Jeffrey I. Cole

Cole received his undergraduate degrees and graduate training at UCLA, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Master of Arts degree, followed by a PhD in Mass Communication and History.{{Cite web|url=http://annenberg.usc.edu/news/awards/center-digital-futures-jeffrey-cole-awarded-ellis-island-medal-honor|title=Center for the Digital Future's Jeffrey Cole awarded Ellis Island Medal of Honor|website=annenberg.usc.edu}} He was the first person to earn a PhD in Communication at UCLA and was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa honor society.{{Cite web|url=https://web.asc.upenn.edu/gerbner/Asset.aspx?assetID=835|title=conference – Annenberg School for Communication}}

Cole began his career in the 1980s and taught Communication Studies at UCLA.

Cole was the co-creator of the Superhighway Summit at UCLA on January 11, 1994, the first public conference on digital technology that brought together the leaders in industry, government, and academic leadership in the field. The keynote speaker at the Superhighway Summit was Vice President Gore.{{cite news | first=Al| last=Gore| url=http://clinton1.nara.gov/White_House/EOP/OVP/other/superhig.html| title=Remarks as Delivered by Vice President Al Gore to The Superhighway Summit, Royce Hall, UCLA| date=1994-01-11| accessdate=2008-10-26}}

In 1999, Cole founded the World Internet Project (WIP), which conducts a long-term examination of the impact of computer and Internet technology across more than 35 countries.{{Cite web|url=https://oxis.oii.ox.ac.uk/research/world-internet-project/|title=World Internet Project {{pipe}} Oxford Internet Surveys – OxIS|publisher=University of Oxford}}

From 1997 to 2001, Cole served as a member of the Executive Committee and the founding governor of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS) Interactive Media Peer Group.{{Cite web|url=http://www.winstonbaker.com/economics-of-media-and-entertainment-during-the-coronavirus-and-beyond|title=Winston {{pipe}} Baker|website=Winston {{pipe}} Baker}}

In 2016, Cole was one of the founders of the Global Disruption Fund (GDF), a technology investment fund based in Australia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eomelbourne.org/blog/the-coronavirus-disruption-project-webinar-with-jeffrey-cole|title=The Coronavirus Disruption Project: a webinar with Jeffrey Cole — EO Melbourne|date=October 12, 2020|website=EO Melbourne – Entrepreneurs' Organization}}

Since 2017, Cole has written more than 100 columns for the Center for the Digital Future primarily focusing on topics such as disruption, media, entertainment, and technology.{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitalcenter.org/cole/|title=Jeffrey Cole: perspectives on the digital realm}}

From 1993 to 2004, Cole served as a Director of the UCLA Center for Communication Policy within the Anderson Graduate School of Management while also serving as a faculty member during this period.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.com/2013/02/13/internet-authority-jeff-cole-speak-sbcc/|title=Internet Authority Jeff Cole to Speak at SBCC|work=Santa Barbara Independent|date=February 13, 2013}} In 2004, he joined the USC Annenberg School for Communication, assuming the role of Research Professor,{{Cite web|url=https://dailybruin.com/2009/06/21/ucla-alumnas-detention-sparks-worries-alma-mater/|title=UCLA alumna's detention sparks worries at alma mater|website=Daily Bruin}} and concurrently, has been fulfilling the responsibilities of Director at the Center for the Digital Future.{{Cite web|url=https://www.c-span.org/person/?40808/JeffreyCole|title=Jeffrey Cole |website=C-SPAN.org}}

Commentary and analysis by Cole on technology, the digital realm, and the disruption caused by COVID-19 have been featured in media publications, podcasts, and interviews. At the 2023 CinemaCon, he emphasized the enduring importance of theatrical movie experiences, highlighting their significance in achieving billion-dollar box office earnings.{{Cite web|url=https://lafilmreview.com/2023/05/01/saidi-on-cinema-con-pt-1-2/|title=saidi on cinema con – pt. 2|date=May 2, 2023|website=lafilmreview.com}} In discussions about the Paramount's president of international theatrical distribution, he acknowledged the strength of the theatrical industry while noting the challenges faced by streaming platforms.{{Cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/paramounts-mark-viane-upbeat-in-cinemacon-opener-urges-industry-not-to-be-complacent/5181310.article|title=Paramount's Mark Viane upbeat in CinemaCon opener, urges industry not to be complacent|first=Jeremy|last=Kay|date=2023-04-24|website=ScreenDaily}}

Cole is highlighted in an MIT Sloan Management Review feature on the regulation of Artificial Intelligence that both the United States and other countries have been slow in developing regulatory frameworks, not only for AI but also for areas like social networks.{{Cite web|url=https://mitsloanreview.mx/data-ia-machine-learning/legislar-la-ia-es-una-accion-inutil-el-futuro-es-la-autorregulacion-jeffrey-cole/|title=Legislar la IA es una acción inútil, el futuro es la autorregulación|date=June 1, 2023|website=mitsloanreview.mx}} He was also featured on The Signpost, discussing the internet's impact on news where he highlighted how technology has shifted advantage and control from traditional news sources to empower citizens.{{cite news|last1=Losse|first1=Carolyn|date=March 24, 2003|title=America Internet for news|work=The Signpost|page=5}} In the Chicago Tribune, he emphasized evolving internet communication patterns and growing privacy concerns, with a particular focus on corporate monitoring, which he viewed as a more significant concern than government surveillance.{{cite news|last1=Breznican|first1=Anthony|date=March 25, 2000|title=Evening People|work=Chicago Tribune|page=115}} In a New York Times article about internet users and their social interactions, he noted that people don't sacrifice their personal lives for online activities revealing that a significant portion of the population remains resistant to adopting online technologies.

Cole investigated the relationship between technology and behavior in the context of internet usage by taking part in the report aimed to document the ongoing evolution in digital technology and how Americans adapt to these changes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitalcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/2017-Digital-Future-Report.pdf|title=Surveying the Digital Future}} From 2004 to 2021 he directed the World Internet Project, compiling findings from countries in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South America, and the United States which were featured in The Guardian,{{cite news|date=September 18, 2003|title=Divided by choice|work=The Guardian|page=79}} The Herald Sun,{{cite news|last1=Schwartz|first1=John|date=October 26, 2000|title=Net may not be sad, lonely place depicted for families|work=The Herald-Sun|page=15}} The Billings Gazette,{{cite news|date=January 20, 2004|title=Tech geeks are gregarious|work=The Billings Gazette|page=7}} and The Toronto Star.{{cite news|date=November 3, 2005|title=People now surf the Internet to kill time, rather than using it selectively for a particular purpose|work=Toronto Star|page=12}} The reports explore a range of issues involving online technology and highlight the importance of building a global coalition of partner countries to gather knowledge about Internet use and perspectives on a worldwide scale.{{Cite web|url=http://annenberg.usc.edu/news/centers/center-digital-future-releases-third-report-world-internet-project|title=Center for the Digital Future releases third report of the World Internet Project|website=annenberg.usc.edu}}

In the 1990s, Cole worked closely with the four broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox) and U.S. Senator Paul Simon to deal with television programming issues under an anti-trust waiver that allowed the networks to work together for the first time. Cole issued annual reports on broadcast violence and related issues to the television industry, congress, and the nation. When the first report was released in Autumn 1995,{{Cite web|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19980113&slug=2728329|title=UCLA Study On TV Violence Decries 'Shockumentaries' {{pipe}} The Seattle Times|website=The Seattle Times}}{{cite web|url=https://emory.edu/EMORY_REPORT/erarchive/1995/September/ERsept.25/9_25_95ucla.tv.violen.html|title=Faculty experts respond to UCLA study on television violence}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Conferences-Events/2017/SMT/Speakers/JEFFREY-COLE.aspx|title=Director – Center for the Digital Future|website=sportsbusinessjournal.com}} There was media coverage for the quality of the reports and their contribution to the television content debate.{{cite news|last1=Elber|first1=Lynn|date=January 16, 1998|title=Shockumentaries are contradictory as networks cut back violence on TV|work=Johnson City Press|page=15}}{{cite news|last1=Cerone|first1=Daniel|date=September 20, 1995|title=TV mayhem lingers in kid shows|work=Reno Gazette-Journal|page=16}}

Within the Center for the Digital Future, Cole conducts in-depth trend analysis, research, and policy development, all aimed at maximizing the positive impact of mass media.

==Awards and honors==

• 1987 – UCLA's Distinguished Teaching Award{{Cite web|url=https://www.claxtonspeakers.com.au/speakers_profile.php?s_id=1882&print_preview=1|title=Jeffrey Cole / Claxton Speakers / Speaker Profile|website=claxtonspeakers.com.au}}
• 2023 – Ellis Island Medal of Honor, Ellis Island Honors Society.

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Category:Male non-fiction writers

Category:University of Southern California faculty

Category:University of California, Los Angeles alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Media analysis