Symposium: What Price Media Consolidation?

The Center for Creative Voices in Media is pleased to invite you to attend What Price Media Consolidation? a symposium at the National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture’s biennial conference, “Taking Liberties: Freedom, Creativity, and Risk in the Media Arts,” in Philadelphia on Wednesday, September 28, 2005. Co-sponsored by Creative Voices, the Rudman Institute for Entertainment Industry Studies and the LeBow College of Business at Drexel University, and NAMAC, the symposium will take place from 2-5 p.m., immediately preceding the Opening Night Reception of the NAMAC conference, at Drexel’s Mandell Theatre, 3141 Chestnut Street. It is open to the general public as well as attendees of the NAMAC conference. Seating is limited and RSVPs are strongly recommended.

This symposium will bring leading members of the media reform movement together with leading independent commercial and non-commercial media creators to discuss the threats that media consolidation, as well as the politicization of PBS, pose to free expression and the ability of independent media artists to create and distribute their works. With participation from the attendees encouraged, we will also discuss strategies and opportunities to open the media to greater access by commercial and non-commercial independents. Our goal is to not only educate, but also motivate the attendees to more effectively bring their voices, vision, and energy to the media reform movement, promoting greater access, creativity, competition, diversity, and artistic freedom for the benefit of themselves and the American public.

Confirmed speakers to date include:

Michael J. Copps, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission.

Chellie Pingree, President, Common Cause.

Andrew Jay Schwartzman, President, Media Access Project.

Danny Goldberg, CEO, Air America Radio, and former top music executive.

Gene Kimmelman, Senior Policy Director, Consumers Union.

Alyce Myatt, independent media consultant, former PBS and MacArthur Foundation executive.

Gregory Allen Howard, screenwriter, “Ali” and "Remember the Titans," winner of Christopher Award and NAACP Image Award.

Please reserve your seats now by e-mail to rsvp.rudman@drexel.edu or by calling 215-895-0352.