Building Bridges Among Academe, Industry, Nonprofits, and Government With Regard to Youth Media and Social Change

• In Event: Children, Adolescents, and Media: Research Escalator 2

Abstract

Although academics studying children and media have forums such as academic conferences to share their work and discuss their ideas, there are very few attempts to go outside the ivory tower to engage with the public about initiatives involving youth voices and social change. We need to be more deliberate and purposeful about fostering greater collaboration, connections and communications among those committed to using media as a positive tool for youth empowerment, advocacy, and transformation. I plan to conduct interviews with key stakeholders and change-agents committed to youth advocacy and media literacy in such places as the USA, U.K, Singapore, Netherlands, Australia, South Africa and India. I will create a “conversation café” via a closed Facebook page where the invited participants can engage in a conversation about the key challenges and opportunities in the last decade, important initiatives that bridge various sectors, and future directions that such collaborative partnerships should take.

Author

• Srividya Ramasubramanian, Texas A and M U