Consumer Revolution on the Web

Opportunities and Dangers for Journalism

Sponsored by Consumer Reports & the Columbia Journalism Review

An all-day conference, Thursday, November 20, 2008
Held at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism

Reduced Registration Fee NOW in effect: $70.00 (Formerly $85.00)
We realize these are economically challenging times and we want to enable as many journalists as possible to attend.

Keynote address by David Pogue
New York Times technology columnist

The Web and social media have empowered the individual consumer and grassroots groups to hold corporations and the government accountable for flawed products, policies, and services.

How can journalists harness this new energy? Learn from experts who understand the pitfalls and opportunities of the new consumer landscape. They will discuss such topics as: Are Consumers the Right Watchdogs?; The New Age of Citizen Journalism; and Harnessing the Power of Your Audience.

CONFERENCE DETAILS:

Panel discussions and case study presentations will feature more than 20 experts, including (speakers subject to change):

• Diane Farsetta, senior researcher at The Center for Media and Democracy/PRWatch.org
• Bob Garfield, Ad Age columnist, host of NPR's "On the Media," and the creator of ComcastMustDie.com
• Jeff Jarvis, blogger for Buzzmachine.com and an associate professor and director of the interactive journalism program at the City University of New York's Graduate School of Journalism
• Brian Lehrer, host of “The Brian Lehrer Show” on WNYC
• Ben Popken, editor of Consumerist.com and an advocate and practitioner of citizen journalism
• Steve Rubel, VP at Edelman and author of the PR industry blog, MicroPersuasion.com

To view the complete lineup of speakers and panels, please click here.
conference agenda

Buffet lunch will be provided. Cocktail reception for all attendees follows the end of the conference.

SPONSOR INFORMATION:

Consumer Reports publishes reviews and comparisons of consumer products and services based on reporting and results from its in-house testing laboratories. It has more than4 million subscribers.

Columbia Journalism Review (CJR) is an American magazine for professional journalists published bimonthly at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION INFO:

To sign up, please send an email to events@cjr.org with the following information:

• Name
• Affiliation
• Address
• Phone number
• E-mail address
• How you learned about the conference
  

It's crucial that you sign-up ahead of time. Also, as a professional courtesy, be certain to let us know if you are not going to make it. We would not want to turn someone away believing we are sold out when there's actually a seat available. Thank you.

Thursday during conference check-in from 8:15 - 8:45 a.m., bring your check for $70.00 made payable to Columbia University or cash. Sorry, we do not take credit cards at this time.

*** Also, we apologize that at this time we do not have online registration***

For further information, please contact Kathleen Brow at kmb8@columbia.edu or at 212-854-2717.

LOCATION OF THE JOURNALISM SCHOOL & DIRECTIONS:

The Journalism School is located at 2950 Broadway. Enter the campus at 115th St. and Broadway. Once you pass the building on your left, turn left. Ahead you'll see a lawn and a large statue of Thomas Jefferson. This is the front entrance to the Journalism School.

By Subway: Take the #1 train to 116th St. and Broadway

By Bus: Take the #104 Bus to 116th and Broadway

Driving: Please contact Kathleen Brow at kmb8@columbia.edu for parking garages in the area.