The future of media in rural and regional Australia will come under the spotlight in a major one-day conference to be held at Charles Sturt University (CSU), in September.

The role and significance of regional newspapers, television and radio, the impact of the internet, changing population patterns, and the use of games technology by young people will be discussed by leading experts.

Organised by CSU’s School of Communication, the event is titled Future Ink – the Regional Media Futures conference. The keynote speaker for the event will be Eric Beecher, former Sydney Morning Herald editor who, with Di Gribble, recently took over the alternative news website, crikey.com.

“Future Ink aims to identify the key issues that affect regional media in all its forms and discuss opportunities and threats,” Head of CSU School of Communication, Associate Professor Tom Watson said. “In what we hope will become an annual event, we are bringing together expert speakers with editors, broadcasters, journalists and academics to discuss regional media.”

Professor Watson said that a vibrant regional media was vital for the life of non-metropolitan areas. 

“The media plays an important role in defining local communities and keeping people and groups in contact with each other.”

Future Ink will also focus on CSU research into younger audiences and the way they are accessing media. 

“Young people are using and accessing media in a very different way to that of their parents and grandparents. At CSU, we are researching and teaching new developments in media and are well placed to advise regional media on the changing media environment,” School of Communication lecturer and Future Ink organiser Zoe Hibbert said.

“With planning based on sound research, regional media can adapt continually to these changes and be a leader,” Ms Hibbert said.

Future Ink – the Regional Media Futures conference, will take place on Tuesday, September 20 at Charles Sturt University, Bathurst. Tickets are available by contacting Wendy Merton at CSU on (02) 6338 4131 or send an email.

For further information about the conference, contact Zoe Hibbert, CSU School of Communication, on (02) 6338 4603 or mobile 0427 432 395.