Extra! Extra! FTC Announces Workshop: ‘Can News Media Survive the Internet Age? Competition, Consumer Protection, and First Amendment Perspectives'

The Federal Trade Commission today announced it will hold a series of workshops titled "Can News Media Survive the Internet Age? Competition, Consumer Protection, and First Amendment Perspectives." The first workshop will be held on September 15, 2009. The news industry is in transition. Newspapers have lost much of their classified advertising revenues to online services, and some question how they will weather the development of targeted behavioral and other online advertising, online news aggregators, and other factors. How cable, broadcast, and other news organizations will respond to similar challenges is under discussion. Some predict that in a few years, television and radio will find themselves in situations similar to those facing newspapers. "Many industries have experienced transitions to new business models in response to new forms of competition on the Internet, and consumers generally have benefitted in the process," FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz explained. "But the news business may be different because of the First Amendment values at stake. Whether we get our news from ink on paper, TV, radio, laptops, or mobile devices, we need a strong news industry for our democracy to thrive. Bringing together competition, consumer protection, and First Amendment perspectives can help all of us understand how best to serve Americans' interests given the new realities affecting news organizations." The workshops will consider a wide range of issues, including possible business and non-profit models for news organizations, the role of targeted behavioral and other online advertising, whether additional, limited antitrust exemptions may be necessary under these unique circumstances, and the implications of online news for both copyright protection and the availability of broadband access. Witnesses will include journalists and other representatives of news organizations, privacy experts, direct marketers, online advertisers, academics, new media representatives (such as bloggers and local news Web sites), and consumer advocates. An agenda for the September 15, 2009 workshop will be circulated at a later time. The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC's online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,500 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC's Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics . MEDIA CONTACT: Betsy Lordan Office of Public Affairs 202-326-3707 STAFF CONTACT: Susan DeSanti Office of Policy Planning 202-326-2210 http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/05/newspapers.shtm

Sen Commerce Committee May 19 Confirmation Hearings :: Strickling, Choprah

Nominations Hearing

Tuesday, May 19, 2009
11:00 AM
SR - 253

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces a full committee Nominations Hearing.

http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=fba30a2a-812e-4a37-aec2-d3ca7a8f6c11

Witnesses

Opening Remarks

Panel 1
Lawrence Strickling
Assistant Secretary- Designate
Telecommunications and Information, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce

Aneesh Choprah
Chief Technology Officer- Designate
Office of Science and Technology Policy at the Executive Office of the President

John D. Porcari
Deputy Secretary- Designate
U.S. Department of Transportation

J. Randolph Babbitt
Administrator- Designate
Federal Aviation Administration

Rebecca M. Blank
Under Secretary for Economic Affairs- Designate
U.S. Department of Commerce

Genachowski Hearing May 12

For Immediate Release
05/06/09
Contact: Jena Longo - Democratic Deputy Communications Director 202.224.7824
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Committee Announces Nomination Hearing for Julius Genachowski

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces the following full committee hearing:

Nominations Hearing for Julius Genachowski
To Be Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Full Committee
Date: Tuesday May 12, 2009
Hearing Start Time: 11:00 a.m. *
Press Pre-Set Time: 10:15 a.m.
Hearing Location: Room 253, Senate Russell Building

*Please note, hearing was originally scheduled for 10:00 a.m.