Public Affairs in the Nation’s Capital

Wednesday 5th August 2009

National Portrait Gallery

King Edward Terrace, Parkes, ACT

This highly informative conference will examine media issues affecting the public sector. It is hosted by the Walkley Foundation for journalism, the peak industry body representing Australia’s media and professional communicators.

Covering government and the not-for-profit sector this conference will provide an important professional development and networking forum for:
* media advisors
* communications and public affairs officers
* strategic communications
* media managers and public relations specialists

Program

Opening

9:00am – 9:20am
* Chris Warren, Federal Secretary Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance
* Chair Don Cumming, Manager, Media and Ministerial Communications
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Breaking down barriers: Freedom of information and disclosure

New reforms, new processes, what do they mean and how will they work?

9:20am – 10:10am
* Peter Roberts, Senior Lecturer, Charles Sturt University
Whistling While They Work A research project examining whistle blowing and internal witness management in Public Sector organisations.
* Peter Timmins, FOI consultant

10:10am – 11:00am
* Roxanne Missingham, Parliamentary Librarian
The public good – publishling on-line
* Markus Mannheim, Editor The Public Sector Informant, Canberra Times
Secrecy's Toxic Effect on Political Journalism

Professional standards & ethics

11:20am – 12:15pm
Values, code of conduct, strategies and techniques for ethical decision-making in the Aust Public Service.

*Paul Casimir, Director, Ethics Advisory Service
* Peter Lewis, Director, Essential Communication
New media means new professional standards.

Future of Journalism: Redefining an industry

12:15pm – 1:00pm

* Chris Warren, Federal Secretary, Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance
Where to next?

Lunch Time Conversation

1:15 - 1:45pm

Chris Wallace, political journalist and author in conversation with our special guest (tba)

Project TOTO: Social media for social change

ActionAid Australia has sent an independent political blogger to Africa in a groundbreaking attempt to bring the causes of poverty closer to the Australian public. Nicknamed Project TOTO, the world-first campaign uses social media tools such as Twitter, Facebook and video blogs.

2:00pm – 3:00pm
* Archie Law, CEO ActionAid
* Stilgherrian, on blogging from Africa

The media & Australian elections: Front page reporting of election campaigns

3:00 - 3:50pm

Do Australia’s major newspapers cover federal election campaigns as prominently as they did 30 years ago? New research reveals the diminishing front page spotlight on election campaigns.

• Michael Gillies, Director, Michael Gillies Media
• Malcolm Farr, National Political Editor, The Daily Telegraph

Issues management: Staying focused under pressure

Some organisations and issues attract a lot of media attention. How do you continue to communicate on message when every headline seems against you?

4:10 – 5:00pm

* Ben Pollack, Communications Director, Canberra Raiders
* John Flannery, Senior Public Affairs Advisor

5:00 – 7:00pm Drinks and networking