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This one day conference at London College of Communication, University of the Arts London, in collaboration with OPEN-i, POLIS at the LSE and One World Media, will address the problematic relationship of visual imagery and the majority world, focusing specifically on the interactions between practitioners, NGOs and their audiences. The conference will include presentations from filmmakers, photographers, academics and NGO staff and will seek to critically engage with the stereotypes of development and the possible alternatives to them.

The conference will explore the shift from the two traditional approaches to the coverage of development issues, either that of the journalist or of the fundraiser, towards an emergent ‘third way', where practitioners and charities work much more closely together, producing longer term bodies of work that question the stereotypes of simplistic media coverage of tear jerking crying children. However, there is a tension in this relationship, as the approaches of professional practitioners do not always align with the desires of the NGOs, raising important questions about this new ‘advocacy' approach and its implications for the independence of the practitioner.

Presentations will include Ed Kashi, Professor Lilie Chouliaraki LSE, Professor David Campbell of Durham university, Jessica Crombie of Water Aid, Olivia Arthur of Magnum, Rachel Palmer of Save the Children, Jennifer Pollard of LCC, Ben Chesterton of Duckrabbit and filmmaker Sandhya Suri. There will be a ‘world café' style session over lunch for debate and discussion. Charlie Beckett of POLIS will chair the final plenary session of the day.

Places are limited so please rsvp to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it