How do we negotiate the challenges to values and traditions posed by contemporary media and market systems?

Can the deep practices and values of our traditions, such as devotion to sacred space and sacred time, coexist with the mobility of commitments that modern, secular media promotes?

Are media and markets promoting a new kind of universal human values, and are these values necessarily hostile to historic traditions?

These are the kinds of questions which will be discussed by a panel of local and international speakers in an event organised by the Australian Intercultural Society and sponsored by The Fountain Magazine.

With a selection of key figures from media, religious and cultural communities, the panel is inviting media studies and journalism students to listen in on the discussion, which will take place at 7pm on Saturday, 2 April 2011, at Carillo Gantner Lecture Theatre, Sydney Myer Asia Centre, Melbourne University (Swanston St, Melbourne).

Speakers include:

Peter Barnett – Former Director, Radio Australia

Barney Swartz – Religious Editor, The Age

Jon Pahl – The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, USA

Radhi Al-Mabuk – University of Northern Iowa, USA

Hakan Yesilova – Chief Editor of Fountain Magazine, USA

Entry is free and refreshments will be provided. Seats are limited, so you must confirm your attendance by Monday, 28 March 2011.

For further information, call (03) 9326 2177 or email info@intercultural.org.au.

You can also read more in the Australian Intercultural Society’s newsletter.