The Media Institute

The Media Institute was founded in 1979 and "is a nonprofit research foundation specializing in communications policy issues. The Institute exists to foster three goals: freedom of speech, a competitive media and communications industry, and excellence in journalism." 

"The Media Institute is a Washington-based media think tank supported by major media companies, including two new additions, Verizon and DirecTV, and one returning sponsor, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association," reported Broadcasting & Cable in February 2007. Other corporate backers include Viacom, Time Warner, NBC Universal, Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., Tribune and Gannett. 

In October 2007, the Media Institute gave awards to two conservatives, Kenneth W. Lowe, the president and CEO of the E.W. Scripps Company, and Tony Snow, the former press secretary to President George W. Bush. In 1999, the Institute gave its Freedom of Speech Award to Republican then-FCC Commissioner Michael K. Powell. 

Against net neutrality
In comments filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in mid-1007, The Media Institute opposed net neutrality measures. "There is no problem - no clear and present danger to the openness of the Internet - that requires regulatory action," the Institute's filing stated. 

Against localism requirements
In response to FCC chief Kevin Martin's December 2007 statements that broadcasters establish local advisory boards and local content guidelines, to ensure the licensees are serving their local communities, the Media Institute said it is "deeply concerned."

"Establishing amounts or percentages of particular types of programming that broadcasters need to carry to ensure the renewal of their licenses would coerce stations into selecting and airing content in these government-preferred categories," warned the think tank. "It is disheartening to think that in this age of unprecedented media abundance, the commission is contemplating an unnecessary regulatory regimen that not only hearkens back to the last century, but will most likely be found unconstitutional by the courts."

Key staff
From their website (accessed in 2006):
 * Patrick Maines, President
 * Richard T. Kaplar, Vice President
 * Susanna Coto, Director of Public Events

Trustees
From their website (accessed in 2006):
 * Patrick Butler - Vice President, The Washington Post Company
 * David Fleming - Senior Legal Counsel, Gannett Co., Inc.
 * Guy H. Kerr - Senior Vice President / Law and Government, Belo Corporation
 * DeDe Lea - Executive Vice President, Government Relations, Viacom Inc.
 * Patrick D. Maines - President, The Media Institute
 * Jessica A. Marventano - Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, Clear Channel Communications, Inc.
 * Alex Netchvolodoff - Vice President, Public Policy, Cox Enterprises, Inc.
 * Michael Regan - Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, News Corporation
 * Bruce W. Sanford, Esq. - Partner, Baker Hostetler LLP
 * Greg Schmidt - VP, New Development & General Counsel, LIN Television
 * Shaun Sheehan - Vice President / Washington, Tribune Co.
 * John I. Taylor - Vice President, Government Relations and Communications, LG Electronics USA, Inc.
 * Steven N. Teplitz - Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Time Warner Inc.
 * Alexa Verveer - Vice President of Public Policy and Government Relations, Discovery Communications, Inc.
 * Richard Wiley, Esq., Chairman, Senior Partner, Wiley Rein & Fielding

Advisory board
From a June 2007 Broadcasting & Cable story:
 * Henry Hoberman - ABC
 * Stephen Weiswasser - Covington & Burling law firm
 * Floyd Abrams - lawyer
 * Robert Corn-Revere - lawyer
 * Lucy Dalglish - Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
 * Adonis Hoffman - American Association of Advertising Agencies

Contact
Web: http://www.mediainstitute.org

SourceWatch resources

 * Net neutrality
 * Think tanks
 * Time Warner
 * Verizon
 * Viacom
 * Wiley Rein & Fielding
 * Gore Commission
 * Carol A. Melton - former trustee

Articles

 * John Eggerton, "FCC's Tate Pushes For Media Diversity," Broadcasting & Cable, February 28, 2007.
 * John Eggerton, "Media Institute Adds First Amendment Advisers," Broadcasting & Cable, June 1, 2007.
 * John Eggerton, "Media Institute: Net Neutrality Legislation Is Bad Idea," Broadcasting & Cable, June 14, 2007.
 * John Eggerton, "Media Institute 'Deeply Concerned' About Martin Proposals: First Amendment Think-Tank Unhappy with FCC Chairman’s Take on Broadcast Localism," Broadcasting & Cable, December 14, 2007.