Cross Cultural Communication in Technology, News Media & Film

As part of Digital Atlanta, a week-long series of events celebrating technology and new media marketing achievements in Atlanta, the Spelman College Digital Moving Image Salon, in partnership with Digital Atlanta and Global Culture Science Brands, present the panel discussion, "Cross Cultural Communication in Technology, News Media & Film."

The panel discussion will address the various opportunities (and disadvantages) when communicating cross culturally via the web. Panelists will openly, and organically, discuss ways in which attendees can make communicating online useful,  no matter where they are based, their orgin, or their culture.

The event is free and open to the public and will take place in Cosby Academic Center Auditorium.

Speaker Info

Ayoka Chenzira is a prolific film and video artist whose works span features, animation, documentary, performance art, and experimental productions. As a screenwriter, producer, and director, she has worked on special film commissions in Austria, England, and Brazil and lectured extensively about film throughout the United States, Europe, and Africa. Chenzira was born during the 1950s in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and earned a B.F.A. in film production from New York University and an M.A in education from Columbia University. She can be found online at www.ayoka.com.

Octavia E. Nasr is the founder of Bridges Media Consulting and editor of OctaviaNasr.com. She dedicates a large portion of her time to writing, providing commentary, and lecturing on Middle East politics and current affairs. Her expertise also engulfs the marriage between social and traditional media with a focus on employing social media in newsgathering and reporting. She served as CNN’s senior editor of Mideast affairs until her dismissal in July 2010 over her public statement of respect on Twitter for the Lebanese cleric Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah.  She can be found online at http://octavianasr.com.

Kendra A. King is a sought-after political thinker and commentator on political and spiritual leadership, Hip Hop politics and culture, African-American politics, the Black church, and leadership training and development. She is an associate professor of politics at Oglethorpe University and the director of the Rich Foundation Urban Program. She instructs both undergraduate and graduate courses on American Politics, Political Theory, African-American Politics, and Urban Politics. King’s newest course, The Politics of Hip Hop, is generating plenty of buzz on and off campus. She can be found online at http://www.drkendraking.com.

Danica Kombol is a managing and founding partner at Everywhere. Kombol draws on her extensive background as a television producer and marketing/public relations executive. She began her career at the Children’s Television Workshopwhere she was involved in the international versions of Sesame Street. She went on to become a successful television producer working on such famed shows as Saturday Night Live, Kids in the Hall and VH1. Kombol moved to Atlanta two decades ago and made her mark in advertising and public relations, working with firms such as Ketchum, Babbit and Reiman and BrightHouse. She has also been a successful entrepreneur with a media coaching business that counted major Fortune 500 companies as clients. She can be found online at http://beeverywhere.tv. * *co-moderator for this panel

Masha Dowell is owner of Global Culture Science Brands (a family of companies in media, film, theater, and publishing), a 360° filmmaker (director, producer, actress, and writer), and global advocate. After a decade of working in the sciences as a researcher and most recently, a quality manager in the biotech industry (calibration-metrology), she decided to merge her interests in global culture, media, and film to create a new career for herself. A new career that she has created 100 percent via social media, and other online methods. She's currently on the boards of Women In Film & TV of Atlanta, and a member for the United Nations Association of Atlanta. She can be found online at www.mashadowell.com. * *co-moderator for this panel