Date: 13 July 2010
Time: 11:00am - 12.30pm
Venue: Council Chamber, Meng Wah Complex, The University of Hong Kong

Special Session of the international conference: One Year into the Pandemic: Perspectives on Risk and Crisis Communication organised by the Journalism and Media Studies Centre (JMSC) at The University of Hong Kong

Chair: Dr Charles Schencking (HKU)
Speakers: Prof Charles Briggs (UC Berkeley), Prof Lisa Cartwright (UC San Diego), Dr Robert Peckham (HKU)

In this session, sponsored by the Centre for the Humanities and Medicine at HKU, participants from anthropology, communication studies and history will consider the different ways in which the H1N1 'outbreak' was framed by government (as well as non-government) agencies and the media. The aim is twofold: to investigate the assumptions - and interests - which shaped different accounts and responses to the infection; and to examine the consequences of these accounts on individual, community and national approaches to risk.

Although the recent H1N1 pandemic is frequently spoken of as a singular event, participants in this session will offer case studies to show how the 'threat of infection was (and continues to be) evaluated in different and often contradictory ways according to socio-cultural setting. Understanding and accommodating this plurality may be crucial to the formulation of successful public health strategies in the future.

Registration is required. For registration please click here (HKU Staff and Students enjoy free admission (upon presentation of their UID or staff card) )
For more information about the programme, please click here.