Today, charities will be urged to take inspiration from unlikely sources such as the Arctic Monkeys and Korean housewife Kim Hye Won, for the way in which they have exploited media innovations to reach a global audience.

The one day conference, hosted by the Charity Commission and supported by the BBC, brings together key figures from the third sector and media community to discuss how charitable causes can benefit from rapid changes in the media, including social networking sites, blogs, user-generated content, broadband TV and other interactive content.

Ed Miliband, the Minister for the Third Sector, will speak about public participation and the challenges it poses for government, the media and the third sector.

During the day, participants will hear from experts in the field including: Hugh Wallace, Head of Interactive Media, Oxfam; Graeme Brown, Director of Communications, Shelter; and Jeremy Gilley founder, writer and director of Peace One Day.

Dame Suzi Leather, Chair of the Charity Commission said:

“New and innovative media techniques are developing more rapidly than most of us can keep pace with. We are entering an age of participative media where anybody with access to a computer has the potential to contribute in a unique and valuable way.

The challenge for charities is to harness this potential and channel it into genuine social change and community action on the ground. This conference will give charities a chance to think about how best they can tap into this vast potential and use it to tell their story.”

Ed Miliband, Minister for the Third Sector said:

“The public are rightly demanding more say than ever before in how they interact with government, the media and civil society.

As expectations rise it is increasingly important that government and the media come together with the third sector to answer the challenge of how to increase opportunities for public participation.”

The free event will take place in the Northampton Suite of City University, London from 10am to 4.30pm on Monday 19 March 2007.
The Charity Commission http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk 

Oxfam  http://www.oxfam.org.uk

Shelter  http://www.shelter.org.uk
 

This is the third event that the BBC has supported in this series. The BBC is keen to explore ways in which new technology can help support and sustain citizenship.

Island Pulse