Children's writing in Singapore

Asian Content for the World’s Children 2012 @ The Arts House, Singapore

The National Book Development Council of Singapore and The Arts House present ASIAN FESTIVAL OF CHILDREN’S CONTENT 2012 from May 26 to 29.

This year’s festivalbrings together writers, illustrators, content makers, publishers, distributors and retailers, international buyers and other professionals related to children’s content in a plethora of formats such as comics, books, e-books, graphic novels, videos, films, educational games, etc.

Four days of events include:

•    Celebrating Our Stars, Pre Festival Event (25th May 2012)
•    Primary and Preschool Teachers Congress (26th May 2012)
•    Parents’ Forum (27th May 2012)
•    Asian Children’s Writers and Illustrators Congress (28th & 29th May 2012)
•    Media Summit (29th May 2012)
•    Specialised Workshops (26th & 27th May 2012)
•    Masterclasses (30th May 2012)
•    Media Mart and Rights Fair (26th – 29th May 2012)
•    Book Illustrators’ Gallery (26th – 29th May 2012)

Mr R Ramachandran, Festival Director of AFCC says, “Our objective is to develop children’s materials with Asian content for information, education and entertainment. Through this festival, we hope to continue to be a catalyst to the creation, production, publication and distribution of children’s materials with Asian content to children worldwide.

70 speakers and experts, including writers, illustrators, digital artists, producers and designers, from around the world will engage, educate and empower the audience at this Asia’s gateway to the international children’s content market.

For more information, please visit www.afcc.com.sg.

Nottingham Uni hiring locals?

Associate/Assistant Professor in Cultural Studies/Mass Communications and Media (for one post, a specialism in Film and/or Television Studies)

Contract Status:  These full-time posts are available from 1 January 2012
Location: University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Semenyih, Malaysia.
Responsible to: Director of Studies
Job Outline:  Associate/Assistant Professor in Cultural Studies/Mass Communications and Media, with administrative and teaching duties. The person appointed is expected to be research active.

Main duties & responsibilities
    Teaching, research and administration.
    To teach and contribute to core modules in Cultural Studies/Mass Communications and Media Studies, (for one post, specifically in Film and Television Studies), and to supervise undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations.
    Examining, invigilating at examinations, and generally assisting with the work of the School
    Original research is regarded as an essential part of the person appointed. Time, duties and facilities are provided for this purpose.
    To undertake a two-day Introductory Course on effective teaching and the PGCHE (Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education), if appropriate.
    Any other duties appropriate to the grade and role of the person appointed.

    This job description may be subject to revision following discussion with the person appointed and forms part of the contract of employment.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to sean.matthews@nottingham.edu.my. Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted. Applications must be sent direct to jobs.fass@nottingham.edu.my
Please quote ref. UNMC/SMLC/2011/1

The post

The Department is keen to consolidate and expand its coverage of Cultural studies, Mass Communications and Media Studies, Critical Theory, Film and Television Studies and Cultural History in ways that add to the current staff expertise so that it will be well-equipped to respond to the demands of the expanding undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes and meet the requirements of a developing and rapidly-expanding undergraduate population.

The successful candidate will hold a PhD degree, or equivalent qualification, and be a specialist in Cultural Studies or Mass Communications and Media Studies with a proven specialism in Film and Television Studies. Candidates will be expected to take a prominent role in the teaching of the International Communications Studies degrees at undergraduate level and to contribute to the teaching and further development of the MA degrees. Candidates will be expected to liaise with the Division of International Communications at the University of Nottingham in Ningbo, China, to assist in the planning and introduction of programmes in Cultural Studies on the University’s UK campus, and to undertake, when appropriate, supervision of postgraduate students in this important area. Candidates will also be expected to be actively involved in grant applications. Candidates will also be expected to have developed a research publishing career and to have firm research projects which will help develop the Department’s cultural studies research profile.

For a full person specification, please download pdf.

Kota Buku (The Malaysian Book City)

Newly appointed General Manager (Pengurus Kanan) of Perbadanan Kota Buku, Encik Razin Abdul Rahman, insists that the function of Kota Buku is to facilitate the growth of private publishers in Malaysia and to not compete with them. Kota Buku’s aim is to oversee  and support the growth of the entire book industry in the country regardless of language. Towards this end, and as its first project,  Kota Buku will organise a monthly three-day-long, Pekan Sari Buku, the first one beginning on 23 March 2012, at Lanai Tuanku Abdul Rahman.  All publishers (traditional, fringe or self), be it in Bahasa, English, Mandarin or Tamil, are welcomed to participate. (The Kota Buku website is still under construction; so those interested in more information should contact the Kota Buku office, Tel:603-83217011, or email razinabdrahman@yahoo.com

Razin says, Kota Buku is looking at several other projects to support the publishing industry including the development of children’s literature, R&D of e-books for use in schools, digitisation of contemporary and classical Malaysian literature with print-on-demand (POD) and digital download possibilities, and others. Towards this end, Razin is willing to listen to all ideas and suggestions.

The idea for the Kota Buku has been up in the air for a while, and it has finally materialised as Perbadanan Kota Buku (Kota Buku) in July 2011. Its chairman is Tan Sri Dr Asiah Abu Samah (formerly DG of the Ministry of Education) and on 3 Jan 2012, Razin Abd Rahman (formerly with ITNM) was appointed as its GM. (He could be appointed the CEO, soon.)

Kota Buku will work with publishers, writers, graphic designers, illustrators and distributors to promote book-related activities.

A six-storey building on Jalan Raja Laut will become its headquarters in two to three years. The building is planned as a place for activities and research. But Razin also sees many activities happening at public venues and not necessarily inside buildings. The Kota Buku is a nationwide endeavour.

Currently, the Kota Buku office is in Cyberjaya, but will move to the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka premises in Kuala Lumpur. Razin is currently seeking to employ multi-racial staff for his budding organisation. (Email above)

Razin’s sincerity is not in question but, as he admits, as much as he would like to be politically agnostic, he cannot ignore the minefields. It would be interesting to see how he negotiates them, what with Faisal Tehrani’s latest book being banned by Jakim, and Pa Samad becoming a poster boy for certain politically incorrect causes (as some would see it).