Leading editors and journalists in the border region of Derry and Donegal will gather together next Tuesday evening for a lively discussion on the nature, challenges and successes within media and the key role played by it in social, cultural and economic affairs in the area.
Members of the public are warmly invited to attend this unique event, which will take place in the Regional Cultural Centre (RCC) in Letterkenny, located behind An Grianan Theatre, beginning at 7.30 pm next Tuesday, May 24th. Admission is free and no advance bookings are necessary.
A champagne reception will also take place at the event as it marks the official launch of the Guth Gafa International Documentary Film Festival in Gortahork, now in its sixth successful year, which starts on Friday, June 10th and will feature a special film entitled ‘Our Newspaper’ (award-winner at the HotDocs Documentary Festival in Toronto, North America’s largest documentary event). Short exerpts from the film will be shown at Tuesday evening’s open discussion.
Guth Gafa films vary in subject ranging from the disappearance of islands due to climate change, an investigation into the world of sperm donors to the on-going battles between industrial giants and environmental groups and individuals. The films are geographical diverse as well, from Mexico to Canada; from Paraguay to Indonesia. The full schedule for the festival, the only one in Ireland focusing exclusively on documentary-film making, can be viewed at www.guthgafa.com.
Among the prominent media editors giving their insights into the changing face of media and some of the social campaigns they have been heavily involved in are (in alphabetical order) – Columba Gill, editor, Donegal News; Stephen Maguire, editor, donegaldaily.com; John McAteer, editor, Tirconaill Tribune; Martin McGinley, editor, Derry Journal and Ciaran O’Donnell, deputy editor, Donegal Democrat. These editors and others will also be joined by various social, political, cultural economic and cultural leaders in the community as well as influential columnists and journalists for a lively give and take.