CEO of Time Warner speaks on campus
Chelsea Anderson
Issue date: 2/9/07 Section: News
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His speech, titled "The Future of Media," was sponsored by the College of Business and featured a short address followed by a question and answer session in which he touched on a number of topics including the changing role of the Internet in society as well as the gap between the rich and poor.
"[The gap between the rich and poor] is a complex issue for America. I'm just concerned the wrong folks will try to solve it," Parsons said of Congress.
When asked about new technologies such as YouTube and music-sharing services, Parsons said that although there is room in society for Web sites like those, they tend to rob creators of their intellectual property.
"Copyright as a concept is good," he said.
As a self proclaimed "wild man" in college, Parsons said he "never had the sense to come in out of the rain." He said being at the next big party idled at the top of his list, second only to finding his future spouse.
Parsons holds great appreciation to his college basketball coach at the University of Hawaii, Ephraim "Red" Rocha, who instilled a sense of being a father figure while yelling during practices.
In 2002, Parsons was appointed CEO of Time Warner and was elected both Chairman of the Board and CEO in 2003.
As CEO, his goal is still the same as the day he was hired. "My goal is to take on this company, and someday to leave it in good shape into able hands," he said.
Time Warner is the largest multimedia conglomerate in the world. It includes movies, television, cable, print and online services which include Warner Brothers, New Line Cinemas, Time magazine, People magazine and HBO.
The fact that so much media is owned by one company prompted audience questions about censorship and the idea that news and other media are concentrated in the hands of few.
Parsons has also served several positions in the government. In the 1970s he worked in the Ford administration and said he worked in dealing with the fallout after Watergate. He has also served on President George W. Bush's Social Security Committee.
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Rosenna
posted 2/10/07 @ 7:12 PM PST
I don't like Time Warner. Music is an expression of one's own individuality. The money hungry beast is feeding it's big belly, while the artist are starving. (Continued…)
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