Children’s Media Conference Shifts to Online Event

The Children’s Media Conference (CMC) is transitioning into The Children’s Media Community for 2020, in response to the cancellation of its planned live event in Sheffield from July 7 to 9 due to COVID-19.

Operating under the revised theme of “Still Here Right Now,” CMC will provide an ongoing service to all involved in the children’s media industry, offering a program of webinars over the next few months, culminating in a virtual conference in July. The first online event is a focus on China, supported by the Department of Trade and Industry.

On April 21, there will be a webinar open to all looking at how the Chinese market is reviving itself with a focus on opportunities for international companies looking to work in China. The webinar will be free of charge. On April 22, there will be limited slots available to join virtual meetings with key Chinese platforms and co-producers who are looking to work with British companies. Delegates will need to register interest with CMC and pay a fee of £50.00 + VAT.

CMC is planning a weekly rollout of webinars and content, including discussions on the topics that matter and a chance to hear from commissioners, funders, research companies and master-practitioners. The webinars will culminate in a limited virtual conference from July 7 to 9, including the International Exchange which will run via virtual one-to-one meetings.

Greg Childs, editorial director at CMC, said: “The Children’s Media Community always steps up in a crisis. Maybe it’s because we’re conscious of our responsibility to help the children’s audience handle difficult situations, understand their changing world, and still have some fun along the way. In the last few weeks, the children’s content community has been nothing short of brilliant in pulling together a new way of looking at the conference they help create every year. As a result, we’re pleased to say that CMC 2020 is rebranding ‘for the duration’ as the Children’s Media Community and refocusing its theme from ‘Right Here Right Now’ to ‘STILL Here Right Now’. What that means is that volunteer producers will still work on great sessions, helped by the CMC Advisory Committee, and they’ll be delivered to people’s desktops on a regular basis right up to and including a virtual conference in July. We can come together as a community to share the learning, insights and inspiration, challenge, argue and discuss—just as we do in Sheffield—but you’ll need to make your own tea.”