Media Moguls Gather for Navel-Gazing Conference

Monday, July 7th, 2008 by Andy Beal

Media Moguls Gather for Navel-Gazing Conference

I’m often accused of being a little "Alanis Morissette" with my liberal use of the word "ironic," but does anyone else find it ironic that the "who’s who" of media moguls are holding their annual gathering this week, but the media are not allowed to attend any lecture or presentation?

Among those likely to make the trek, besides Murdoch (with son Lachlan) and Redstone, are Warren Buffett, eBay’s Meg Whitman, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts co-founder Henry Kravis, Sirius’ Mel Karmazin, Viacom’s Philippe Dauman, Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang, Sony’s Howard Stringer, Time Warner chairman Richard Parsons, Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, Warner Music’s Edgar Bronfman Jr., Universal’s Ron Meyer, Disney’s Robert Iger and Paramount’s Brad Grey.

New media will be repped by such upstarts as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, Ning founder and Facebook board member Marc Andreessen, Discovery’s David Zaslav, Sling Media’s Blake Krikorian and Google’s Sergei Brin and Eric Schmidt.

Here’s a wake-up call for those above. You can discuss media until your heart’s content, but until you figure out a way to involve the real "media moguls" namely, us that consume it, you’re simply navel-gazing.

Save me a piece of lint!

(photo credit: anyhoo)

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13 comments on “Media Moguls Gather for Navel-Gazing Conference”

Frank Reed Says:

July 7th, 2008 at 11:57 am

I can’t read the post because the picture has made me sick to my stomach.

Frank Reed’s last blog post..Thank You Pop Pop
Joe Hall Says:

July 7th, 2008 at 12:53 pm

Does anyone have any thoughts on how this all compares with web 2.0/social media gatherings? It seems from my point of view that the new wave of media creators are allot more receptive to transparent communication. Although maybe they have a reason for excluding the press…they have secrets!

Joe Hall’s last blog post..Top 5 National Real Estate Franchise Web Sites
Top Rated Digital Says:

July 7th, 2008 at 2:49 pm

eeech! Really gross picture. It is somewhat ironic, but not to surprising. It’s obviously meant to be a self serving forum, and the media is not what this is about. Anytime the media is invited to a forum like this, it always seems like the inviters motives are somewhat suspect.

Top Rated Digital’s last blog post..The Top 10 Digital Cameras Ripped Apart
Erik Says:

July 7th, 2008 at 5:00 pm

Yikes! Nice Picture?

As for the story, it is quit interesting that only ning and facebook, basically, are going to rep the new media. I guess it’s not really a meeting to discuss revolutionary changes to media… is it?

Erik’s last blog post..Wanna Buy Some Blogs?
Web Marketing Man Says:

July 8th, 2008 at 2:49 am

Makes one wonder what these moguls discuss behind closed doors…transparency is needed, and the input of the users of their respective services should be valued more.
Tiffany Says:

July 8th, 2008 at 5:46 am

I don’t like that picture either…Why does the conference name navel-gazing ?
Warenwirtschaft Says:

July 8th, 2008 at 6:27 am

Why should the media be present at any conference? If this conference is for internal talks and internal know-how it is obvious that they want to be alone.
Andy Beal Says:

July 8th, 2008 at 9:40 am

@tiffany - I made up the name. Google “navel gazing.”
Utah SEO Pro Says:

July 8th, 2008 at 12:13 pm

nasty picture.

Utah SEO Pro’s last blog post..Interview with SEO: Brian Carter and Search Engine Journal Post
MB Web Design Says:

July 8th, 2008 at 9:40 pm

Own up Andy that’s a self-portrait isn’t it

R.E. the conference - whoever’s waiting tables at that shindig could be in for fat tip given the respective bank balances of the attendees.
newyorkdude Says:

July 8th, 2008 at 10:38 pm

Why didn’t those nasty moguls want us to see those fancy strippers jump out of that cake?
Andy Beal Says:

July 9th, 2008 at 9:08 am

@MB and newyorkdude - you guys are making it sound more fun that I believe it will actually be.

And, no, not my belly.
Forumistan Says:

July 11th, 2008 at 11:58 am

Nasty picture. Why did you put it ?

Marketing Pilgrim