question through panel-led discussions and audience participation: Do the national media have a specific responsibility to promote national identity and strengthen social cohesion in Britain? It is the opportunity for professionals in these fields to discuss and evaluate what strategies the national media employ to appeal to a more diverse Britain, how accurately they portray modern British society and whether they have a responsibility to strengthen social cohesion. The aim of the day is to develop specific practical recommendations through a series of panel-led discussions with audience participation. Panels during the day will cover “The Culture of Media Production” and “Perspectives on the Audience”. A full speaker list will be available in early May. Tea and coffee, a light lunch and a drinks reception will be provided. Audience attendance is free. Audience spaces are limited. To register an interest, please see: http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/events/Media+and+Communications+Seminar+Trinity+2008.htm and email: [log in to unmask] -- Cathy Baldwin, [log in to unmask] http://www.meccsa.org.uk/pgn/pages/excom/cathybaldwin.html Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Oxford 51 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 6JE, UK.