FCC’s 2023 Media Ownership Diversity Symposium

MEDIA OWNERSHIP DIVERSITY SYMPOSIUM – “Expanding Digital and Media Ownership Opportunities for Women and Minorities”

FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks to Deliver Opening Remarks

Roland Martin, Journalist and Entrepreneur to Deliver Closing Remarks

This Public Notice announces the agenda for the Communications Equity and Diversity Council (CEDC)’s “Expanding Digital and Media Ownership Opportunities for Women and Minorities,” symposium on February 7, 2023, from 9:30 am to 4:45 pm, ET. The CEDC is an advisory council of the Federal Communications Commission. The goal of the symposium is to explore the challenges as well as possible creative solutions to increasing ownership opportunities for women and people of color to achieve success and viewpoint diversity in all facets of media – TV, radio, cable, and streaming. The founder of Ding Ding TV, Silicon Valley Community Media Diana WeiPing Ding will speak as a panelist at 2:00 pm Panel 3: Show Me the Money: Access to Capital, Investors and Ad Dollars for Diverse Entrepreneurs.

FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks will deliver opening remarks at the Symposium. Nationally recognized journalist and entrepreneur Roland Martin will deliver closing remarks. The Symposium will include several networking opportunities for participants.

“Expanding Digital and Media Ownership Opportunities for Women and Minorities”

Sponsored by the Communications Equity and Diversity Council Diversity and Equity Working Group

Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
February 7, 2023
9:30 am – 4:45 p.m. ET

The Symposium will be available to the public via live feed from the FCC’s web page at https://www.fcc.gov/live. The public may also follow the Symposium on the Commission’s YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/user/fccdotgovvideo. In addition, the public may follow the event on Twitter@fcc or via the Commission’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/fcc. Members of the public may submit questions during the panel discussions to livequestions@fcc.gov

SYMPOSIUM AGENDA
* indicates a member of the Communications Equity and Diversity Council

9:30 am Introduction

Diana Coho, Consumer Affairs and Outreach Specialist
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau

Welcome Remarks and Introduction of the Opening Speaker
Christopher Wood, Executive Director
LGBT Technology and Partnership Institute*
CEDC Diversity and Equity Working Group Chair

9:45 am Opening Remarks
FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks

9:55 am Par Study on Diversity and Inclusion
Maria Brennan, President and CEO
WICT

10:10 am Research Presentation on Multicultural Content and Ownership
Adriana Waterston, Chief Revenue Officer and Insights and Strategy Lead
Horowitz Research

10:25 am Panel 1: Hurdles and Opportunities in the Competitive Media/Tech Landscape
Moderator:

Michele Duke, President, NAB Leadership Foundation and Chief Diversity Officer, National Association of Broadcasters*

Panelists:
Faith Bautista, Founder and CEO
ChimeTV
President and CEO, National Diversity Coalition*

Patricia Boyers, President, CEO and Co-Founder
BOYCOM Vision
Chairman, ACA Connects

Alfred Liggins, CEO
Urban One, Inc.

Chesley Maddox-Dorsey, CEO
A Wonder Media Company, American Urban Radio Networks*

DuJuan McCoy, Owner, President and CEO
Circle City Broadcasting

Otto Padron, President and COO
Meruelo Media*

11:25 am — LUNCH/NETWORKING BREAK
12:40 pm

12:40 pm — Panel 2: Grooming the Next Generation of Diverse Media Owners
1:40 pm

Moderator:

Graham “Skip” Dillard, Brand Manager
Audacy New York 94.7 WXBK-FM*

Panelists:

Camilla Formica, Chief Program Officer
The Cable Center

Ryan Johnson, Founder and CEO
Cxmmunity Media

Albert Rodriguez, President and COO
Spanish Broadcasting System*

Diane Sutter, President and CEO
ShootingStar Inc.

1:40 pm NETWORKING BREAK
2:00 pm Panel 3: Show Me the Money: Access to Capital, Investors and Ad Dollars for Diverse Entrepreneurs

Moderator:

Caroline Beasley, CEO
Beasley Media Group, LLC*

Panelists:

Diana WP Ding, Founder and CEO
Ding Ding TV

Rejon Thomas-Ferdinand, Vice President
Publicis Media

Niles Stewart, Vice President and Northeast Director
Lendistry Financial

Stephanie Valencia, Executive Chair of the Board
Latino Media Network

3:00 pm Closing Remarks

Roland Martin, Journalist and Entrepreneur

Melody Spann Cooper, Chair and CEO
Midway Broadcasting Corporation*

Jamila Bess Johnson, Designated Federal Officer
Communications Equity and Diversity Council
Media Bureau

3:30 pm — FINAL NETWORKING SESSION