1 Nov 2010 5:00pm - 7:00pm LT3, Judge Business School, Trumpington Street, Cambridge

Description

Humanitas Visiting Professor in Media 2010

The Humanitas Chair in Media has been made possible by the generous support of the Blavatnik Family Foundation

 

Dr Mathias Döpfner (Chairman, CEO Axel Springer AG)

 

Freedom and the Digital Revolution

 

Lecture 3: Can journalism be free in the digital age?

Restrictions on freedom are often encountered in the guise of a good cause. Information wants to be free – that is one dogma of the open access movement, and the prevailing gratis culture in the Net has become an excess of freedom, which threatens freedom itself.  Also in other respects, the digital revolution has dramatically changed the media landscape, especially with regard to the role of technology as part of the creative product, the rise of user generated content, copyright issues, the unbundling of news etc. Though everything seems in a state of flux, much less has changed with regard to the very core and essence of journalism which is based on the creation of unique, moving stories and on strong opinions. This is the traditional core competency of journalists and media companies (as opposed to technology companies) which should inspire us with optimism. However, genuine freedom of information can only exist in the digital world in the long term as long as professional journalism remains financeable and independent from economic interests and political agendas.

A symposium entitled, The Digital Revolution and its Futures, will take place on Tuesday 2 November.

 

The lectures are free and open to all. (Please note the different locations of each lecture.)
Registration is required for the symposium

 

About the Professorships

 

The University of Cambridge is proud to announce the launch of a major new programme, the Humanitas Visiting Professorships, in association with the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. Humanitas Visiting Professors are held by distinguished academics and leading practitioners who have contributed to interdisciplinary research and innovation in a broad range of contemporary disciplines in the arts, social sciences and humanities. Covering areas of urgent or enduring interest in today's society as well as the performing arts, Humanitas Visiting Professors will present their pioneering work through a series of lectures or performances open to University audiences and the wider public. The programme is co-ordinated by the Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities and funded by the generosity of Lord Weidenfeld and benefactors associated with the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. 

CENTRE FOR RESEARCH IN THE ARTS, SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

Tel: +44 1223 766886
Email enquiries@crassh.cam.ac.uk