You've Got... AOL-Time Warner: The biggest media merger of all time. What does it mean?

For Immediate Release: Sept. 26, 2000

Contact: Maralee Csellar, (202) 885-5952



WASHINGTON, D.C. C American University=s School of Communication will host An American Forum panel discussion titled, "You’ve Got… AOL-Time Warner!," from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 2 in the Kay Spiritual Life Center at American University.



Panelists will analyze what impact, if any, a merger between America Online (AOL) and Time Warner will have on consumers as well as the industry itself. In addition, panelists will discuss the issues as to why this merger has been and continues to be the subject of debate amongst consumers and within the telecommunications industry. Panelists include:



Ariana Eunjung Cha, reporter, The Washington Post;


Harold Feld, associate director, Media Access Project;

Preston Padden, executive vice president of government relations, The Walt Disney Company;

George Vradenburg III, senior vice president for global and strategic policy, AOL;

William Whyman, president, The Precursor Group.


Patricia Aufderheide, professor of communication, will moderate the discussion. Aufderheide is a former telecommunications policy analyst who specializes in the social impact of mass media and communication policy. She is the author of Communications Policy and the Public Interest: The Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Guilford Press).



This is the second event in the 2000-2001 An American Forum series, sponsored by SOC, that bring together journalists, elected officials, and public policy makers to address timely media issues. The forum is free and open to the public.



For more information about the program, contact Pauline Dawedeit, special events coordinater in the School of Communication, at (202) 885-2074.



For media assistance, contact Maralee Csellar in AU's Media Relations Office at (202) 885-5952.