CCLP panel explores technology and education with FCC Chairman Genachowski

On Tuesday, September 21, CCLP Director Geoffrey Cowan (pictured, right) led a discussion on the intersection of technology and education in the 21st century. The panel, featuring FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski (left), kicked off a half-day event called "Back to School: Learning in a Digital Age," sponsored by USC Annenberg's Center on Communication Leadership (CCLP), Common Sense Media, PBS Kids and The Children's Partnership. Leaders in technology and education discussed the benefits of equipping children and educators digitally – both inside and outside of the classroom. "The need far exceeds the risk," said Genachowski. "When our schools win, our country……

Campaign advertising is now reaching into the voting booth

Photo credit: secretlondon on FlickrWASHINGTON — Political advertising is reaching into polling places and even into the voting booth. That is one of three trends for 2010 campaign advertising identified by Peter Greenberger, Google's head of Public Sector Ad Sales. What's that, you say? Politicking is not allowed within 100 feet of polling places? How quaint. How very 20th century. Once again the law governs atoms, not bits…….

Hollihan presents “Barack Obama and the Debate on Health Care Reform”

"Just after noon, and its already standing room only," joked Annenberg School for Communication director Larry Gross. Students, faculty, and staff gathered at the first Annenberg Research Seminar on August 30, 2010. Faculty Fellow Tom Hollihan kicked off the series with his presentation, Barack Obama and the Debate on Health Care Reform: Dialogic Argument vs. the Politics of Resistance. Hollihan explained that Obama's campaign message was that of hope and change, but not just in a changing of the presidential office but "hope that new leadership could reinvigorate government. Change was the most repeated part of the Obama campaign. Not……

Powell appointed USC’s director of Washington policy initiatives

Adam Clayton Powell III, CCLP Senior Fellow, has been named the University of Southern California's director of Washington policy initiatives. His new position was announced to the USC faculty and staff by the Acting Provost, Elizabeth Garrett on July 2, 2010. In his new position, Powell will work closely with the USC vice provost of global initiatives on a number of important projects, including the USC Africa Initiative and the university's continued efforts in India. He will also assist USC's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism on strategic initiatives, including important projects focused on communication policy. In addition, Powell will……

CCLP & State Department launch exploration of ways to use Technology to combat Human Trafficking

State Department and Congressional policymakers, along with nongovernmental organization and technology industry leaders convened in Washington, D.C. Thursday, June 3, 2010 to explore new ways communication technology might be used in global efforts to combat human trafficking. The meeting held at the USC Washington, D.C. Center was organized by USC Annenberg's Center on Communication Leadership and Policy in partnership with assistance from the U.S. Department of State. Geoffrey Cowan, CCLP director and USC University Professor, co-chaired the gathering with Alec Ross, Secretary of State Clinton's senior adviser for innovation (pictured right). Ross opened the meeting with remarks about 21st Century……

Cowan testifies at FPPC meeting on paid political ads on the Internet

A subcommittee of the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), the state's independent watchdog for politics and campaigns, conducted a hearing at USC's Gould School of Law on March 24 to discuss the current trends of paid political activity on the Internet, email and social networking sites. CCLP director Geoffrey Cowan testified at the session, discussing the 2003 report of the Bipartisan California Commission on Internet Political Practices–which he chaired–and the developments in the area since the report was issued. Read Cowan's testimony at the proceedings. Or read the 2003 Bipartisan California Commission on Internet Political Practices report …….

Government Financial Support of News Media Continues Steep Decline, Adding to Financial Crisis in News Business

Government financial support that has bolstered this country's commercial news business since its colonial days is in sharp decline and is likely to fall further, according to a CCLP report released January 28, 2010. Because these cutbacks are occurring at the height of the digital revolution, they will have an especially powerful impact on a weakened news industry Public Policy and Funding the News is a unique effort to begin examining how involved the government, at all levels, has been in subsidizing news throughout American history to foster an informed citizenry; and what this support has meant for publishers, journalists……