QUT Researchers to consider key media issues at Woodford Folk Festival

Online safety, the future of cinema, and the digital life of children are the timely topics being tackled by academics from the QUT Digital Media Research Centre (DMRC) at this week’s 2024 Woodford Folk Festival.

DMRC Director Professor Dan Angus said three public sessions would canvas current discussions relating to online safety, who is responsible and why it matters, as well as challenges that lie ahead for Australia’s cinema industry, and the fears and myths surrounding children’s online activities.

As well as the panel discussions, Professor Angus said his team would host an interactive stall at the festival focusing on ‘Data Donation’.

Professor Angus advised “we will be offering festivalgoers the unique opportunity to uncover their own digital footprints, which, for most of us, are growing by the day.

“Trained ‘algorithm whisperers’ will interpret participants’ digital data, such as Facebook ad preferences or Spotify playlists, and create personalised readings of their digital self.

“This experience will contribute to a collective understanding of our shared online culture, with a public display of this data growing over the course of the festival, through the Tree of Data.”

Professor Angus said the aim of the DMRC’s involvement at Woodford was to provide deeper understanding of the intersection between digital media, society, and the pressing issues of the modern world.

The three DMRC Woodford Folk Festival panel discussions are:

The 5Ws of Online Safety
Sunday 29th December from 6:15 pm - 7:15 pm at The Arbour, DMRC researchers Lucinda Nelson, Benson Rajan, Dr Ehsan Dehghan, and Professor Daniel Angus will unpack assumptions underlying current discussions about online safety, exploring who is responsible, what dangers exist, when they are a concern, where they appear and why online safety matters in today’s interconnected world.

Living Cinema - What We Really Mean When We Talk About the (Latest) Death of Moviegoing
Tuesday 31st December from 8:00 am - 8:45 am at The Arbour, DMRC’s Dr Ruari Elkington and QUT’s Dr Mark Piccini will explore Australia’s most beloved cultural pastime, its decline, and the challenges and opportunities that face the cinema industry in an increasingly digital entertainment landscape.

The Kids Are Alright - Unpacking Some Fears About the Digital Lives of Children
Wednesday 1st January from 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm at The Arbour. Featuring DMRC’s Dr Aleesha Rodriguez, Professor Daniel Angus, and Philippa Amery from the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child exploring the fears surrounding the growing online presence of children, debunking common myths, and discussing how to ensure kids lead healthy, connected, and informed digital lives.

Lower image: QUT DRMC researchers speaking at the 2024 Woodford Folk Festival (clockwise from top left): Professor Daniel Angus, Dr Aleesha Rodriguez, Benson Rajan, Lucinda Nelson, Dr Mark Piccini, Philippa Amery, Dr Ehsan Dehghan and Dr Ruari Elkington.