Frequently Asked Questions
Basics
What time does the conference begin and end?
Housing and Logistics
Conference Costs
Is my credit card information secure when I register online?
Program
What happens at the conference?
Participate
What are some examples of good session descriptions?
How are AMC sessions selected?
What is the timeline for organizing an AMC session?
Basics
WHAT IS THE ALLIED MEDIA CONFERENCE?
WHEN IS THE CONFERENCE?
WHAT TIME DOES THE CONFERENCE BEGIN & END?
Housing and Logistics
WHERE IS THE CONFERENCE?
WHERE WILL I STAY?
HOW WILL I GET AROUND?
CAN I REQUEST TO STAY WITH SPECIFIC PEOPLE IN THE DORM?
You can share your residence hall suite with up to 3 other people. Please let us know your roommate request when you register.
CAN I SHARE MY DORM ROOM?
The AMC offers housing in the Wayne State Towers Residence Hall. Rooms are suite style, containing four one-person bedrooms, each with a single-person bed, attached to a shared living space with a sitting area and an attached bathroom. The cost is $45 per person, per night, for a one-person bedroom. Each person staying in the dorms must purchase their own single-person room, so you cannot save money by sharing a room.* Wayne State issues cards to each individual staying in the dorms. The front desk is staffed 24 hours a day and they strictly enforce a one-person-per-card policy.
*The one exception is for this rule: WSU will allow parents with small children to have their child sleep on the floor of the dorm room at no cost. Bring your own sleeping bag, mat and pillow. Some parents do this to reduce costs.
CAN I CANCEL MY REGISTRATION?
Conference Costs
CAN I DONATE MONEY TO THE CONFERENCE?
HOW MUCH DOES THE CONFERENCE COST?
DO YOU OFFER GROUP RATES?
DO YOU HAVE SCHOLARSHIPS TO HELP ME AFFORD THE CONFERENCE?
CAN I VOLUNTEER MY TIME IN PLACE OF A REGISTRATION FEE?
IS MY CREDIT CARD INFORMATION SECURE WHEN I REGISTER ONLINE?
Program
WHY DO YOU ORGANIZE THE AMC?
We believe we can create the world we want to live in through participatory media and creative communications. Creating our own media is a process of speaking and listening that allows us to imagine other realities and then organize our communities to make them real. When we choose to use media in this way, we transform ourselves from consumers of information to producers, from objects within narratives of exploitation and violence to active subjects in the transformation of the world.
As we enter the second decade of the 21st Century, more and more social justice activists recognize that we need new organizing practices rooted in deep listening and communication of many voices.
WHO ATTENDS THE AMC?
WHAT HAPPENS AT THE CONFERENCE?
Participation
I AM NOT PART OF AN ORGANIZATION. CAN I STILL ATTEND?
I AM NOT A MEDIA MAKER. CAN I STILL ATTEND?
CAN I GET A TABLE IN THE EXHIBITION AREA?
WHEN CAN I TABLE?
CAN I LEAVE MY TABLE SET UP OVERNIGHT?
FOR MY TABLE, CAN I SHIP MATERIALS IN ADVANCE OF THE AMC?
Yes, please ship to:
Detroit, MI 48202
Make sure you materials arrive one day in advance of the AMC.
CAN I PERFORM AT THE AMC?
CAN I ORGANIZE A CAUCUS FOR A PARTICULAR GROUP TO DISCUSS A PARTICULAR TOPIC?
CAN I PROPOSE A SESSION FOR THE AMC?
WHAT MAKES AN AWESOME AMC SESSION PROPOSAL?
An emphasis on strategies rather than issues. Sessions that help us name the problem are important, but they can't stop there. Make sure your session proposal incorporates media-based organizing strategies towards solutions.
Interactivity and creativity. Structure your session to make the information accessible to multiple learning styles. This may include a mix of: small group conversations, visual presentations of information, handouts, games and creative expression.
Collaboration. We love AMC sessions designed by multiple organizations or individuals. Even better, connect your session to an ongoing organizing process that extends beyond the conference. While collaboration is strongly encouraged, we also welcome workshops from individuals and groups.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF AMC SESSIONS?
Hands-on workshops engage multiple senses in the learning process and allow participants to construct their own knowledge. They may use a mixture of: direct instruction, discussion, small group work, multi-media sharing, games, and making things.
Strategy sessions focus collective brain power around hard questions. They usually begin with presentations of some framing information or questions, then explore a series of essential questions. They require excellent facilitation to ensure that the conversation moves productively along. Popular formats for the strategy session include: "fishbowls" and the "ambassador model."
One hour lunchtime caucuses are ideal for groups who are coming together for the first time, around a shared experience or passion. They don't try to accomplish much more than a “getting to know you activity” and a sharing of ideas around how to collaborate between now and next year's AMC.
Two hour lunchtime caucuses are ideal for groups who have been communicating prior to the AMC and have made a really good agenda for the two hours of the caucus. They may be closed to people who have already been working together, or open to new people.
Film screenings & performances are usually followed by a Q&A. Make sure to budget time for this audience engagement.
Panels & Presentations should consist of engaging speakers and a dynamic moderator who knows how to bring out the best in speakers and/or lots of visual aids and interactive components.
WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF GOOD SESSION DESCRIPTIONS?
WHAT MAKES AN AWESOME WORKSHOP OUTLINE?
- Acknowledge when something should actually be two separate sessions, versus trying to pack multiple things into one, because inevitably something will get shorted.
- Be prepared for there to be multiple skill-levels in the room.
- Make sure there are awesome participants who will feed the "group knowledge" of the room, especially for pop ed sessions that rely more on interaction than presentation.
- Know your subject matter inside-out and hold the energy of the room with strong facilitation.
- Complex skills and ideas broken down into easily digestible pieces that allow participants to jump in, build confidence and quickly shift from learner to teacher.
- Clear and inspiring examples at the beginning of the session.
- Provide handouts and other materials to take home.
WHAT MAKES AN AWESOME PANEL/PRESENTATION OUTLINE?
- Gorgeous visual aids
- A dynamic, well-prepared moderator who can draw out the brilliance of panelists
- Two or more conversations between panelists prior to the AMC
- Presentations that don't just highlight one person/project/identity, but instead, draw out universal relevance.
- Moderators that gracefully prevent 'long-talkers' and 'tangent-lovers' from dominating or derailing the conversation.
- Well-tested technology (pre-recorded video messages are usually better than Skype!)
- Really short presentations followed by group discussion
- Innovative ways of gathering and synthesizing questions and other input from the audience (pieces of paper, twitter, SMS, etc.)
WHAT MAKES AN AWESOME STRATEGY SESSION OR CAUCUS OUTLINE?
- Be clear in the description: is this session for a particular group only? Are particular groups especially encouraged to attend?
- Make strong agendas that include discussion of "the problem" but allow enough time to shift to discussion of solutions.
- Make sure to get participants' email addresses so post-AMC follow-up can happen.
- For caucuses that feel way too short for the subject matter, try focusing the conversation on the question, "how do we want this to show up at next year's AMC?"
HOW ARE AMC SESSIONS SELECTED?
- Does this session advance media strategies for a more just and creative world?
- Is this session aligned with the AMP network principles?
- Does this session evolve or build-off of ideas from previous AMC years?
AMC staff will make final decisions around conference content, based on the recommendations of session reviewers and available space in the conference schedule.
