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Emerging Writers’ Festival will explore the future of media in Australia

Meld Magazine

Mon May 20 2013

EWF2013

MEDIA students will get a chance to hear from industry insiders on how the Australian media landscape is shaping up and what the future will look like for them, at the upcoming Emerging Writers’ Festival. Alyce Shaw has more.

Emerging Writers' Festival

As a writer, you leave your heart on the page as it passes from your hands to another’s.

In an industry where exposure is key, it’s important to feel confident in your work, while being open to criticism from those who’ve walked the same path.

For aspiring writers, the Emerging Writers’ Festival in Melbourne is a good place to start.

Started a decade ago, the festival remains an intensive eleven days of literary activity.

This year, there has been much interest on digital media, with the sold-out Digital Masterclass aimed at equipping bloggers, writers and those in the creative digital industries with skills such as strategic planning, how to capitalise on social media, content creation, audio and video, plus a “crash course” on ebook publishing.

Media students may also want to sit in on the Industry Insiders: Future Media session on Monday May 27 at The Wheeler Centre, with concession tickets at $12 a piece.

On the agenda is a topic that is highly relevant to students pondering their career prospects – with a number of high profile redundancies in the media landscape over the last few years, and with the shape of traditional media rapidly changing, what does the future landscape of Australia’s media look like?

Hosted by Tahlia Azaria, general manager of SYN Media, she’ll be directing these questions to industry insiders Matthew Knott (journalist at Crikey and The Power Index), Erik Jensen (director of special projects at Schwartz Media, publisher of The Monthly and formerly SMH journalist) and Katie Williams (co-director of the Freeplay Independent Games Festival and a games journalist and critic).

New this year are masterclasses on theatre writing, screenwriting and performing your work professionally.

Program director Sam Twyford-Moore says the festival really pushes the idea of connecting with other writers.

“They are the best advocates and can offer the best advice for your work,” he says.

Workshops and conferences are run by industry professionals who have all been there, and want to share their knowledge and experiences with the bright young talent making its way into the industry, one word at a time.

The Emerging Writers’ Festival kicks off on Thursday May 23, and finishes up on June 2, running events in multiple locations around Melbourne. To find out more about the program, head to the EWF website.

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