What's Your Story?
ABC Open invites regional communities to produce and publish photos, stories, videos, and sound through the ABC.
We all know the media is changing, with more and more people making their own videos, writing stories and sharing photos and ideas through social media. ABC Open is an exciting initiative which provides a focal point for Australian regional communities who want to get involved in sharing their experiences through the ABC via websites, radio and TV.
Get Involved
There are lots of different ways to get involved, and people of all skill levels are welcome. Take a look at our projects to see what we are currently focusing on. If you're interested in photography you could contribute to our Snapped series where we post a new theme each month to inspire you. It's a lot of fun and easy to do. Or perhaps you've got a passion for sport? Try your hand at making your own sports video in our 110% project. We have a team of 45 producers based in regional towns all around the country to help you with ideas and with learning skills in storytelling and making media. There are free workshops and events running all the time. Each producer has a blog to keep you up to date on the many varied contributions coming from communities in their region. Find your region.
ABC Open is a work in progress
So far we've seen a huge variety of stories through several national projects including the very popular Now and Then project, which captures local history through photos. 2011 also saw Australia experience some of the worst disasters on record. We created Aftermath, a special interactive feature to follow the stories of people who were trying to rebuild their lives and their communities after these devastating events. We've also been inviting Indigenous Australians to share their dreams in a single photograph and have captured a whole year of indigenous dreams in Dreambox.
There are also regional projects, where producers have been collaborating with specific groups or people. Some great examples are Artist by Artist and WxSW where we've teamed up creative people to make new works together.
Contributions have so far come through workshops and photo and video sharing websites Flickr and Vimeo. Right now we are working to develop the Open website so you can directly contribute your work. The website will grow to encourage more conversation, and we'll also improve the ways in which you can find all the 'how-to' information which we know is popular.
How to get in touch
Get in touch to find out how you can be involved with ABC Open by emailing your local ABC Open producer - emails are listed below. For Project Directors and State Editors, general enquiries, jobs and other business, email us: abcopen@abc.net.au.
You can also keep in touch and comment through Facebook and Twitter
Our Team
Open Directors 2
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Open Director
Ann Chesterman
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Open Director
Cath Dwyer
State Editors 5
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Northern Territory & South Australia & Tasmania
Carol Raabus
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Western Australia
Clancy McDowell
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Victoria
Jarrod Watt
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Queensland
Peter Gunders
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New South Wales
Richard Johnson
