The robust digital realities of global society today have placed great pressure on public and private institutions to envision more inclusive and equitable futures. This pressure is particularly acute in media institutions, where local media outlets struggle for survival, and larger media and technology organizations struggle with credibility and public opinion. This climate demands not simply reform efforts but a robust imagination of future media practices that prioritize equity, care, and more inclusive futures.

In 2023, the Salzburg Academy on Media & Global Change asked how we can imagine more inclusive futures through visioning media practices and pedagogies that work to advance meaningful and robust human connections and interdependency in digital culture. Using imagination allows aspiring storytellers and practitioners to move beyond the current constraints of existing media structures to advance creative and experimental ideas for media initiatives of the future. Imagination is needed to reform current structures for media that are rooted in norms driven by market realities, extractive and opaque algorithms, and oversight of content wrought with insufficiency.

Innovations in media industries rely on the ability of people to imagine alternatives to present media environments that nurture meaningful human engagement, inclusion, and respect for others. The 2023 Media Academy focused specifically on how we can use immersive pedagogies to nurture transformational futures, where media practioners, and educators can help communities imagine more robust and care-driven realities. These are futures where media can also cultivate greater abilities for communities to participate meaningfully in media and daily life.

At this program, in addition to faculty from our partner schools, we were also delighted to welcome faculty from Michigan State University, Northwestern University Qatar, Universidad Iberoamericana de Mexico, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Universidade Nova, and University of Southern California.

Date

Jul 16 - Aug 01, 2023

Session no.

SAC 17

Location

Salzburg

Contact

Paul Mihailidis

Program Director & Professor

Surya HK

Network Development Specialist, Culture

Beth Pertiller

Managing Director, Operations & Org. Dev.

Valeriia Chernysh

Program Manager, Education

Sonia Kaur Dhillon

Program Intern, Hong Kong

Melody Loi

Program Intern, Hong Kong

Olisa Dellas

Manager, Development and Evaluation

Content overview

Program Information Faculty Visiting Scholars Students Partners

Program Information

Program Goals

Launch a network of aspiring leaders in media industries to collaborate on new ventures, initiatives, and collaborative projects for more inclusive, robust, and sustainable media initiatives
Create a multimedia publication that presents a series of Speculative Media Initiatives in support of more inclusive and robust media futures
Produce a Faculty Report (Salzburg Statement) on transformative pedagogies for inclusive media futures
Implement imaginative practices and pedagogies created at the Media Academy with partner institutions around the world
Provide co-design workshops for aspiring media makers to hone their skills in media design for creative storytelling and media innovation
Offer media education training for inclusive and transformative leadership in media industries and media education
Connect participants with past alumni networks to expand the footprint of the Media Academy community and strengthen the potential for collaboration and engagement

Key Questions

What media practices and pedagogies are needed to support more inclusive, equitable, and just futures?
How can we imagine media systems to support strong social cohesion and connective ecosystems?
What key features of media platforms and technologies exacerbate misinformation, disinformation, and social divides?
How have media technologies impacted human engagement and connectivity
What social, political, and cultural attributes contribute to inclusive and robust media environments?

Program Format

The program ran for 15 days and included a mix of lectures, seminars, workshops, a film club, interactive activities, cultural excursions, a musical performance, and other social activities. It took place in person at Schloss Leopoldskron.