Top Keynotes at the International Media Congress in Berlin

Once again in 2011, the International Media Congress (September 5-6, ICC Berlin) will bring together the leading minds of today’s media industry: visionaries, mentors and decision-makers from Germany and abroad will bring their individual perspectives to discussions on the future of media in the digital age. Among the speakers at this year’s events are WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (live via satellite), media theorist William Uricchio from MIT in Boston, David Rowan, editor-in-chief of Wired Magazine UK and Groupon Central Europe head Daniel P. Glasner.

The opening keynote addresses will be delivered by two prominent guests: Minister of State for Culture Bernd Neumann and Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner. Neumann will open the congress with a call to action in his speech titled “Taking Advantage of the Opportunities for Digitalization – Supporting Culture and Creativity.” The iPad generation and the future of online journalism will be the focus of the subsequent keynote delivered by Döpfner.  
Monday, September 5, 11:30am-1:30pm.

The Digital Public Sphere, Transparency and the Omnipresence of the Media
Internet activist Julian Assange is known worldwide as the face and founder of WikiLeaks. At the International Media Congress, Assange will deliver an exclusive keynote speech about the future of the digital public sphere and transparency and about what it means for the world. After his speech, Assange will answer questions from journalist Melinda Crane. Tues, Sept. 6, 2011, 10am.
In cooperation with N24.

The keynote speech delivered by William Uricchio will also focus on the relationship between media and the public sphere in a networked society. According to Uricchio, a leading media theorist, the trend towards the omnipresence of media and the all-encompassing influence of social media is still in its infancy. The news business is also in a state of upheaval: newspapers are no longer the primary source for news and are increasingly being replaced by journalistic offerings provided online and via mobile devices – often in real time. American media expert Ken Doctor is considered one of the leading analysts and observers of the media industry. William Uricchio: Mon, Sept.5, 2011, 2:30pm; Ken Doctor: Tues, Sept. 6, 2011, 11am.

Intellectual Property: The Balancing Act between Copyright and the Freedom of the Internet
The expansion of laws designed to protect intellectual property and individuals who generate creative value in the digital world is on the current media-policy agenda in many countries. In the USA, the forthcoming “Protect IP Bill” is set to introduce sharper sanctions on infringements against intellectual property laws. Ronald C. Wheeler, Senior Vice President, Content Protection at Fox Entertainment Group (FEG) in Los Angeles, will speak on “Copyright vs. An Open Internet? From Free Use to Fair Use.”
Tues, Sept. 6, 2011, 2pm

Business Models, Content and Brand Management in the Age of Social Media
Dr. Daniel Glasner, Groupon head for Central Europe, received the “e-Star 2011Online Excellence Award” public choice award as entrepreneur of the year. In his keynote Glasner will reflect on the successful path of the popular deal-of-the-day website. David Rowan, editor-in-chief of the UK edition of Wired Magazine, will illuminate the profit strategies of content providers. At the Screenings & Presentations focusing on new TV, Marco de Ruiter, COO MTV, will present the content strategy of MTV. The keynote speech given by Dr. Tonio Kröger, CEO of DDB Worldwide Communications Group in Germany, will focus on brand communication in the age of digital social infrastructures.
David Rowan & Daniel P. Glaner: Tues, Sept. 6, 2011, 2-3pm.
Marco de Ruiter: Mon, Sept. 5, 2011 2pm; Tonio Kröger: Tues, Sept. 6, 2011, 11am.

The Future is 3D
Martin Moszkowicz, CEO of Constantin Film AG, has been involved in the production of more than 100 feature films, including hits such as “Nowhere in Africa,” the Oscar-nominated “Downfall” and “Animals United." As part of the 3D Screenings and Presentations, Moszkowicz will present his company’s 3D strategy using Constantin’s new version of the classic tale “The Three Musketeers” – this time with an international cast and in 3D – as an example. Mon. Sept. 5, 2011, 4pm.

The International Media Congress is part of the MEDIENWOCHE@IFA in Berlin. The MEDIENWOCHE@IFA is one of the most important industry meetings in Europe and takes place in connection with the IFA, the world’s leading trade fair for consumer electronics (September 2-7, 2011), the M100 Sanssouci Colloquium (September 8, 2011) and many other high-ranking events.
The International Media Congress is organized by the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg in cooperation with the German Association of Consumer and Communications Electronics (gfu) on behalf of the federal states of Berlin and Brandenburg and receives support from the Medienanstalt Berlin-Brandenburg. The IFA is organized by the gfu and carried out by Messe Berlin. The M100 is an initiative of the capital city of Potsdam and the association known as Potsdam Media International.