Consumer Revolution on the Web: Opportunities and Dangers for Journalism

Evolving technology and the rise of social media have magnified the power of the individual consumer and helped grass roots groups shake up corporations and government agencies for what they see as shoddy products, policies, regulations, and services. This daylong conference, co-sponsored by the Columbia Journalism Review and Consumer Reports, will be held at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism on November 20, 2008. It will be the first forum to bring together key players who are making this happen, including influential Weblog authors, high-profile activists, and social-media pioneers, as well as journalists who cover and interact with them. The conference agenda: to explore the role each plays in the emerging phenomenon, what they can learn from each other, what is fair and what isn’t, and what is the future of the consumer reporting agenda in such areas as business, healthcare, and the environment.