During the recent “media concentration” policy debates, policy makers and media executives have referred to the Internet medium as a possible mitigating factor, which might resolve concentration concerns through its abilities to provide vast amounts of content via open channels. In contrast, activists and academics have recently began cautioning that the Internet might be following in the footsteps of other traditional media in its emerging forms of concentrated trends in content consumption. In this symposium, researchers, policy makers, business leaders and legal experts will closely examine whether the Internet may serve as an appropriate response to overall media concentration concerns, or whether this new medium is in itself new problems that require specific solutions.

During this Symposium, CITI’s director Professor Eli M. Noam and other researchers will present empirical data concerning the patterns of online content consumption and distribution. Several leading experts from the media and communications business, academia and the financial community will analyze this data and the trends it indicates, while addressing the roles of various players within the online environment such as content providers, ISPs, search engines, portals and others. Additional panels will directly examine the barriers to entry into the Internet content market, and an analysis of the relations and interaction between broadcast media and the Internet. The policy analysis will address the various roles of the medium – as a provider of news, important information and opinions; as the provider of commercial information; and as a provider of entertainment forms such as music, movies and sports.


Additional details, including speakers and symposium location, will be posted on CITI’s website: http://www.citi.columbia.edu

Registration is required.  Please register at  http://www.ersvp.com/reply/event11065 at $75 per person.   Government officials, non-profits, students and academics are eligible for discounted registration fees - see the above link. CITI affiliates should contact Ben Bloom at bb2125@columbia.edu  or at 212-854-4222.