[Air-L] CFP for Workshop on Digital Diversity

[Richard Taylor]

Colleagues,

With apologies for cross postings:


 Call for Paper Proposals 
Digital Diversity: 
Serving the Public Interest in the Age of Broadband 
A by-invitation experts' workshop to be held at 
Fordham University, Lincoln Center Campus 
May 3-5, 2011 

As the delivery of mediated content experiences an historic transformation
with the transition to delivery over broadband networks, some policy goals
of media regulation remain the same. Central among them is the public
interest goal of ensuring diversity. Promoting diversity in broadcasting has
been a pillar of media regulation, but online there is no "spectrum
scarcity," the foundation of broadcast regulation, no licensing and arguably
no "mass media" at all. As a result, the customary tools for promotion of
diversity must be reinvented. Broadband is a radically different environment
in which the provision of unregulated content may have far more impact than
traditionally-regulated television and radio. New theoretical constructs and
mechanisms are needed to address issues such as "voice," economic equity,
and serving un-served and underserved communities. Minorities are creatively
exploring new online tools for community building, communications, and
business opportunities. How can the public interest standard be applied to
support them in this new context?
 
The Institute for Information Policy at Penn State University and the Donald
McGannon Communication Research Center at Fordham University are pleased to
announce this call for paper proposals in which diversity enhancement in
broadband networks serves as the main theme. Authors of the selected papers
will be invited to present and discuss them during a three day
by-invitation-only experts workshop de-signed to bring together up to a
dozen American and international experts and to be held at the Lincoln
Center Campus of Fordham University in New York City. This workshop is part
of a series of events focused on "Making Policy Research Accessible,"
organized by the IIP, with the support of the Ford Foundation. 
Invited topics include, but are not limited to: 
	
Changing concepts of diversity in the 21st century 
Comparative notions of diversity and changing demographics 
Defining and measuring the scope and desired outcomes of broadband diversity
policy 
Diversity, new media, social media, and opportunities on the Internet 
Diversity and Internet entrepreneurship 
Diversity and network neutrality 
Diversity and community websites and media (e.g., community online
newspapers) 
Minorities embedded in major media enterprises in content creation and as
performers 
Cultural/linguistic/racial/gender/religious diversity - are they all being
served? 
The marketplace of ideas and diversity 

Abstracts of up to 500 words and a short bio of the author(s) should be
submitted to pennstateiip at psu.edu by January 31, 2011. Please write
IIPDMCWS: YOUR NAME in the subject line. Accepted presenters will be
notified by March 1, 2011.

Richard Taylor
Palmer Chair of Telecommunication Studies and Law
Institute for Information Policy
The Pennsylvania State University