Piaras Kelly PR – Public Relations in Ireland

The biannual Cleraun media conference takes places this year between Friday 15 October and Sunday 17 October. As usual other events have conspired against me and I can’t make it, but the Sunday line-up looks interesting.

The schedule is outlined below.The most obvious session of interest will be Carol Coulter’s talk about coverage of criminal trials on Sunday, hopefully part of this discussion will centre on the family of the victim’s perspective.

Friday 15 October 2010 at 7.30pm

Showing of Das Herz von Jenin (The Heart of Jenin): 2010 Award Best German Documentary Film (Father of Palestinian boy shot by Israeli soldiers decided to donate his son’s organs to 6 Israeli children to save their lives) Followed by interactive lecture with director Marcus Vetter about challenges in making the film

Saturday 16 October 2010: Documentary Film-making

Re-presenting reality, protecting integrity – Ian Kirk-Smith, BBCNI documentary film-maker (1991-2010)

Human rights documentaries – a case study on Burma from Radharc Films – Peter Kelly, Managing Director, Esras Films

Being true: dealing with the push for more ‘edge’ and more ‘jeopardy’ – Martina Durac, Loopline Film

Amazon Indians battling oil interests: the challenges in producing an independent documentary – Marc de Jersey, British film producer; former editor “Russia Today” (24/7 TV news channel in Moscow); former desk editor ABC New York

Sunday 17 October 2010: Issues in Journalism

Feeding the beast: sources, accountability and fact-checking in the 24-hour news cycle – Kate Shanahan, Lecturer, DIT; former RTÉ Radio & TV producer

What are the ‘arts’? How radio is broadening the horizons – Clare Duignan, Managing Director, RTÉ Radio

Holding politicians to account — how an Irish media investigation led to an EU ban on Brazilian beef – Justin McCarthy, Chief Livestock Editor, Irish Farmers’ Journal

We are all investigative journalists – Don Van Natta, Jnr, New York Times Investigative Correspondent, Manhattan

Administration of justice versus prurient public curiosity — media coverage of recent criminal trials – Dr Carol Coulter, Legal Affairs Editor, The Irish Times