Frequently Asked Questions
Basics
What is the Allied Media Conference? When is the conference? Why that weekend? What time does the conference begin and 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 dorms? Can I cancel my registration?
Funding
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?
Program
Why do you organize the AMC? What happens at the conference?
Participate
Can I propose a session for the conference? Can I get a display table at the AMC? When do I table? Can I leave my table set up overnight? Can I perform at the AMC? Can I organize a caucus for a particular group or to discuss a particular topic?
Basics
What is the Allied Media Conference?
The Allied Media Conference cultivates media strategies for a more just and creative world. Held every June in Detroit, MI, it is the primary point of intersection in the U.S. for alternative media makers and committed social justice activists from around the country.
When is the conference?
Friday, June 20 to Sunday, June 22, 2008. The detailed AMC schedule with start times for sessions and special events will be released as the conference approaches. Check back.
What time does the conference begin and end?
The conference begins at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, June 20 and does not let up until 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 22. You don't want to miss a minute, so plan your travel accordingly.
Housing and Logistics
Where is the conference?
The AMC will be held in the McGregor Conference Center and Community Arts Building on the campus of Wayne State University in Detroit. The conference weekend will also feature several off campus events, including our traditional bowling party (June 20) and music event (June 21). The bowling party will be at the Garden Bowl in the Majestic Theatre Complex. The Garden Bowl is the oldest active bowling alley in the U.S. The music event will be at the Max M. Fisher Music Center.
Where will I stay?
When you register, you can reserve a dorm room or a place in the crash space. Details on those and other options are listed on the housing page.
How will I get around?
We will provide a shuttle to off-campus events, but other than that you will walk to get meals or anything else you need off-campus. If you are going to have a car during the AMC, you might consider purchasing a parking pass for the on-site garage. You can purchase parking when you register. More info on the getting around page.
Can I request to stay with specific people in the dorm?
There are two beds per dormroom. Please let us know your roommate request when you register.
Can I cancel my registration?
We hate to see you go. Registration can be canceled and refunded. A $25 administrative fee will be deducted from your refund. Housing reservations are non-refundable after May 30.
Why that weekend?
The AMC has been held on the third weekend of June for the past 9 years. Its a great time of the year to enjoy the Summer and soak up the warm rays of independent media. We especially invite teachers and students to come celebrate the end of the school year by participating in the AMC.
Funding
Can I donate money to the conference?
You might be surprised to hear that this is a frequently asked question, but yes, you can donate money to the conference. Thank you!
How much does the conference cost?
The requested fee for registration is $60. If you cannot afford that amount, you can choose to pay the scholarship rate of $20. If you can afford to pay more, we ask that you pay $100 and/or contribute to the AMC scholarship fund. This "sliding scale" keeps the conference affordable without requiring a big bureaucracy to award discounts. It requires the good faith of all registrants, so please respect the other conference attendees and pay what you can afford. Prices of other items are listed on the conference registration page.
Do you offer group rates?
No, we don't. Sorry.
Do you have scholarships to help me afford the conference?
We offer a sliding scale registration fee, which means you can select a scholarship rate of $20 for yourself if you feel like you need one. For your travel expenses, check out these tips for fundraising.
Can I volunteer my time in place of a registration fee?
We welcome people's contribution of time and energy to promote the conference beforehand and facilitate it during. But we still request that you contribute an amount of money within the sliding scale of $100-$20 when you register.
Program
Why do you organize the AMC?
Because media should be a tool for transformation and not a commodity to passively consume; because political change requires open and active networks of communication; because our stories have been misrepresented, misinterpreted, and straight up missing from corporate media: we gather to share skills, strategize, and build the media system we envision and that our movements for justice demand.
More than just a single weekend, the AMC is a vibrant network of people and organizations. We come together to share tactics for living in the world that is and for shaping the world that we want.
Who attends the Allied Media Conference?
The Allied Media Conference brings together a vibrant and diverse community of media workers: filmmakers, radio producers, youth organizers, publishers, emcees, web designers, artists, and beyond.
What happens at the conference?
Hands-on workshops, the Youth Media Lab, panel discussions, film screenings, music, bowling.
Participation
Can I propose a session for the conference?
Yes. Use this form.
Can I get a display table at the AMC?
Yes. You can reserve a table when you register for the conference. You have three options: A full table is $50; a half table is $30. Tables are 3 feet by 6 feet.
When can I table?
The exhibition area in the Outer Gallery of the Community Arts Building is open for tabling on Friday (8AM-6PM), Saturday (8AM-6PM) & Sunday (10AM-3PM). Times include set-up and clean-up.
Can I leave my table set up overnight?
The exhibition area will be locked overnight. However, if you have any high-value items, you should not leave them on your table overnight.
Can I perform at the AMC?
Performers at the AMC are usually drawn from the circle of past participants, but we are always eager to hear new music. If you want to let us know about your music project, use the session proposal form.
Can I organize a caucus for a particular group or to discuss a particular topic?
We do our best to support your networking at the conference. Please use the session proposal form to request space for a caucus.
