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February 2017

How we could close tech’s gender gap in a decade

We all know that the technology industry has a gender problem. But how do you move the needle from awareness to action? Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook's chief operating officer, and Girls Who Code, a nonprofit tech group have an idea: take the fight to the states.

On Feb 17, both will host the first-ever Girls Who Code Governor's Summit at Facebook’s headquarters in Menlo Park (CA). The guest list includes Govs Mary Fallin (R-OK) and Gina Raimondo (D-RI) and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds of Iowa. Many organizations aimed at improving gender equality in the tech field have focused on changing the culture at tech companies in the past. But this is the first time an effort is aimed at the state level. “​What’s great about having these governors and state officials involved is that they set the educational agenda for their states,” Sandberg said. And, she said, reaching young kids — as Girls Who Code has done on a smaller scale — is key to improving tech's gender problems long-term.

New FCC chair has done some good, but transition's not as easy as Pai

[Commentary] New Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai has taken it on the chin recently, which should be expected considering that many of his views run contrary to the previous chairman's. But much of the criticism is overwrought.

Some aspects of his first few weeks were positive. Increasing transparency in the agency's rule-making processes is long overdue. New ideas on closing the digital divide should be considered, hopefully with an eye toward cost-effectiveness. On the more negative side of the ledger, however, the process by which the chairman took certain actions as well as retracting certain reports were not in keeping with promises to be more inclusive than his predecessor. Hopefully, in the future, Chairman Pai will better engage other commissioners. Doing so would help promote good telecom policy and ensure the success of his long-term agenda.

[Scott Wallsten is president and senior fellow at the Technology Policy Institute]

Chairman Pai's Response to Sen Franken Regarding Open Internet

On Jan 30, Sen Al Franken (D-MN) wrote to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai urging him to "protect freedom of speech by maintaining and enforcing the Open Internet Order." On Feb 8, Chairman Pai responded by writing, "We share the same goals of promoting a free and open Internet and protecting fully Americans' rights under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. I look forward to working with you to ensure that the FCC's regulatory framework preserves each of these values."

Cable News Doing Big Ad Business, Viewership

Just about one month into the new presidential administration, TV news networks are posting stronger ad business, as well as high viewership -- contradicting some criticism over fake news claims.

For example, CNN earned some $72.8 million in national advertising, according to iSpot.tv, from January 16 through February 16 -- more than double the advertising dollars levels for the same period a year ago, when it earned $33.5 million. On Feb 16, during a meeting with journalists, Jeff Zucker, chairman of CNN Worldwide, said his network brand had not beenen hurt by President Trump's false claim that much of the media was delivering so-called “fake news.” Likewise, Fox News Channel, the leader in the cable news marketplace, is also pulling in big ad dollars -- $108.8 million during that period. A year ago, Fox News was at $47.3 million for the same period.

Former House GOP leader Bob Michel dies at 93

Robert Michel, the former House Republican leader who helped push President Reagan’s agenda through Congress, died Feb 17 at 93. Michel first took office in 1957 and spent nearly four decades in the House, before being replaced as the House GOP leader by conservative firebrand Newt Gingrich in 1994. The Illinois congressman was known for his affinity for consensus-building, rather than obstructionism. Through bipartisan cooperation, especially with former Democratic House Speaker Thomas “Tip” O’Neill, Michel helped steer Reagan’s agenda of cuts to taxes and social welfare programs through the House.

Here’s why Trump’s attacks on ‘fake news’ succeed

If you read the New York Times report that several of President Trump's aides and associates communicated regularly during the campaign with Russian intelligence officials, you know that Trump's rebuttal to the controversy at a news conference made little sense. That's a big “if,” however. The reality is that Trump supporters, generally speaking, don't read the Times.

When the Pew Research Center surveyed voters after the election, the Times didn't even register among Trump backers' primary news sources. The Trump base's media consumption habits — of which the president is undoubtedly aware — is the key to success for attacks on “fake news” reports by the Times and other major outlets that Trump voters disdain. If his supporters don't actually read a report, then Trump doesn't have to respond to it, really. He can respond to a version of his own invention, and his backers will be none the wiser.

What does Trump have in common with Hugo Chavez? A media strategy.

President Trump is an avowed admirer of Vladimir Putin, and his administration is under investigation for its ties to Russia. But Trump’s governing style in the first few weeks has more in common with the Latin American populists who have risen to power in the last several decades. In particular, Trump’s unrelenting attacks on the media and attempts to undermine its credibility and paint it as an opposition force are straight out the Latin American populists’ playbook. Feb 16’s press conference, in which he railed against “very fake news,” was a case in point.

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